Harvard University depends upon our employees to conduct business with integrity and in full compliance with laws, regulations, and our own operating policies and procedures. Ethical and compliant behavior that reflects our community’s values is essential to providing a safe and secure environment for all members of our community. It is important for the well-being of all who are involved with the University as well as the well-being of the University. In fact, voicing your concerns is a gift to the University.
Harvard University established the reporting hotline and website to enable you to report your concerns in an anonymous manner. This hotline may be used to report a variety of ethical, integrity, safety, security, and compliance concerns and may be used by anyone including, but not limited to, students, faculty, postdocs, staff, patients, vendors, contractors and visitors, anywhere in the world.
The University will not tolerate retaliation against members of the University community for raising such concerns in good faith. In submitting a report, you may remain anonymous or you may choose to identify yourself and provide contact information so Harvard University can reach out to you directly if additional details are needed. In either case, your report will be kept confidential to the extent practical. It is not always possible to guarantee absolute confidentiality in all cases. Disclosure within or outside Harvard may be required by law or may be necessary in order to enforce Harvard policies. However, disclosure, if any, will only be made to those persons with a legitimate need to know the information.
The Hotline is an anonymous, toll-free, 24-hour-a-day resource for reporting concerns when speaking with a supervisor or other available resource is not considered to be a comfortable or viable option.
The Hotline is staffed and managed by a respected external company and provides this service to employees through a contractual agreement with Harvard.
What to expect when you use the Hotline
When you call the Anonymous Reporting Hotline, a trained communications specialist will ask you a series of questions to better understand the nature of your concern. No call tracing or recording devices are ever used, and if you wish, you may remain anonymous. The job of the specialist is to collect accurate information on incidents in an unbiased, objective manner. The specialist will summarize the information and send it directly to senior management for review, and if necessary, for further exploration.
When you report via the Hotline’s Web site, you can choose to submit a report, using a form in which you are able to describe your concern. You are able to choose to remain anonymous through the web reporting process.
When you submit your report, by phone or online, a Report Key and password will be created. Should you desire to follow up on the status of your concern, or want to provide additional information you may have initially excluded, simply call back or log in and reference this information.
Any concern involving violations of law or Harvard policy may be raised through the Anonymous Reporting Hotline; some examples include:
- Academic misconduct
- Bias-related1 incidents
- Conflicts of interest
- Environmental health and safety concerns
- Fraud/theft
- Human resources concerns
- Inappropriate patient care
- Medical, safety, and security concerns
- Misuse of University resources/assets
- Violations of law, regulation, contract or University policy
- Suspected cases of abuse or neglect or other inappropriate behavior involving minors in Harvard programs (please note: the preferred reporting method is direct via the Harvard University Police Department at (617) 495-1212; additional resources can be found at youthprotection.harvard.edu)
Harvard University strives to operate with the utmost integrity, and we thank you for helping protect our institution.
1 The term 'bias-related’ refers to language and/or behaviors which demonstrate bias against persons because of, but not limited to, others’ actual or perceived: color, race, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, age, disability, health condition, religion, and/or political beliefs. See also: "Disclosing incidents related to sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity."
