Peer Dispute

About Peer Disputes

For cases where a report of an alleged policy violation is made by another student’s complaint, the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct engages in the peer dispute process. The goal of the process is to ensure we meet our promise to give the report a fair review based only on the relevant facts.

Navigating relationships with other students can be particularly challenging. Know that your safety and well-being are important to us and we hope you will submit a report if a serious issue arises.

The contents of this page are meant to serve as general information about the process and not a comprehensive statement of applicable policies and procedures. If you are involved in a peer dispute, detailed information, including the full procedure, will be provided to you in your case packet. If there is any discrepancy between those documents and this webpage, the documents will take precedence. You can access a sample packet for students facing allegations in a peer dispute case and a sample packet for students considering bringing allegations forward in a peer dispute case.

How an Investigation Begins

The peer dispute process begins when a student submits a complaint to OAISC about another student’s behavior. In the peer dispute process, a student who files the report with an allegation is referred to as the “complainant,” while those students about whom the report was filed are referred to as the “respondents.” OAISC will begin its investigation by looking into the specific concerns raised in the complaint and work to gather all of the facts before making any accusations. Students about whom a report has been filed will have a chance to share their side before any decisions are made in the case.

When a complaint involves allegations of serious criminal conduct, we advise students to seek legal counsel before making any written or oral statements to the College. Students are advised to seek legal advice about how the College’s disciplinary process could affect any criminal case in which they may be involved. However, students’ legal counsel may not participate in proceedings. Ordinarily, if a complaint is being pursued through the criminal justice system, the Board may assess the timing of the investigation so that it does not compromise the integrity of the criminal investigation or the rights of the respondent. In some cases, the Board may choose to postpone or suspend its own review of the matter until the criminal case has been concluded.

The Secretary of the Administrative Board, or their designee, will notify the respondent that an allegation has been made and provide the student case materials. Case materials will include, but are not limited to: confidentiality rules of the College, an initial notification letter outlining relevant provisions in the Harvard College Student Handbook, redacted information regarding the complaint or referral, information on requesting a disability accommodation, Administrative Board membership list, and any other relevant, initial case material.

Following the delivery of case materials, the Respondent will be asked to submit their side of the story in writing through an initial statement. The initial statement is intended to address specific behavior(s) exhibited by any named respondents, as claimed by a complainant:

The Personal Advisor

Respondents involved in a peer dispute may be more comfortable navigating the process with the support of a personal advisor. Personal advisors are given access to all case information, may attend any relevant meetings, and can provide general advice and support. Personal advisors must be officers of the University who are affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and not members of the student’s family.

Resident Dean

The role of a student’s Resident Dean in the process is to represent the student to the Subcommittee and full Disciplinary Committee of the Administrative Board. Additionally, they will keep the student informed during the process. The student’s Resident Dean is not an advocate or a counselor. If a student provides contradictory information throughout this process, the Resident Dean will make the discrepancy known.

Fact Finder, Charge Decision, and Possible Referral to a Subcommittee

If appropriate, a fact finder is appointed by the Dean of the College, or their designee. A fact finder of the Board meets with the complainant and respondent and may pursue other sources of information.

After receiving all statements and relevant materials, the Secretary of the Administrative Board organizes the facts and may modify the relevant sections of the Student Handbook. If, after organizing the facts and reviewing the respondent’s information, there are no identifiable provisions in the Handbook associated with the complaint, then there is no case. If there are provisions in the Handbook identified, then the Secretary presents the information to the Dean of the College, or their designee.

The Dean of the College, or their designee, reviews all case materials and determines if there are charges to be issued towards the respondent. The Dean of the College, or their designee, determines if:

1. If the allegations, being true, might constitute a violation of the rules of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences outlined in the Harvard College Student Handbook; and
2. Whether further investigation is likely to enable the Board to resolve the case. 

If the Dean of the College, or their designee, determines there are no charges towards the respondent, then the peer dispute process ends and any allegations against the respondent are discarded. If the identified provisions are upheld or modified, then the Dean of the College will appoint a Subcommittee of the Board to conduct a full investigation of the case. The Subcommittee may pursue additional information and meet with the complainant, respondent, and at its discretion, other individuals with information about the case. This is not required, and respondents may forgo their meeting with a Subcommittee.  Subcommittees of the Board ordinarily consist of two (or more) people, whose names and contact information will be given to you.

Subcommittee of the Administrative Board

If charges are put forward, the case will be referred to a subcommittee. Subcommittees are typically made up of two (or more) members of the Administrative Board. Both the respondent and complainant will have the opportunity to individually meet with the Subcommittee to discuss what happened or ask any questions.

• Meeting with the Subcommittee is optional: If a student meets with the Subcommittee, they can participate as much or as little as they feel comfortable. The Administrative Board will not make any assumptions about the case based on whether or not the student participates.
• Students meet separately with the Subcommittee: Students will never be in the same room or asked to confront each other directly during the investigation process.
• Witness interviews: The Subcommittee may interview other students or parties identified as having relevant information. Any additional statements collected will be shared with each student.

Subcommittee Report

If a student did (or did not) have a meeting with a Subcommittee of the Board, at the conclusion of its investigation, the Subcommittee will issue a confidential report, called a Subcommittee Report. The Subcommittee Report describes the facts and circumstances of the case and will include recommendations to the Administrative Board to determine responsibility, and any accompanying disciplinary outcome(s). These recommendations are a starting point for the Board’s discussion in a case. In all cases, the Board is not limited in its discussion and has the full range of responses allowed by the Faculty available to it. The full Board determines any final outcomes in terms of responsibility and disciplinary outcomes.

Students will have the opportunity (typically one to three days) to read and respond (in writing) to the Subcommittee Report in advance of the meeting at which the Board will decide the case. Students are not obligated to respond to the Subcommittee Report.

Presentation of the Case

Members of the Disciplinary Committee are provided the Subcommittee Report and all supporting documents ahead of the hearing on the case. Each hearing begins with a presentation of the case by the Subcommittee. This is followed by a discussion and recommendations of action, or motions, by any voting member of the Board. The Board may take any action specifically outlined in the Actions of the Administrative Board section of the Harvard College Student Handbook. The Board’s decision will include consideration of:

• The seriousness of the infraction, and
• Extenuating circumstances, including prior related incidents.

The Administrative Board can take several actions in response to a case, as outlined in the Student Handbook. The Board may bracket or postpone a case until further information can be gathered, it can scratch a case where the Board finds no evidence of a violation, or the Board may take no action where the Board finds there is information indicating behavior that if finds unacceptable, but the level of information present is insufficient for a finding of responsibility. A decision of scratch or take no action means the respondent was “not responsible” for the alleged conduct.

If the Board finds the respondent was “responsible” for the alleged conduct, it may opt to admonish the student, place the student on probation, require the student’s withdrawal, or recommend dismissal or expulsion. The Board may also require withdrawal together with a recommendation for dismissal or expulsion (decisions regarding dismissal or expulsion must be made by the Faculty Council).

It is important to note that a respondent’s personal advisor will not be eligible to be present for the discussion and will not vote on the case, even if they are Board members.

Changes to student status are ordinarily disclosed to parents or guardians. Outcomes that change a student’s status are probation, required withdrawal, dismissal, and expulsion.

Conclusion of the Case

Once an outcome has been reached, the Respondent will be notified of the Board’s finding by their Resident Dean, and OAISC will send a letter confirming the Board’s decision in writing.

Regardless of the outcome, a redacted copy of the confidential Subcommittee Report, if applicable, and all other materials will be placed in a student’s College file that is maintained by a their Yard/House affiliation. These documents are part of a student’s educational record as defined and protected by federal law.