Peer Dispute

About Peer Disputes

For cases where a report of an alleged policy violation by a student begins with another student’s complaint, the Administrative Board 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.

We know that navigating relationships with other students can be particularly challenging. Please know that safety and well-being are important to us, so please don’t hesitate to submit a report if a serious issue arises.

The content on this page is 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 files a complaint about another student’s behavior with the Administrative Board. 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.” The Administrative Board 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 other designee of the Dean of the College) will notify the Respondent that an allegation has been made and provide the student case materials. Any supplementary materials provided to the Administrative Board will also be provided to the student. The Subcommittee and Administrative Board may take into consideration any of the materials provided to the student, including portions of those materials that have been highlighted in the initial case material packet.

Case materials will include, but are not limited to: confidentiality rules of the College, a charge letter outlining relevant provisions in the Harvard College Student Handbook, redacted information regarding the complaint or referral, information on requesting a disability accommodation, a 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 Personal Advisor

Students involved in disciplinary cases may be more comfortable navigating the Administrative Board’s process with the support of a personal advisor. Personal Advisors are given access to all case information, may attend any interviews, and 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 Deanin the process is to represent the student to the subcommittee and the full Disciplinary Committee of the Administrative Board. Additionally, they will keep the student informed during the process. It is important to remember that the student’s Resident Dean is not an advocate. They are expected to share any information they have and when the information they have is contradictory to the student’s statements.

Case Review and Charges

The Dean of the College may appoint a fact finder to gather additional information from the students involved in the complaint and potential witnesses so that the Secretary can fully assess the complaint. After submission of initial statements and any additional gathering of facts by the fact finder, including separate meetings with the complainant and respondent, the Secretary of the Administrative Board organizes the facts and identifies relevant sections of the Student Handbook. The complainant and respondent will have an opportunity to provide written responses.

Once the Secretary has gathered the necessary information for a review, the Dean of the College, or their designee, will review the case and determine if they will bring forward charges. The Dean of the College, or their designee, determines two things: 

• 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
• Whether further investigation is likely to enable the Board to resolve the case. 

If the Dean of the College, or designee, determines there are no alleged policy violations and further investigation is not warranted, then a charge will not be issued and the case will not proceed. The Dean may also opt to postpone the decision pending further investigation by the fact finder.

Subcommittee

If charges are put forward, the case will be referred to a subcommittee. Subcommittees are typically made up of two or three board members. 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. A student’s Resident Dean can attend interviews to keep their students informed.

Subcommittee Report

After the investigation, the subcommittee will issue a confidential report, called the Subcommittee Report, to all members of the Disciplinary Committee of the Board. The Subcommittee Report describes the facts and circumstances of the case and copies of all statements and other documents obtained and deemed relevant during the investigation. Additionally, the report may include a recommendation for disciplinary action. The recommendation is a starting point for the discussion by the Disciplinary Committee, and that recommendation does not limit them. 

Reporting and responding students typically have one to three days to read and respond to the Subcommittee Report. Students can respond in writing or orally to their Resident Dean, who will present the response to the Board.

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 Board hearing begins with a presentation of the case by the subcommittee and fact finder if one was assigned. 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 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 student’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 the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct 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 your College file that is maintained by a student’s Yard/House affiliation. These documents are part of a student’s educational record as defined and protected by federal law.