The Academic Resource Center (ARC) at Harvard University exists to support the academic mission of Harvard College and the GSAS by ensuring every student has full access to the transformative power of a liberal arts and sciences education.  The ARC is committed to empowering students to reach their full academic potential in an inclusive and equitable academic environment. Using evidence-based methods and drawing on recent research in learning assistance, the ARC supports Harvard’s students in developing reading strategies, time management skills, and metacognitive approaches to learning. Students will have access to consultations, workshops, academic coaching, peer tutoring, and skills-based resources.  

The staff at the ARC collaborate closely with each student’s advising network. At the ARC, you can expect to find workshops to help you develop time management skills, plan your semester, enhance your reading and retention, and approach your problem sets. You can learn more about your ideal learning styles and environments, how to customize your semester if you are returning from leave, and how to find and connect to instructional support opportunities with your instructors and courses. The ARC can support you if you are recovering from a concussion, resetting mid-semester, or writing your thesis. You can explore all of this and more through workshops or one-on-one coaching. If you have questions about other resources available, the staff at the ARC can direct you and connect you with them.

The Fellowships & Writing Center (FWC) helps GSAS students to heighten the impact of their research. At the FWC, students can meet with a fellowships specialist who understands the larger surround of financial aid. They can also work with specialists on their writing and presentational skills, whether in the context of composing a fellowship proposal, working on a dissertation chapter, preparing an article for publication, or refining a conference presentation.

CAMHS is a counseling and mental health support service which seeks to work collaboratively with students and the university to support individuals who are experiencing some measure of distress in their lives.   At CAMHS, students may receive comprehensive outpatient care for a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, crisis management, transitional issues, grief, and eating, sexual, or relationship concerns. 

By supporting experimentation, innovation, and evidence-based practices, the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning seeks to create transformational learning experiences for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates in Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The Bok center offers a wide variety of useful programs and workshops, including training for Teaching Fellows, one-on-one consultations, help with scholarly writing, etc.  See their website for more information.

The Center for Wellness offers a wide range of workshops, services, and classes available to all Harvard community members, including massage therapy, acupuncture, exercise, and meditation.

Harvard's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential help for all Harvard employees and their adult household members on topics include personal problems, mental health care, legal and financial problems, problems with drugs, alcohol, or gambling, grief and loss.

The HIO is part of the University’s Central Administration and offers services to international students and scholars at Harvard College, the graduate and professional schools, as well as the numerous research centers and affiliated teaching hospitals, to minimize the difficulties they may experience both upon arrival and later during their stay at Harvard. 

Resources Related to Professional Misconduct

FAS Non-Discrimination, Anti-Bullying, and Other Conduct Policies

https://www.fas.harvard.edu/reports/conduct-policy/

The FAS policies can be found on the new Non-Discrimination, Anti-Bullying, and Other Conduct Policies website (https://www.fas.harvard.edu/reports/conduct-policy/). The website also provides contact information for Local Designated Resources (LDRs), who serve as a resource for receiving reports and complaints, directing community members to resources, and providing information on supportive measures.

Local designates resources are:

Seth Avakian, Program Director for Nondiscrimination and Professional Conduct: avakian@fas.harvard.edu

Stephanie Clendenin, Program Officer for Title VI, Title VII, and professional Conduct, Harvard Griffin GSAS and FAS Faculty Affairs (NDAB): clendenin@fas.harvard.edu

Title IX Harvard
https://titleix.harvard.edu/
If you have a concern about something that may have happened to you, or that you may have observed or heard about in the community, you are encouraged to share your concern with a Title IX Resource Coordinator in your School or unit. Title IX Resource Coordinators have expertise and are positioned to help address disclosures of sexual and gender-based discrimination in the Harvard community.  

Sharing information with the Title IX Resource Coordinator is not the same as filing a formal complaint with the Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR).  As described in the Policy, it is ordinarily up to you to decide whether you wish to file a formal complaint, although in very rare circumstances, where a community safety concern has arisen, the Title IX Coordinator may need to take steps to initiate a formal complaint with ODR.

Title IX Resource Coordinators can:

• Provide information about available resources

• Help arrange interim measures — the supports that help members of the Harvard community continue with their studies and work and to participate in campus life

• Facilitate informal resolution, as appropriate, between the involved parties, with a goal of memorializing a mutually acceptable resolution in writing

• Provide information on the Interm FAS Policies and Procedures for addressing Title IX sexual and gender-based harassment and other sexual misconduct

• Provide information about the formal complaint process

Title IX Resource Coordinators have a neutral role. They are specially trained to handle sensitive information relating to incidents of possible sexual harassment, including sexual assault, with appropriate discretion and to help arrange interim support measures that might help enable an individual to continue with studies or work and take advantage of all that Harvard has to offer.  Resource Coordinators also facilitate access to confidential resources. 

While conversations with Title IX Resource Coordinators are not confidential, they will handle any information that you provide with the utmost discretion and sensitivity and will share it with others only on a need-to-know basis. For example, Title IX Resource Coordinators may need to share some information in order to implement interim measures. 

Office for Gender Equity
https://oge.harvard.edu

The Office for Gender Equity (OGE) OGE works to advance Harvard’s commitment to providing an environment where each of us feels safe to participate fully in University life—whether studying, teaching, conducting research, or working to support our individual and collective goals.

Racial Harassment and Discrimination
https://gsas.harvard.edu/codes-conduct/discrimination

GSAS is committed to fostering an environment free from racial harassment, defined as actions on the part of an individual or group that demean or abuse another individual or group because of racial or ethnic background. Such actions may include but are not restricted to using racial epithets, making racially derogatory remarks, and using racial stereotypes.  Any member of the GSAS community who believes that they have been harassed on account of race should contact GSAS staff.

Sexual Harassment/Assault Resources & Education (SHARE) Counselors provide a range of confidential and privileged services to support individual and community healing from harm, as well as prevention education initiatives designed for Harvard students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral students. Examples of confidential services provided by SHARE Counselors include:

• Crisis response and support to individuals impacted by harm, including interpersonal violence and abuse, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking
• Short-term counseling
• 24-hour crisis hotline (617) 495-9100 (note: this line connects to BARCC during the summer)
• Psychoeducational support groups
• Restorative practices and education for individuals who have caused harm

The Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) is a neutral body that impartially investigates and resolves sexual and gender-based harassment complaints against students, staff, and, with most Schools, faculty. ODR investigations are handled by professional investigators working with the involved Schools and Units. Any member of the Harvard community may visit ODR to request information or advice, including assistance in seeking an informal resolution or in filing a formal complaint.  While conversations with ODR staff members are not confidential, they will handle any information that you provide with the utmost discretion and sensitivity and will share it with others only on a need-to- know basis. 

Students, faculty, staff, and retirees may contact the University Ombudsman Office for help in managing and resolving workplace and/or academic issues. The Office is independent from University administration and works in an informal manner on a variety of issues including sexual harassment.  The Ombudsman can provide information about policies and resources and help you in identifying and assessing options for next steps. 

Harvard has designated the Ombudsman Office as “confidential” resources, which means that the Ombudsman and the Longwood Ombuds do not need to notify a Title IX Resource Coordinator when they learn about potential incidents of sexual or gender-based harassment. However, if there is a criminal investigation or another type of external investigation or proceeding, the Ombudsman and Longwood Ombuds may be required to reveal information that was shared with them.  

The Harvard Graduate Student Union (HGSU) protects and advocates for other student workers who may be experiencing unfair treatment at the workplace and can help out with issues ranging from (but not limited to) discrimination complaints, underpayment concerns, and disciplinary hearings. If you have such an issue, you can reach out to the Union via this confidential form. In addition, the Union aims to educate the graduate student body about their rights and benefits as specified in the new contract. If you have any questions regarding the contract, you can always send an email to hgsu.grievance@protonmail.com.