Disclose Anonymously

You may submit anonymous disclosures of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Office for Gender Equity (OGE) by using the Resource for Online Anonymous Disclosures (ROAD). Through the ROAD, you can let us know of a concern, communicate with a member of OGE, and access resources without revealing your identity.

Using the ROAD

The ROAD provides an online form for disclosing concerns; this online form is hosted by an independent, third-party vendor who provides secure, anonymous reporting services. The vendor is contractually committed to preserve your anonymity and not pursue your identity.

If you are unable to access the ROAD for any reason, you may still anonymously submit a disclosure to OGE. To do so by phone, you may call OGE at (617) 496-0200 from a blocked number and withhold your name when you speak with one of our staff. Or, you may email OGE at oge@harvard.edu from an email address that does not contain personally identifying information. You may share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable.

FAQs About The ROAD

What does it mean to submit a disclosure? How is it different from filing a formal complaint?

Submitting a disclosure to OGE is not the same as filing a formal complaint with the University Title IX Coordinator. Sharing information with OGE allows us to provide you with resources and supports, including supportive measures, which are individualized supports to help you fully participate in campus life at Harvard and continue with your studies or work.

What type of situations should I disclose?

The ROAD may be used to submit disclosures of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct. Examples include, but are not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances; verbal, nonverbal, graphic or physical conduct of a sexual nature; stalking; exclusion from an activity based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Can I disclose incidents of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct that I am aware of, but am not directly impacted by?

Yes: individuals who may have witnessed incidents or conduct of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct may use the ROAD to submit a disclosure.

How do I know my identity will be kept anonymous?

The ROAD is hosted by a third-party vendor who is contractually committed not to pursue your identity and will not generate or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses. No information linking your identity to this form is available to either Harvard University or the third-party vendor.

If you feel uncomfortable submitting a disclosure on a device connected to the Harvard University network, you have the option of using a device that is connected to another network (such as the network at your home, an Internet café, a friend’s house, etc.).

What will OGE do with my disclosure? Who can access it?

Disclosures made through the ROAD are available only to specific individuals within OGE, who are able to provide resources and supports. When you submit a disclosure through the ROAD, OGE will respond to the disclosure, through the same anonymous service. Anonymity is preserved during these follow-up communications. In their response to your disclosure, OGE may provide you with information on resources, supports, and other options specific to your concerns. OGE treats information provided to them with the utmost discretion and sensitivity and share information only on a need-to-know basis; for example, in order to facilitate the implementation of supportive measures.

Can my professor, principal investigator, supervisor, etc. see my disclosure or receive details of it if they are involved?

The ROAD is designed so that parties who may be engaging in sexual harassment and/or other types of sexual misconduct are not granted access to any disclosure forms in which they have been named. Only select individuals in OGE have the ability to view and access disclosure forms submitted through the ROAD.

What if I remember something important about the incident after I submit my disclosure?

When you submit your disclosure form, you receive a unique username and are asked to choose a password. You can return to the ROAD and access your original disclosure form to add more detail, answer questions from OGE, or provide any other additional information. We strongly suggest that you return to your original disclosure form to see responses from OGE.

Are follow-up communications about my disclosure as secure as when I submitted my initial disclosure?

All correspondence through the ROAD is held in the same strict confidence as your initial disclosure, continuing under the umbrella of anonymity.

I want to share my identity with OGE. Can I still submit a disclosure through the ROAD?

Yes. There is a section in the ROAD's disclosure form for identifying yourself, if you wish to do so.