80% of all formal complaints filed in FY20-24 fell into one of the below six categories regarding the relative University status of the principals. (No other category exceeded 3% of all formal complaints across FY20-24.)

• Undergraduate student v. Undergraduate student (24%)
• Graduate or professional school student v. Graduate or professional school student (21%)
• Staff v. Staff (16%)
• Graduate or professional school student v. Faculty (8%)
• Staff v. Faculty (7%)
• Third party v. Graduate or professional school student (4%)

In approximately 19% of cases filed in FY20-24, at least one party self-identified as BGLTQ.

ODR provides a prompt and equitable investigative process. Across all formal complaints ODR received in FY24, the median time to investigative disposition was approximately 0.7 months, down from 1.9 months for FY23 cases closed as of December 31, 2023. For FY24 cases opened for investigation and reaching an investigative report, the median time to case disposition was 5.4 months, down from 7.6 months for FY23 cases closed as of December 31, 2023.⁴

For all formal complaints filed in FY20-24 reaching an investigative report, the median time to case disposition was 7.9 months.

Many factors can affect the length of an investigation in any particular case, for example:

• The type and total number of allegations and policies at issue;
• The nature and volume of the documentation submitted as evidence;
• The number and length of interviews with the parties;
• The number of witnesses interviewed and the length of those interviews;
• Whether a complaint is filed by a reporter on behalf of others, a cross-complaint, and/or factually interrelated with other complaints;
• Scheduling challenges, including special academic obligations, University holidays, and party/witness unavailability;
• Extensions of time for parties in connection with their designation and/or availability of their respective personal advisors;
• Adding allegations over the course of an investigation; and
• The submission of new information from a party or witness in the latest stages of the investigative process.

⁴ When omitting time for delays to the investigative process (e.g., party extension requests granted by ODR in consultation with the School or unit, or investigations or processes of external law enforcement), the median time to case disposition for FY24 cases opened for investigation was 5.1 months.

Disclosure: A disclosure is when an individual shares information regarding sexual harassment, other sexual misconduct, or related retaliation with a Title IX resource. Individuals may choose to disclose in order to understand their available options, access support, or inform the University of their experience. Sharing a disclosure is not the same as a filing a formal a complaint.

Formal complaint: A formal complaint is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of Harvard University policies prohibiting sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct and requesting an investigation. For complaints under the Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy, a complaint can be filed by the complainant or by a third party filing on behalf of a potential complainant (a “reporter”), while a complaint under the Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy may only be filed by a complainant or signed by the University Title IX Coordinator. Submitting a complaint to the University Title IX Coordinator starts the formal complaint process.