Dear Harvard College Students,

As Dean of the College, nothing is more important to me than ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for each and every one of you. I have seen the impact that sexual assault and harassment has had, and continues to have, on individuals and on the Harvard College community. It is critical that we achieve a better understanding of our environment and how to prevent sexual assault and harassment.

To that end, Harvard College is partnering with the Association of American Universities to conduct a confidential student survey on Sexual Assault & Misconduct during the month of April. You will receive an email today from Westat, the independent research firm administering the survey, inviting you to participate and providing you with a unique link to access your survey. If you complete the survey, you will receive a $5 Amazon gift card.

Your individual responses will be treated as confidential, and participation is voluntary. However, I want to urge you all to participate, even if you believe these issues do not directly affect you. Your response is important in helping us understand the experiences and opinions of all students.  

Given the complex, and potentially emotionally difficult topics covered in the survey, I want to remind our community of a few of the many resources available to you:

• The Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (OSAPR) has resources and individual support available for students who have experienced or witnessed interpersonal harm, including individual appointments and a 24-hour hotline: 617-495-9100;
• Let’s Talk drop-in sessions with counselors from Counseling and Mental Health Service (CAMHS) are held daily;
• Related community resources and more information are available within Harvard College’s Omni Mobile App

More information about the survey can be found on the Title IX website. If you have any questions about the survey or have difficulty accessing it, please e-mail CampusClimateHelp@westat.com or call 1-855-497-4787. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam filter.

Warmly,

Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College