Policies and Procedures

Academic Integrity

Cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered serious offenses for which disciplinary penalties can be imposed. MIT's policy on academic integrity for students can be found in the Mind and Hand Book Section II (1.).

Early in the term, the instructor should communicate specific expectations regarding academic conduct and collaboration in the subject. See the information on Term Regulations.

The Institute encourages faculty to take responses to academic dishonesty seriously while evaluating each case individually for the most appropriate response. In all cases, documenting the outcome with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards ensures that records of student misconduct are maintained centrally at the Institute, preventing an individual student from committing several instances of academic dishonesty without accountability. The Handbook for Academic Integrity can be found online.

Several degrees of response are available, all of which help uphold the integrity of the Institute and all students' learning experiences. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is responsible for facilitating these responses for faculty, as well as maintaining documentation within the Institute on the incident and response. Information for faculty regarding the options for handling academic integrity violations is online.

Voter Registration

US citizens who are at least 18 years old on or before Election Day are eligible to vote in local, state, and federal elections. Information on voter registration is available on the Registrar's Office website.

Institute Policy on Harassment

In order to create a respectful, welcoming and productive community, the Institute is committed to providing a living, working and learning environment that is free from harassment.

Harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct of a verbal, nonverbal or physical nature that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a work or academic environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile or abusive and that adversely affects an individual’s educational, work, or living environment.

In determining whether unwelcome conduct is harassing, the Institute will examine the totality of the circumstances surrounding the conduct, including its frequency, nature and severity, the relationship between the parties and the context in which the conduct occurred. Below is a partial list of examples of conduct that would likely be considered harassing, followed by a partial list of examples that would likely not constitute harassment:

  • Examples of possibly harassing conduct: Public and personal tirades; deliberate and repeated humiliation; deliberate interference with the life or work of another person; the use of certain racial epithets; intentional and repeated misgendering or deadnaming (addressing someone by their former gender/name); deliberate desecration of religious articles or places; repeated insults about loss of personal and professional competence based on age.
  • Examples of conduct that is likely not harassment: Administrative actions like performance reviews (including negative performance reviews) and making work assignments; other work-related decisions like moving work areas or changing work colleagues; and isolated incidents (unless, as noted above, they are very severe, such as the use of certain racial epithets).

Information on different ways to raise concerns about harassment can be found on the Complaint Process and Resolution website.

Conduct that does not rise to the level of harassment may still violate Section 9.2 of MIT's Policies and Procedures. Even conduct that does not violate an MIT policy may be inappropriate and any inappropriate conduct should be addressed by the supervisor or department head.

While MIT’s harassment policy is not limited to harassment based on the protected categories listed in Section 9.3 of MIT's Policies and Procedures, the Institute is particularly committed to eliminating harassment based on those categories. Harassment that is based on an individual’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin is not only a violation of MIT policy but may also violate federal and state law, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Mass. General Laws Chapter 151B. For information on how to file complaints of violation of law with governmental agencies, see Section 9.8.5.9 of MIT's Policies and Procedures.

MIT’s complete policy on harassment, including detail on sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, gender-based harassment, and Title IX sexual harassment can be found in Policies & Procedures Sec. 9.5. 

Institute Policy on Hazing

MIT prohibits hazing by individuals or groups and defines it as follows: Any action or activity that is reasonably likely to, or is intended to, endanger the physical or mental health of a person for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group, organization, or living community. This definition shall apply regardless of location or consent of participants. Hazing includes, without limitation, behaviors that violate Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269, Sections 17–19 (reproduced in their entirety below).

Endangering mental health is defined as sleep deprivation, extended isolation, public degradation, intimidation, creation of artificial and excessive stress, public nudity, and other comparable behaviors that are reasonably likely to, or are intended to, cause a significant degree of distress, disgrace, anguish, or interference with academic, professional, or personal pursuits.

Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts and constitute hazing as prohibited by this policy. Students and other members of the Institute community must report incidents of hazing that they witness or for which they were present. Incidents of hazing shall be reported to an appropriate law enforcement official and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Failure to report incidents of hazing is a violation of this policy and may be a violation of Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 269 Section 18).

Any retaliation against any person who reports, is a witness to, is involved with, or cooperates with the adjudication of hazing is strictly prohibited. 

Prohibited forms of hazing include but are not limited to:

  • Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members and other members of the group or community. This is termed “subtle hazing” because these types of hazing are often taken for granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. New members often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the group or community.

Examples of subtle hazing include but are not limited to:

  • Deception
  • Silence periods
  • Deprivation of privileges
  • Social isolation
  • Name calling
  • Assignment of duties not assigned to other members
  • Harassment Hazing: Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing often confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members.

Examples of harassment hazing include but are not limited to:

  • Verbal abuse
  • Threats or implied threats
  • Sexual simulations
  • Requiring situationally inappropriate attire
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Violent Hazing: Behaviors that do or could cause physical or psychological harm.

Examples of violent hazing include but are not limited to:

  • Placing students in the shower against their will
  • Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption
  • Forced or coerced sexual acts
  • Beating
  • Paddling, or other forms of assault
  • Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances
  • Bondage
  • Kidnapping
  • Expected participation in illegal activity

The sanction of disciplinary suspension or disciplinary expulsion will be strongly considered for individuals or groups found responsible for hazing.

Massachusetts Hazing Law

In addition to the foregoing, students are advised that the following is the Massachusetts law on hazing:

Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

The term “hazing” as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.” M.G.L. c. 269 Section 17.

Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such a person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.” M.G.L. c. 269 Section 18.

Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution’s compliance with this section’s requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution’s recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.

Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution an attested acknowledgement stating that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall file, at least annually, a report with the board of higher education and in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams or organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled by it of the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution’s policies to its students. The board of higher education and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report. M.G.L. c. 269 Section 19.

For further information about hazing and hazing prevention efforts at MIT, visit MIT's hazing resources website.

Please note there is a confidential form to report hazing available for public use.

Other Personal Conduct

The Institute promotes the principle that every person brings unique qualities and talents to the community and that every individual should be treated in a respectful manner. All members of the MIT community are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, personal integrity, and respect for the rights, differences and dignity of others. These standards of personal conduct apply to all communications, whether oral, written, or in gestures. Community members are also expected to treat the property of both the Institute and other community members with appropriate care and respect. More information on MIT’s policy on Personal Conduct  and Responsibilities towards Members of the MIT Community can be found in Policies & Procedures Sec. 9.2.

The Institute reserves the right to take any action it deems necessary or appropriate to protect the intellectual integrity, safety, and well-being of the campus community, including interim measures such as temporary suspension. To that end, MIT students are expected to abide by the rules, regulations, and policies of the Institute, as well as city, state, and federal laws. Students are expected to be familiar with the Institute’s expectations of them, which are found in the MIT Bulletin, the Mind and Hand Book, and the Institute Policies and Procedures.

MIT expects that members of the MIT community will not engage in behavior that endangers their own sustained effectiveness or that has serious ramifications for their own physical and mental health, safety, welfare, academic well-being, professional obligations, or for that of others. In situations where an individual student’s physical illness or emotional difficulties affect not only the student, but also others in the community, it is the Institute’s responsibility to consider the well-being of the community, as well as the individuals in care decisions.

Off-campus misconduct may be a basis for MIT disciplinary action if the Institute considers that such alleged misconduct may have violated Institute policy and expectations. Student status does not render an individual student immune from the jurisdiction of civil or criminal courts and other governmental authorities. MIT's actions will take into account applicable law as well as the policies and procedures of the Institute and the standards of behavior expected of members of the educational community.

MIT handles internally some incidents that might give rise to civil or criminal liability. This is done with the understanding by the outside community that MIT deals seriously with such offenses. As is the case for many universities, local authorities often rely on MIT to resolve such issues as long as the internal policies and procedures are effective and adequate. MIT action by itself, however, does not preclude the possibility of other judicial remedy.

If an infraction causes a student to be involved both in Institute disciplinary proceedings and in criminal proceedings, the Institute generally will not delay or stop the internal process until after the criminal proceedings have been concluded.

For more information, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), 617-258-8423.

Complaint and Disciplinary Procedures

Students who believe that they have been treated improperly for any reason are encouraged to raise their concerns. Difficulties with other students can be pursued through the living group, department head, other appropriate venues or groups, and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), which can be contacted at osccs@mit.edu or 617-258-8423. Students may also bring concerns to the attention of an ombudsperson.

It is the Institute's policy that individuals will not be retaliated against for initiating an inquiry or complaint in good faith.

Anyone—including individual students, faculty members, and employees of the Institute—may bring a complaint against a student to the Committee on Discipline (COD). The COD reviews cases of academic offenses, violations of Institute regulations and policies, and other infractions alleged to have been committed by students.

A complaint against a student must be submitted to OSCCS or the Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR). OSCCS meets with involved students and gathers relevant documentation. After a review of the situation, the COD chair determines the appropriate method of resolution. The COD has the authority to impose any sanction it deems appropriate. Possible sanctions include disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, and expulsion. Sanctions may also include educational and/or restorative components meant to address the situation to promote learning. Detailed procedures for resolving complaints alleging that a student has violated MIT policies are available from the OSCCS and from the COD.

For complaints about discrimination and discriminatory harassment, MIT community members should reach out to IDHR. IDHR's procedures also serve as the grievance procedure for students as required by Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972 with regard to grievances arising out of alleged discrimination on the basis of sex. 

A complaint against anyone employed by MIT may be discussed with the immediate or higher supervisor in the center, lab, department, or school where the concern arose, with a director of administration and finance if applicable, or with the human resources office on campus or at Lincoln Laboratory. A written request for a formal review of a complaint should be made to a human resources officer.