Division of Campus Life

Discrimination & Harassment

Brown University is committed to maintaining a strong educational, working and living environment, and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Brown maintains codes of conduct and policies to create an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment and to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws that prohibit such conduct. These include, but are not limited to, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

As a teaching and learning community, Brown also remains committed to the principles of free inquiry and expression. Vigorous discussion and debate are fundamental to this commitment.

The University encourages individuals to report behavior they believe violates Brown’s policies related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. 

Report Discrimination or Harassment

If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination or harassment, report it!

Brown University students, staff and faculty who have experienced or witnessed discrimination or harassment are encouraged to report it to the University.
Brown takes all reports of discrimination and harassment seriously. The University is committed to making the process for reporting incidents easy to navigate and has developed procedures to provide fair, prompt, and consistent mechanisms for the resolution of complaints.
This outlines the procedural steps that will be taken when a report or complaint has been filed with the Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting.

Consultation and Advice

If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, or behavior occurring on the basis of your identity, there are a variety of resources available to assist you. Anyone may contact the Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting to request a consultation. Talking with us does not obligate you to file a report; investigations do not begin unless and until a written formal complaint is filed. Email equity_reporting@brown.edu, call 401-863-1800 or use the Discrimination and Harassment Reporting Form.

Laws, Policies and Procedures

The Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting oversees Brown's compliance with University policies and various civil rights laws designed to protect all community members from discrimination and harassment.

Reporting and Complaint Resolution Process

Deciding to report discrimination or harassment can be a difficult and highly personal decision. Brown’s Discrimination and Harassment Standard Operating Procedure for Addressing and Responding to Reports and Complaints is intended to provide a fair, prompt, and reliable mechanism for determining whether the University’s Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy has been violated and, if so, to provide appropriate resolution. 

If you are considering submitting a report, an outline of our process is below.