Individual and Community Support

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    Building 9 study and social flex space. John Horner

In addition to SA+P's Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, Belonging, & Student Support, DUSP's DEB Officer, the Department Head, Administrative Officer, and Academic Administrators (see DUSP Governance), the following is a list of support and complaint-resolution resources at MIT and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

The resources in italics are confidential.

For all members of the MIT Community

  • Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response Office (IDHR)
    • MIT’s centralized office for students, faculty, and staff with concerns related to discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and bias. IDHR staff support community members who have experienced harm access to: resources on- and off-campus; supportive measures including academic and workplace accommodations; informal/alternative dispute resolution processes including mediation and facilitated dialogue; and the formal complaint process.
  • MIT Health
    • Central resource for physical and mental health and well-being.
  • MIT Anonymous Reporting Hotline
    • MIT has established an anonymous reporting hotline for whistleblower or other complaints about wrongdoing and violations of Institute policy. The reporting system is hosted and maintained by a third-party vendor called Ethicspoint. Anyone may use the hotline to report a concern about suspected wrongdoing in the MIT community. MIT has a strong non-retaliation policy that applies to anyone who raises a concern in good faith through the anonymous, whistleblower reporting hotline. For questions about the hotline or related material on this website, contact compliance@mit.edu.
  • MIT Environmental Health & Safety
    • A collection of resources specifically intended for asking questions or reporting concerns about safety and health issues or environment, either anonymously or directly.
  • MIT IS&T
    • ​​​​​​​Report IT security concerns, data incidents (such as a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of Institute information or systems), DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) violations, or offensive or obnoxious web pages or emails.
  • MIT Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
    • ​​​​​​​Comprising over 20 chaplains and 40 student groups, the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life (ORSEL) reflects the diversity of the Institute’s community. The chaplains provide religious, spiritual, and educational programming, as well as confidential counseling and crisis support.
  • MIT Ombuds Office
    • ​​​​​​​The Ombuds Office is a confidential and independent resource for all members of the MIT community, including students, faculty, employees, alumni, and employees of Lincoln Lab, to constructively manage concerns and conflicts related to your experience at MIT.
  • MIT Police: Anonymous Sexual Assault Form
    • ​​​​​​​This form is for reporting a sexual assault anonymously to the MIT Police Department. A victim/survivor may complete this form themselves and send it to the MIT Police Department, or a victim/survivor may ask a third party (such as a friend or counselor) to do so.
  • MIT Vice President for Research
    • ​​​​​​​Report research misconduct, which includes fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in research activities, or deliberate interference, but not include honest error or differences of opinion.

Student Specific Resources

  • ask.mit 
    • MIT's new initiative, ask.mit, assists students in identifying what support resource(s) at MIT are the most appropriate for their particular questions and concerns.
  • CARE Team
    • The CARE Team (Coordination, Assistance, Response, and Education) is a team of staff members who support all students through challenges they may experience during their time at MIT. A primary function of the CARE Team is to support students during hospitalizations and discharge, and with follow-up care. With student consent, the CARE Team will also work with families of students to support them in supporting their loved ones.
  • Dean on Call
    • Division of Student Life staff able to access a network of responders including MIT Police, MIT Health, Student Support Services, Residential Life Program staff, and others. (Dial 100 from campus phones or 617-253-1212 to reach MIT Police, then ask to speak to the Dean on Call. The service is available Monday through Friday, 5PM – 9AM, and all weekend on Saturday and Sunday and on MIT-observed holidays).
  • GradSupport
    • Staff in the Office of Graduate Education provide advice and counsel on a variety of issues including faculty/student relationships, changing your advisor, conflict negotiation, funding, academic progress, interpersonal concerns, and a student’s rights and responsibilities. They can also help with excused absences and provide clarification about Graduate Policies and Procedures.
  • Helping Others
    • ​​​​​​​Guidance on what to look for and how to respond when you are concerned about someone else.
  • iREFS (Institute-Wide Resources for Easing Friction & Stress)
    • ​​​​​​​iREFS are graduate students formally trained and certified in conflict management skills. They provide confidential, peer-to-peer support for all graduate students at the Institute and point students to other resources on campus. They also teach conflict management workshops upon request. To meet with an iREF, email irefs-contact@mit.edu. Your request is seen by the iREFS co-chairs who will forward your request to an iREFS member who best meets your preferences.
  • Lean on Me
  • Let's Chat
    • ​​​​​​​Offers easy access for students to informal, free, confidential 20-minute consultations with counselors from MIT Mental Health and Counseling during the academic year.
  • MedLinks
    • ​​​​​​​Student liaisons between MIT Health and undergraduates, to support their health and well-being.
  • MIT Emergency Medical Services
    • ​​​​​​​MIT EMS is a student-run 24/7 ambulance service for all medical emergencies on the MIT campus and in the surrounding community. Call MIT Police Dispatch at 617-253-1212.
  • MIT Medical Urgent Care
    • ​​​​​​​Acute-care services for illnesses or injuries that need prompt attention, but aren't likely to result in loss of life or severe impairment.
  • MIT Police
    • Maintains a safe academic environment and offers emergency medical service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 100 from any campus phone, or 617-253-1212. For non-emergencies, dial 617-253-2996.
  • Peers Ears
    • ​​​​​​​Residence-based peer support for undergraduates, via phone and email, to promote mental health and well-being.
  • Student Mental Health and Counseling Services at MIT Medical
    • ​​​​​​​MIT’s Student Mental Health and Counseling Services works directly with students to understand and solve problems. Visits are confidential and easy to arrange.
  • Student Support Services (S3)
    • ​​​​​​​S3 is a friendly and easily accessible hub of support for MIT undergraduate students.
  • Violence Prevention Response 
    • MIT’s primary on-campus resource for preventing and responding to interpersonal violence, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Hotline available 24 hours a day to support survivors in deciding what to do next.
  • DoingWell.mit.edu
    • A site developed to empower each individual student to prioritize their complete wellbeing. A resource for both undergraduate and graduate students designed to ensure students feel confident: in their ability to get along socially at MIT; that they belong at MIT; they are prepared for life after graduating from MIT; and that they have friends at MIT. 

Employee Specific Resources

NOTE: Employees as a group include faculty as well as post-doctoral associates and fellows.

  • Martha Collins, Assistant Dean for Human Resources and Administration, SA+P (mjcoll@mit.edu)
  • MIT Human Resources
    • MIT's Human Resources Officers (HROs) have detailed knowledge of MIT's HR policies and practices, and consult with employees, managers, HR professionals in the DLCs, and AOs. Our HROs advise and train on issues affecting work, job performance, annual reviews, training, hiring practices, leaves of absence, discipline, compensation, harassment or discrimination concerns, layoffs, reorganizations, and conflict resolution. 
  • MIT MyLife Services
    • MyLife Services provides MIT faculty, staff, postdocs — and families — 24/7 access to a network of experts who are available to help with life concerns, including childcare, legal and financial advice, help with personal and professional challenges, and more.

Faculty Specific Resources

MIT Faculty Guide — Recognizing and Responding to Students in Distress: This Faculty Guide assists faculty in understanding MIT students, recognizing indicators of student stress, and knowing what specific resources to recommend to students in distress.