Georgia Tech is committed to offering resources and support to faculty members experiencing threats, harassment, and/or intimidation related to or because of their research or academic work.   

As stated in our Institute values, Georgia Tech aims to foster an environment where all members of our community can ask questions, seek truth, and express their views. Academic freedom and freedom of expression are considered essential cornerstones to the advancement of knowledge.   

However, we do not tolerate harassment and have measures in place for dealing with harassment in its various forms.

If you suspect that you are being harassed, it is critical to document your experiences and interactions. Please refer to the following checklist: 

• It is critical to document and save evidence of the incident in question.  
  • Take screenshots and save copies of all communications between yourself and this person or account. This includes social media interactions, as well as email, text, and/or voicemail.  
  • Ensure that all evidence has been thoroughly preserved and documented prior to disabling and/or deleting accounts.  
  • If you are unsure of how to document these online interactions properly, please ask someone you trust, such as your supervisor/manager or the Conflict Resolution and Advocacy Team, for assistance.   

• Take steps to protect yourself online.  
  • Georgia Tech Cyber Security can help you take steps to protect your online identity.  
    • You can contact the Cyber Security Team via phone 404.385.CYBR (2927) or email ask@security.gatech.edu 

• Take steps to protect your well-being during the investigation process.  
  • If you have the option to “mute” notifications on the channels through which you are receiving these communications, it is often helpful to do so until the conclusion of the investigation.  
  • If your mental health is suffering, Georgia Tech offers support through the Employee Assistance Program. 
  • Georgia Tech’s Conflict Resolution and Advocacy Team is available to provide consultative and mediative support to faculty who are unsure how to navigate difficult situations. Please email advocacy@gatech.edu or visit the Conflict Resolution and Advocacy web resources for assistance. 

• Decide if you should respond.  
  • Always discuss what is going on with a supervisor or other Georgia Tech support staff and report the incident through the proper channels prior to crafting a response. 
  • Factors to consider before responding:  
    • Will a response increase my physical risk?   
    • Will a response exacerbate the existing situation by providing additional material for your harasser’s communications? 

One of the concerns faculty members express about classroom discussion is the possibility that comments and questions might lead into divisive or controversial topics, or even result in harassment in some instances. 

If something is said in the classroom by a student that puts the safety of yourself or another student at risk, please report it immediately. If you believe anyone in the classroom to be in danger, please contact the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD). The GTPD phone number (for both emergencies and non-emergencies) is 404.894.2500. On campus landlines, they can also be reached at 4-2500 or by dialing 911. 

If you are concerned about a classroom situation but do not feel that anyone in the classroom is in immediate danger, you can use Georgia Tech’s Conflict Resolution and Advocacy reporting form to submit an incident report.  

If something is said in the classroom by a student that is challenging to address or answer, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides helpful resources with tips on how to handle these moments. 

• Difficult discussions can elicit discomfort for both instructors and students, but they can also be important to student learning. Please utilize the CTL Resource on Managing Difficult or Uncomfortable Topics in the Classroom. 

• For more information about how to handle "hot topics" in classroom discussions, visit this Center for Teaching and Learning resource on Dealing with the Unexpected. 

In today’s information-centric environment, protecting organizational data from deliberate or unintentional disclosure is paramount. While many focus on protecting their critical assets and data from external threats, they may overlook threats originating from inside Georgia Tech. Insiders have the potential to cause severe financial and reputational harm to the Institute. 

To learn more about insider threats, please visit the Insider Threat Program and Reporting Policy. 

To report suspected instances of insider threat indicators, please visit the anonymous Insider Threat Program Reporting Tool.