Community Values

If each of us makes an honest effort to ensure that we treat others with professional respect and dignity, all of us will enjoy the maximum possible benefit from working and learning together.

• All members of the community are entitled to respect. All individuals are expected, in their dealings with every other individual at the School, to demonstrate respect for each person's worth, dignity, and capacity to contribute.
• Discrimination can discourage a participant from active contribution both in the class and living group. It is important to be attentive to interactions with others and be diligent in recognizing discriminatory behavior, and in speaking up when it is observed.

We aim to foster an environment where individuals can have open discussion, reflect on their thinking, and learn from one another. This can only happen when we create an environment in which we adhere to moral and ethical principles.

• At Harvard Business School, you may engage in exercises where you are asked to share personal and professional information to deepen your learning experience. When confidential information is shared, we expect you will not share it with anyone not present in that discussion within or outside of the program.
• It is a common American practice, in an academic setting where people are learning together and from each other, that participants address each other and our faculty and staff by their first or given names; this is not intended to be disrespectful or discourteous.

Because inappropriate conduct can arise from a lack of understanding of community norms, we offer general guidelines to newly arriving participants to clarify the School's standards and your obligations to meet them.

• The faculty, staff, and fellow participants you work with here at Harvard Business School are professionals, and your relationship with them should be professional at all times.
• Staff and faculty often socialize with participants in the context of program activities. This kind of friendly social interaction should not be interpreted as an invitation, or signal of availability for, a more personal relationship.
• All members of the Harvard Business School community are entitled to work in an environment that is free from threat, harassment, abuse, or discrimination. Disrespectful behavior, sexual harassment, or racial/ethnic slurs should be reported to the Program Director immediately, as this behavior will not be tolerated.
• The HBS Learning Model (which includes the case method, case preparation, the Executive Education classroom environment, and living group learning) depends upon each participant being an active contributor in all aspects of learning. To the extent that a participant is absent from class and/or scheduled living group meetings, his/her learning suffers as does the learning of all living group colleagues. Therefore, unexcused absences, lack of preparation, or inconsistent participation could result in program dismissal.
• If you are facing challenges with fully engaging in the program due to a disability or language barrier, please speak, confidentially, with your Program Director to determine if an accommodation would be appropriate.

• Disruptive classroom and/or discussion group behaviors
• Absence from class
• Being late to class
• Being unprepared for group discussions and/or class
• Using mobile devices/technology in unpermitted or non-class-enhancing ways
• Not participating in living-group study sessions and class exercises

• Disrespecting other members of the HBS community (e.g., staff, fellow participants, students)
• Excessive alcohol use
• Destruction of HBS property
• Smoking indoors
• Loud/disruptive gatherings
• Lack of adherence to HBS policies (listed on the program website)

(Title IX, a federal civil rights law prohibiting gender discrimination may apply. Visit the Harvard website for more information on Harvard’s position on gender-based discrimination)

• Inappropriate behavior or comments (verbal or written) based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity
• Unwanted touching; sexual threats or acts of violence
• Lewd or sexually suggestive comments, jokes, innuendoes, or gestures
• Sexual assault

• Misrepresenting your identity (e.g., when sending an email)
• Misrepresenting your personal record (e.g., application, employment, academic, criminal) to HBS officials or others

• Non-payment of Harvard bills
• Unauthorized use of HBS or Harvard name or resources