Achieving the HBS mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world requires an environment of trust and mutual respect, free expression and inquiry, and a commitment to truth, excellence, and lifelong learning. Participants, as members of the HBS community, accept these principles when admitted to a program. In doing so, they agree to abide by our Community Values of respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others; honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community; and accountability for personal behavior.
Harvard Business School reserves the right to ask any participant to withdraw who does not meet the required standards in regard to workshop attendance and participation in the work of the program, or whose personal demeanor is not consistent with the policies and Community Values of the School.
Workshop Attendance
Participants are admitted on the understanding with their management that they will be free from company duties during the program sessions and events, and that they will, therefore, devote their full attention to the program. Full engagement for the entirety of the program ensures that you get the most out of your peers’ contributions and that they benefit from your insights. Accordingly, attendance at all workshops, discussion groups, and program events, unless otherwise noted as optional, is required. Please note that any absences may impact your eligibility for a digital badge at the conclusion of the program.
Alcohol and Drugs
Harvard Business School is a private educational institution dedicated to fulfilling a mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world. To that end, we maintain facilities and provide appropriate services that create an environment conducive to academic achievement and personal growth.
- Alcohol consumption must be in adherence with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- No alcoholic beverages may be brought into, served, or consumed at any time in any academic space on campus, including classrooms, hives, and project rooms.
- Only beer and wine are permitted at HBS events, whether formal or informal. Distilled/hard liquor may be consumed only in private living spaces—within a participant’s room or living group. It may not be brought into, served, or consumed in any public areas on campus, including residence-hall main lounges, patios/courtyards, and other shared spaces.
- The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students, faculty, and staff or their guests on Harvard property or as a part of any Harvard activity are violations of HBS policy as well as the law.
- Although Massachusetts law now permits adults aged 21 or older to possess and consume marijuana under certain circumstances, federal law prohibits the possession, use, or distribution of marijuana on Harvard property or as part of a Harvard activity. Thus, even if possession or use of marijuana would be permitted under Massachusetts law, it remains prohibited on campus.
Treatment and counseling options are available to participants, even on an emergency basis, at University Health Services off-site in Smith Campus Center, located across the Charles River from the Harvard Business School campus.
Please take a moment to review the complete Harvard Business School Alcohol and Drug Policy.. The safety and well-being of our community is of the utmost importance, and we appreciate your adherence to this policy.
Social Gatherings
When using shared space on campus, it is expected that participants will exercise good judgment and take responsibility for their behavior in accordance with HBS Community Values.
The following guidelines apply when using the following shared spaces:
Shared Spaces:
- These shared spaces are available to all participants for small group gatherings, when not in use for programs or other campus events. These spaces cannot be reserved.
- Only beer and wine are allowed in shared spaces (no distilled/hard liquor), and only in reasonable quantities (e.g., cans or bottles) intended for personal consumption. Large quantities of alcohol (e.g., kegs or cases) are not permitted.
- Participants must be mindful of the noise and impact on other community members.
- Participants may bring in take-out or separately purchased food items, in accordance with our self-catering policy (referenced below).
- Deliveries through Restaurant Associates are not permitted.
- No outside vendors/equipment are allowed.
- Furniture is not to be moved.
- Participants are responsible for leaving any common space clean after their gathering, including appropriately disposing of empty cans, bottles, or cups (e.g., by recycling).
- Harvard authorized personnel reserve the right to shut down or break up a gathering if it is determined to be a disruption or hazard (e.g., too large, too noisy, or disorderly conduct). Participants may be held responsible in case of any property damage.
For more information on the School’s alcohol and drug policy, please see the “Alcohol and Drugs” section on this page.
For information on local venues which can accommodate social gatherings, please contact your D^3 relationship manager
Self Catering Policy
Most meals are provided and served in the workshop room. Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer for HBS, managing all on-campus meals and events. On occasion, participants may choose to order take out or bring in self-purchased food items. The following guidelines apply:
- Food delivery service and outside caterers are not permitted on campus.
- Delivery must be made to, and accepted in, the HBS parking lot; vehicular access to campus will not be permitted.
- Food must be pre-packaged and in disposable containers, ready for consumption.
- Food providers cannot serve the food delivered; heating devices of any kind may not be used.
- Participants are responsible for all condiments, paper supplies and disposable utensils.
- Participants are responsible for leaving any common space clean after their gathering, including appropriately disposing of empty cans, bottles, or cups (e.g., by recycling).
- Harvard authorized personnel reserve the right to shut down or break up a gathering if it is determined to be a disruption or hazard (e.g., too large, too noisy, or disorderly conduct). Participants may be held responsible in case of any property damage.
Policies Addressing Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct
Harvard Business School has adopted the University-wide Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy. In addition, the University’s Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Policy addresses sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct alleged to have occurred between September 1, 2014 and August 14, 2020. Copies of all policies and their associated grievance procedures can be found here.
In all such cases, the Harvard University Office for Dispute Resolution (“ODR”) and the Harvard University Office for Gender Equity’s Title IX Team are responsible for implementing the University’s grievance procedures, which will determine whether a student committed a policy violation. Whenever a formal complaint of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct is investigated and the University’s grievance procedures result in a finding that a policy violation has occurred, the HBS Conduct Review Board must accept that finding as final and non-reviewable. The only opportunity to appeal the determination of a policy violation is provided within the grievance procedures implemented by ODR and OGE’s Title IX Team. Appeals within HBS pertain only to the decision of the HBS Conduct Review Board in determining discipline.
What types of conduct are covered under these policies?
The Harvard University Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy addresses the following forms of discrimination on the basis of sex:
- Conduct that that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education or work programs or activities;
- Quid pro quo harassment (conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit or service of the University on participation in unwelcome conduct); and
- Sexual Assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as defined by federal law
The Harvard University Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy is designed to address misconduct that falls outside the jurisdiction of the Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, which includes, for example: unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; and other verbal, nonverbal, graphic, or physical conduct of a sexual nature or based on sexual orientation or gender identity, that satisfies one or both of the following:
- Quid pro quo harassment;
- Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it effectively denies a person access to the University’s education or work programs or activities
Retaliation against an individual for making a report or complaint of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct, or for participating or refusing to participate in any proceeding regarding such a complaint, or for opposing discriminatory practices is prohibited by the Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy.
What is Harvard’s definition of consent?
Both policies – the Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and the Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy – share the same consent definition: Consent is agreement, assent, approval, or permission given voluntarily and may be communicated verbally or by actions.
Reminders regarding consent:
- The absence of a “no” does not by itself mean yes
- A person may stop welcoming sexual contact at any time
- A person may welcome sexual acts on one occasion, but not on a later occasion
- A person may welcome particular sexual acts but not others
- A dating, marital, and/or sexual relationship is not a blanket invitation to engage in sexual activity at any time
- When a person is incapacitated, meaning so impaired as to be incapable of giving consent, conduct of a sexual nature is considered unwelcome
A participant who has questions or concerns regarding sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct may contact Sally Robinson at: srobinson@hbs.edu or +1.617.495.6066 (5.6066 from any campus phone) or visit oge.harvard.edu for more information.
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying
It is the strong and consistent policy of Harvard Business School to treat all members of our community with respect, to provide an environment conducive to learning and working, and to ensure equal access to rights, privileges, and opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age, ancestry, veteran status, disability, military service, or any other legally protected basis.
Discrimination or harassment on the basis of these characteristics is inconsistent with HBS principles and policies. The University has adopted new policies and procedures to address discrimination and bullying. These policies apply to all members of the Harvard community. The University’s non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies can be found here.
The following Local Designated Resources in HBS serve as a resource for receiving reports and complaints, directing community members to resources, and providing information on supportive measures: If you need guidance about a situation involving staff or participant, contact Sally Robinson at: srobinson@hbs.edu or +1.617.495.6066 (5.6066 from any campus phone) If you need guidance about a situation involving a faculty member, contact Jean Cunningham at jcunningham@hbs.edu.
Recording
Participants are not permitted to share their Harvard Business School credentials, session Zoom links or the D³ Learning Platform (d3.sana.ai) login information with anyone. Participants are not permitted to make audio or video recordings of classroom sessions or program activities in any form without the express, written permission of the D^3 Institute and the participants.
The use of the term “recording” in this policy refers to any images or audio captured by digital or film-based cameras, cellular telephones, generative AI technology, hand-held devices, PDAs, pagers, audio-tape recorders, or any other digital or film-based device. Participants are not allowed to post photos of other program participants to a publicly viewed domain (including blogs and websites) without the written permission of the participants. This includes images captured during program activities or social events that occur outside of the program schedule.
Harvard Business School may record sessions for educational use. Recordings are for internal use only and will not be shared outside the Harvard Business School community. Recordings may include your name, likeness, voice, appearance during program sessions (lectures, discussions, comments, polls, surveys, presentation materials, displays, illustrations, documents, materials).
Privacy
This Privacy Policy describes the ways in which D³ Institute at Harvard Business School (HBS) gathers and uses personal information about individuals through the website (the Website) and through other electronic communications in connection with D³ programs.
Users This Privacy Policy applies to individuals inquiring about, applying to and participating in, D³ programs.
Privacy Principles D³ processes personal information in accordance with the HBS Privacy Notice.
The following information in this Privacy Policy supplements the HBS Privacy Notice.
Information We Gather Specific types of personal information about individuals that may be collected by D³ Institute through the Website or otherwise in connection with D³ Institute programs include:
- Name
- Email address
- Harvard University ID
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Phone
- Mailing address
- Credit card number
- Program name(s)
- Present employer
- Work location
- Title/position
- Past work experience
- Industry/sector
- Information in comments posted by individuals in courses
- Other information volunteered in a Professional Profile
- Other personal information volunteered, such as interests and family information
- Photo
Other information may also be collected as described in the HBS Privacy Notice.
Zoom Privacy
Harvard has been in active communications with Zoom to address security and privacy concerns raised within our community and elsewhere. Here are some of the steps Harvard has taken to ensure that Zoom provides sufficient protections for the privacy of our community and that its platform is secure.
What privacy protections does the Harvard community have when using Zoom?
In its contract with Harvard, Zoom accepted terms that protect the privacy of Harvard Zoom users. Most importantly, Harvard’s contract requires that Zoom “will not use Confidential Information for any purpose other than the performance of [Zoom] Services.” Under the contract, “Confidential Information” includes:
- Personally identifiable information about any members of the Harvard community, as well as of “other individuals”; and
- Nonpublic information, whether about Harvard (including any unit within Harvard) or a third party, that Zoom knows or should know is confidential.
Harvard’s contract with Zoom imposes additional privacy and security commitments, including the obligation to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).It is important to note that these contract terms only apply to members of the Harvard community using a Harvard Zoom account. Additional steps that Zoom has taken that the Harvard community should be aware of include:
- On March 29 Zoom amended its Privacy Policy to clarify its general practices regarding user privacy. Zoom’s amended Privacy Policy provides that Zoom uses “customer content” only to “provide Zoom service to users.” Under the Privacy Policy, “customer content” means “any information you upload, provide or create while using Zoom,” specifically including “cloud recordings, chat/instant messages, files, whiteboard, and other information shared while using the service.” Zoom may store customer content as needed to perform the services.
Zoom’s amended Privacy Policy also distinguishes between information it collects through use of Zoom’s services and information it collects from visitors to pages on its marketing sites. Only information collected from visitors to marketing sites is used by Zoom for marketing or promotional services or ad placement.
What steps is Zoom taking to address data privacy and security vulnerabilities?
Harvard recognizes that Zoom has experienced remarkable growth in the last month and, with that, greater scrutiny of its privacy policy and security practices. A number of media reports have identified data privacy and client vulnerabilities in the Zoom platform. Steps Zoom has taken to address these vulnerabilities are recorded in release notes that Zoom publishes in its Zoom Help Center. Zoom also posts blogs to address concerns that are raised by its community.
What is “Zoombombing,” and how can I keep it from happening?
“Zoombombing” occurs when uninvited attendees break into and disrupt your meeting. There have been reports of Zoombombing across higher education — including a small number of instances at Harvard, specifically—as Zoom usage has increased.The best way to prevent against Zoombombing is to make sure your meetings are secure. Zoom recently updated its default settings to:
- Assign passcodes to new meetings*; and
- Restrict screen sharing to shares approved by the meeting host.
*Zoom has configured its passcodes so that meeting participants who receive invites and click links to meetings do not have to enter the passcode. By contrast, uninvited participants who seek to enter a Zoom meeting by typing in the meeting number will need to enter a passcode before they are admitted.
Use and Sharing of Information
The personal information is used for processing applications; program delivery and administration; conducting classes; processing individual payments (payments are processed through a third-party vendor); and promoting and circulating information on D³ Insitute and other HBS events and resources. We may also share personal information, such as contact information, with service providers who support program delivery, administration, and promotion.
Program staff will have access to the data listed above. Program faculty will have access to your name and image, your contact information, and data related to your participation in the program. Other program participants will have access to your name, image and email address, and of course to any other information you post in publicly accessible program forums.
Other uses and sharing of personal information by D³ are described in the HBS Privacy Notice..
Updates to the Disclosure
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time without notice by posting revisions to this site. You can determine when this Privacy Policy was last revised by checking the Last Updated date below.
Contact Information
Please contact your D^3 relationship manager with any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy.
Effective Date
The effective date of this privacy notice is 9/22/2020.
Copyright
All materials provided to participants are protected by copyright and are for use in this program only and should not be digitized, photocopied, or otherwise reproduced, posted or transmitted for any other purpose without the permission of the Harvard Business School
Discrimination
In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School is committed to providing an educational and work environment free from any form of discrimination. The School will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability. Discrimination is unlawful and inconsistent with the nature of an academic institution.
For inquiries regarding the discrimination policies for D³ programs, please contact Sally Robinson at: srobinson@hbs.edu or +1.617.495.6066 (5.6066 from any campus phone)
Temperature
To align with Harvard University’s deep commitment to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, HBS has set the following temperature policy:
During the winter heating season (approximately mid-October to mid-May), the temperature is adjustable from 68-73°F (20-23°C)
During the summer cooling season (approximately mid-May to mid-October), the temperature is adjustable from 72-76°F (22-24.5°C)
Smoking
In accordance with Harvard University policy, smoking—including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)—is prohibited inside all Harvard Business School buildings and within 25 feet of any building outside. Participants will be subject to both sanctions for violating HBS Community Values and a cleaning fee as a result of smoking indoors.
Additionally, note that while Massachusetts law now permits adults aged 21 or older to possess and consume marijuana under certain circumstances, federal law prohibits the possession, use, or distribution of marijuana on Harvard property or as part of a Harvard activity. Thus, even if possession or use of marijuana would be permitted under Massachusetts law, it remains prohibited on campus.
Commercial Activity
D³ Institute at Harvard Business School provides a learning environment where participants work collectively to analyze leadership challenges, collaborate on individual and work-related projects, and develop lifelong professional and social networks. In this unique setting, learning is optimized when the group exhibits trust, confidentiality, and mutual respect.
In order to preserve the learning environment of HBS, participants are not permitted, whether through the use of contact information received on fellow participants or otherwise, to conduct commercial activities in which participant solicitation occurs.
Use of Technology
Members of the Harvard community rely on technology in multiple aspects of their work, teaching, research, study, and other activities. In doing so, they use electronic systems, networks, and devices that the University owns, provides, or administers. The University makes these systems available for the purpose of carrying out the University’s various activities. The use of resources for illegal activities is forbidden; specific sanctions may result from misuse. At HBS, this limitation includes the use of a School computer to intentionally access, download, and/or display pornographic or obscene materials.
Effective March 31, 2014, Harvard established a policy that sets out guidelines and processes for University access to user electronic information stored in or transmitted through any University system. This policy applies to all Schools and units of the University. Participants must also comply with HBS Academic Standards for use of generative AI.
Generative AI
The University supports responsible experimentation with generative AI tools, but there are important considerations to keep in mind when using these tools, including information security and data privacy, compliance, copyright and academic integrity. Generative AI is a rapidly evolving technology, and HBS’ policies may be updated from time to time. Before using these tools, please ensure they are permitted for your specific program. Keep in mind that AI-generated content may be inaccurate or include sensitive information if not used carefully. If you’re considering using or purchasing a generative AI tool for use in program or with HBS data or content, or have questions about AI use, please contact D^3 support at d3support@hbs.edu For general guidance, please refer to the HBS Academic Standards for use of generative AI.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
In compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, it is illegal to download copyrighted information or materials to your computer without legal permission from the owner. These materials include, but are not limited to: music, films, video productions, and any copyrighted document or file that can be conveyed electronically. Those not complying with this law face disciplinary action and, potentially, legal action, fines, and penalties.
Pets
HBS does not permit animals or pets in its facilities, with the exception of service animals.
Freedom of Expression and Classroom Non-Attribution
D³ Workshop has adopted Harvard Business School MBA Program’s Guidance on Community Values, which is intended to provide additional guidance for participants on how our principles and values support our learning model—enabling every student and participant to exercise their right to participate fully in the learning experience and asking all of us consider our responsibilities to each other as members of the HBS and Harvard University communities.
This policy, along with related Harvard University policies, can be found here.
Additionally, we wish to provide clarity on non-attribution, modeled on the Chatham House Rule, for participant statements made in class: When communicating with anyone who did not participate in the relevant classroom discussion, whether verbally or in writing (including via text, email, or social media platforms), no one may repeat or describe a statement made by a student in class in a manner that would enable a person who was not present in the class to identify the speaker of the statement. More information on this educational objective can be found here.