Resources for Faculty Members Experiencing Harassment from Outside the UR Community

Nationally, faculty are increasingly experiencing harassment connected to their scholarship and teaching. Such harassment may include threatening or abusive communications, targeted online attacks, coordinated campaigns to discredit or intimidate, or bias-motivated conduct that interferes with a faculty member’s professional or personal well-being.

The University of Richmond affirms academic freedom as fundamental to its mission and to the ethical pursuit, expression, and public sharing of knowledge, including scholarship and teaching that engage complex, controversial, or publicly visible questions. Our community values the dignity, worth, and contributions of all faculty members and are committed to an inclusive academic community grounded in respect for diverse perspectives and responsible engagement with ideas and their consequences.

In recognition that faculty members do not have to navigate these upsetting and traumatic situations alone, this resource offers guidance, support, and institutional connection for faculty members responding to external harassment, as well as resources to mitigate its impact and continue their scholarly and pedagogical work in alignment with the University’s mission and values.

Faculty members who experience harassment related to their teaching, research, public engagement, and/or identity are encouraged to seek support and, where appropriate, report those concerns through University channels. Faculty members are encouraged to connect with their school leadership (such as department chairs or deans) for guidance and support in navigating these pathways.

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  • Immediate Threat to Health or Safety

    If you are in immediate danger or responding to in-person harassment or threats, contact the University of Richmond Police Department (URPD) at 804-289-8911 (or 911 if the situation is off campus or requires urgent emergency response). URPD provides 24/7 law-enforcement support and can assist with safety planning, investigative follow-up, and connection to additional resources.

  • Reporting Bias or Harassment from UR Community Members

    You may report incidents of discrimination or harassment based on protected status via the University’s discrimination & harassment reporting process, which includes bias incident reporting and connects faculty to policy support and follow-up by the Office of Compliance, Title IX, and Non-Discrimination.

  • Managing Online Harassment

    The University’s Information Services has developed recommendations to assist members of the UR community in responding to online harassment. Those resources can be accessed here and address instances of cyber bullying, cyberstalking, doxxing, trolling, and hate speech.

  • General Tips for Responding to Harassment from External Actors

    Deescalate

    You are strongly encouraged to avoid direct engagement with individuals or groups who are harassing you online, as responses often amplify attention and escalate hostility. Strategies to deescalate could include not replying, limiting public commentary, and refraining from engaging in hostile forums.

    Seeking legal advice

    If you believe harassment may involve unlawful conduct, you should consider consulting outside legal counsel. Early consultation can help preserve evidence, assess risk, and determine whether formal legal action, cease-and-desist letters, or law enforcement engagement is appropriate.

    Care Services

    Experiencing online harassment can have significant emotional, psychological, and professional impacts, and you are encouraged to access available care resources, including UR’s employee assistance program. The University is committed to fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes well-being alongside academic freedom and scholarly work.

  • Information for Deans’ Offices and Department Chairs

    When an incident comes to your attention, contact the affected individual(s) to offer support, which may include connecting them with institutional resources. Reinforce the importance of the safety of members of our community and UR’s commitment to free expression and free inquiry.

    Administrators should consider whether the reported harassment may extend beyond the individual faculty member, such as if the incident is tied to shared course materials, public events, shared research topics, or departmental statements. This assessment may include determining whether students, staff, or other faculty members are being targeted, whether threats reference physical locations or schedules, and whether similar incidents have occurred elsewhere on campus. In your professional judgement, escalate incidents to the Provost’s Office as you deem appropriate.