How sexual harassment complaints are handled determines whether others will bring complaints and whether legal action will follow. If complaints are handled fairly and in a timely manner, virtually all complainants and alleged sexual harassers will accept the complaint process. Word will circulate that complaints are taken seriously and handled well. An effective complaint process will encourage genuine complaints, discourage complainants from going to outside agencies, and deter potential sexual harassers. Bungled complaints will discourage potential complainants from seeking relief on campus, send them to outside agencies, and send a message to sexual harassers that they can continue their behavior with impunity. Because sexual harassment involves gender-based discrimination and must be understood within the context of power and inequality of opportunity, the investigation of sexual harassment complaints presents a number of challenges. In addition, handling sexual harassment complaints in the academic setting requires a complex set of investigative procedures and resources. A system of investigation is described that may be employed to resolve complaints fairly, prevent further sexual harassment, and mitigate harm to the complainant and liability to the institution. The system is based on institutional considerations, investigator credibility, sensitivity to the hierarchy of colleges and universities and to issues associated with sexual harassment, investigator autonomy, complaint intake, notification, interviews, referral to counseling, complaint resolution, and disciplinary action and followup. 15 references