Hanlon Says Internal Investigation Into 3 Dartmouth Professors Almost Finished

Hanover — Dartmouth College President Phil Hanlon on Monday said an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct by three professors in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is expected to be finished soon.

“Each of the three separate investigations is being conducted by an experienced external investigator, who is close to concluding her work. We will, therefore, soon move from the investigative stage to consideration of any disciplinary action, where appropriate,” Hanlon said in an “update” emailed to the Dartmouth community.

Dartmouth placed professors Todd Heatherton, Bill Kelley and Paul Whalen on paid leave in October amid allegations of “serious misconduct,” and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office days later said it had opened a criminal investigation because at least some of the allegations involved potential “sexual misconduct.”

Fifteen Dartmouth undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral scholars, in a statement to The Dartmouth newspaper in November, asserted anonymously that the three professors had “created a hostile academic environment in which sexual harassment is normalized.”

Hanlon’s statement thanked the Dartmouth community for being patient during the inquiry and said the college is cooperating with the state Attorney General’s Office.

He noted that the professors had “restricted access” to college property and that any disciplinary action that might result from the college investigation would “follow the procedures set forth in the Organization of the Faculty of Dartmouth College.”

As for the state Attorney General’s Office, that investigation remains ongoing.

“At this time I cannot provide you with a timetable for its conclusion,” Associate Attorney General Jane Young said via email on Monday.