Budgets
FAS Could Lay Off 25 Percent of Staff in Summer Administrative Restructuring
Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences could lay off up to one quarter of its staff this summer as part of a sweeping administrative overhaul that would consolidate departments, centers, and institutes into shared administrative “clusters,” according to two people familiar with the plans.
Deming Says Ivy Deans Talked Budget Strains, Grading Reform, and Public Trust at Annual Conference
Harvard College Dean David J. Deming said the financial strain on elite universities dominated discussions at a gathering of Ivy League deans last weekend, where administrators traded notes on how to respond to leaner budgets, grade inflation, and a recent Yale report on eroding public trust in higher education.
Jackson Mann Community Center to Receive No FY27 Funding in Wu Budget
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes no new funding for Allston’s Jackson Mann Community Center, despite setting aside nearly $6 million in future spending for continued planning and redevelopment of the long-stalled site.
Alison Donnelly Named Harvard Kennedy School Chief Financial Officer
Alison W. Donnelly will become the chief financial officer of the Harvard Kennedy School on May 4, tasked with stabilizing HKS’s finances following layoffs and sweeping budget cuts last year.
Transit, Stability Take Top Priority in Gov. Healey’s Proposed FY27 Budget
Cambridge could receive more than $50 million in state funds in Fiscal Year 2027 as the state leans on income surtax revenue to shore up local funding and support regional public transit.
Cambridge Police Department Proposes $57 Million Budget for FY27
The Cambridge Police Department is seeking more than $57 million from the city for the upcoming fiscal year — roughly a $1.5 million increase from last year’s budget.
The FAS Wanted to Cut Costs. It Hired McKinsey.
When the Faculty of Arts and Sciences set out to slash costs, it turned to an unlikely source for thrift: McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s most expensive management consulting firms, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Equity Audit Praises Cambridge Schools’ Overall Instruction but Finds Gaps in Student Support
A two-year equity audit of Cambridge Public Schools found that the district is offering strong core instruction, but has failed to consistently provide academic and behavioral interventions for students who need the most support.
FAS Committee Shares Initial Plans for Administrative Workforce Overhaul in Staff Meeting
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra approved a plan to transfer administrative staff to centralized offices, likely shedding some positions in the process, according to a recording of a Monday all-staff meeting obtained by The Crimson.
Cambridge Tightens Purse Strings, Considers Cutting Community Programs for Fiscal Year 2027
Cambridge leaders said they are preparing to make city-wide budget cuts to brace for what they believe will be a multi-year economic slowdown in a “sobering” round table meeting with the City Council and School Committee on Monday.
Memorial Church Reduces Programming Amid University Budget Cuts
Memorial Church will limit its student programs and public events as a result of University-wide budget cuts, according to Memorial Church Pusey Minister Matthew Ichihashi Potts.
Cambridge City Manager Defends Budget Process That Left Councilors Frustrated
Even as Cambridge City Councilors express frustration over funding allocation, City Manager Yi-An Huang ‘05 defended his financial decisions as Cambridge’s budget growth slows.
HSPH Asks Labs To Describe Funding Streams As It Braces for Financial Troubles
The Harvard School of Public Health is asking all research labs to describe their funding streams to determine how to allocate “scarce internal resources” in the wake of the Trump administration’s multibillion dollar cut to federal grants and contracts.
Cambridge City Council To Consider Renewing Funding for Transition Wellness Center
The Cambridge City council voted to consider renewing funding for the Transition Wellness Center at Spaulding Hospital in a 5-4 vote at their Monday meeting after a heated debate and hours of public comment.
Former OCR Head Catherine Lhamon Talks Ed Department Cuts at HGSE
Former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education Catherine E. Lhamon said the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the department will put students at risk at a Harvard Graduate School of Education forum on Tuesday.
Utilities May Charge Public to Offer Discounts for Big Tech, HLS Report Finds
Members of the public pay a portion of energy bills for the world’s largest tech players as electric utility companies aim to subsidize the rapid growth of data centers from corporations including Meta and Amazon. The findings were reported by the Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative last month.
Healey, State Leadership Criticize Trump’s Latest Cuts to Public Health Funding
The Healey-Driscoll Administration condemned President Trump’s Wednesday termination of more than $12 billion in public health grants, following funding cuts at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Cambridge Residents Vote to Allocate $1 Million to City Improvement Projects
The City of Cambridge allocated over $1 million to seven city improvement projects in its annual Participatory Budgeting process Friday. Winning projects, nearly all of which each earned more than 3,000 votes from Cambridge residents, included improved seating and shade in public parks, a mobile recycling center, electric vehicle chargers, and more.
Khurana Says Harvard is Preparing for Possible Federal Funding Cuts
Following the Trump administration’s decision to cut $400 million in government grants to Columbia University, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana said top administrators are planning for the possibility that Harvard may be next.
Trump’s Dismantling of Ed Department Will Have ‘Functionally Zero’ Impact on CPS, District Officials Say
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday calling to dismantle the Department of Education — a change that will have “minimal” impact on Cambridge Public Schools, according to district officials.
As Trump Slashes Federal Grants, the Harvard School of Public Health Has the Most To Lose
As President Donald Trump escalates his attacks on universities’ access to federal research funding, the Harvard School of Public Health has felt the pain especially acutely.
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Will Keep Budget Flat, Stop Staff Hiring for Fiscal Year 2026
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences will aim to keep spending flat for fiscal year 2026 amid threats from the Trump administration and long-term financial concerns, according to budget guidance shared by FAS financial officers in early February.
Hoekstra Tells FAS To ‘Prepare for Significant Financial Challenges’ Amid Uncertainty From Washington
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra told faculty on Tuesday that she has instructed FAS officials “to prepare for significant financial challenges” and “build financial capacity” as President Donald Trump ramps up threats to Harvard’s funding.
CPS Expects $12 Million Budget Increase in Fiscal Year 2026, Driven by Staff Compensation
Cambridge Public Schools is set to increase its staff salaries and benefits expenditure by $10 million, according to a presentation on the 2026 fiscal year budget at a Jan. 7 School Committee meeting.
City Manager Huang Urges ‘Moderation of Growth’ to Address Budget Crunch
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 offered a playbook for addressing the city’s unsustainable budget growth in a Friday interview with The Crimson, suggesting that the city may further raise property taxes and pare back certain city services in fiscal year 2026.
Most Read Articles
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
OUR LATEST PRINT EDITION
Fresh off the press every Friday, with special issues throughout the year. Want a copy? Find one near you. Want it delivered to your doorstep? Sign up.
The Harvard Crimson
Original reporting and exclusive scoops from Harvard and Cambridge — delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.