Central Administration
Bacow Calls for Visa Flexibility, Increased Access for International Students
University President Lawrence S. Bacow urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to “ease the return to campus” for international students by permanently increasing visa flexibility in a letter sent Monday.
Forty Percent of Surveyed Faculty Say Harvard’s Standing in Higher Ed Has Fallen
Over 40 percent of respondents to The Crimson’s survey of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences said they believe the University’s standing within higher education has fallen during the past decade.
Hundreds Sign Letter Asking Harvard to Designate Election Day as University-Wide ‘Democracy Day’
More than 600 Harvard affiliates signed an open letter asking University President Lawrence S. Bacow to designate federal Election Days as instruction-free “Democracy Days” that would offer a holiday to employees and students and provide civic engagement programming.
Texas Files Amicus Brief Supporting SFFA in Harvard Admissions Lawsuit
The state of Texas filed an amicus brief Tuesday in favor of the anti-affirmative action group suing Harvard over its race-conscious admissions policies.
Harvard Aims to Bring Back Faculty, Staff on Aug. 2
Harvard announced Monday it plans to reopen its campus to all faculty, staff, and researchers on Aug. 2 in light of expected vaccine availability.
Bacow Hopes for ‘As Close to a Traditional’ Post-Covid Commencement As Possible for Classes of ’20, ’21
University President Lawrence S. Bacow said in an interview Thursday that Harvard intends for future in-person celebrations for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 to closely mirror traditional Commencement Exercises with just “as much pomp and circumstance.”
Bacow Defends Harvard’s Tenure Process Following Cornel West’s Decision to Depart
University President Lawrence S. Bacow declined to provide details on the circumstances that led to the departure of Cornel R. West ’74, citing confidentiality policies, but defended Harvard’s existing tenure process in a Thursday interview.
Grad Union and Harvard Begin Bargaining for Second Contract
Harvard and its graduate student union held their first bargaining session for a second contract Thursday, reopening negotiations just nine months after the two sides agreed on a first contract.
Harvard Administrators Respond to Spike in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes, Atlanta Shootings
Harvard administrators responded to the rise in anti-Asian violence and hate crimes since the onset of the pandemic last year in a series of emails calling for the University to come together in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
Harvard Could Be Eligible For $25 Million In Relief Funds Under Latest Stimulus Package, Per Report
Harvard may be eligible to receive nearly $25.5 million in aid from the latest federal stimulus package, according to an analysis published Monday by the American Council on Education, a higher education interest group.
Inside Harvard’s Cautious Reopening Approach in the Year of Covid
Backed by deep pockets and a slew of in-house resources and expertise, Harvard has opted for a conservative approach to reopening that has kept on-campus case rates consistently low but left students scattered across the globe.
Garber ‘Very Optimistic’ Ahead of Graduate Student Union Negotiations
With the negotiations over a second contract between Harvard and its graduate student union looming, University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 said in an interview Friday that he is “very optimistic” going into bargaining.
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Charleston Lays Out Steps Toward ‘Inclusive Excellence’ at Alumni Webinar
Sherri A. Charleston, Harvard’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, outlined her approach to creating an environment of “inclusive excellence” during a Tuesday webinar co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association and the Asian American, Black, Latino, and Native American alumni groups.
Grad Student Union Files Intent to Bargain for Second Contract with Harvard
Harvard’s graduate student union filed a notice of intent to bargain with the University Friday, officially launching negotiations for its second contract representing more than 4,000 student employees.
Women Harassed by Domínguez Say Harvard’s Investigatory Procedures Remain Insufficient
Two women who were victims of sexual misconduct by former Government professor Jorge I. Domínguez criticized the findings of an external review into Domínguez’s misconduct and urged the University to take stronger measures to address sexual harassment.
Bacow Says Harvard Will Move to Create Centralized Personnel System Following Domínguez Review
University President Lawrence S. Bacow said Wednesday that Harvard is moving to create a “centralized process” for personnel records after an external review in part blamed Harvard’s decentralized structure for failures to respond to sexual harassment complaints.
In Wake of External Report, Dominguez Victims Call For Changes in How Harvard Investigates Sexual Misconduct
Four women who were victims of sexual misconduct by former Government professor Jorge I. Domínguez penned a letter to University President Lawrence S. Bacow Friday in response to an external review committee report published last week on the circumstances that enabled his misconduct.
External Review Finds Power Disparities, ‘Inadequate Reporting Mechanisms’ Enabled Decades of Domínguez Harassment
An external committee reviewing sexual harassment at Harvard found “pronounced power disparities” and “inadequate reporting mechanisms” at the University allowed decades of sexual harassment by former Government professor Jorge I. Domínguez to persist, according to its final report released Thursday.
‘A Permissive Culture’: Six Takeaways on Harvard’s Failure to Prevent Decades of Domínguez Harassment
In a 26-page report released by the University on Thursday, an external committee reviewing sexual harassment at Harvard detailed a “permissive culture regarding sexual harassment” at the school. Here are six key takeaways.
Bacow Puts Forth ‘Practices and Principles’ for Appointments of Harvard Officials
University President Lawrence S. Bacow defended the importance of free speech on campus during a faculty meeting Tuesday, but said that Harvard programs appointing individuals to an official role should “be prepared to defend why an individual is worthy of recognition” by Harvard.
‘One More Step Forward’: Harvard Forward Candidates Qualify for Board of Overseers Election Ballot
For the second year in a row, a slate of candidates backed by Harvard Forward will appear on the election ballot for the Board of Overseers, the organization announced Monday.
Possible Remains of Enslaved People Found in Harvard Museum Collections
Following the discovery of the remains of potentially enslaved people in its collections, Harvard has formed a steering committee to catalogue and develop policies around the human remains housed in the school’s museums, University President Lawrence S. Bacow announced in an email to affiliates on Thursday.
Harvard Management Company Completes 'Five Year' Restructuring More Than One Year Early
Harvard Management Company has completed its “five-year” organizational and investment restructuring plan more than one year ahead of schedule, HMC CEO N.P. “Narv” Narvekar announced in a message to University affiliates Tuesday.
Harvard Launches Internal Committee to Review Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Bullying Policies
Harvard has established a committee and working groups to review the University’s sexual misconduct, discrimination, and bullying policies, University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 announced in an email to Harvard affiliates Monday.
Can a Biden White House Move Harvard Toward Divestment?
Joe Biden’s focus on environmental issues and his selection of a pro-divestment professor for a senior White House position have heartened Harvard divestment activists; however, questions remain about whether a new occupant of the White House will sway decisions made in Massachusetts Hall.