University
Kennedy School Merges Financial Aid and Admissions Teams, Laying Off Seven
The Harvard Kennedy School merged its financial aid and admissions teams in July, laying off five employees in the school’s Student Financial Services department and two in Admissions and Recruitment while creating eight new positions.
Anthropology Department Committee Formed Following Sexual Harassment Allegations Issues Final Report
A committee examining the climate within Harvard’s Anthropology department recommended in a final report this month that the department establish a code of conduct, allow access to third-party arbitration in misconduct investigations, and conduct an external review when “powerful” figures in the department commit sexual misconduct.
As Delta Variant Cases Climb, University Will Maintain Indoor Mask Mandate
The University will continue to require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status as the Delta variant has driven a nationwide rise in coronavirus cases, Harvard University Health Services Director Giang T. Nguyen wrote in an email to Harvard affiliates on Wednesday.
Harvard Grad Student Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against University Over Information Requests
Harvard’s graduate student union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the University with the National Labor Relations Board Monday, alleging Harvard is not bargaining in good faith with the union by withholding necessary information about its unit and relevant University policies.
Seven Board Members Resign From Harvard BGLTQ Alumni Group Over Diversity Dispute
Seven board members of the Harvard Gender and Sexuality Caucus, an alumni-led organization serving BGLTQ University affiliates, resigned earlier this month after controversy arose over the board’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Federal Judge Rules Lawsuit Against Harvard in Alleged ‘Doxxing’ Case Can Proceed
A federal judge ruled last month that a defamation lawsuit filed against Harvard and the former director of Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab over tweets he posted in 2018 can proceed.
Harvard Grad Student Union Votes To Extend Current Contract As Negotiations Continue
Members of Harvard’s graduate student union voted 61.5 percent in favor of a two-month contract extension last week, accepting the University’s offer to extend the contract to Aug. 31 as the two sides remain deep in negotiations.
Harvard Names Klara Jelinkova As New Chief Information Officer
Klara Jelinkova, the vice president for international operations and IT at Rice University, will become Harvard’s next vice president and chief information officer, the University announced Tuesday.
Harvard Restores Prof. Fryer’s Teaching, Research Roles After Two-Year Sexual Harassment Suspension
Economics professor Roland G. Fryer Jr. will be allowed to return to teaching and research roles at Harvard this week after a two-year suspension for violating Faculty of Arts and Sciences sexual harassment policies.
As Contract Expires, Harvard Grad Student Union To Vote on Two-Month Extension
With their current contract expiring Wednesday, Harvard offered its graduate student union a two-month contract extension on Monday. The union will vote on whether to accept the extension next week.
Harvard, MIT To Sell Online Learning Platform edX to Tech Startup
Harvard University and MIT will sell edX — a virtual learning initiative launched jointly by the two schools in 2012 to expand education access — to the Maryland-based tech startup 2U, Inc., the schools announced Tuesday morning.
Indigenous Group Petitions Harvard to Shut Down Controversial Geoengineering Project to Block Sun
The Saami Council, an Indigenous peoples’ organization, launched a petition this month calling on Harvard to shut down its Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment, a controversial environmental engineering project that seeks to block the sun’s rays to combat climate change.
500 Harvard Graduate Students Commit to Organizing Strike As Negotiations Drag On
Harvard’s graduate student union delivered a letter to University administrators Thursday morning signed by more than 500 graduate students pledging to organize a strike if contract negotiations between Harvard and the union are not resolved by June 30.
Mass. State Reps. Introduce Bill Seeking To Compel Harvard To Divest From Fossil Fuels
Massachusetts State Reps. Michael L. Connolly and Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven introduced a bill this week that would seek to use the state’s constitutional oversight authority to compel Harvard to divest its holdings in the fossil fuel industry.
Mass. District Court Dismisses Student’s Suit Alleging Harvard Discriminated Against Him in Title IX Case
A federal court last month dismissed a civil suit filed by an unnamed student alleging that Harvard discriminated against him on the basis of race and gender in its handling of a Title IX complaint accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Mass. District Court Dismisses Lawsuit Demanding Harvard Refund Tuition For Pandemic Closure
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by three Harvard graduate students in 2020 over the University’s refusal to partially refund tuition as classes moved online early in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Harvard Affiliates Celebrate University’s Expanded Pride Programming, Thanks To Student Advocacy
Harvard significantly expanded its University-sponsored programming in honor of Pride Month this year, drawing praise from BGLTQ affiliates who said they hope the momentum of expansion continues into future years.
Arbitrator Rules Harvard Excessively Punished Police Officer Who Was Called Racist, Homophobic Epithets
An arbitrator ruled earlier this month that Harvard excessively punished a Black University police officer when it doled out equal punishments for fighting to the officer and a colleague who allegedly called him racial and homophobic epithets.
Thomas Glynn Retires After Three Years Helming Harvard Allston Land Company
Thomas P. Glynn III will retire this summer from his post as Chief Executive Officer of the Harvard Allston Land Company, concluding his three-year tenure at the University’s Allston development firm, he announced last Friday.
Supreme Court Delays Decision on Reviewing Harvard Admissions Lawsuit
The Supreme Court on Monday requested input from the Biden administration on Students for Fair Admissions’s lawsuit against Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policies, likely extending the long-running legal battle for at least several more months.
New Harvard Graduates No Longer Eligible For Alumni Email Addresses As University Explores Alternative Services
The Harvard Alumni Association discontinued the ability to create new @alumni.harvard.edu email forwarding accounts last month, leaving this year’s graduates unable to obtain the email handle which many say is important to job searches and networking.
800 Harvard Affiliates Sign Letter Rebuking ‘Anti-Israel Sentiment’ on Campus
More than 800 University affiliates signed a Harvard Israel Initiative letter supporting “the right of the Jewish people to self-determination” and Israel’s “right to self-defense” against rocket attacks by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
HUPD Investigating Two Vandalism Incidents at Harvard Hillel Amid Nationwide Rise in Anti-Semitism
The Harvard University Police Department is investigating two incidents of vandalism at the Harvard Hillel building that occurred within two weeks of each other in late May and sparked forceful emails from administrators.
Harvard Names New HR Vice President Following Central Admin Departures
Harvard announced Wednesday that Manuel Cuevas-Trisán will take over as the University’s vice president of human resources following the departure of several high-profile administrators, including the school’s HR head.
Fearing Layoffs, Dining Workers Rally at Harvard Law School
Approximately 30 Harvard dining workers and supporters rallied in front of the Law School Tuesday to protest potential layoffs as the school ends its contract with dining services contractor Restaurant Associates later this month.