Planning For Fall 2020
All course instruction for the 2020-21 academic year will be delivered online. First-year students, and students who have been approved to return due to inadequate conditions for learning in their home environment, will be invited to return to campus for the Fall 2020 term. Read the FAS Fall 2020 Plans.
Academic Year Ahead
Deadlines
International Students
Any student who has questions related to visa or immigration-related issued is encouraged to contact Jessica Heffernan at jessica_heffernan@harvard.edu, Adviser to International Students and Scholars within the Harvard International Office.
Leave of Absence
If you are trying to decide whether to take a Leave of Absence, we strongly encourage you to consult with a trusted advisor before finalizing your decision. The College has trained a special team of advisers to help you work through your decision. You can email fall2020advising@fas.harvard.edu to connect with an adviser.
If a student takes a voluntary leave of absence, they are no longer a registered Harvard College student. University facilities may normally be used only by students who are currently registered. In addition, students on leave may not participate in extracurricular activities or hold student employment.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Residential Community Compact
The College created a community compact that provides guidance to help all who live on campus maintain a safe and healthy environment. All students invited to live on campus will be required to sign the compact when they complete the Housing Intention Form. Both the Residential Community Compact and the Housing Intention Form must be submitted by Friday, July 24.
How to Request Housing
Students concerned their ability to learn successfully in their current environment and students currently living on campus should have completed the Learning Environment Questionnaire by Monday July 13. For more information about housing and returning to campus, visit the Dean of Students Office website.
Living on Campus
Students returning to campus should be advised that a limit of one student per bedroom will be in place, with limited numbers of students sharing bathrooms. Laundry rooms will remain open. Other spaces may be either limited in capacity, closed, or limited in access. The College will continue to assess the situation as public health guidance develops. For more information about living on campus, see the Dean of Students Office website.
COVID-19 Testing
All students who reside on campus will be required to be tested several times each week. The exact frequency and locations of testing will be announced soon. Learn more on the Harvard University Health Services website.
Dining
Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) will continue operating the unlimited dining program for undergraduates. The specific means of service will modulate based on guidelines as dictated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Learn more on the HUDS website.
Visitors
Campus access will be restricted to safeguard our community’s health. No off-campus visitors will be allowed into Harvard buildings, and this will include enrolled Harvard students who are not in residence on campus.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Harvard Everywhere
Harvard Everywhere is an initiative of Harvard College aimed at keeping Harvard students connected to each other, the College and their local communities in this time of physical distancing.
Arts
The Office for the Arts at Harvard (OFA) is the central resource for artmaking at Harvard College, and activates student engagement in all the arts through supporting artmaking at all levels, providing mentoring and networking with professional and alumni artists, and funding artistic development. Where ever you are around the world, whether you’re discovering arts for the first time or are an experienced artist in any of the arts, the OFA is here for you, your ideas and projects. Find out more about making art at Harvard by visiting the OFA website and connecting with our staff here.
Careers and Employment
Services will continue to be available throughout the fall from the Office of Career Services (OCS) and the Student Employment Office. We encourage you to take advantage of these helpful resources.
Public Service
The Phillips Brooks House Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship (PBH) will continue organizing civic engagement opportunities throughout the fall semester. Harvard Serves Everywhere was launched as a virtual volunteer platform connecting students with community partners. All major civic engagement activities, including workshops, training sessions, public interest career advising, guest speakers, info sessions, and open houses will be structured to accommodate remote learning.
First-Year Day of Service
PBH is launching a Global Day of Service on Saturday, September 12. Team leaders will work alongside our staff to organize supply drives, voter registration outreach, environmental advocacy projects, digital and technical projects, along with supporting arts and educational programming. Students can currently sign up as team leaders or volunteers.
Student Activities
The Dean of Students Office at Harvard College is dedicated to building a community that is welcoming, open and accessible to all students. We will continue to offer a robust variety of programming throughout the year and look forward to offering further details in the weeks ahead.