Response to the Report of the Task Force on Inclusion and Belonging

Dear Members of the Harvard Community, Harvard’s commitment to excellence in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge rests upon the foundation of the remarkable people who make up this community. We understand it is essential to open our doors widely to talent from all parts of society, including those that have historically been underrepresented on…

Dean Mike Smith

Dear Members of the Harvard Community, In light of his announcement earlier today, I write to express my gratitude for Mike Smith’s extraordinary leadership and service as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).  Mike has guided the FAS through more than a decade of remarkable challenge and change, and all of us owe…

Remarks at FAS Faculty Meeting

I would like to say a word about the recent articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education concerning sexual harassment at Harvard. This has been a difficult moment for this community and I want to start by acknowledging the real sense of hurt, disappointment and upset that has been expressed about the situation and about…

Harvard’s Climate Change Efforts

Dear Members of the Harvard Community, A year ago, I announced that we had achieved our goal of reducing the University’s greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent from 2006 levels, inclusive of growth. A common purpose brought our community together in exciting new ways that enabled us to meet our ambitious goal. Since that time, however,…

Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day is an opportunity for us all to reaffirm the values of justice and equality that define our nation and animate all we do at Harvard. As we strive to be an ever more diverse and inclusive community, we recognize that our excellence derives from our openness to the widest possible pool…

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

Dear Members of the Harvard Community, Sexual harassment and sexual assault degrade human dignity, and they have no place at Harvard. The powerful forces of presumption and hierarchy shape our lives and our communities in profound ways. Over the past few months, this reality has been underscored by revelation after revelation of sexual misconduct by individuals…

Unrecognized Single-Gender Social Organizations

Effective June 29, 2020 The policy on Unrecognized Single-Gender Social Organizations is no longer being enforced. Read the announcement from Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow. Dear Members of the Harvard Community, Please see below for a statement on unrecognized single-gender social organizations delivered at this afternoon’s meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Sincerely,…

Harvard Kennedy School Campus Transformation Ribbon Cutting

Wexner Building, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass., December 1, 2017, Drew Gilpin Faust Thank you. That means so much to me. And it means so much to me to be here today with all of you to celebrate this extraordinary milestone for the university and for the Kennedy School. At a time when reasoned public…

“Getting Closer”: Remarks for the Bicentennial of Harvard Law School

Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Mass., October 26, 2017, Drew Gilpin Faust Thank you, Richard, and thank you for all the hard work that has gone into planning this extraordinary day and this extraordinary Bicentennial. What a pleasure it is to mark Harvard Law School’s 200th year. Thank you all for this deeply inspiring and meaningful celebration. As…