Academics
A Shortcut or a Level Up? Harvard Faculty Debate Generative AI in Academia
Three Harvard faculty members debated whether generative AI would be a useful tool — or a perilous shortcut — in scholarship and teaching at a March 13 panel.
Just ‘Another Academic’: Seniors Greet Commencement Speaker Pick with Lukewarm Reactions
After Harvard announced that Stanford University biology professor Abraham Verghese would be the 2025 Commencement speaker on Thursday, seniors lauded his professional accomplishments but largely said they were hoping for a more high-profile selection.
Faculty Establish Non-Attribution Policy at Harvard College To Address Self-Censorship Concerns
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted overwhelmingly to amend the Harvard College student handbook with new language explicitly prohibiting grading based on political beliefs, instructing students to prioritize academics, and enforcing a non-attribution policy for classroom speech during a Tuesday FAS meeting.
Most Harvard Students Do Not Feel Comfortable Sharing Controversial Opinions in Class, Survey Finds
Only one third of Harvard’s last graduating class felt comfortable expressing opinions about controversial topics during their time at the College, per the University’s 2024 senior survey, a 13 percent decrease from the Class of 2023.
Harvard Students Undress to Destress in Primal Scream Run
With finals looming, students commemorated the end of reading period by running through Harvard Yard free of stress — and clothes — for Primal Scream at midnight on Wednesday.
‘It’s Been Here All Along’: The Effort to Grow Harvard’s Small Language Programs
Harvard offers instruction in dozens of languages from around the world, including small but vibrant programs in Old English, Zulu, and Tagalog. But according to students and faculty, some administrative obstacles often hinder program conception and development.
Class of 2028 Recruited Athletes Boost Average Athlete SAT Scores by 110 Points, Survey Finds
Harvard recruited athletes are closing the gap between average recruited athlete SAT scores and those of their non-athlete peers, according to The Crimson’s survey of the freshman class.
Harvard College Will Place Students on Involuntary Leave for Missing 2 Weeks of Class
Harvard College students who miss two weeks of classes will be placed on involuntary leaves of absence “in most cases” under a Student Handbook amendment that will take effect in the 2025-26 academic year.
Phi Beta Kappa Selects ‘Senior 48’ From Harvard Class of 2025
Forty-eight Harvard College seniors were elected to Harvard’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa on Wednesday, joining 24 of their classmates who were inducted in the spring to the nation’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society.
Harvard Wants To Talk About Israel-Palestine. Can It Succeed?
After over a year, the University still struggles with fostering dialogue on Israel-Palestine. Where does the problem lie?
Elimination of Gen Ed Pass-Fail Will Not Affect Current Students, HUA Officer Announces
A proposal to phase out the pass-fail option for the General Education program will only go into effect starting with the Class of 2029, a Harvard Undergraduate Officer announced Tuesday.
Six Harvard Students Selected as Rhodes Scholars From US, Canada
Six members of Harvard’s Class of 2025 were selected as American and Canadian Rhodes Scholars to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.
Italian Program Establishes Largest Cash Prize in Harvard’s Romance Languages Dept.
Harvard’s Italian Language Program announced the largest monetary prize in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, coming as the program faces declining enrollment.
Harvard PBK Piloting Changes to Election Process During 2024-25 Academic Year
Harvard’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter will not require students to submit applications for its Junior 24 and Senior 48 classes during the 2024-25 academic year, the chapter announced on its website.
AI Is Changing Healthcare. Harvard Medical School Is Following Suit.
The Harvard Medical School started offering a month-long introductory course on AI in healthcare for students on its Health Sciences and Technology track — the first of its kind offered at a medical school.
Human and Evolutionary Biology Dept. Holds Focus Groups on Renaming Concentration
Harvard’s Human Evolutionary Biology department is holding focus groups to seek student feedback on potential name options.
Harvard Updates Gen Ed Guidelines to Curb Grade Inflation
The Harvard College Program in General Education updated its guidelines for Gen Ed instructors in an attempt to standardize grading across classes and mitigate grade inflation.
HUA Funds Declaration Day, Discusses Joint DSO Initiatives at Weekly Meeting
The Harvard Undergraduate Association allocated $5,000 for its annual Concentration Declaration Day event and shared plans for collaborations with the Dean of Students Office on voter engagement and intellectual vitality initiatives during a Tuesday evening meeting.
Harvard Will Review Discrimination Policies to Better Protect Academic Freedom
Harvard will review its discrimination, bullying, and harassment policies to better protect academic freedom, following a series of recommendations from the University’s Open Inquiry and Constructive Dialogue working group.
Graduate Students Express Support for Prior-Term Course Registration
Most GSAS students said the previous-term registration system allows them to schedule sections and handle other course logistics earlier, before the busy beginning to the semester.
What’s It Like Being Pre-Med at Harvard?
For many pre-med and pre-health students, the pressures of the Harvard environment — combined with limited advising — can make for a challenging four years.
Harvard Cancels More Than 30 Fall Courses Following Faculty Departures
Harvard College canceled more than 30 fall classes across at least 20 departments and other programs, according to a Crimson analysis of undergraduate course offerings.
Students, Faculty Call for Urban Studies Secondary Field at Harvard
A group of undergraduates and faculty are calling on Harvard to establish a secondary field in urban studies, citing widespread interest in the field among students.
How Intellectual Vitality Became Vital to Harvard
Three years ago, almost no Harvard students had heard of “intellectual vitality.” Now, they can’t escape it.