A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2018 a Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2018
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A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families A Guide to the First Year Class of 2018 A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2018 COLLEGE HARVARD Freshman Dean’s Office www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University Quick References Academic Calendar *(2015–16 is tentative and subject to change) Accessible Education Office Harvard University Police Department www.fas.harvard.edu/aeo www.hupd.harvard.edu (617) 496-8707 (617) 495-1215 - Non Emergency 2014–2015 2015–2016* (617) 495-1212 - Emergency Freshman & Upperclass Registration Sept. 1 (M) Sept. 1 (Tu) Admissions Office Harvard Yard Mail Center www.college.harvard.edu/admissions www.hums.harvard.edu/mail-delivery-services First Day Fall Classes Sept. 2 (Tu) Sept. 2 (W) (617) 495-1551 (617) 495-5347 Holiday - Labor Day Sept. 1 (M) Sept. 7 (M) Advising Programs Office International Office www.apo.fas.harvard.edu www.hio.harvard.edu Freshman Study Card Day Sept. 9(Tu) Sept. 9 (W) (617) 496-0218 (617) 495-2789 Holiday - Columbus Day Oct. 13 (M) Oct. 12 (M) Athletic Ticket Office Memorial Church www.gocrimson.com www.memorialchurch.harvard.edu Classes will be held on Veteran’s Day Nov. 11 (Tu) Nov. 11 (W) (617) 495-2211 (617) 495-5508 Thanksgiving Recess Begins Nov. 26 (W) Nov. 25 (W) Bureau of Study Counsel Office of Career Services www.bsc.harvard.edu www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu Thanksgiving Recess Ends Nov. 30 (Su) Nov. 29 (Su) (617) 495-2581 (617) 495-2595 Last Day of Fall Term Classes Dec. 2 (Tu) Dec. 3 (Th) Financial Aid Office Office of International Programs Fall Reading Period Begins Dec. 3 (W) Dec. 4 (F) www.fao.fas.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/oip (617) 495-1581 (617) 496-2722 Fall Reading Period Ends Dec. 10 (W) Dec. 11 (F) Freshman Dean’s Office Office of the Dean of Harvard College Fall Term Final Examinations Begin Dec. 11 (Th) Dec. 12 (Sa) www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu www.college.harvard.edu (617) 495-1574 (617) 495-1555 Fall Term Final Examinations End Dec. 19 (F) Dec. 21 (M) Freshman Seminar Program Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response First Day of Winter Recess Dec. 20 (Sa) Dec. 22 (Su) www.freshmanseminars.college.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/osapr (617) 495-1523 Office (617) 495-9100 Limited Opening for Pre-Approved Jan. 2 (F) Jan. 4 (M) (617) 496-3993 Dept. Admin. Students Harvard Box Office Office of Student Life Optional Winter Activities Week Begins Jan. 16 (F) Jan. 15 (F) www.ofa.fas.harvard.edu/boxoffice www.osl.fas.harvard.edu (617) 496-2222 (617) 495-1558 Holiday - Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19 (M) Jan. 18 (M) Harvard Chaplains Parking Services Optional Winter Activities Week Ends Jan. 25 (Su) Jan. 24 (Su) www.chaplains.harvard.edu www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/parking Winter Recess Ends Jan. 25 (Su) Jan. 24 (Su) (617) 495-5529 (617) 495-3772 Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and President’s Office First Day Spring Classes/Registration Jan. 26 (M) Jan. 25 (M) Race Relations www.president.harvard.edu Study Card Day Jan. 30 (F) Jan. 29 (F) www.fas.harvard.edu/harvfoun (617) 495-1502 (617) 495-1527 Holiday - Presidents’ Day Feb. 16 (M) Feb. 15 (M) Harvard University Information Technology Registrar’s Office Spring Recess Begins Mar. 14 (Sa) Mar. 12 (Sa) www.huit.harvard.edu www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro (617) 495-9000 (617) 495-1543 Spring Recess Ends Mar. 22 (Su) Mar. 20 (Su) General Harvard Information Shuttle Service Last Day of Spring Term Classes April 29 (W) Apr. 27 (W) www.harvard.edu www.transportation.harvard.edu Spring Reading Period Begins April 30 (Th) April 28 (Th) (617) 495-1000 (617) 495-0400 Harvard College Parent Programs Student Employment Office Spring Reading Period Ends May 7 (Th) May 5 (Th) www.alumni.harvard.edu/give/college/parents www.seo.harvard.edu Spring Term Final Examinations Begin May 8 (F) May 6 (F) (617) 495-8663 (617) 495-2585 Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. Student Receivables Office Spring Term Final Examinations End May 16 (Sa) May 14 (Sa) www.hsa.net www.termbill.harvard.edu Commencement May 28 (Th) May 26 (Th) (617) 495-3030 (617) 495-2739 Harvard University Dining Services Technology Services www.dining.harvard.edu www.computers.harvard.edu The date of Freshman Parents Weekend for the Class of 2018 is Friday and (617) 496-8600 (617) 495-5450 Saturday, November 7 and November 8, 2014. Harvard University Health Services Yard Operations More information on Freshman Parents Weekend for position only for fdc www.huhs.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/yardops is available at www.parents.fas.harvard.edu. logo, please delete box (617) 495-5711 (617) 495-1874 A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2018 Copyright © 2014 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. This Guide is produced by the Freshman Dean’s Office, 6 Prescott Street, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA 02138. Please note that the information is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. Table of Contents Introduction . 1 The Freshman Dean’s Office (FDO) ................................2 Residential Staff . 3 Pre-Orientation . 4 Opening Days . 5 Programs and Services . 5 Practical Matters ........................................... 9 Moving to Cambridge ..........................................9 Move-in Day . 9 Furniture and Storage .. 11 What to Bring . 11 What Not to Bring . 12 Requirements for Registration ...................................13 Health Services Immunization and Insurance Requirements . 13 Payment of Student Bill . 14 International Student Registration . 15 Directory Information ..........................................15 Computing ...................................................16 Campus Services ..............................................18 Mail Service . 18 Harvard Mobile . 18 Transportation Around Harvard . 19 CommuterChoice Program . 20 Parking on Campus . 20 Living in Harvard Yard ..................................... 21 Residing in the Dormitories .....................................21 Building Features . 21 Building Services . 22 Care of Residential Property . 25 Insurance . 25 Environmental Responsibility . 26 Fire Safety and Emergency Exits . 26 Security and Access . 27 Bicycles in the Yard . 28 Vacations . 28 Moving Out of the Dorms . 29 Summer Storage . 29 Yard Party Policy ..............................................30 Dining . 31 Academic and Community Standards in Harvard College ......... 32 Standards and Expectations in Residential and Community Life. 32 Alcohol and Drugs . 34 Race and Inter-Cultural Relations . 35 Standards and Expectations in Academic Life ......................37 Academic Integrity . 37 The Administrative Board and Student-Faculty Judicial Board . 40 Course Procedures . 41 Grades and Unsatisfactory Records . 42 The Academic Program ..................................... 44 Description of the Curriculum and Academic Opportunities . 44 Academic Requirements for the Degree . 44 Freshman Seminar Program . 51 Academic Advising ............................................51 The Role of Your Freshman Adviser & Peer Advising Fellow . 51 Departmental Advising During the First Year . 52 Meeting the Requirements During Freshman Year. 53 Thinking Ahead - The Big Picture . 53 Advanced Standing . 54 How to Read the Catalog . 55 The Course Selection Period . 56 Structure of a Course . 57 Shape of the Year . 58 ROTC . 59 Undergraduate Research Opportunities . 60 Harvard Library ...............................................61 Undergraduate Teacher Education Program and Certification .........64 Beyond the Classroom. 65 Office of Student Life ..........................................66 Arts ........................................................67 Office for the Arts at Harvard . 67 Athletics .....................................................69 Recreational Athletics . 70 Malkin Athletic Center . 70 Intramural Athletics . 70 Club Sports . 71 Varsity Athletics . 71 BGLTQ Community .............................................72 Cultural and Racial Initiatives . 73 Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations . 74 Government and Politics. 74 Student Government . 74 Institute of Politics . 74 Media and Journalism .........................................75 Public Service ................................................75 Religious Life .................................................76 Harvard Chaplains . 76 Harvard College Interfaith Council . 76 Social Life . 77 Cambridge Queen’s Head . 77 Calendar of Events . 77 College Events Board . 77 First Year Social Committee . 77 DAPA Grants . 78 Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH) . 78 FDO Programs . 79 Student Employment. 79 Student Employment Office . 79 Harvard Student Agencies . 80 Women and Gender Initiatives. 81 Harvard College Women’s Center . 81 Looking Ahead ........................................... 82 Transitioning to Sophomore Year .................................82 The Houses . 82 The Sophomore Advising Program . 83 Advising in the Concentrations . 84 Resources and Services for Students .......................... 85 Academic and Developmental Services . 85 Accessible Education Office (AEO) . 85 Advising Programs Office (APO) . 85 Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) . 86 Office of Career Services (OCS) . 87 The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) . 88 Harvard International Office (HIO) . 90 Office of International Education (OIE) . 90 The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study . 91 Registrar’s Office . 92 Writing Center . ..