A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families A Guide to the First Year Class of 2019 A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2019 COLLEGE HARVARD Freshman Dean’s Office www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University Quick References Accessible Education Office Harvard University Police Department www.fas.harvard.edu/aeo www.hupd.harvard.edu (617) 496-8707 (617) 495-1215 - Non Emergency (617) 495-1212 - Emergency Admissions Office Harvard Yard Mail Center www.college.harvard.edu/admissions www.hums.harvard.edu/mail-delivery-services (617) 495-1551 (617) 495-5347 Advising Programs Office International Office www.apo.fas.harvard.edu www.hio.harvard.edu (617) 496-0218 (617) 495-2789 Athletic Ticket Office Memorial Church www.gocrimson.com www.memorialchurch.harvard.edu (617) 495-2211 (617) 495-5508 Bureau of Study Counsel Office of Career Services www.bsc.harvard.edu www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu (617) 495-2581 (617) 495-2595 Financial Aid Office Office of International Programs www.college.harvard.edu/financial-aid www.fas.harvard.edu/oip (617) 495-1581 (617) 496-2722 Freshman Dean’s Office Office of the Dean of Harvard College www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu www.college.harvard.edu (617) 495-1574 (617) 495-1555 Freshman Seminar Program Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response www.freshmanseminars.college.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/osapr (617) 495-1523 Office (617) 495-9100 (617) 496-3993 Dept. Admin. Harvard Box Office Office of Student Life www.ofa.fas.harvard.edu/boxoffice www.osl.fas.harvard.edu (617) 496-2222 (617) 495-1558 Harvard Chaplains Parking Services www.chaplains.harvard.edu www.transportation.harvard.edu/parking (617) 495-5529 (617) 496-7827 Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and President’s Office Race Relations www.president.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/harvfoun (617) 495-1502 (617) 495-1527 Harvard University Information Technology Registrar’s Office www.huit.harvard.edu www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro (617) 495-9000 (617) 495-1543 General Harvard Information Shuttle Service www.harvard.edu www.transportation.harvard.edu (617) 495-1000 (617) 495-0400 Harvard College Parent Programs Student Employment Office www.alumni.harvard.edu/give/college/parents www.seo.harvard.edu (617) 495-8663 (617) 495-2585 Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. Student Accounts Office www.hsa.net sfs.harvard.edu/student-accounts (617) 495-3030 (617) 495-2739 Harvard University Dining Services Yard Operations www.dining.harvard.edu www.fas.harvard.edu/yardops (617) 496-8600 (617) 495-1874 Harvard University Health Services www.huhs.harvard.edu (617) 495-5711 A Guide to the First Year at Harvard for Students and Their Families Class of 2019 Copyright © 2015 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 .......................................10 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 . 14 Directory Information ..........................................15 Computing ...................................................16 Campus Services ..............................................17 Mail Service . 17 Harvard University Mobile ...................................18 Omni @ Harvard College (coming soon) ........................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 .........................................23 Care of Residential Property . 25 Insurance. 26 Sustainability Commitment ..................................26 Fire Safety and Emergency Exits ...............................27 Security and Access . 28 Bicycles in the Yard .......................................29 Vacations ...............................................29 Moving Out of the Dorms ...................................29 Summer Storage ..........................................30 Yard Party Policy ..............................................30 Dining . 31 Academic and Community Standards in Harvard College ......... 33 Standards and Expectations in Residential and Community Life. 33 Alcohol and Drugs. 36 Race and Inter-Cultural Relations . 36 Standards and Expectations in Academic Life ......................38 Academic Integrity. 38 Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct ................42 Course Procedures ........................................43 Grades and Unsatisfactory Records ............................44 The Academic Program ..................................... 45 Description of the Curriculum and Academic Opportunities . 45 Academic Requirements for the Degree .........................45 Freshman Seminar Program . 52 Academic Advising ............................................52 The Role of Your Freshman Adviser & Peer Advising Fellow .........52 Departmental Advising in the First Year . 53 Meeting Academic Requirements in the First Year. 54 Thinking Ahead — The Big Picture ...........................54 Advanced Standing . 55 How to Find Courses .......................................56 The Course Selection Period . 57 Structure of a Course ......................................57 Shape of the Year .........................................59 ROTC . 60 Undergraduate Research Opportunities . 60 Harvard Library ...............................................62 Undergraduate Teacher Education Program and Certification .........63 Beyond the Classroom. 64 Office of Student Life ..........................................65 Arts ........................................................66 Office for the Arts at Harvard ................................66 Athletics .....................................................68 Recreational Athletics . 69 Malkin Athletic Center .....................................69 Intramural Athletics .......................................69 Club Sports .............................................69 Varsity Athletics ..........................................70 BGLTQ Community ............................................71 Cultural and Racial Initiatives . 72 Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations . 73 Government and Politics . 73 Student Government .......................................73 Institute of Politics . 73 Media and Journalism .........................................74 Public Service ................................................74 Religious Life .................................................75 Harvard Chaplains ........................................75 Harvard College Interfaith Council. 75 Social Life . 76 Cambridge Queen’s Head ...................................76 Calendar of Events. 76 College Events Board .......................................76 First Year Social Committee. 76 DAPA Grants ............................................77 Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH). 77 FDO Programs ...........................................78 Student Employment. 78 Student Employment Office .................................78 Harvard Student Agencies ...................................79 Women and Gender Initiatives. 80 Harvard College Women’s Center . 80 Looking Ahead ........................................... 81 Transitioning to Sophomore Year ................................81 The Houses .............................................81 The Sophomore Advising Program ............................82 Advising in the Concentrations ...............................83 Resources and Services for Students .......................... 84 Academic and Developmental Services . 84 Accessible Education Office (AEO) . 84 Advising Programs Office (APO) ..............................84 Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) ..............................85 Office of Career Services (OCS) ..............................86 The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). 87 Harvard International Office (HIO) . 89 Office of International Education (OIE) . 89 The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study ......................90 Registrar’s Office .........................................91 Writing Center ...........................................91 Financial Services . 92 Student Accounts Office (SAO) ...............................92 Financial Aid Office .......................................92 Crimson Cash . 93 Safety and Health .............................................93 Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) .....................93 Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) ...................97 CrimsonEMS . 100 A Special Word to Parents of Harvard Freshmen