Dear Harvard College Students,

We are living through extraordinary challenges, and as I write to you today, I am well aware of how disappointing the announcement of the fall plan has been for you. I believe we made the right decision given the facts and our context, yet I want to acknowledge the loss you are experiencing right now. There is nothing I want more than to see our campus brought to life by all of our students, and we are working toward a time when that will happen.

Those of you who will not be on campus this fall are rightly worried about how you will stay connected to Harvard. Although it will not be easy, I believe that if we work together we can reimagine our community during these difficult times. With that in mind, we have begun work on a new initiative, the Harvard Everywhere program, which will create opportunities for students to stay connected to each other, to the College, and to the larger University community.

The goal of Harvard Everywhere is to reinvent the full range of Harvard co-curricular activities and resources – house-based activities, public service, athletics, arts, interest clubs, health and wellness – in ways that will reach you, wherever you are this fall. While online platforms will play an important role in the programming, Harvard Everywhere will also seek to offer activities and opportunities that take advantage of resources in your local communities. Our goal will be to help you connect with students and Harvard alumni who live in your region.

For Harvard Everywhere to succeed, we need your input, your energy, and your creativity. In the coming weeks, you will hear from the planning committee, chaired by Professors Anne Harrington and Julie Reuben, about their vision for the program, as well as about ways you can get involved.

Harvard Everywhere is, of course, not the only initiative we will need to create as we find our way through the coming months together. But it is one important step forward. None of us expected to be physically separated this year, but I know that our community is strong and creative enough to lean into the moment. There will be disappointments and frustrations ahead, but I believe we will find ways to study, socialize, and play together that we could not have imagined a few months ago. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and suggestions with me as we navigate the months ahead.

Semper veritas,

Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College