Welcome Back

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Dear Harvard College Students,
 
I hope that each of you have been able to find time to rest and recharge during the summer break, especially given the current circumstances in our world. I know you are eager to re-connect with each other, and we all are looking forward to seeing you and to welcoming our newest members in the Class of 2024. Our community has worked throughout the summer to prepare for remote teaching and learning, as well as the evolution of social programs to a virtual environment, and I am filled with optimism for what we can accomplish together this year. At the same time, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge just how difficult the past few months have been for us all.
 
We have seen the exposed and amplifying cracks in our systems and society. So much of our country has been significantly affected by the pandemic, the related economic toll, and the awakening to the depths of systematic racial injustices in this country. These facets have shaken the very core of who we are, challenging us individually and as a community in profound ways. 
 
This fall is going to be an unprecedented academic semester for Harvard. As we approach it, I am filled with hope. If we are willing to recognize our responsibilities to ourselves and each other by adhering to public health guidelines and adapting our behaviors, we can help blaze the path for defeating the pandemic and bringing our community back together.
 
Over these difficult months, I have been proud to see our community work in service to others, encouraged by our commitment to inclusion, and inspired by the many ways that our students demonstrate Harvard College’s community values. As we begin this new academic year, I want to remind you of those values:

  • Respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others. 
  • Honesty and integrity in all dealings. 
  • Conscientious pursuit of excellence in our work. 
  • Accountability for actions and conduct in the community. 
  • Responsibility for the bonds and bridges that enable all to grow with and learn from one another. 

It is with these values in mind that I want to emphasize what each one of us can do to support each other and the communities where we find ourselves living this fall. During this extraordinary time, I hope you will embrace the idea that Harvard exists everywhere that you are, stretching across the geographic distances that may separate us. Those of you on campus have been asked to commit to the Residential Community Compact and the shared responsibilities it outlines. Whether you are living on campus or elsewhere, I trust that you will take seriously the values that animate our learning and standards of student conduct that are outlined in the Handbook for Students. Wherever you are living, you are an ambassador and representative of our community, which is why our Harvard Community standards apply to all enrolled students. Our individual and collective success in adapting to the reality of the pandemic will inform and shape our decision making for subsequent semesters.
 
Wherever you may be living, we ask that you pay particular attention to the public health guidelines and be a responsible member of your community by wearing face coverings, maintaining appropriate physical distance from others, and avoiding gatherings where the virus may spread. We want you to keep yourselves healthy as well as those around you. 
 
There are many health and wellness resources available to you, including Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) for remote or onsite servicesCounseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for mental health support, and the Center for Wellness and Health Promotion for virtual wellness opportunities. Reach out to your informal support network – in addition to all of the resources on campus and remotely – and don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you need help of any kind. For students living on campus, a Community Council has been established by the College to follow up on and address any concerns that may arise with regard to the Residential Community Compact

It is my hope that in spite of the challenges ahead, we will find new ways to connect and strengthen our community this year and that we will look back on this year as a time of innovation, unity, and resilience.

In the meantime, I look forward to working alongside you this year to build and sustain a virtual community that responds to our present challenges, while we continue to work toward our individual aspirations.
 
Semper Veritas, 
 
Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College