Dear Harvard College Parents and Families,

I am looking forward to welcoming your student back to Harvard College in the coming days, either in person or remotely. Hundreds of deeply committed faculty members, administrators, and College staff have worked hard to ensure our community is ready to meet the challenges of the year ahead.

As we begin a semester under historical and unique circumstances, to say the least, I have taken some time this summer to reflect on where we have been and where we are heading. Over the past few months 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. These facets have shaken the very core of who we are, challenging us individually and as a community in profound ways. 
 
Despite what we continue to face, I am filled with hope for the coming year. We know this unique moment will present opportunities for our students to develop the essential capacities of resilience and recovery from unplanned setbacks. As they continue their Harvard journey, we will do everything we can to encourage them to embrace this growth and to meet the challenges of the moment, and I am certain they will rise to the occasion. 

As a parent of college students myself, I know that these years can be both rewarding and nerve-wracking even without the additional concerns of Covid-19. To help ease this burden, we are offering some important resources to support you as parents and family members, including a Parent and Family Programs Office and website which contains information we hope you will find helpful as you plan for the upcoming year. We will also be communicating through frequent updates on local conditions given the current circumstances of the pandemic, to keep you engaged in what’s happening in our community this academic year.

I also want to remind you of the federal laws that Harvard College must follow with regard to sharing student health and academic information. Harvard College students (including those living off campus) have access to Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) for any medical and mental health care they may need while studying at Harvard. Under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), written authorization from a student is necessary to release medical record information to parents and guardians, though we encourage students to include parents in discussions about major medical issues.

Additionally, I want to remind you that under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) students have control over the release of their academic information. In compliance with this law, Harvard College treats your student’s information confidentially and provides them with control over the release of that information per FERPA law. Therefore, to learn about your student’s progress through Harvard College or to gain access to a student record, you will need to speak with your student directly.
 
Whether our students are on campus or learning remotely this fall, they are part of our Harvard community, and we have reminded them that the standards of conduct in our Harvard Community apply to all students. Students coming to campus have also been asked to help Harvard’s campus safely reopen with a commitment to the Residential Community Compact and the shared responsibilities it outlines. Harvard has invested significant resources in developing a comprehensive testing and isolation protocol for on-campus students and staff. Our in-residence students will be determining what is possible in a residential community during this pandemic. We know there will be mistakes and unanticipated issues, but as a responsible learning institution we must all hold ourselves accountable and adapt to the reality of the pandemic. In addition, a Community Council is being established by the College to follow up on and address any concerns that may arise with regard to the Residential Community Compact.
 
We have also urged all of our students to pay attention to the public health guidelines where they are living and take care to practice personal responsibility such as wearing face coverings, maintaining appropriate physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings where the virus may spread. 
 
With our community spread out across the country and world, we continue to collaborate on initiatives to create a more equitable and inclusive Harvard community, bolster remote academic support services, and enhance opportunities for virtual social engagement. Every enrolled Harvard student continues to have access to the College’s resources – their Faculty Deans, Resident Deans, tutors, proctors, House Administrators, academic coordinators, professors, teaching fellows and OUE staff continue their work of supporting students and helping students thrive. 
 
We look forward to working in partnership with you to help your student during what will be a thought-provoking academic year, and as they continue on the path towards becoming the responsible citizens and citizen-leaders the world needs now more than ever. 
 
Warmly,
 
Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College