| Family Support and Benefits |
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There is a range of resources available to the families of GSAS graduate students. ACCOMMODATION FOR CHILDBIRTH OR OTHER FAMILY NEEDS: ADJUSTING THE DEPARTMENT G-YEARIn connection with childbirth or other major, family related interruptions of timely progress in a graduate student’s work, it is possible for students to seek a period of accommodation through an adjustment in the department G-year. A leave of absence is not necessary to receive this adjustment. Note that the Registrar’s calculation of G-year begins at the time of a student’s admission and continues until graduation. While the Registrar’s G-clock does not stop, the departments have a separate calculation of G-year that may be adjusted by one year for any of the above reasons. Students who desire this adjustment in the department G-year based on a change in family circumstances should contact their department and request this change. The department will notify GSAS of this adjustment.The adjustment of the department G-year gives flexibility in determining the completion of department requirements as well as the application of the Graduate School’s G-10 policy (see Chapter VI). In the FAS humanities and social sciences departments this adjustment will be reflected in the years in which the guaranteed teaching fellowship will be available and will allow for an extension of eligibility to apply for dissertation completion fellowships. HARVARD SPOUSAL BENEFITSAthletics Students should refer to the athletics department website, for more information. LibraryLibrary privileges for spouses of students may be arranged at the Library Privileges Office at Widener Library, Room 130 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.). This borrower card may be used at seventeen different libraries. The loan period for books is twenty-eight days. A list of the available privileges will be given to the spouse when the card is purchased. To purchase this card, a spouse must bring a photocopy of the student identification of his or her spouse, along with a photo identification card of himself or herself and proof of marriage, to Room 130 in Widener Library. For more information on this process, please call 617-495-4166. OFFICE OF WORK/LIFE RESOURCES www.childcare.harvard.edu A Family Resource Handbook published by the Office of Human Resources and by the Harvard Medical Center Office of Work and Family is available to all faculty, staff, and students upon request. Call 617-495-4100. CHILD CAREThere are six separate tuition-funded day care centers at the University. The centers, which are fully licensed with high-quality professional staff, provide full-time or part-time care for 350 children of Harvard staff, faculty, and students and families in the surrounding community. The centers vary in philosophy, parent participation, schedules, tuition fees, and ages of the children. As separate, private, nonprofit corporations, they establish their own policies and budgets, and do their own hiring and enrollment.DOCTORAL/PhD STUDENT CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP Harvard University is piloting a program to provide partial child-care scholarships to Harvard PhD/doctoral candidates with children enrolled/offered enrollment in one of the six Harvard-affiliated child care centers (Botanic Gardens Children’s Center, Harvard Yard Child Care Center, Oxford Street Daycare Cooperative, Peabody Terrace Children’s Center, Radcliffe Child Care Center, and Soldiers Field Park Children’s Center). • Be a currently enrolled full-time Harvard student in good standing; For more information, visit the website or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . HARVARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT HEALTH PLAN (HUSHP) Student Dependent Enrollment Dependents are eligible for enrollment in the Harvard Student Health Plan when the student is participating in the complete Harvard University Health Plan (HUSHP). Students will be required to supply appropriate documentation for each family member enrolled onto their plan. All enrollment applications must be submitted prior to the enrollment deadlines (fall deadline 9/30; spring deadline 2/28). For more information, please visit www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx or contact Member Services at 617-495-2008.
Dental Care HARVARD STUDENT SPOUSES AND PARTNERS ASSOCIATION (HSSPA)HSSPA is an organization open to spouses and partners of all Harvard students. Since 1896 it has provided a way for its members to make friends, find intellectual stimulation, and, most of all, feel a sense of belonging within the University. The website is here. Those interested may also contact HSSPA by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . HSSPA’s Spouses Support Group is a volunteer based group to support spouses and partners of Harvard students and postdocs. It is a great opportunity to get together once a week to learn from others, exchange experiences at Harvard and make new friends. To receive a weekly announcement about meetings please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .GSAS STUDENT-PARENTS ORGANIZATIONGSAS Student-Parents Organization aims to enrich the academic experience and provide visibility and support for graduate student and post-doctoral fellow parents at Harvard. This will result in the creation of a more collegial and happy environment for the entire Harvard community and attract a diverse, well-rounded, accomplished and mature pool of graduate student candidates. The group advocates for increased institutional and financial support, identifies and addresses problems that are unique to international graduate student parents, and increases awareness of issues regarding housing, childcare, and community. The group also facilitates an email listserv, called the “Parentsgroup-list.” If you are a graduate school student, a post-doctoral fellow, or a partner/spouse of a graduate student or fellow, and a parent, you may subscribe to this list. Contact the group chair, co-president Susannah Rose ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for more information about this organization.HARVARD INTERNATIONAL OFFICE RESOURCESHarvard Neighbors Harvard Neighbors is an organization open to Harvard faculty and staff and their spouses. Spouses of international students who would like to participate in the Community of International Women program are also welcome to join Harvard Neighbors. For more than 100 years, Harvard Neighbors has helped the Harvard community to promote friendly connections among its diverse parts. Members get to know each other through participation in interest groups and special activities. Membership and program information is available at the website. Auditing or “Sitting In” on Courses Adult family members of international students and scholars may sit in on regular lecture courses in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and some of the other graduate schools, at the discretion of the faculty member. Arrangements for auditing are very informal. Those interested should choose the course by first consulting the FAS course catalog available online. They should attend the first lecture. After it is over, introduce themselves to the professor, explain their status at Harvard and ask that they be allowed to audit the course. This privilege does not apply to small seminars or language courses. English Classes The HIO can connect you to organizations that offer English classes in the Boston/Cambridge area. Please visit the website. Information About Schooling for Children The HIO provides information about enrolling children in public or private schools on its website. Volunteer Opportunities Many institutions, especially those that operate on a non-profit basis, depend on the goodwill of people who contribute their skills and time without pay. Volunteering is an opportunity to become involved in the local community, to meet people from outside the University, and to learn something about American society. Volunteering may also provide a way to keep active in a professional area when paid employment is not a possibility. Consult the website for some volunteer possibilities. |