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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

As a new academic year begins I extend a most cordial welcome to you. If you are a newcomer to Harvard, this book will give you a general introduction to the Graduate School and help you to get acquainted with its history, organization, degree programs, regulations, services, and many other details of interest and importance. If you are returning to a familiar setting, you will find that this book is designed to serve as a regularly updated source of reference for many purposes, in particular academic policies and procedures.

Supplementary information is provided by other publications of the Graduate School and the Registrar’s office. However, as no publication can offer exhaustive coverage, let alone answers to all questions, please keep in mind that the Dean’s office, the Office of Student Affairs, the Admissions and Financial Aid office, and departmental directors of graduate studies are all available for personal consultation.

My best wishes for a productive year.

Allan M. Brandt, Dean Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2009–10

When an official deadline falls on a holiday observed by the University, the effective deadline is the next working day.

Registration for non-resident students:

August 1, Saturday. Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year are due in department offices. Students filing after this date will be charged a late regis­tration fee of $50, plus an additional $5 for each week thereafter.
Applications for part-time study are due in the GSAS Dean’s office, Holyoke Center.

August 10, Monday. Applications due at the Registrar’s office for November degrees.
Last day upon which November degree candidates may submit a completed and signed application for a secondary field.

August 25, Tuesday. Spring term registration period ends on the day before fall term regis­tration.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the fall term 2008–2009. 

Registration and orientation for resident students:

August 24, Monday. 1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m., orientation for international students, Harvard Hall 202.

August 26, Wednesday. 10:30 a.m., orientation for new students, Sanders Theatre. 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., DudleyFest, Dudley House. Includes representatives from student organizations, Term Bill Office, HUID Photos (G1 students), GSAS Financial Aid, University Health Services (immunization information).
All GSAS students must register online by midnight. GSAS students can inquire about holds placed on registration at DudleyFest (see above) or at the office placing the hold during regular business hours.
All Special Students and Visiting Fellows must register online by midnight.
Students who fail to register will be charged a late registration fee of $50 plus an additional $5 for each week thereafter.
Students in residence who register late must file a study card within five working days of the date of their registration; subsequently the late study card fee is activated. (Special Students should also consult the Office of Special Students.)
Derek Bok Center Teaching Orientation.
For cross registration, see Chapter V.

September 2, Wednesday. Fall term begins. First meeting of classes.

September 7, Monday. Labor Day: a holiday.

September 10, Thursday. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., final study cards for GSAS and Special Students for the fall term due in Dudley House. There is a late fee of $40 for each week late. Study cards filed after this date must bear the instructor’s signature for each course listed. Degree candidates taking a language course SAT/UNS should see Grade and Examination Requirements, SAT/UNS, in Chapter V.
To change courses after the study card has been filed, students must file a petition to add or drop a course with the registrar, 20 Garden Street. (Special Students should file the petition at Holyoke Center 350.) There is no charge for adding or dropping a course during the first three weeks of the term (from August 31 through September 18). From September 21 through October 19, there is a $10 fee each time a petition is filed. If two petitions are filed simultaneously, only one processing fee is charged. From October 20 through November 3, students may drop courses only and are charged a $10 fee.

September 23, Wednesday. Last day students from other schools may file cross-registration petitions with the FAS Registrar’s office.

September 25, Friday. Tuition and health-care fees will be removed from the term bills of all GSAS degree candidates who are not registered by this date.

September 30, Wednesday. Fall deadline for waiving health insurance, if eligible. (See www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx for waiver information, eligi­bility requirements, and forms.)

October 1, Thursday. Last day on which GSAS degree candidates may cancel their regis­tration for the fall term without payment of tuition.
Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for November degrees.

October 5, Monday. Make-up examinations for spring term 2008–2009 begin.

October 12, Monday. Columbus Day: a holiday.

October 19, Monday. Last day to register for or add courses for the term. After this date students may add or register for TIME only. Last day for graduate students to add or change SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.

November 3, Tuesday. Last day to drop a course. After this date a petition to withdraw must be completed and returned to the GSAS Student Affairs office, Holyoke Center.

November 11, Wednesday. Veterans’ Day: a holiday.

November 26, Thursday. Thanksgiving recess begins.

November 29, Sunday. Recess ends.

November 30, Monday. Applications are due at the Registrar’s office for March degrees.
Last day upon which March degree candidates may submit a completed and signed application for a secondary field.

December 4, Friday. Fall term Reading Period begins.

December 11, Friday. Last day to petition the Dean’s office for late withdrawal from course. (See Chapter V, changing courses during term.)
   Fall term Reading Period ends.

December 12, Saturday. Mid-year examinations begin.

December 21, Monday. Mid-year examinations end.

December 22, Tuesday. Winter recess begins.

Registration for non-resident students:

January 1, 2010, Friday. Applications for non-resident status for the spring term are due in department offices. Late fees apply as in the fall.
Applications for part-time study are due in the GSAS Dean’s office, Holyoke Center.

January 3, Sunday. Winter recess ends.

January 4, Monday. Optional winter session begins. Applications from continuing students for 2010–2011 grants due in the GSAS Financial Aid office, Holyoke Center.

January 15, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for March degrees.

January 18, Monday. Martin Luther King Day: a holiday.

January 24, Sunday. Optional winter session ends.
Fall term registration period ends on the day before the spring term begins.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the spring term 2008–2009.

Registration for new GSAS students, GSAS students returning from non-resident status, Special Students, and Visiting Fellows:

January 25, Monday. Spring term begins. First meeting of classes.
All new degree candidates, students returning from non-resident status, and continuing resident students must register online by midnight. (Late fees apply as in the fall.)
All Special Students and Visiting Fellows must register online by midnight.

January 29, Friday. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., final study cards for GSAS and Special Students for the spring term due in Dudley House. There is a late fee of $40 for each week late. Study cards filed after this date must bear the instructor’s signature for each course listed. Degree candidates taking a language course SAT/UNS, should see Grade and Exami­nation Requirements, SAT/UNS, in Chapter V.
To change courses after the study card has been filed, students must file a petition to add or drop a course with the registrar, 20 Garden Street. (Special Students should file the petition at Holyoke Center 350.) There is no charge for adding or dropping a course during the first three weeks of the term (from January 25 through February 12). From February 15 through March 8, there is a $10 fee each time a petition is filed. If two petitions are filed simultaneously, only one processing fee is charged. From March 9 through March 23, students may drop courses only and are charged a $10 fee.

February 5, Friday. Last day on which GSAS degree candidates may cancel their regis­tration for the spring term without payment of tuition.
Spring registration will be canceled for students who have filed approved dissertations at the Registrar’s office by this date. Any spring term tuition previously paid will be refunded.

February 15, Monday. Presidents’ Day: a holiday.
Last day students from other schools may file cross-registration petitions with the FAS Registrar’s office.

February 22, Monday. Make-up examinations for fall term 2009–2010 begin.

February 24, Wednesday. Tuition and health-care fees will be removed from the term bills of all GSAS degree candidates who are not registered by this date.

February 28, Sunday. Spring deadline for waiving health insurance, if eligible. (See www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx for waiver information, eligibility requirements, and forms.)

March 8, Monday. Last day to register for or add courses. After this date students may add or register for TIME only. Last day for graduate students to add or change SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.

March 13, Saturday. Spring recess begins.

March 21, Sunday. Spring recess ends.

March 23, Tuesday. Last day to drop a course. After this date a petition to withdraw must be completed and returned to the GSAS Student Affairs office, Holyoke Center.

March 26, Friday. Applications are due at Registrar’s office for May degrees.
Last day upon which May degree candidates may submit a completed and signed appli­cation for a secondary field.

April 29, Thursday. Spring term Reading Period begins.

May 6, Thursday. Last day to petition the Dean’s office for late withdrawal from a course. Spring term Reading Period ends.

May 7, Friday. Final examinations begin. 

May 14, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for May degrees.

May 15, Saturday. Final examinations ends.

May 27, Thursday. Commencement.

May 31, Monday. Memorial Day: a holiday. 

DEGREE CALENDAR FOR 2009–10

*In exceptional circumstances, the registrar will accept late applications during the next
  week only; there is a late fee of $50.

TENTATIVE CALENDAR FOR 2010–11

The Harvard University Coordinated Academic Calendar became effective with the 2009–2010 academic year. Special attention should be paid to deadlines, as many will vary from prior years.

August 1, Sunday. Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year are due in department offices.

August 9, Monday. Applications are due at the Registrar’s office for November degrees.
Last day upon which November degree candidates may submit a completed and signed application for a secondary field.

August 24, Tuesday. The spring term registration period ends on the day prior to fall term registration.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the fall term of 2009–2010.

August 25, Wednesday. Resident registration.

September 2, Thursday. Fall term begins. First meeting of classes.

October 1, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office for November degrees.

January 24, 2011, Monday. Spring term begins.

May 26, 2011, Thursday. Commencement.