This year, the Student Life Committee and Education Committee of the UC will be selecting students to serve in nearly 50 positions, all of which are an opportunity to discuss issues and make decisions related to student life here at Harvard. A full description of all the committees and the selection process is presented below. If you have any questions about the application process, or simply wish to talk about which committee might be the best fit for you, email the Chairs of the UC Committees at mgeorge@college.harvard.edu.
Application Due Dates:
Common Expectations of Delegates:
In submitting your application, you are affirming that you can meet all the responsibilities of a Committee Appointee. Some committees already have defined meeting dates, which are listed in the descriptions below. If you apply to one of these committees, you are affirming that you can make those committee times.
Attendance Policy:
All committee representatives are expected to miss no more than one meeting per semester; two or more absences will result in an expulsion hearing with the executive committee.
Interview Dates:
The UC Student Life Committee and Education Committee may interview individuals for the following committees on Sunday, September 30th between 12-5pm if necessary. Should you be selected for an interview, you will be notified by Sunday, September 30 at 12pm.
Committees with Open Positions:
Advisory Committees of the Harvard Corporation
Student-Faculty Committees of the Faculty
Standing Committees of the Faculty
Advisory Committees to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Divisional Deans
Committees of the Dean of the Faculty
Committees of the College
Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR)
1 position
In 1972, Harvard University established two complementary committees to deal with the increasing volume and complexity of resolutions on issues of social responsibility: the Corporation Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (CCSSR), acting for the President and Fellows, and the Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR), made up of faculty, students, and alumni. The ACSR’s charge is to analyze proxy issues and make recommendations to the CCSR for voting shareholder resolutions. The ACSR gives the CCSR detailed analysis of the reasons for recommendations. In cases where ACSR members hold divergent opinions, the ACSR provides the reasoning underlying the different points of view. This broad communication and exploration of issues is a central function of the ACSR. From time to time, the ACSR also suggests new policy to assist the University in carrying out its ethical responsibilities as a large institutional investor. The CCSR oversees the consistent application of policy and precedent, actively considering new information that may suggest changes in policy or practice. The CCSR, with advice from the ACSR, votes Harvard’s shares, and develops and implements portfolio guidelines. Major topics addressed by the Committees during the past several years include environmental hazards, human rights, public health, world debt, military contracting, and U.S. companies’ employment practices at home and abroad. We expect to consider shareholder proposals dealing with many of these issues in 2012-13. In recent years, the ACSR has held five or more meetings (depending on the number of proxies to be voted) between March and mid-May.
Meets: The meetings are held on Monday evenings at the Harvard Faculty Club.
Meetings of the Faculty: Roughly once per month, the members of the Faculty congress in the Faculty Room of University Hall to conduct business. In most spheres of Faculty business, the Faculty assembled retains the authority to pass binding legislation, which the administration then implements. By Faculty rule, students who are voting members of these two student-faculty committees are welcome to attend as invited nonmembers. Individuals appointed to these committees are expected to exercise this invitation.
Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE)
5 positions
The committee is composed of five undergraduates and five members of the Faculty Council, and is chaired by the Dean of the College. Regular guests to the Committee include several deans in the Office for Undergraduate Education, the Director of the Core Program, the Registrar, and others. The Committee is a forum for undergraduates to address concerns on curricular policy, particularly teaching improvement, study abroad, concentration advising, and honors and grades. The Committee on Undergraduate Education was the originating committee for the reduction of the Core requirement and the securing of a 24-hour library, and more recently discussed CUE evaluations and the academic calendar. Student representatives to this committee are also expected to attend all meetings of the Faculty.
Meets: Wednesdays from 2-3:30pm on October 3, November 7, February 6, March 6, April 3
Committee on Student Life (CSL)
4 positions
This committee is composed of five undergraduates and five faculty members, and is chaired by the Associate Dean of Harvard College. One key responsibility is to discuss and vote to extend official recognition to proposed student groups. The Committee on Student Life also serves as a forum for discussion of student group policies, the rules and regulations for students at the College, and the resources and services available to undergraduates. It will also serve as a forum for students to make policy changes to the College’s residential system. Issues covered include keycard access, tutors, party hours, alcohol policies, dining halls and fly-by, House Committee funding, blocking groups, and inter-house transfers. Student representatives to this committee are also expected to attend all meetings of the Faculty.
Meets: Thursdays from 8:00 to 9:00am on September 13, October 11, November 15, February 21, March 28 and April 18.
Standing Committee on General Education
2 positions
This committee was created as a permanent standing committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the spring term of 2007 to generate and maintain the new General Education curriculum. It has authority over new courses, as well as changes to General Education policy, including petitions, departmental alternates, and other academic credit issues.
Meets: TBA
Standing Committee on the Library
2 positions
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences annually appoints seven FAS faculty members to serve on the university-wide Faculty Advisory Council. They include three professors from the humanities, two from the social sciences, and two from the natural sciences and are charged with representing the interests of the FAS in relation to the libraries.
The seven FAS faculty members who sit on the Council, joined by two annually appointed undergraduates and two annually appointed graduate students, also meet regularly as the Standing Committee on the Library to provide advice in overseeing the many libraries that had evolved to become parts of the entity traditionally known as the Harvard College Library. The chair of the committee will be appointed annually by the Dean of the FAS from among the seven faculty members of the committee. The primary duties of the Standing Committee on the Library will be to gather information about the affairs of those libraries, to discuss their problems and possibilities, and to advise the dean as to the most effective policies for their administration.
Meets: TBA
Standing Committee on Athletic Sports
1 position
This committee is composed of the Athletics Director, House Masters, faculty members, and students. The group focuses on enhancing the presence and enjoyment of athletics at the College. This year, the committee plans to discuss topics including club and JV sports, what the academic calendar change will mean for athletics at Harvard, and Allston planning.
Meets: Fridays at 2:30pm on September 28, November 2, November 30, February 8, March 8, and April 5
Student Advisory Board for Arts and Humanities
4-5 positions for Students in Arts and Humanities Concentrations
The Student Advisory Board for Humanities (SABAH) is a major way in which the Dean of Arts and Humanities keeps in touch with the concerns of students in the relevant concentrations. The SABAH not only reports on the state of the student experience in the concentrations, but also provides a sounding board for the Dean, who seeks the advice of students on curricular issues in the Division. The SABAH consists of the President and Vice-President of the Harvard Undergraduate Council, plus 6-8 representatives from other departments (Celtic, Classics, Drama, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, English, Folklore & Mythology, German, History of American Civilization, History & Literature, History of Art & Architecture, Linguistics, Literature and Comparative Literature, Music, Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, Philosophy, The Study of Religion, Romance Languages and Literature, Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Slavic Studies, Visual and Environmental Studies). The group meets with the Dean of Arts and Humanities three times per semester over lunch.
Meets: TBA
Student Advisory Board for Social Science
Number of positions (for students in Social Science Concentrations): TBD
The Student Advisory Board for Social Science (SABSS) is a major way in which the Dean of Social Science keeps in touch with the concerns of students in the relevant concentrations. The SABSS not only reports on the state of the student experience in the concentrations, but also provides a sounding board for the Dean, who seeks the advice of students on curricular issues in the Division. The SABSS consists of the President and Vice President of the Harvard Undergraduate Council, plus one representative from each of the eight departments (AAAS, Anthropology, Economics, Government, History, History of Science, Psychology, Sociology) and two programs (Social Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality). The group meets with the Dean of Social Science three times per semester, over lunch.
Meets: TBA
Student Advisory Board for Science
1 Position Representing Each Concentration Within the Sciences
The Student Advisory Board for Science (SABS) is a significant way in which the Dean of Science keeps in touch with the concerns of students in the relevant concentrations. The SABS not only reports on the state of the student experience in the concentrations, but also provides a sounding board for the Dean, who seeks the advice of students on curricular issues in the Division. The SABS consists of the President and Vice President of the Harvard Undergraduate Council, plus 6-8 representatives from other departments (Astronomy, CCB, EPS, Math, MCB, OEB, Physics, SCRB, Statistics). The group meets with the Dean of Science two-three times per semester, over lunch or at another meeting time determined to be mutually convenient.
The SABS, with help from the Office of the Dean of Science, is also responsible for coordinating the annual Neekeyfar Lecture Series for Undergraduates on Science and Math. This series exposes undergraduate students to cutting-edge research by bringing renowned scientists to campus for a day of informal interactions and culminating in a lecture aimed at an undergraduate audience. Board members will help plan and facilitate the event, including menu selection; designing and staffing informal discussion sessions the day of the event; designing and executing a publicity plan aimed at undergraduates; and introducing the speaker at the lecture. SABS members will be required to attend regular planning meetings, both planned with the Dean and/or his representative, and ad hoc with the SABS group.
Education Policy Committee
3 Positions
This committee is composed of faculty members and chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In addition, the Dean of Harvard College and the Associate Dean of Academic Advising constitute voting members. The Educational Policy Committee (EPC) was originally formed in 1992 in order to provide oversight of all areas of the undergraduate curriculum outside the Core Curriculum. Typically, that has meant working closely with departmental programs. During the Harvard College Curricular Review (HCCR), the EPC analyzed and successfully advocated for two resolutions: the delay of concentration choice until sophomore year and the creation of Secondary Fields. In this vein, the EPC holds ultimate approval of all secondary fields proposed by departments.
Meets: TBA
Campus Safety Committee
2 positions
The Harvard College Safety Committee was formed in response to a need for a venue in which students and staff could discuss issues related to safety at Harvard. The Committee includes undergraduate students, residential life staff, deans and administrators, as well as Harvard community representatives, including among others, University Police, the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, Women’s Center, Residential and Building Operations, Transportation Services, Community and Public Affairs, and representatives from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate Student Council.
The Committee works to identify ways to improve safety on the Cambridge and Allston campuses. By identifying current student practices and responding to students’ requests, the Committee makes recommendations for policy changes and infrastructure modifications, including pathways, lighting, transportation, and communication devices. The Committee conducts safety campaigns throughout the year to educate students on steps they can take to ensure their personal safety as well as the communities in which they live. Working with the City of Cambridge and Harvard’s physical resources departments, the Committee identifies areas on campus and within the City that could be improved.
The Committee meets regularly during the academic year. Students or other Harvard community members with concerns related to safety can contact their student representatives, residential staff, or the Committee directly at hcsafety@fas.harvard.edu.
Meets: Thursdays 3-4pm: Oct. 22, 2011; November 17, 2011; February 16, 2012; March 15, 2012; April 19, 2012
Harvard University Dining Services Student Advisory Committee
12 positions,
at least one of which must be filled by a member of the Student Life Committee
The Student Advisory Committee to HUDS meets once each month to advise the HUDS administration on the state of residential dining services, suggest improvements, evaluate student satisfaction, and serve as liaisons between HUDS and the student body. The advisory committee will be asked to advise on everything ranging from what changes to make in response to student surveys to how to select themes for festive dinners. It is also a forum for creative suggestions on how to improve the residential dining experience. The ideal composition of the committee will contain at least one representative from each house and two from Annenberg.
Meets: monthly
College-University Health Services (UHS) Committee
3 positions
The UHS-College Committee was formed in the fall of 2006 among college administrators and UHS to coordinate and improve the activities of the many departments of Harvard University focused on student well-being. To effectively coordinate the various departments, the committee includes the following members: Director of the Center for Wellness & Health Communication, Director of Behavioral Health and Academic Counseling, Eliot House Allston Burr Resident Dean, Patient Advocate and Manager of Patient Relations, Secretary of the Administrative Board, Chief of Nursing for Health Services, Chief of Medicine at UHS, Chief of Mental Health in the University Health Services, Practice Manager for Stillman Infirmary/ After Hours Urgent Care Clinic, Director of the Bureau of Study Counsel, Director of the Harvard College Women’s Center, Associate Dean of Harvard College for Residential Life, Director of the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, Associate Director the Bureau of Study Counsel, Director of Police and Security and Chief of Police, Director of the Office of Accessible Education, Leverett House Allston Burr Resident Dean, and the Director of Alcohol & Other Drug Services. In Spring 2007, the administration agreed to the appointment of three students to the committee by the Undergraduate Council.
Meets: Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30am on October 4, November 1, December 6, February 7, March 7, and April 4.
Patient Peer Advocate Workgroup (UHS)
Meets: TBA
Harvard College Library Student Interest Group
Wintersession Committee
1 position
The Wintersession Committee focuses on coordinating Winter Break programming between the College, departments, and students. The committee includes representation from the Office of Student Life, Office for the Arts, General Education, Office of Career Services, Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Recreation & Athletics, the Freshman Dean’s Office, and the Undergraduate Council.
Meets: Wednesdays from 9-10am on October 17, November 14, and December 12.
