Resources for Directors of Graduate Studies
Coronavirus Response Resources
At this time of great uncertainty, you play a critical role as a communication’s conduit between GSAS and our students and your faculty peers. All of us at GSAS are grateful for all that you are doing to support students in their academic endeavors and in their well-being. GSAS is working to review policies and develop resources that can aid you with this important responsibility. We know that students are coming to you with questions, and we will continue to update this page with content you may need.
One of the most important things you can do is to ensure that faculty are regularly checking in with their students to relieve the sense of anxiety and isolation they may feel during this time. Several programs have shared their communications with students, which include answers to questions and ways to remain socially connected during this time of physical distancing:
Population Health Sciences COVID-19 update
History of Science COVID-19 update
Systems Biology COVID-19 update
Message from the Graduate Economics Association
Music message to graduate students
You should feel free to adapt these for communications to students in your own programs.
Financial guidance regarding graduate student work for the spring 2020 semester
The University continues to evaluate the shifting administrative landscape during the Coronavirus pandemic. Graduate student work, as part of that landscape, is an essential driver of the University’s mission. Where possible, the University expectation is that the work that graduate students are compensated for should continue. If work assignments are not possible to complete using online or distance learning technologies, supervisors are encouraged to find other opportunities for graduate student workers to complete their work commitments, including shifting jobs and job descriptions to alternate assignments in order to fulfill their employment obligations. If this is not possible, graduate student workers who are unable to work due to the pandemic will still be compensated to the end of work expectation within the spring 2020 term.
Information about Ramadan
Harvard's Muslim Chaplain has shared information related to Ramadan and graduate students.
Tips for students
- Maintaining work/life balance and reducing social isolation for students is crucial. The GSAS Student Center, the Office of Diversity and Minority Affairs, and many student groups are developing virtual programming, which can be found through the Engage platform.
- For students with mental health needs, Counseling and Mental Health Services is available to help. You can also share links to Managing Stress.
- Students expressing financial need or extreme hardship can complete a request for emergency funding or reach out to their financial aid officer.
- The Accessible Education Office remains open virtually to ensure GSAS students can access their learning and teaching environments. Students who would like to request accommodations in order to teach or learn remotely should contact the AEO directly.
-
GSAS has received several questions from faculty regarding students’ remote access to health care if they are no longer on campus. If a student is enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, they will not be responsible for any costs related to COVID-19 testing nor office visit consultations when they seek care from a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO provider. If students come to you with questions, please direct them to the most updated information on the Harvard University Health Services website.
Updates to Policy
GSAS is reviewing existing policies to see where emergency updates can be made. You can view a list of policies that have been updated on the emergency policy amendments page.
Incoming Student FAQ
You can view a Fall 2020 FAQ for incoming students on the New Students page.
Other Resources
The Handbook for Directors of Graduate Studies provides information on advising and on GSAS as well as listing the Harvard resources available to graduate students. You may also be interested in reviewing a list of professional development and teaching practicum course syllabi.
The GSAS website contains GSAS policies and procedures, including program requirements for the degree, registration and enrollment information, regulations and standards of conduct, and benefits.
The Office of Career Services has prepared a Professional Development template for GSAS programs that can guide DGS efforts to provide field-specific guidance on academic careers, as well as connections to alumni who have developed successful careers in academia, government, industry, non-profits, and other areas beyond the academy.
Directors of Graduate Studies 2019–2020
African and African American Studies, Alejandro de la Fuente
American Studies, Dan McKanan
Anthropology, Matthew Liebmann
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning, Erika Naginski
Art, Film and Visual Studies, David Joselit
Astronomy, Charlie Conroy
Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine, Yingzi Yang
Biological Sciences in Public Health, Brendan Manning
Biophysics, Martha Bulyk, Venkatesh Murthy
Biostatistics, Paige Williams
Business Administration, Jennifer Mucciarone
Business Economics, Jennifer Mucciarone
Celtic Languages and Literatures, Natasha Sumner
Chemical Biology, Daniel Kahne, Suzanne Walker
Chemical Physics, Theodore Betley
Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Joe Lavin, Theodore Betley
Classics, Mark Schiefsky
Comparative Literature, Verena Conley
Earth and Planetary Sciences, David Johnston, Eli Tziperman
East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Wai-Yee Li
Economics, Jeffrey Miron
Education, Jon Star
Engineering and Applied Sciences, David Brooks, Federico Capasso, Yiling Chen, Fawwaz Habbal, Tim Kaxiras, Xiao-Li Meng, David Parkes, Elsie Sunderland, Eli Tziperman, Leslie Valiant, Daniel Weinstock, Amir Yacoby, Robin Wordsworth, Rob Howe, John Girash
English, John Stauffer
Forestry, David Foster
Germanic Languages and Literatures, Peter Burgard
Government, Ryan Enos
Health Policy, Meredith Rosenthal
History, Sidney Chalhoub
History of Art and Architecture, Ewa Lajer-Burcharth
History of Science, Elizabeth Lunbeck
Human Evolutionary Biology, Daniel E. Lieberman
Inner Asian and Altaic Studies, Leonard van der Kuijp
Linguistics, Jonathan Bobaljik
Mathematics, Mark Kisin
Medical Sciences, TBD
Middle Eastern Studies, Derek Penslar
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Victoria D'Souza
Music, Kay Shelemay
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Malika Zeghal
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Michael M. Desai, Scott Edwards
Organizational Behavior, Jennifer Mucciarone
Philosophy, Mark Richard
Physics, Melissa Franklin, Jacob Barandes
Political Economy and Government, Robert Stavins
Population Health Sciences, Lisa Berkman
Psychology, Leah Somerville
Public Policy, Robert Stavins
Regional Studies–East Asia, Alexander Zahlten
Regional Studies–Russia, E. Europe, Central Asia, Alexandra Vacroux
Religion, David Holland
Romance Languages and Literatures, Virginie Greene
Slavic Languages and Literatures, Julie Buckler
Social Policy, Jennifer Hochschild
Sociology, Mario Small
South Asian Studies, Jay Jasanoff
Statistics, Susan Murphy, Xiao-Li Meng
Systems Biology, Timothy Mitchison, Andrew Murray