Coronavirus: HGSE Looks Forward

HGSE’s top priority during the COVID pandemic has always been the health and safety of community members, their families, and the public. This remains our top priority, and it guides our current planning and actions as we reopen our classrooms to learning. As guided by the CDC and University, our approach to safety is threefold: required vaccination, regular testing, and indoor masking. Please find more information below about our specific policies and procedures. For additional questions about HGSE's safety plans and precautions, please contact hgse_reopening@gse.harvard.edu.

HGSE's Community Compact

As we safely reopen our campus and our classrooms, HGSE’s Community Compact spells out our shared responsibilities for maintaining a healthy community. Read the compact.

Widen Layout:

wide

HGSE's Latest Updates

Procedure for HGSE Students Coming to Campus
September 30, 2021, important updates for students coming to campus

View the latest testing results on the University-wide COVID-19 testing dashboard.

Important Policies and Procedures

Required Vaccination
Vaccination is an effective way to protect yourself against COVID-19, and it severely decreases the likelihood of serious health outcomes requiring hospitalization. Campus-wide vaccination is the best weapon against the coronavirus, and therefore, the University has imposed a vaccination requirement for all community members working and studying on campus. Learn more about Harvard's vaccination policies.
Regular Testing
Regular COVID testing is an essential part of our precautions to safeguard the health of our community. Remember to complete a COVID test regularly as dictated by University guidance (currently weekly for vaccinated individuals). You can start the process, check your results, and verify your testing cadence by logging into your Color account. For an overview of Harvard's testing process works, read HGSE's COVID-19 Testing Protocol Guidance.
Indoor Masking
Masking is a critical line of defense from preventing the transmission of COVID, and indoor masking requirements are currently in effect. Learn more about how to choose a protective mask, and gently remind colleagues to wear their own masks if necessary.
Responding to Positive Test Results
In the event that a member of our community receives a positive COVID test result, a series of protocols and supports are invoked. We are closely monitoring data on positive tests to make informed decisions about whether adjustments are needed to our policies, procedures, or in person activities. Learn more about how to respond to positive test results.
HGSE’s Visitor Policy
Based on our precautions, visitors are not currently permitted on campus, and students, faculty, and staff should be prepared to show your Harvard ID when entering Gutman Library. Special guests must be approved, complete a formal registration process, and adhere to the same safety measures being required of faculty, staff, and students (vaccination, regular testing, and masking). Read HGSE's Visitor Policy.
HGSE’s Campus Drinking and Eating Policy
Based on guidance from the University, it is permissible to briefly remove your mask to take a quick sip of a drink. However, eating presents a much larger challenge while we are required to wear masks indoors. As such, we are limiting eating to select location. Read HGSE's Campus Drinking and Eating Policy.
Course Auditors and Cross-Registrants
HGSE is not permitting auditors in face-to-face courses, whether the person is a Harvard affiliate or not. This restriction helps to keep classroom spaces less dense and focus our monitoring efforts on students taking the course for a grade.

HGSE will permit cross-registrants from around Harvard University depending on course availability. Additionally, in order to honor our cross-University agreements, we will permit cross-registrants from MIT and Tufts University, just as they are accepting our students into their courses. Cross-registered students will be subject to all the same protocols as an HGSE student (e.g., required vaccination, regular testing, and masking). For HGSE students seeking to cross-register: It is our expectation that some cross-registration into residential courses at other schools will be available. Contact the registrar’s offices of the other schools to confirm policies for incoming cross-registration.

Visit Harvard’s coronavirus website for detailed information about vaccination, testing, travel guidance, and other university policies and communication.

Prior Communications

Important Overview of HGSE’s COVID-related Safety Measures and Policies
August 24, 2021, summary of the procedures HGSE is following to protect the health and safety of the community
Important Updates on the Reopening of Campus
July 29, 2021, important updates on the campus reopening process and the necessary steps to return to campus safely
New Information and Updates regarding Reopening Campus
July 14, 2021, updates on the reopening survey and the review of campus buildings and spaces
COVID Vaccination Verification
June 11, 2021, a reminder to submit vaccine verification, the new HGSE Health and Safety Task Force, and the Community Compact
Return to Campus Update
May 18, 2021, outlining the current status of HGSE's reopening plans

Widen Layout:

wide

Education and the Pandemic

The pandemic has upended the field of education and the lives of students, educators, caregivers, and community leaders. HGSE has responded by offering an immersive series of broadcasts and useful resources. Explore our Education Now initiative to watch episodes on timely topics. See below to explore content on teaching, leading, and parenting

Widen Layout:

wide