In recognition of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis, HUIT is extending email accounts for College and GSAS students who are graduating this May from 230 to 365 days. This extension will apply retroactively to earlier graduates in this academic year, as well.

[The following message was sent to GSAS Students on 5/8/2020]

"Dear GSAS Students,

Last week, I announced the launch of the GSAS Emergency Support Initiative, the first phase in GSAS student support that includes targeted measures designed to help PhD students overcome academic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are now open for:

• Emergency COVID-19 funds for GSAS students, including lost-time funding and emergency summer research awards;
• GSAS visiting fellow status opportunities;
• Postdoctoral writing and fellowship appointments.

[email sent to GSAS students on 5/5/2020]

"Dear GSAS Students, 

I wanted to share a message from Provost Alan Garber about steps toward reopening Harvard’s research facilities, which went out to Harvard faculty earlier today. As you will read, the Provost has asked that a committee be formed to develop a phased approach for the resumption of laboratory-based research. He also notes that preparations are underway for the phased resumption of research access to Harvard’s libraries and museums. 

I trust this is welcome news to those of you relying on access to labs, libraries, and other scholarly resources to continue your research. While there is still much to be done, progress is being made. I am particularly heartened by the Provost’s acknowledgement that lost research productivity is not only a problem for faculty, but one that affects the academic progress of graduate students as well.

The Provost’s Office plans to communicate progress regularly, and GSAS will ensure that students are kept informed. 

With all best wishes, 

Emma Dench 
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 
McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History and of the Classics"

[email sent to GSAS students on 5/1/2020]

"Dear GSAS Students,

Today, GSAS is launching an Emergency Support Initiative, four targeted measures designed to help PhD students overcome academic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Support Initiative includes:

• Lost-Time Funding
• Emergency Summer Research Awards
• GSAS Visiting Fellow Status Opportunities
• Postdoctoral Writing and Fellowship Appointments

Lost-Time Funding
Students will be able to apply for up to a year of additional funding to make up for time lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students currently on dissertation completion fellowships whose completion has been delayed will be prioritized, followed by those on research fellowships during March 2020.

Emergency Summer Research Awards
Students whose summer 2020 research plans will be disrupted may apply for awards to help them advance their progress toward the degree.

GSAS Visiting Fellow Status
GSAS will allow students graduating in May and November 2020, who do not have a job lined up or whose employment was delayed, to apply for a GSAS visiting fellow appointment for up to a one-year term. These recent alumni would:

• Remain members of the Harvard community, with access to libraries and other Harvard resources so that they may continue their research independently.
• Have visiting fellow tuition waived and access to Harvard’s health insurance plan at the student rate.
• Be able to continue searching for jobs while retaining a Harvard affiliation, including their Harvard email address.

The GSAS Professional Development Fund for PhD Students

Established through the generous donations of alumni and other benefactors, the GSAS Professional Development Fund supports PhD students seeking to obtain the competencies and skills necessary to be successful in their chosen professions.

If noted in the Notice of Financial Support provided at the time of admission, PhD students who entered GSAS between fall 2015 and fall 2019 and who are in their third year of study or beyond may be eligible to apply for up to $2,500 from the GSAS Professional Development Fund. Please note, as with all other stipends, the Professional Development Fund is considered taxable income. For more information, please consult the Special Note Concerning US Income Taxes section of the GSAS website.

Before applying, students should review the list of approved professional development expenditures developed by their program and discuss their professional development plans with faculty advisors or directors of graduate studies. Please note that these funds are not intended to be used for activities supported by existing departmental resources, to fund dissertation research travel, or to purchase equipment (e.g. computers).

Students must complete a final report within 60 days of completing the professional development activity.

Student Eligibility

• Eligibility will be noted in the Notice of Financial Support provided at the time of admission.
• Students must have entered a GSAS PhD program between fall 2015 and fall 2019, must be in their third year or beyond, and must be deemed eligible by their directors of graduate studies.
• Students must be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Students must submit a funding proposal using the application instructions below.

Eligible Professional Development Activities

The Fund is designed to support access to workshops, conferences, courses, and other activities and resources that help students develop new competencies and skills, for example:

• Writing and communicating ideas
• Leadership and management
• Teaching and mentoring
• Career exploration and preparation
• Data analysis and digital skills development

Activities or expenditures that are inconsistent with these guidelines will be ineligible for funding. Among the ineligible expenses are:

• Equipment/computers
• Books
• Software
• Research expenditures
• Publication costs
• Editing services
• Job interview expenses

Award Amounts

Students can request any amount from a minimum of $300 up to a maximum of $2,500. Once the request is approved, the GSAS Office of Financial Aid will provide an award notification and disburse the award via a single stipend payment.

The entire amount does not have to be requested all at once; students may request smaller amounts multiple times until they reach a cumulative total of $2,500.

Application Periods for 2019–2020

Students may apply for the Professional Development Fund during the following application periods:

• July 1 through August 31 (for October 1 fund disbursement)
• October 1 through December 20 (for February 1 fund disbursement)
• February 1 through April 30 (for June 1 fund disbursement)

How to Apply

Note to applicants: Starting with the fall 2019 application cycle, you no longer need to provide a faculty endorsement form.

1. Log in to the Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT)* using your Harvard Key.
2. Click Apply! at the top of the page, which goes to the Browse Opportunities and Apply! page.
3. Click on the blue Filter button in the upper right section of the page. In the Enter Keywords to Search For field, type GSAS Professional Development Fund and click on the blue GO button.
4. Select GSAS Professional Development Fund in the left column to display program details and click on the blue Apply button.
5. Choose the Project Description tab, enter the requested information, and click Save and Next.
6. You will now be on the Travel tab. Enter the requested information (Cambridge/USA if not traveling), then click Save and Next.
7. You will now be on the Additional Questions tab. Enter your itemized expenses, and click Save and Next.
8. You will now be on the Submission tab; answer the question concerning human subjects research.
9. Select Click Here to Validate Application.
10. Enter your Harvard ID number, hit tab, then click on Submit Application. Click OK to finalize your submission.

​*If you experience problems completing the CARAT application, you may request assistance by clicking Contact Us on the bottom right of each page in the CARAT system.

CONTACT INFO

If you have questions about the GSAS Professional Development Fund or the application instructions, contact your Financial Aid Officer.

For spring 2020 only, all GSAS students enrolled in any course at the University will be graded on an “Emergency Satisfactory/Emergency Unsatisfactory” basis. This includes students who are taking courses at other Harvard Schools.

• A clear notation of SEM/UEM will be included on all transcripts for the spring 2020 term to indicate that courses were graded SEM/UEM due to extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• All cases where students have already chosen the SAT/UNSAT option will have that grade option converted to the SEM/UEM basis.

The FAS Registrar’s Office will be implementing this new grading structure over the coming week. Faculty have been instructed to, wherever possible, provide qualitative letters of recommendation if further explanation of a student’s grade is required.