On Thursday, April 4, Interim President Alan M. Garber and Interim Provost John F. Manning announced two University-wide initiatives to address issues of critical importance at the University. To reinforce and nurture a culture of academic excellence, the President and Provost are convening two working groups to explore how best to further cultivate an environment of open inquiry, constructive dialogue, and academic freedom.| provost.harvard.edu
In spring 2024, Harvard established the Institutional Voice Working Group to consider whether and when our institution should issue official statements on publicly salient issues. The Working Group consisted of faculty members from across the University with a wide range of experience and expertise. This group researched past practices at Harvard and other universities and conducted extensive outreach to the Harvard community, gathering input from every school and from more than 1,000 faculty...| provost.harvard.edu
The central functions of an academic community are learning, teaching, research and scholarship. By accepting membership in the University, an individual joins a community ideally characterized by free expression, free inquiry, intellectual honesty, respect for the dignity of others, and openness to constructive change. The rights and responsibilities exercised within the community must be compatible with these qualities.| provost.harvard.edu