The Office of Student Affairs is responsible for Summer School students who are living on or off campus. The office serves as the principal source of information about student conduct, student residential life, Summer School activities, and a number of resources and activities in the New England area.

Resident students who have questions or problems should turn first to their proctors. Matters not easily resolved will be referred to their resident dean, who have overall responsibility for the unit and must approve all House or dormitory activities. Secondary School Program and Pre-College Program students also may meet with their respective program directors.

Disciplinary Process

Disciplinary cases are referred first to each program's Residential Committee, which consists of program staff and resident deans. Some cases may be elevated to the Dean’s Council, resident deans, and other members of Summer School leadership. Students involved in disciplinary cases may be asked to provide a written statement. The Residential Committee and/or Dean’s Council may take any of the following actions:

1. take no action;

2. issue a letter of reprimand;

3. issue an educational sanction;

4. place a student on probation;

5. require a student to withdraw from Harvard housing; or

6. refer the case to the Administrative Board.

In cases where students are removed from housing but allowed to remain in the Summer School, room and board fees are not refunded. Cases that, in the judgment of the Dean’s Council, may lead to a required withdrawal from the Summer School are referred to the Administrative Board.

Students from other Harvard schools. Any violation of Harvard Summer School academic or disciplinary policy is subject to review and disciplinary action by the Summer School Administrative Board and may trigger similar action by the school at Harvard in which the student is enrolled. Similarly, the Administrative Board reserves the right to refuse registration to students who have been required to withdraw from other Harvard schools.

Administrative Board

The Dean of the Summer School is chair of the Summer School Administrative Board. The Board includes Summer School senior administrators, senior administrators within the Division of Continuing Education, and members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The Administrative Board reviews cases of students who are alleged to have violated Summer School policies. The Administrative Board may take any of the actions open to the Dean’s Council and may also require a student to withdraw from a particular course or from the Summer School. Requirement to withdraw is normally effective immediately.

In the event that serious disciplinary action is being considered against a student in the Secondary School Program or Pre-College Program, the program director (or other program officer) may notify the parent(s) or guardian of the student. In cases involving alcohol or drug violations by Secondary School Program or Pre-College Program students, or neglect of studies, absence from or disruption of class by any Summer School student, a subcommittee of the Administrative Board may take disciplinary action on behalf of the Board.

Ordinarily, no tuition, room and board, or fees are refunded to students who are required to withdraw. When students are required to withdraw for disciplinary reasons, they are assigned a grade of RQ (required to withdraw) for the course, which becomes part of their permanent academic record. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Summer School may also report its disciplinary actions to students’ home institutions or to schools in which they intend to enroll. A student whose conduct is under review for possible disciplinary action by the Administrative Board will not ordinarily be permitted to withdraw voluntarily from the Summer School. The decision of the Administrative Board will supersede any registration changes students with pending disciplinary or administrative proceedings may make, including a course withdrawal. The student's permanent record will be updated to reflect the Board’s decision.