Like college students and other adult learners at Harvard Summer School, Secondary School Program students are held to a high standard of behavior. They are expected to be familiar with and abide by all relevant rules and policies as set forth in the Harvard Summer School Student Handbook and the Summer School website. Courses will meet on campus and through the Zoom web conference system, as will activities and events hosted by the Summer School and the SSP. All students are expected to abide by the rules and norms of a physical classroom: wear classroom-ready clothing, and when appropriate, participate by asking and answering questions, and take notes. 

Only registered students may attend and participate in classes and activities, whether online or on campus. Online students should close browser tabs not required for participating in the class or activity, and join the class or activity in a quiet place, free of distractions, with their video on and microphone muted (unless speaking). 

SSP staff, including members of the year-round administrative staff, are available to students 9-5 weekdays except July 4, a holiday. The SSP Office is located in Thayer Hall, in Harvard Yard. The summer staff includes the  permanent office staff, five resident deans, and a senior resident dean. Every SSP student is assigned to one of the SSP deans depending on whether they are a residential, online, or commuting student. Students will be contacted by their dean before or during Opening Weekend. 

Summer School information is available online at https://summer.harvard.edu/ and by telephone: 617.495-4024. 

Students may email the SSP office at ssp@summer.harvard.edu. 

Attendance and participation 

Students registered in a course for undergraduate credit must attend all classes or participate online as a distance student, take all exams, and complete and submit all coursework by the stated deadlines from instructional staff or as noted in the course syllabus. 

Please see Harvard Summer School courses that are open to SSP students. 

Please see Technology Requirements for information on preparing to take online Harvard Summer School courses. 

Participation in courses and sections using web conferencing 

Students are expected to treat web-conference class meetings as if attending class on campus, which includes behaving professionally, treating others with courtesy and respect, refraining from using profanity or socially offensive language as well as wearing appropriate clothing and avoiding inappropriate surroundings. 

Students are required to have and use a camera and microphone when attending web-conference class meetings unless otherwise specified by the instructor. 

Students may not join a class while driving or riding in a car. Students are expected to join from a suitable, quiet location, with a device that permits full participation in class activities. 

Many courses include activities that cannot adequately be performed on a mobile device. 

Please see Student Responsibilities for more information 

Expectations for Online Behavior 

In all of your online interactions, including informal gatherings such as informal meetings and SSP activities, we expect you to behave with appropriate decorum and maturity, to treat others with dignity and respect, and to avoid language and behavior that could be construed as denigrating, bullying, shaming, and the like. 

Any such language or behavior you observe may be reported to your dean or to the Office of Student Affairs. 

RESIDENTIAL POLICIES 

Residential students are also directed to Residential Policies and especially Additional Rules for Secondary School Program Students.