Reasonable Requirements and Expectations

1. The requirements for graduate student programs should be such that they can be reasonably completed within the normal time to degree expected for the program. Ideally, the expected time to degree specified for a program should not exceed six years, and only with the approval of the Committee of Graduate Education.

2. Graduate students have the right to be informed, both when they apply and annually in the GSAS Handbook, of the expected normal time to degree and the specific requirements for their degree program. This information should also include data on actual time to degree, cohort population, and rates of attrition, as well as departmental policies for rewarding credit for course work, field work, TIME, and non-Harvard study.

3. The research workloads expected by advisors from graduate students should be reasonable, taking into account all of the responsibilities of the student's program.

4. Graduate students have a right to participate in activities outside their degree program (e.g., taking or auditing classes in other parts of the University, or being a House Tutor or Teaching Fellow) and outside the University, and to a reasonable amount of free time, without pressure from their advisors.

5. Graduate students have the right to pursue their chosen career path and pursue an appropriate graduate program. Indeed, graduate programs must be designed to reflect student needs and interests and provide opportunities for learning and practicing skills relevant to the job market. Students should receive support from the faculty for non-academic as well as academic careers; those students who express interest in non-academic careers should not experience loss of concern or interest by their advisor or department.

6. Graduate students have the right to take leaves of absence for personal, parental, or health reasons. Such leaves should not require approval from their department, and should not be counted towards the student's time to degree for any purpose.

Quality of Advising

7. Graduate students have the right to regular guidance, discussion, and feedback from their advisors. This should include regular meetings at the mutual convenience of student and advisor, or regular communication by other means if the student and/or the advisor is absent from the University. Students have a right to receive timely comments on drafts of written work or presentations.

8. As is the case between any members of the University community, the graduate student - advisor relationship should be characterized by mutual respect and trust. Graduate students have the right to receive advice and encouragement from faculty and advisors. Where criticism is appropriate, it should be offered constructively and in a helpful manner.

9. Graduate students have the right to reasonable confidentiality, to be respected by faculty and administrators having access to academic or other information about the student. Students have the right to see any files kept about them, except documents for which they have specifically waived their right to see.

10. Appropriate action should be taken in cases where Faculty members cannot or do not fulfill their advising responsibilities, which should include the possibility of being relieved of such duties and barred from taking on additional students. It is the responsibility of the Graduate School and of faculty members in each program, especially those on a students' thesis committee and the Director of Graduate Studies, to ensure that students receive adequate advising.

Evaluation of Student Progress / Feedback

11. Graduate students have the right to receive a regular (at least annual) fair and formal evaluation of their progress towards the degree. The process should involve input from the student, through some sort of progress report. The student's advisor should comment on the student's progress and future plans, and estimate the degree date for the student. Significant deviation from the projected degree date or beyond the expected normal time to degree for the program, or other problems which may affect student progress and well-being, shall be investigated by the Director of Graduate Studies and/or the student's thesis committee.

12. All decisions regarding a student's progress must be communicated in writing to the student.

13. Graduate students have the right to appeal the outcome of formal evaluations which they feel do not accurately reflect their progress or if the expectations placed on them are unreasonable. Mechanisms for such appeals should be established in all departments and must be communicated to all students.

14. Graduate students must be given a fair opportunity to correct deficiencies in their performance once they are informed of them. Any intent to dismiss a student from a graduate program for academic reasons must be preceded by advance notice to the student at least one full semester before the time of dismissal. Only the Administrative Board of the Graduate School can dismiss a student for academic reasons.

Financial and Other Support

15. Graduate students have the right to an accurate description of the financial support available and an indication of the likelihood that they will receive it. This information, including eligibility and service requirements, shall be made available to both prospective and enrolled students.

16. Allocation of departmental, program, and University resources (e.g., office space, copying privileges and computer resources) should reflect the needs of graduate students equally with those of other members of the University community. The availability of resources should be communicated to all students to ensure equal access to them.

Recognition as Members of the Academic Community

17. Graduate students have the right to be respected as persons, as scholars of merit, and as junior colleagues of the faculty upon gaining admission to a graduate program. Students have the right to intellectual freedom and to be treated with respect at all times. Students' vulnerability in having a lesser status and authority may not be exploited by faculty or administrators.

18. Graduate students have the right to appropriate recognition for their contributions to research and publications. Graduate students should have co-authorship on publications to which they have made significant contributions of ideas and/or research.

19. Graduate students have the right to participate in the scholarship of their field, through conferences and symposia, publications, and fellowships. Whenever possible, faculty should assist students in these endeavors, such as by informing students of opportunities, assisting in the preparation of presentations and papers, and providing funding for participation by their students.

20. Graduate students have the right to be included in appropriate decision-making processes in their department, graduate program, Faculty, and University. Students should be selected as coequal voting members of all department, Faculty, and University committees which affect their lives as graduate students. In each department, the graduate studies committee (or equivalent) shall hold an open meeting each semester with all graduate students. Student representatives shall be chosen by their peers (either within their department or by the Graduate Student Council).

21. As with all members of the community, graduate students have the right not to be the victim of verbal, mental, or physical abuse by any member of the community. In accordance with the relevant university policies, nobody should suffer discrimination or harassment, whether subtle or overt, on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements. All such incidents must be dealt with by appropriate university authorities.

Protection of these Rights

22. It is the responsibility of all members of the university, and especially the faculty as the most senior members of the community, having the greatest authority, to ensure that these rights are upheld by all. The Graduate School has the responsibility to ensure that these rights and the rules and regulations of the University and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences are upheld by departments and individuals.

23. This statement should be distributed annually to all graduate students, faculty and administrators in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

24. Graduate students have the right to make complaints about possible violations of their rights outlined in this document, and to have their concerns addressed in a timely fashion by an impartial third party.

25. Graduate students have the right to immunity from reprisal by faculty, departments and other University bodies for making inquiries and complaints. Whenever possible, the identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.