Rights and Regulations

Harvard Extension School complies with the following federal and state guidelines, outlined below.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Division of Continuing Education policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA), provide students and former students certain protections and rights concerning the confidentiality of their educational records maintained by the Division of Continuing Education.

Education Records

The Extension School routinely maintains records for its students that describe and document their work and progress. These education records generally include information such as permanent and local addresses, admissions records, enrollment status, course grades, reports and evaluations, completion of requirements and progress toward the degree, records of disciplinary actions, letters of recommendations, and other correspondence with or concerning the student.

Directory Information

Under FERPA, certain student information designated as directory information may be disclosed without the student’s consent. The Extension School defines the following student information as directory information for all students: name; date of birth; dates of enrollment; e-mail address; and enrollment status. The following information also is considered directory information for degree and premedical program candidates: program; area of concentration; field of study; Harvard University ID image; academic honors; prior degrees and schools attended; and expected or actual date of graduation.

Please note that Harvard University’s definition of directory information may include elements in addition to those used by the Extension School, and that requests for directory information received at the University level thus may result in disclosure of such additional elements.

Students have the right to withhold the disclosure of their directory information; to do so, a student must submit the Request for FERPA Block to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information to Academic Services. Download the Harvard University FERPA Block Information form. Students should carefully consider this decision because once they choose to withhold directory information it will not be released to anyone, including prospective employers seeking confirmation of enrollment.

Disclosures Permitted Under FERPA

In addition to permitting the disclosure of directory information as set forth above, FERPA permits disclosure of educational records without a student’s knowledge or consent under certain circumstances.

For example, disclosure is permitted to Harvard officials with a legitimate educational interest in the records, meaning that the person needs the information to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities, including instructional, supervisory, advisory, administrative, academic or research, staff support or other duties.

Harvard officials include faculty; administrators; clerical employees; professional employees; Harvard University Health Services staff members; Harvard University Police Department officers; and agents of the University such as independent contractors performing functions on behalf of the Extension School, the Division of Continuing Education or the University; members of Harvard’s governing boards; and students serving on an official Extension School, or University committee, or assisting another Harvard official in performing his or her tasks.

A student’s education record also may be shared with parties outside the University under certain conditions, including, for example, in situations involving the health and safety of the student. In addition, the Extension School will forward a student’s education records to other agencies or institutions that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled, so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.

If the Extension School finds that a student has committed a disciplinary violation involving a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the Extension School also may, if legally permitted and in the Extension School’s judgment appropriate, disclose certain information about the disciplinary case. The disclosure may include the student’s name, the violation committed, and the sanction imposed.

Access

To be useful, students’ records must be accurate and complete. The officials who maintain them are those in charge of the functions reflected in the records and the offices where the records are kept. These ordinarily include the Registrar of the Extension School, as well as Academic Services, Student Financial Services, the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Policy and Governance, and program offices.

All students have access to their own education records and may contribute to them if they feel there is need for clarification. Students wishing access to their education records should contact Academic Services. Ordinarily, students are asked to submit a written request that identifies the specific record or records he/she wishes to inspect.

Access will be given within 45 days from the receipt of the request. When a record contains information about more than one student, the student requesting access may inspect and review only the portion of the record relating to him or her. Students also are not permitted to view letters and statements of recommendation to which they waived their right of access, or that were placed in their file before January 1, 1975.

Students should direct any questions they have about the accuracy of records to Academic Services. Should it be necessary, a hearing may be held to resolve challenges concerning the accuracy of records in those cases where informal discussions have not satisfactorily settled the questions raised.

Student Rights Under FERPA

As set forth above, under both Harvard policy and FERPA, students and former students may inspect and review certain of their education records that are maintained by Harvard. They also have the right to exercise limited control over other people’s access to their education records; seek to correct their education records if they believe them to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their FERPA rights; file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe Harvard has not complied with the requirements of FERPA; and be fully informed of their rights under FERPA.

Complaints regarding alleged violations of a student’s rights under FERPA may be submitted in writing within 180 days to the Family Compliance Office, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5920.

FERPA and Online Courses

If you are enrolled in online courses, you are protected by FERPA in the same way that on-campus students are. Under FERPA, you are permitted to see your classmates’ names and images and hear their comments and discussion, just as students in courses on campus can know their classmates’ names, see their faces, and hear their discussion.

Video lectures for an online course are password-protected and available only to students enrolled in the course.

Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and Form 1098-T

This information is only for US tax filers.

The Harvard Extension School must report specific student financial and registration information on a student’s behalf each tax year to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The information on form 1098-T can be used to help you determine if you are eligible for educational tax credits — American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax credit — when filing a US tax return.

The 1098-T Form includes the total amount paid for qualified tuition and related expenses in a calendar year (January 1 through December 31), as well as the total amount of scholarships or grants disbursed in the calendar year, and any adjustments made during the calendar year. Related expenses do not include charges for room, board, insurance, health fees, transportation, or similar expenses.

Students are encouraged to provide the Extension School with their Social Security Number or Taxpayer ID number (TIN) to ensure their enrollment and financial information is reported correctly to the IRS.

Accessing your 1098-T Form

The Harvard Extension School and Harvard Summer School are partnered with ECSI to make 1098-T forms available in the Student Finance Portal on MyDCE.

Students may choose to receive their 1098-T form electronically by consenting in the Student Finance Portal through M yDCE. If you do not consent to only receive an electronic copy by January 10, 2024, a paper form will also be mailed to the address on file. Students who consent to receive their forms electronically will not receive a paper copy. All forms will be available electronically.

Students will receive an email notification when the electronic copy is available in the Student Finance Portal, through MyDCE Forms typically become available in mid-to-late January.

Once forms become available online, electronic copies can be viewed at any time.

Paper copies will be mailed to students who have not opted into electronic delivery beginning January 31, 2024. Students should verify and update their mailing address and email address online before December 31, 2023 to ensure prompt delivery and receipt of their 1098-T forms.

Tax advice

Harvard representatives are not permitted to give tax advice. Students should direct questions about their eligibility for the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit to their tax advisors or visit the IRS website irs.gov/Individuals/Students for more information.

These IRS links may also be helpful:

Accessing prior year 1098-T Forms

1098-T forms from 2019 and 2020 are currently available, as they have been, on the Maximus Federal site.

If you were enrolled elsewhere in The University

If you enrolled in courses elsewhere at the University in 2023, you will receive a separate 1098-T form with your term-time charges and payments.

State Authorization of Distance Education

Harvard University has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to operate its distance education programs under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), a voluntary agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education.

Student Complaint Procedures for Online Students

Students enrolled in online courses at the Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE) who are residents of states other than Massachusetts, and when such state is a SARA participating state, may submit complaints regarding their courses in accordance with the following school-specific complaint procedures:

Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint by working with the course instructor.
If students are unable to resolve their complaint with the instructor, students are encouraged to share their complaint with DCE by writing to AcademicServices@Extension.Harvard.edu. Complaints should include relevant identifying course information, a detailed description of the complaint or inquiry, and an account of any actions already taken to resolve the matter. Efforts will be made to determine the appropriate course of action, and the student will be notified within 10 days following the receipt of a complaint.
If the attempt to resolve the complaint via these internal school processes fails, students enrolled in online courses may exercise further complaint processes as detailed on the Harvard University State Authorization of Distance Education site.

Harvard University will not in any way retaliate against an individual who reports a perceived violation of Harvard policy, state, federal, or local law. Further, Harvard will not tolerate retaliation by any employee or student.

US Economic Sanctions on Embargoed Countries

If you are generally resident in the Crimean region of Ukraine, please contact the Registrar about enrolling in online courses.

Missing Persons

As required under federal law, the Extension School immediately refers any missing persons report involving a student to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD). If HUPD determines that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, then within the 24 hours following this determination, the Extension School—working with HUPD as necessary—will 1) attempt to contact the student using any confidential contact information that the student may have provided to the Extension School; 2) notify an appropriate external law enforcement agency; 3) contact any person the student has identified to the registrar as an emergency contact; 4) notify others at the university, as appropriate, about the student’s disappearance.

All Extension School students are required to provide general emergency contact information when they register. Students may also update their emergency contact information at any time by logging into MyDCE and selecting “My Profile.”

Students who wish to provide the additional confidential personal contact information should contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance.

Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act

The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989 prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on University property or as part of any University-sponsored activity. Information is available about the University’s standards of conduct regarding alcohol and drugs; applicable legal sanctions under public laws; health risks associated with the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol; drug and alcohol counseling and treatment resources on campus; and the disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed in instances of misconduct involving alcohol and drugs. See the alcohol and drug policy on the Harvard University Police Department website.

Weapons, Firearms, and Combustible Material

Possession and/or use on University property of firearms, other dangerous weapons, ammunition, explosives, combustible fuels, firecrackers, and potential ingredients thereof is forbidden by University policy. Please take note of the following statute of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

Whoever, not being a law enforcement officer and notwithstanding any license obtained by the person pursuant to chapter 140, carries on the person a firearm, loaded or unloaded, or other dangerous weapon in any building or on the grounds of any … college or university without the written authorization of the board or officer in charge of the … college or university shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or both. A law enforcement officer may arrest without a warrant and detain a person found carrying a firearm in violation of this paragraph. [Massachusetts General Laws, c. 269 § 10]

Harvard Extension School students aged 18 years or older may lawfully possess and use pepper spray for self-defense, subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth in Massachusetts General Law – Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 122D.

Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act

In compliance with this act, the Harvard Annual Security Report is available online at the Harvard University Police Department website. The guide, published by the Harvard University Police, describes Harvard’s security policies, provides statistical information on the occurrence of crime on campus, and outlines some of the counseling programs the University provides.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Voter Registration Law

The Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 requires universities to make a good faith effort to make voter registration forms available to you.

You may request a Massachusetts voter registration form at the website established by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

You may request a Federal Voter Registration Form from the Election Assistance Commission website.

Harvard University is committed to maintaining the integrity and availability of the Harvard network for the vital educational and research purposes for which it was designed and prohibits the use of its network to violate the law, including the US Copyright Act. The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, violates the Copyright Act and may subject you to civil and criminal liabilities.

Students should not use peer-to-peer file-sharing programs to share copyrighted works without permission. Students may subject themselves to significant costs and possible criminal penalties if they share copyrighted material without permission. Harvard University may terminate network access and refer students for disciplinary action who are associated with repeated infringements.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or statutory damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For willful infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for an individual. For more information, please see the website of the US Copyright Office, especially the FAQs.

Harvard complies fully with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Users of the Harvard network found to have engaged in repeated infringement of copyright are subject to termination of their network access and may be reported to the appropriate Dean or Human Resources officer for disciplinary action. For more information on Harvard’s policy, process and peer-to-peer file-sharing see dmca.Harvard.edu and dmca.Harvard.edu/faq.

A paper copy of this notice is available upon request by contacting dmca@harvard.edu.

Hazing

Massachusetts law prohibits any form of hazing in connection with initiation into a student organization. The law applies both to officially recognized and unrecognized groups, and to practices conducted on and off campus. The term hazing, as used in this law, is defined as “any conduct or method of initiation… which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person” (Massachusetts General Laws, c. 269, sec. 17). Hazing is a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment. The Administrative Board considers all reports of hazing in the normal course of its oversight, taking disciplinary action in appropriate cases and reporting confirmed incidents to appropriate law enforcement officials. In addition, failure to report hazing is illegal (Massachusetts General Laws, c. 269, sec. 18).

Student Absence Due to Religious Belief

Massachusetts law includes the following fair educational practices regarding student absence from a class or examination. Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section. (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151C: Section 2B).

The Extension School will make every attempt to accommodate religious conflicts with advance notice of at least two weeks. However, there are situations where an accommodation cannot be made because to do so would change the fundamental nature of the course. This is the case in an online course with a mandatory weekend on campus and active weekend courses. Active and engaged learning on campus with fellow classmates and teaching staff is integral to the pedagogy of these courses as well as the on-campus degree requirement that these courses fulfill. Alternate accommodations cannot be made for these courses. Students are required to attend, in person, the entire week-end to earn credit for the course.

Students with a religious conflict should contact Academic Services for assistance, 617-495-0977. Learn more about scheduling a make-up exam due to a religious conflict.

Textbook Information

Per the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 effective July 1, 2010, Federal law requires Harvard University to disclose certain information about textbooks that instructors assign for courses at the Harvard Extension School. The Harvard Coop has agreed to provide this information centrally for all Harvard University schools via the Harvard University Course Catalog website. Students may access textbook information for Extension School courses by searching for Extension courses at this website on the Harvard Coop website.

Emergency Reservation of Rights

Harvard Extension School retains the discretion to act as it deems necessary in extraordinary circumstances to protect the health and safety of the Harvard community. For these purposes “extraordinary circumstances” include, but are not limited to, public health emergencies, extreme weather events, and other conditions posing broad threats to community health and safety or significantly disrupting campus life or learning. Discretionary measures available to Harvard Extension School may include, but are not limited to, making recourse to remote or hybrid instruction, suspending or limiting access to University-provided residential housing, limiting its provision of or access to certain activities and services, introducing or modifying vaccination, mask and physical distancing mandates, and implementing compulsory testing and tracing programs as required conditions for accessing the Harvard campus or Harvard facilities.