12/1/2020
In our planning for this academic year, we established a maximum residential density of no more than one student per bedroom. This density limit is a critical piece of our campus public health program to limit exposure and control transmission of the COVID-19 virus within our residential community. At this density, Harvard College has available a maximum number of 3,100 individual student bedrooms. For Spring 2021, we will pursue an approach that aims to utilize the entire bedroom capacity.
This spring, Harvard College seniors will be invited to campus and will be given first priority for housing. The following students will also be given housing priority:
- Juniors who completed the Fall 2020 semester;
- Students who were approved this fall to study in residence due to learning environment needs;
- Students who were approved to remain in housing beyond November 22;
- Students who live in time zones four or more hours distant from Eastern Standard Time; and
- Students (including first-year students and sophomores) who have learning environment needs for the spring term.
Finally, juniors who were not enrolled or did not complete the Fall 2020 semester may apply for housing and will be accommodated to the greatest degree possible.
Of the three possible spring options announced in July, we have chosen the path that invites the largest number of students to learn in residence—a significant step forward on the path toward a full residential return.