Harvard University Institutional Voice Principles

In spring 2024, Harvard established the Institutional Voice Working Group to consider whether and when our institution should issue official statements on publicly salient issues. The Working Group consisted of faculty members from across the University with a wide range of experience and expertise. This group researched past practices at Harvard and other universities and conducted extensive outreach to the Harvard community, gathering input from every school and from more than 1,000 faculty, students, staff, and alumni. 

At the conclusion of its work, the Working Group issued a report, containing a set of principles and recommendations that ground the use of institutional voice in the University’s mission of “seeking truth through open inquiry, debate, and the careful weighing of evidence.” As noted in the announcement, the report concludes that the University and its leaders should not issue official statements about public matters that do not directly impact the University’s core function as an academic institution.

In May 2024, University leadership adopted the recommendations and principles outlined in the report. Understanding that many questions will arise in applying these recommendations and principles in practice, it released a set of Frequently Asked Questions in September 2024 to provide further guidance. The FAQs, which are primarily drawn from questions received after the report’s issuance, are a starting point for application, offering preliminary guidance to members of Harvard’s community. The University expects to clarify, refine, and augment this guidance based on community feedback and experience gained through implementation of the Institutional Voice Principles.

Principles and FAQs