#  Rules for Use of Campus Spaces 

 



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August 1, 2024

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,  
  
I am writing to share updated information on rules concerning the use of shared campus spaces. Harvard University’s campus grounds and buildings support faculty, students, staff, other affiliates, and campus visitors in pursuing the University’s teaching and research mission. In addition to thousands of courses and academic programs, the University, our Schools, and our colleagues each year host thousands of events and initiatives to serve our mission and foster the vibrancy of our intellectual and residential community.  
  
We share a commitment to ensuring that every member of our community has the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional work within these spaces in a manner that allows us to plan for and accommodate events and competing uses, protect the safety and well-being of community members, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local rules. For this to occur successfully requires clear and transparent rules that enable community members to learn and understand how to access and make use of shared spaces consistently with these shared goals.  
  
This spring, I convened a cross-University Working Group consisting of administrative deans, student services leaders, and events and facilities officers to assemble existing rules and practices across the University, with a view toward (a) making information about campus use policies more accessible and transparent and (b) setting a common baseline of policies for the use of shared spaces across Harvard’s vast campus while still preserving School autonomy over events and activities on their own campuses.  
  
The Working Group compiled and refined Harvard’s [**Campus Use Rules**](/campus-use-rules "Campus Use Rules") based on existing policies, rules, and practices from Schools and other units across the University and informed by best practices at other universities. In doing so, the Working Group consulted broadly with those at Harvard who have expertise and experience in facilitating and approving requests for use of shared spaces for events and activities and in maintaining safety and well-being within those spaces. In the year ahead, we will take further steps to gather information about how the Campus Use Rules are working and solicit community input so that revisions may be made as appropriate.  
  
I want to thank those who have contributed to this effort and encourage everyone to take the time to familiarize yourself with this information as we embark on the fall semester.  
  
Sincerely,  
  
Meredith Weenick  
Executive Vice President