1.01 Office for Graduate Education

The Learning Environment at Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals are firmly committed to fostering a culture of mutual respect and trust. It is the strong and consistent policy of Harvard Medical School to treat all members of our community with respect, to provide an environment conducive to learning and working, and to ensure equal access to rights, privileges and opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected category. All members of the Harvard Medical School community are expected to create a positive learning environment where students, faculty, and members of the administrative staff treat each other with respect. The environment should be free of harassment, intimidation, exploitation, and abuse, and should be one in which feedback regarding performance can be shared without concern for ridicule or reprisal. See also:

• Responsibilities of Teachers and Learners • Discrimination, Harassment, and Student Mistreatment • Harvard University Policies and Procedures addressing Sexual and Gender Based

Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct

The Office for Graduate Education provides a central resource to support the students enrolled in the HMS Master’s programs. The office works with students to explore ways to enhance or address aspects of the student experience and with program directors to ensure that the needs of students are met and relevant policies are developed, implemented, and clarified as needed.

The office develops and organizes events for Master’s students throughout the academic year, including orientation, the Master’s-wide research symposium, graduation, as well as many other social and academic gatherings. The office serves as a liaison for students to services, administrative offices, and information throughout the Medical School and the larger university and is a resource to the school and larger community on issues that pertain to the Master’s programs and students.

The office staffs the HMS Committee on Governance and Oversight of Master’s Degree Programs and the Academic Progress and Review Board for the Master’s programs and represents the Master’s programs on the Longwood Emergency Management Team and other Medical School committees as needed. Students are welcome to contact the office about ideas and projects and general issues of student importance or concerns.

Orientation

• At the start of the academic year, the Office for Graduate Education coordinates a welcome breakfast and orientation for all Master’s students, program directors, and program staff. The Welcome Breakfast and Orientation allows incoming students to meet fellow Master’s students, learn about the other Master’s programs at HMS, and learn about academic and social supports that exist at

HMS and Harvard University. Research Day Symposium

• Each spring, Master’s students participate in the Research Day Symposium. At the start of the second term, Master’s students are asked to submit abstracts of their mentored research or capstone projects to their programs to be considered for presentation at the Symposium. All students are encouraged to participate; in some cases, programs require participation.

Graduation

• HMS Master’s students who have successfully completed their program requirements are invited to participate in the HMS Master’s Graduation Ceremony, which is held each May, prior to University Commencement. Graduates are