Harvard rolls out new student grants after closing diversity offices

Harvard University has announced the first recipients of a new grant programme for undergraduate student organisations, marking a next step in how the University is funding student programming after the closure of its diversity offices last summer.According to the Harvard Crimson, the Office of Culture and Community selected seven projects, sponsored by 18 student organisations, to receive grants of up to $2,500 each. The programme replaces several funding streams that were earlier administered through the College’s diversity offices, which were shut in July.

Conditions attached to the new grants

The new grant structure introduces clear conditions. Each application must involve collaboration between at least two student organisations. Funded events must also be marketed as open to all Harvard College students. College administrators have described these requirements as part of an effort to support campus-wide dialogue and shared programming.The Office of Culture and Community said the grants are intended to fund events that promote community building, exchange of perspectives, and discussion among students. Applications for the programme opened in October.

Who received the first round of funding

The first group of recipients includes projects sponsored by organisations such as Harvard Hillel, the Harvard Black Students Association, the Harvard Undergraduate Rural League, and the Harvard Turkish Student Association, the Crimson reports.The following projects and student organisations received funding in the first round of grants:

Elizabeth R. Place ’27, chief of staff of the Harvard Undergraduate Rural League, said the group plans to use its grant to co-host the Harvard Rurality Forum, a one-day event scheduled for April.“This event is really supposed to bridge the divide between being rural and being urban,” Place told the Crimson. She added that students often carry experiences shaped by either rural or urban environments, regardless of nationality.The Harvard Turkish Student Association said in a statement that its funding will support a Transnational Justice Seminar Series, which will focus on international legal issues including climate change and migration. The Association of Black Harvard Women used grant funds last semester to host “Road to Success,” a week-long professional development programme, according to ABHW Treasurer Olaeze J. Okoro ’28.

How grant decisions are made

Final funding decisions are made by Associate Dean of Students for Culture and Community Alta Mauro, who reviews applications with input from a board of 11 students.Matias Ramos, associate director of the Harvard Foundation and programme manager for the grants, told the Crimson that the Office of Culture and Community is prioritising projects that encourage discussion and cultural exploration.“When students bring that initiative to us and it aligns with the goals of the grant, then we’re looking forward to continue supporting,” Ramos said.

What changed after the diversity offices closed

Before last summer, many student organisations accessed similar funding through the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, the Women’s Center, and the Office of BGLTQ Student Life. After those offices were closed, some groups reported difficulty identifying alternative sources of support.

Unease among some affinity groups

While the new grants restore a funding channel, the requirements have prompted concern among some affinity groups. Harvard Black Men’s Forum President Miles K. Reeves ’27 said the expectation that events be marketed as open to all students created hesitation.“Obviously, the majority of the programming we do is for Black men,” Reeves told the Crimson. He said the group was cautious about how accessibility would be interpreted, even though its events are open to all.Reeves later said the organisation co-sponsored an application submitted by the Black Students Association.

The question of access and equity

Ramos defended the application process, describing it as equitable. He said organisations that feel uncertain about eligibility or framing can seek guidance from the Office of Culture and Community. Funding is still available, he added, and additional student groups are encouraged to apply.As student organisations adjust to the new system, the long-term impact of the shift will depend on how accessible the programme proves to groups that previously relied on the College’s diversity offices for support.