Harvard Faculty Overwhelmingly Vote to Allow Seniors Disciplined Over Encampment to Graduate

Members of the Harvard faculty voted to add 13 seniors back to the list of degrees for conferral in May.Photo byCharles K. Michael

By Tilly R. Robinson and Neil H. Shah, Crimson Staff Writers

May 20, 2024

Members of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences overwhelmingly voted to add 13 students back to the list of degrees recommended for conferral in May after they were initially barred from graduating at Commencement over their participation in the pro-Palestine encampment.

The vote, which took place at the FAS’ degree meeting Monday afternoon, amounted to a stunning rebuke of the Harvard College Administrative Board’s decision to suspend five students and place at least 20 more on probation for violating University policies during the 20-day encampment in Harvard Yard.

In total, 15 seniors were prevented from graduating by the Ad Board for their involvement in the encampment. Two of them were slated to graduate after the fall 2024 semester, so their degrees were not discussed at Monday’s meeting.

Harvard’s top two governing boards — the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers — may need to approve the final list. The approval is usually a rubber stamp, but it is not clear whether the boards will decide to override the faculty’s decision.

Four faculty members who were in attendance discussed the meeting on condition of anonymity because the FAS’ degree meetings are not open to the press.

FAS spokesperson Holly J. Jensen and Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain did not immediately have comment for this article.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

—Staff writer Tilly R. Robinson can be reached at tilly.robinson@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @tillyrobin.

—Staff writer Neil H. Shah can be reached at neil.shah@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @neilhshah15.

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