About the Harvard Alumni Association
- HAA President
- HAA Annual Report (PDF)
- About the HAA Boards
- Board Duties and Elections
- Overseers
- List of HAA Directors (PDF)
- Harvard President & Fellows
- Service Opportunities
- Staff Listing Alphabetically
- Staff Listing by Program
The Harvard Alumni Association was previously known as the Associated Harvard Alumni. The latter was formed on July 1, 1965 as an amalgamation of the Harvard Alumni Association (est. 1840) and the Associated Harvard Clubs (est. 1897).
The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), with offices on the 6th floor of 124 Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge, is the official association of all alumni of Harvard University. Its regular members include recipients of all degrees granted by the University and Radcliffe College, as well as the members of all University Faculties. Others whose names appear on the alumni records of the University or Radcliffe College, but who have not received degrees, are associate members. They may attend any meetings and take part in any activities of the Association but may not vote for Overseers of the University or Directors of the HAA.
The purpose of the HAA as stated in its Constitution is to promote the welfare of Harvard University and to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between Harvard University and its alumni. The HAA helps alumni connect with the University and with fellow graduates through a wealth of Club activities, continuing education programs, online services, and alumni events around the world. Click here to read the HAA Annual Report, which describes the activities and events that took place in academic year 2005--2006.
The HAA has constitutional duties to nominate candidates for Overseer and elected HAA Directors and to conduct the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association in June on the afternoon of Commencement Day. The main work of the Association is carried out by standing committees of the Board of Directors, with each director serving on at least one committee. These committees cover such areas as educational Alumni Events , communications, Harvard Clubs, reunions, the graduate schools' alumni organizations, recent graduates and undergraduates. The HAA also administers two awards: the HAA Award and the Harvard Medal.
The Board of Directors holds three slated meetings each year in Cambridge. At these meetings, in addition to the transaction of the business of the Association, the Directors are informed about University programs, facilities, and concerns. They participate in discussions with students, administrators, and faculty members. Informed Directors can thus provide knowledgeable leadership in interpreting Harvard to Alumni and others. In addition, the Harvard Alumni Association sponsors yearly meetings away from Cambridge in conjunction with local Harvard Clubs and graduate school associations. These meetings assist in spreading the current story of Harvard.
The Harvard Alumni Association Board Membership consists of the following:
Elected Directors (three-year term) Eighteen alumni are elected by mail ballot to represent the alumni, six each year are elected.
Regional Directors (three-year term) Alumni appointed by the Harvard Clubs and the Executive Director.
Appointed Directors (three-year term) Alumni appointed by the presidents of the graduate schools' alumni organizations, the Harvard Extension Alumni Association, and the Association of Harvard College Class Secretaries; alumni who have been active in class affairs are appointed by designated Harvard College Classes; one alumnus each appointed by the Harvard Clubs of New York City and Boston; and one director appointed by the President of the University to serve at his will.
The president, four vice presidents, secretary and treasurer of the Association, the four immediate past presidents and two at-large members appointed by the HAA President make up the Executive Committee.
All ex-presidents of the Harvard Alumni Association, the Associated Harvard Alumni, the previous Harvard Alumni Association and the Associated Harvard Clubs, not serving as active directors, are honorary directors of the HAA. Honorary directors may attend Board meetings, but may not vote.