Events and Extracurriculars

Events

Harvard, Cambridge and Boston offer an incredible variety of talks, performances, lectures and other events to augment your classes and activities organized by the Nieman staff. The Harvard Gazette is a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening, but there are also many individual email lists you can receive that detail events in specialized areas of interest. Here’s an overview of some of the many organizations you might want to learn more about.

Harvard University Gazette

  • Harvard Gazette Events Calendar: The Gazette has the most comprehensive listing of all events at Harvard, updated daily. It includes the arts, lectures and talks, nonacademic classes, religious services and events, support services, public-service opportunities and opportunities to participate in Harvard research studies.
  • The Harvard Crimson

School Calendars

Center, Department, and Institute Calendars

Coop Calendar

Arts, Music, and Cultural Programs

Events Beyond the Yard

  • Harvard Book Store. This independent book store sponsors readings and lectures.
  • Cambridge Forum, one of public radio’s longest running public-affairs programs. Recorded live each week at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church near Harvard Square.

Newsletters you should sign up for

Extracurriculars

House Affiliations

Fellows may choose to affiliate with a House, Harvard’s version of the undergraduate dorm. The experience of affiliating with a House can range from taking part in seminars or salons to performing in a theatrical event to playing on an intramural sports team. There is no general rule on how much you have to interact with students at the House, and each House differs regarding the number and types of activities hosted. Affiliation may come with the perk of a small allotment of meals for the fellow, but with the expectation that you engage with students.

What is the Harvard House System?

The Houses serve as the foundation for the undergraduate experience at Harvard College. Ninety-eight percent of all undergraduates live in one of the 12 residential Houses. A thirteenth House, Dudley House, serves nonresidents and includes graduate student members. Each House accommodates 350-500 students, with its own dining hall, common rooms and facilities for academic, recreational and cultural activities.

With its central goal of forging a link between learning and living, the House system cultivates an assortment of intellectual activities and traditions. In addition to lectures and seminars, each House hosts a collection of informal opportunities for students with common interests to meet, exchange ideas and learn or fine-tune particular skills.

Houses are home to their own film, music, art and drama groups that range from small-scale jam sessions to full operas. In addition, Houses also support a variety of sports teams that compete in an intramural program. A variety of social functions, such as open houses, formal dances and coffee hours, provide students an opportunity to relax and interact with members of their House community.

How do I affiliate with a House?

If you want to affiliate with a House, first choose the one you’d like. Unless there’s a particular faculty dean you want to engage with, it makes sense to select the House with a location that’s most convenient for you. Second, please tell Nicole which House you want. She will then write to the Faculty Dean of that House to introduce you; you can then follow up directly to discuss possible affiliation. Affiliations are limited to two fellows per House.

This directory includes brief information about the Faculty Deans: Knowing about their areas of expertise might be helpful in deciding on a House. (Please note that Pforzheimer House requires payment of an affiliation fee, which is the fellow’s responsibility to cover.) For profiles of each of the 12 residential Houses written by students, read last year’s Harvard Crimson Housing Market overview.

The Crimson also published a three-part series in 2015 about the changing nature of the House system and its role in the undergraduate experience. This map shows the location of each House. If you’re curious about famous residents, click through to each House page from this Wikipedia entry.

Other Fellowship Programs