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Student Activities
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) offers students a seemingly endless array of co-curricular, service and social activities. The Kennedy School Student Government (KSSG), our over 80 student organizations, the Degree Programs Student Affairs team and research centers across the school organize opportunities that provide students with the highest quality student life.
These offerings range from school-wide community service trips, networking events and seminars to formal balls, talent nights and weekly Friday afternoon social hours. HKS is also known for its extraordinary convening power, bringing world leaders, policy experts and many other dynamic and high-profile speakers each year to the school, including to the epicenter of student activity, the JFK Forum. The JFK Forum events include unique and powerful learning opportunities and are often referred to as the "6th course."
Student Government
The Kennedy School Student Government (KSSG) is an autonomous governing body that works to coordinate student services, including organizing school-wide functions and recognizing, funding, and supporting student groups. KSSG continuously works to convey student concerns to the school’s faculty and administration, and its members serve as consulted stakeholders in important school wide decisions.
The KSSG is directly elected by the Kennedy School student body and is led by an Executive Committee, which is made up of a President, Executive Vice President, and seven area-specific Vice Presidents. These officers serve for one year. Each semester, each degree program class also elects members to serve as representatives to the KSSG.
The KSSG’s work is conducted through formal and informal meetings, including those of the general body and the various committees that perform the bulk of the work of the student government. Each committee is led by an area-specific VP. Current standing committees include Academic Affairs, Communications, Finance, Internal Affairs, Student Activities, Student Services, and International Students. KSSG also maintains three working groups: Alumni Relations, Office of Career Advancement, and Institute of Politics.
Clubs and Organizations
Over the years, students have managed a wide array of clubs and caucuses. These organizations provide an opportunity for like-minded students to forge lifelong friendships while contributing to the HKS community. The following list is not exhaustive and only provides a sample of the varied clubs that exist on campus.
Africa Caucus
Arab Caucus
Argentine Society Caucus
Armed Forces Committee
Arts and Leadership Professional Interest Council
Asian Pacific American Caucus
Australian and New Zealand Caucus
Black Student Union
Brazil Caucus
Business and Government Professional Interest Council
California Caucus
Canadian Caucus
Childhood PIC
China Society
Christian Fellowship
Citizen, The
Classical Liberalism Caucus
Committee for Effective Discourse (Debate Society)
Criminal Justice PIC
Crisis Management Professional Interest Council
Democratic Caucus
Diplomacy PIC
Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Caucuses Club
Education Professional Interest Council (EdPIC)
Electoral Politics Professional Interest Council
Energy & Environment Policy Interest Council
European Club
Francophile Club
German Caucus
GOP Caucus
Green Team
Health Policy PIC
Human Rights Professional Interest Council
Impact Investing Club at Harvard Kennedy School
International Development PIC
International Security PIC (IS-PIC)
Israel Caucus
Italian Society
Japan Caucus
Jewish Caucus
Journal - Africa Policy Journal
Journal - African American Policy, Journal of
Journal - Asian American Policy Review Journal
Journal - Hispanic Policy, Harvard Journal of
Journal - Kennedy School Review
Journal - Latin American Policy Journal
Journal - LGBTQ Policy Journal
Journal - Middle East Politics and Policy, Journal of
Journal - Women's Policy Journal of Harvard
Korea Caucus
LACAU Latin American Caucus
Latino/Hispanic Caucus
LGBTQ Caucus
Mexican Caucus
Midwest Caucus
Muslim Caucus
Non-Profits PIC
North Korea Study Group
Pakistan Caucus
Palestine Caucus
Progressive Caucus
Real Estate PIC
Regional, State, Local and Tribal (RSLT) Governance PIC
Soccer Club
Social and Urban Policy Professional Interest Council (SUPPIC)
Social Enterprise Club
South Asia Caucus
South East Asia Caucus
Sovereign Wealth Funds & Private Equity
Tech for Change
Tennis Club
Turkish Caucus
Ultimate Frisbee
Women and Gender Caucus
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