By the Office of Student Services
When considering graduate school, many prospective students wonder what student life will be like outside the classroom. Whether you’d like to get involved with student organizations, run for student government, or organize a student conference, the Office of Student Services offers programs, initiatives, and support to serve the many needs of our active student body.
Read the Q&A below with the Student Services team to learn more about student life at Harvard Kennedy School.
What is HKS campus life like outside the classroom?
HKS is a vibrant campus with a wide-range of activities and opportunities for students. Aside from programming and events offered by our 12 research centers daily, the 80+ student organizations provide a platform for students to connect with each other and engage with topics ranging from policy to culture to sports to personal interests. Participation and events are open to all students, and there are countless ways to get involved.
Another way to get involved in life outside the classroom is to participate in the Kennedy School Student Government (KSSG) by either running for an elected position or joining a committee. The KSSG organizes events throughout the academic year, including school-wide formals and family-friendly gatherings. And importantly, they represent the entire HKS student body, conveying student ideas and concerns to the administration and faculty members.
The interconnected HKS campus has a spot for everyone. Large community spaces, like the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum and the Winter Garden, bustle with activity each day while students looking for a quieter spot can find group and individual study spaces across campus. The Student Lounge is a great space to study or catch up with friends–and is where students can grab a complimentary coffee or tea while supplies last each weekday when classes are in session. And there is no better place in the fall than HKS’s central courtyard where the HKS community can enjoy the vibrant beauty of New England’s changing leaves.
What makes the student experience at HKS unique?
In addition to our wide-ranging student organizations, many of our students participate in planning student-run conferences during their time at HKS. Taking place mainly during the spring semester, these events bring practitioners and experts together to dive deeper into policy topics through panels, workshops, networking sessions, and keynote addresses. Students can serve as chairs of the conferences or support fundraising, marketing, speaker outreach, or logistical planning. Each year, we hear from students that organizing a conference was an invaluable part of their HKS experience, helping them hone their leadership skills, elevate policy issues important to them, and network with potential employers.
Another unique opportunity at HKS is our Take a Faculty Member to the Cafe (TFMTC) program through which groups of 2-4 students can take an HKS faculty member to lunch at the HKS Cafe using a voucher. This popular program is a great way to connect with faculty members outside of the classroom in a relaxed setting.
Are there opportunities to connect with students in different degree programs?
Weekly Quorum Call is great way to meet students from all degree programs. A playful nod to the government term, Quorum Call is a weekly, casual gathering for students and their families. Held most Fridays at 4 p.m., they are a fun way to unwind at the end of the week while catching up with friends or meeting new students from different programs over beverages and snacks.
KSSG brings together students from all degree programs and serves as the main liaison among students, faculty, and staff to address issues significant to HKS students. And through the Student Community Services Collaborative (SCSC), students across our programs connect through community service opportunities in the greater Boston area.
What types of support does HKS offer to students?
Students are provided with a range of support at HKS. In addition to a student's degree program teams and their advisor, many students work with our Accessibility Services and Student Support teams during their time at HKS.
Accessibility Services works with students with disabilities to arrange accommodations and support, with the goal of ensuring that all students have equal access to learning by removing barriers, all while complying with federal and state regulations.
Supporting our students in their academic, personal, and mental wellbeing so they can continue to be successful during their time at HKS, the Student Support team connects them with individuals and resources on campus or in the community that will help get them the support they need.
