Everything you need to know to stay connected to your alumni community and Harvard Kennedy School.

Commonly Asked Questions

The HarvardKey authentication system enables access to a wide range of applications and services that users across Harvard access every day, via a single, convenient login name and password. Alumni will use this login and password to access all Harvard and HKS alumni benefits, such as the HKS Alumni Directory and JACK (the HKS job bank).

Claiming your HarvardKey

  1. Go to the HarvardKey website.
  2. Select the tab labeled 'Alumni', then select 'Continue.'
  3. Fill out the form.
    Note: The HAA ID is a 10-digit number unique to you that can be found at the footer of any email sent to you from the Harvard Alumni Association or HKS Alumni Relations.
  4. Your HarvardKey will be sent to the email address on file for you. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please email us.

Resetting your HarvardKey password

  1. Go to the HarvardKey Website.
  2. Complete the form.
    Note: The HarvardKey Login Name must be the same as the email address on file.
  3. An email will be sent to the Personal Recovery Email Address you provided in the form. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please email us.

Problems claiming your HarvardKey or recovering your login information? Contact HKS Alumni Relations at 617-495-1394 or via email.

The Office of the Registrar provides a range of services to alumni, including assistance with transcripts, certification of enrollment and degree verification, loan deferments, replacement diplomas, and notarized documents. Visit our Documentation Requests page for more information.

The Office of Career Advancement (OCA) serves as a hub for career and professional resources. Talk with an OCA career coach, polish up your resume and interview skills, and build your network. Find more information on our Career Resources page.

Post an opportunity through the employer portal in our Jobs and Careers for the Kennedy School (JACK) database, the Office of Career Advancement's comprehensive job bank and career management system.

Find alumni quickly and easily with the HAA Directory. You can search the directory by name, program, graduation year, area of expertise, organization, work experience, public service interests, and more.

You can manage your contact information and email preferences by logging in to your profile in the HAA Directory.

After graduation, the librarians at Harvard Kennedy School Library & Knowledge Services are still here to help. Visit Beyond Harvard: Public Policy Research as HKS Alumni to learn more about assistance for your professional, academic, or personal research.

Visit our HKS alumni events calendar. You can also connect with an HKS regional network in your city or region or Shared Interest Group (SIG) or a Harvard-wide club or SIG.

The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics regularly hosts heads of state, leaders in politics, government, business, labor and the media. If you're interested in attending a JFK Jr. Forum, please email alumni@hks.harvard.edu. If you'd like to watch the livestream, please visit the IOP YouTube channel.

Both Wiener Conference Calls and PolicyCast are great ways to stay informed of policy topics and engage with current HKS faculty members. Various centers around campus also have regular events—you can visit their individual websites or view them on the HKS alumni events page.

The quickest way to give is via our online giving form: hks.harvard.edu/give. For a full list of ways to make a gift, visit our how to give page.

Unrestricted funds fill urgent, current-use needs that equip students and faculty with resources to fulfill their goals of improving public policy and public leadership across the globe.

Follow the University instructions for Stock and Bond Gifts and reach out to the HKS Fund should you have follow-up questions.

Use the DAF portal on the University website and reach out to the HKS Fund should you have follow-up questions.

If you are interested in making a planned gift or bequest, please contact the HKS Fund.

Anyone who donates a gift of any amount will receive a receipt from Alumni & Development Services. The receipt is generated once the donation has been processed and is mailed to the donor's preferred mail address. If you need a duplicate receipt please email Alumni & Development Services at ads@harvard.edu.

Below are some commonly asked questions about the Alumni-Student Career Shadowing program and the process for alumni and student participants:

How am I matched with an alum or student? For 2025, we will first solicit alumni to volunteer to be hosts during the month of October 2024. On November 4, 2024, we will open the portal up to students to sign up to participate, where they will be able to view all of the alumni volunteers and choose who they would like to shadow.  

Will I meet with my mentor or mentee in person? No. This is a virtual program that allows students to easily meet with alumni from around the globe.

What is the value in this program—Is it worth my time? This unique opportunity gives students the chance to get to know alumni one-on-one, learn from their experiences, and gain career insights. In the past, some student-alumni matches have led to long-lasting professional relationships and even job opportunities for students.  

Does this last the entire January-term, like an internship? No, the shadowing experience is meant to be a one-on-one connection. Continuing the discussion beyond the initial call or meeting later in person is at the discretion of the mentor and mentee.  

Who are the alumni mentors and where can I learn more about them? Mentors will be visible on the online portal, where students can view their profiles and sort by industries. 

Can I be matched with more than one mentor or mentee? Initially, we ask that students do not sign up to shadow more than 2 alumni, as we want to make sure everyone has a chance to partcipate. Mentors, it is your choice how many students you are willing to host (maximum of 4).  

When do sign ups begin for students? The registration period for students will begin on November 4, 2024.   

Alumni and their guests are welcome. If you would like to visit campus or attend a campus event, please email alumni@hks.harvard.edu with your name, the names of any guests that may accompany you, and the date of your visit. Visiting alumni and their guests will be added to a visitors list and must show a photo ID/state that they are alumni at the Wexner Building entrance on Eliot Street upon arrival.