Resources for New Graduates

After Commencement, graduates become part of the worldwide Harvard community of alumni, and have access to a range of resources from Harvard and the GSD.

Alumni Directory

Alumni are encouraged to register in the Harvard Alumni Directory to maintain their connections with classmates and professional contacts in the global network of alumni from all of Harvard’s schools.

Library

The Frances Loeb Library Alumni Access page provides information for GSD alumni to access all Harvard libraries.  GSD graduates retain borrowing privileges at the Frances Loeb Library for one year at no cost, with the option to renew.

Health Insurance

Harvard Health Insurance expires on July 31, 2023 for May 2023 graduates. Please see the Harvard University Student Health Program frequently asked questions page for more information. Additionally, Harvard University Health Services provides information on securing alternative coverage with a different provider.

Harvard Email

Your Harvard student email account will have a grace period of 230 days after your official graduation date before it is deactivated.

Harvard will offer @alumni.harvard.edu forwarding email aliases to all degree-holding alumni. The service is being rolled out first to graduates from 2021, 2022, and 2023. These classes will be able to register for alumni email forwarding on August 24, 2023. The Harvard Alumni Association emailed graduates from these classes on July 14, 2023. If you did not receive that email, please check that your contact information is up to date in the Harvard alumni directory.

Graduates from 2020 and earlier who already have forwarding email aliases will keep their existing email aliases. More information is available at the alumni email forwarding FAQ.

Systems & Software

Access to systems and applications that require VPN and HarvardKey verification, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, end as soon as your student status at Harvard has ended. For May 2023 graduates, access ends on May 26, 2023, the day after Commencement. Limited Canvas access will continue through HarvardKey, but graduates will only be able to view courses they were enrolled in as a student. You may want to ensure you have materials you may need from Canvas or my.Harvard in advance of graduating.

This guide on preparing to leave Harvard is helpful in checking which online systems you will have access to as an alum and when access ends for those that do not continue for alumni. The page also has some helpful tips for how to manage your Harvard accounts to best facilitate your transition from student to alum.

To learn more, see the GSD Alumni Resources page, and the Harvard Alumni Association website.