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This event is not being hosted by Harvard University nor by any official constituent part of the university.

This is being hosted by a student organization at the Harvard Extension School. Here is some background information on the Harvard Extension School

The Harvard Extension School is sort of Harvard’s “night school,” its school for non-traditional (read: older, working) students.

The Extension School, although a part of Harvard University, is not part of Harvard College, which is the primary undergraduate institution of Harvard University. Harvard College is the one to which high school seniors apply and are rejected at a rate of a bit over 94%. Classes at the Extension School are, conversely, open enrollment.

The Harvard Extension School’s status is similar to the University of Maryland University College, and its relation to Harvard College is similar to the relationship between the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and the University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP). Both are part of the University of Maryland System, but they are clearly separate institutions. For those familiar with Thom Tillis, it was the confusion between UMUC and UMCP that caused a bit of a kerfuffle. Here in Maryland, its a bit of a mortal sin to claim UMCP when one’s diploma reads UMUC. So it is with the Extension School. No one at Harvard confuses the Extension School with the College.

The Extension School offers a wide variety of courses, and most who attend are going to pick up a course or two of interest to them. Anyone may pay their fees and tuition and take classes. It offers many of its courses on-line.

The school also offers its own degrees, but admissions to the degree programs are not open enrollment. The Extension School does not grant Harvard College undergraduate degrees (generally SB and AB degrees - the equivalent of BS and BA degrees), but rather its own ALB degree (a bachelor of liberal arts degree). Extension School students don’t generally attend day school classes, but rather classes that are run by the Extension School. Some of these classes are taught by actual, tenured Harvard faculty, others are not. Extension School students are permitted to petition to take Harvard College classes, but require the permission of the faculty member teaching the desired classes, and cannot displace College students desiring to take the same courses at the College.

Extension School students do not live on campus with College undergraduates, do not have access to College housing or dining halls, and do not generally participate in the activities of College student organizations.