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Alumni Affairs and Development Event Guest Policy

Harvard University is committed to providing a safe environment for all. Supporting our community’s well-being while advancing Harvard’s academic enterprise requires our collective participation in the University’s health and safety measures. We’ve created this page to highlight the most important COVID-19 safety requirements. Guests are required to follow all applicable health and safety requirements imposed by federal, state, and local authorities, as well as Harvard University policies, to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. 

Expectations for Attending Harvard-Sponsored Events and Gatherings

  1. Keep current with COVID-19 vaccination. Harvard highly recommends being up-to-date per the CDC definition for all Harvard community members, including faculty, staff, researchers, visitors, and vendors who will have any on-campus presence.
  2. Keep a face mask handy. Face masks are now optional in most spaces. We strongly encourage carrying one at all times and recommend voluntary masking in crowded settings, especially indoors. In limited circumstances, some event venues may require face coverings.
  3. Stay home if you feel sick. Test if you have symptoms, and don't assume it's merely a cold or allergies. Test if you have COVID-19 exposure, even if you do not have symptoms.
  4. If you test positive, isolate and follow CDC guidelines. Abide by the isolation guidelines listed on CDC.gov. Notify close contacts and check in with your health care provider if you are high risk.
  5. You and your guests agree to:
    • Abide by all state, local, and University COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in place at the time you come to campus. 
    • Acknowledge the evolving nature of current protocols and agree to read all communications from the University sent in advance of this event to ensure you are up to date on the current policies and protocols.

Although Harvard University has taken steps to comply with federal and state safety standards designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, the University cannot guarantee that you will not contract COVID-19 while attending the event. Nor is Harvard in a position to know if you are or will be physically near to a person infected with COVID-19 at the event. Accordingly, in attending the event, you recognize that you may be subjected to potential risks of infection, illness, injury, and even death from COVID-19. You have made your own investigation of these risks, understand these risks, and assume these risks knowingly and willingly.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, you release Harvard, its current and former members of its governing boards, officers, faculty, staff, representatives, volunteers, employees, fellows, students, other trainees and agents, and their respective heirs and assigns, from any and all claims, losses, expenses, damages, or liabilities that you may incur or suffer, arising out of or related to your contracting COVID-19 while attending the event and resulting from any cause. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (excluding its conflict of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed under or incident to this document.