Alumni email retirement FAQ

Last updated on  August 25, 2026 by  Matthew P Ronn

The upcoming January 2027 retirement of the mail.harvard.edu Google platform has naturally generated questions from our community. Here we address the most common inquiries:

Will I receive a reminder as the date approaches?

Yes. Another communication will go out in December to make sure all impacted alumni still have time to make appropriate arrangements.

Are other Harvard schools also shutting down alumni email?

Yes. All schools with alumni on the mail.harvard.edu system are impacted.

Do current students get to keep their accounts after graduation?

No. Since 2019, graduating students have been given only a 1 year grace period before their Microsoft365 accounts close.

Can I pay to keep my account open?

Unfortunately, this is not an option because the entire mail.harvard.edu system is being shut down across all of Harvard.

I have an active role as a staff member or academic appointee, will my account also close?

Yes. The entire system will be retired in January of 2027 so your department administrator must submit the New User Account Request form (NUAR) to request a Microsoft365 account for you. The M365 account is the current platform for faculty, staff, and students.

Please contact the IT Helpdesk at (617) 432-4357 or email helpdesk@hsph.harvard.edu with any questions or concerns you may have regarding this information.