Alumni Email Retirement
SPH/Harvard has made the difficult decision to retire all alumni accounts that have been using the mail.harvard.edu platform on Google. This decision was not reached lightly, as we know there is significant impact to alumni who have maintained access to these accounts since completing their degree programs.
Over time, the technology platforms, security requirements, and support models for providing email services have changed significantly. After careful review, we have made the difficult decision to retire the legacy mail.harvard.edu Google platform effective January 14, 2027.
As a result, access to @mail.harvard.edu email accounts and associated Google Workspace services will end on that date.
We recognize that many alumni have used these accounts for years and may have incorporated them into their professional lives. We understand this change may be disappointing. To provide ample time to prepare, we are sharing this information months in advance and will continue to communicate with you throughout the transition process.
Who is affected?
This change affects only alumni who currently have an active @mail.harvard.edu account. The service was part of a legacy alumni email program, available to graduates before 2018, that is no longer offered to new graduates. Alumni who did not receive a mail.harvard.edu account are not affected.
What does this mean for me?
Beginning January 14, 2027:
- Access to your @mail.harvard.edu email account will end.
- Google Workspace services associated with the account, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Photos, and other Google services, will no longer be available.
- Any data not transferred or downloaded before that date will no longer be accessible.
Harvard email forwarding
Despite, the upcoming closure, eligible alumni who would like to maintain a Harvard email address may establish an email forwarding alias through the Harvard Alumni Association. This is an excellent service we recommend ALL alumni take advantage of because it allows you to continue to advertise a harvard.edu email address in your professional pursuits, while forwarding emails sent to this address to whatever permanent account you use into 2027 and beyond.
What do I need to do?
Those who are impacted by this change will generally fall into two groups:
- you had already stopped using the account and the closure does not affect you
- you are still actively using the account and/or using the user@mail.harvard.edu email address in your professional pursuits
For group 1, no action is required.
For group 2, here is a checklist of recommended actions:
- If you would like to keep content stored in your mail.harvard.edu account, please plan to transfer your data to another Google account or download it before January 14, 2027.
- Create an alumni forwarding email address
- this will allow you to continue to advertise a harvard.edu email address in your professional pursuits, while forwarding emails sent to this address to whatever permanent account you can use into 2027 and beyond
- instructions and more information can be found on the Alumni Association website
- Review any personal or professional accounts that use your @mail.harvard.edu address for login, account recovery, or communications and update those services as needed before the retirement date.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
We have compiled a list of FAQs.
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health deeply values the lifelong connection alumni maintain with the School and with one another. While technology services evolve over time, our commitment to supporting and engaging our alumni community remains unchanged.
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.
