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.