Orientation
Get ready to start your journey at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Fall Orientation
Fall 2026 Orientation will take place from Tuesday, August 25 through Thursday, August 27, 2026. Orientation programming includes opportunities to hear from School leadership, learn about your academic program, and engage with faculty, connect with the co-curricular resources that are available to support your success, and begin to form meaningful connections with your peers and colleagues.
Orientation programming will take place in the Kresge Building, located at 677 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02115 and at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School (JBM) located at 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur; Boston, MA 02115. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is located in the Longwood Medical Area.
2026 Orientation Schedule
The schedule below includes core programming offered during orientation. This core orientation programming will be supplemented by additional opportunities during your first weeks on campus.
Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Breakfast and lunch will be available; the reception features light appetizers.
| Start Time | End Time | Event and Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30AM | 10:00AM | Check-in and light breakfast available Receive your orientation nametag and school-branded items while mingling with new students over a light breakfast. | JBM Lobby |
| 8:30AM | 10:00AM | Hold Clearing and ID Pick-Up Check in with Harvard Chan staff to receive your Harvard University ID (HUID). All students must bring a government-issued photo ID, and international students must bring their passport and I-20 for Check-In. | JBM 2nd Floor |
| 10:00AM | 11:15AM | Welcome Address and Keynote Andrea Baccarelli, Dean of the Faculty and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, will address and welcome new students. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 11:15AM | 11:45AM | Resource Spotlight: Student Support Services | JBM Amphitheater |
| 11:45AM | 12:45PM | International Student Meeting Mandatory for international students holding an F-1 or J-1 visa. A catered meal will be provided for students attending this session. Harvard International Office (HIO) will provide an overview of services offered and immigration policies as they apply to Harvard Chan international students. Topics include understanding your documents, travel regulations, employment, taxes, social security numbers, and more. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 11:45AM | 2:00PM | Lunch During check-in, all new students will receive lunch vouchers to use at designated dining locations across campus. These vouchers are for $15. A staff member or student guide will walk with interested students to these dining options after the morning sessions. | Elements (JBM), Sebastians (Kresge), or Courtyard Cafe (HMS) |
| 12:00PM | 2:00PM | Campus Tours Tour the Harvard Chan buildings and facilities. Sign up for a tour: https://hsph.me/campus-tour | Kresge Atrium |
| 1:00PM | 2:00PM | Master of Public Health Program-Wide Session Meet with MPH program leaders, staff, and faculty field-of-study leaders for an overview and a welcome to the MPH program. All new MPH students should attend. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 1:00PM | 5:00PM | IT Drop-In Hours Meet with staff from the Department of Information Technology to make sure you are familiar with computing at Harvard Chan. Learn how to connect to the “virtual desktop” system that allows you to use SPH software for free, how to join the “Harvard Secure” Wi-Fi network, and how to use the student printing system. Staff from IT will also be available to help you get started with Canvas – the learning management system for your course websites. Please bring your laptop and other academic technology or devices. | Kresge 200, Harvard Chan |
| 2:00PM | 5:00PM | Academic Department and MPH Field of Study Meetings See detailed schedule | Refer to the Schedule |
| 5:00PM | 6:30PM | New Student Reception The Office for Student Affairs cordially invites you to a reception for all new students at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. Join staff and faculty to celebrate your arrival! | Kresge Cafeteria, Harvard Chan |
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Breakfast and lunch will be available.
| Start Time | End Time | Event and Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00AM | 9:00AM | Light Breakfast Enjoy a light breakfast before the morning’s programming | JBM Lobby |
| 9:00AM | 10:30AM | Foundations for Public Health: From Concepts to Application Sue J Goldie, Roger Irving Lee Professor of Public Health, Director, Center for Health Decision Science, Director, Global Health Education and Learning Incubator at Harvard University | JBM Amphitheater |
| 10:00AM | 4:00PM | Hold Clearing and ID Pick-Up Check in with Harvard Chan staff to receive your Harvard University ID (HUID). All students must bring a government-issued photo ID, and international students must bring their passport and I-20 for Check-In. | JBM Lobby |
| 10:30AM | 10:45AM | Coffee Break Enjoy some coffee and tea between sessions. | JBM Lobby |
| 10:45AM | 11:00AM | Resource Spotlight: CSNDR & SHARE Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights and Responsibilities (CSNDR) The Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights and Responsibilities (CSNDR) works with the Harvard community to foster an environment free from discrimination, interpersonal violence, and the impacts of such harm. The confidential SHARE Team provides trauma-informed, survivor-centered support, a 24/7 hotline, restorative practices, and culture change initiatives related to sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, abusive relationships, and discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 11:00AM | 12:15PM | Calling to Public Health Dr. Gaurab Basu, Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health & Assistant Professor of Medicine and Global Health and Social Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital , Harvard Medical School Ra’Shaun Nalls, Director of Community Engagement, Office For Community and Belonging Fawn Phelps. Director of Leadership Development, Office of Educational Programs Dr. Aisha Khizar Yousafzai, Professor of Child Development and Health, Global Health and Population In this session, students will explore, discuss, and share what has “called” them to pursue an education in public health. The session will include small group conversations focused on the questions of where have I been?, where am I going?, and why am I studying public health? This session is a great way to meet students across degree programs and across the world while building connections within the incoming student community. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 12:15PM | 12:30PM | Resource Spotlight: Career and Professional Development Learn how Harvard Chan’s Office of Career and Professional Development can support you from your first semester through your job search, with resources tailored to public health careers. This brief session will introduce core tools (career coaching, job boards, community hub, and upcoming events) and suggest concrete steps you can take in your first month to set yourself up for internships and post-graduation roles. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 12:30PM | 2:00PM | Lunch During check-in, all new students will receive lunch vouchers to use at designated dining locations across campus. These vouchers are for $15. A staff member or student guide will walk with interested students to these dining options after the morning sessions. | Elements (JBM), Sebastians (Kresge), or Courtyard Cafe (HMS) |
| 12:30PM | 2:00PM | Campus Tours Tour the Harvard Chan buildings and facilities. Tours depart from the JBM Lobby. Sign up for a tour: https://hsph.me/campus-tour | JBM Lobby |
| 2:15PM | 2:30PM | Resource Spotlight: Student Experience Office for Student Affairs staff Explore the many ways to get involved at Harvard Chan. Learn about student organizations, leadership opportunities, campus traditions, and the support available throughout your student journey. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 2:30PM | 3:00PM | Resource Spotlight: Academic Integrity & AI at Harvard Chan Tim Whelsky, Associate Dean for Student Services; Sheneya Carter, Assistant Director of Student Services This session will: (1) distinguish between using AI to support learning versus replace core intellectual work, and explain why this matters for academic integrity and your development as a skilled public health researcher and practitioner; (2) provide practical criteria to evaluate AI use against course expectations and institutional policies, highlighting how violations can jeopardize your degree progress and professional reputation; and (3) demonstrate how to use AI appropriately as a learning aid while maintaining responsibility for mastering foundational concepts, methods, and skills expected among public health professionals. | JBM Amphitheater |
| 3:00PM | 3:15PM | Coffee Break Enjoy some coffee and tea between sessions. | JBM Lobby |
| 3:15PM | 4:45PM | Community & Belonging at Harvard Chan Dr. Bryan Thomas Jr., Chief Community and Belonging Officer Belonging doesn’t emerge by chance. It’s fostered through intentional effort, shared values, and a willingness to actively engage across differences. This session explores how belonging can be cultivated through the everyday structures, practices, and relationships that shape the way we build our community. | JBM Amphitheater |
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Meals are on your own this day.
| Start Time | End Time | Event and Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00AM | 12:00PM | Student Support Drop In Hours Office for Student Affairs | Kresge G4 |
| 10:00AM 11:00AM | 11:00AM 12:00PM | Countway Library Orientation Countway Library Chan School Liaisons will provide an overview of library access, research support, services, and resources. Get answers to your questions and let your Countway Liaisons know how they can support you. This session occurs twice. Attend at a time that fits your schedule. | Kresge G2 |
| 10:00AM | 11:30AM | International Student Career and Networking Please join us for this opportunity to learn directly from alumni who were able to successfully land a job in the United States. Discover what these alumni are currently doing in their careers, receive practical job search strategies, and gain perspective on the state of the current job market. The event will start with brief introductions to each panelist followed by networking where attendees will be able to connect with speakers in small groups. By participating in this event, you’ll tap into the power and importance of belonging to a strong professional community, which can be a crucial asset in your career journey. Don’t miss this chance to engage in interactive discussions that can shape your future careers. | Kresge Cafeteria |
| 10:00AM | 11:00AM | Creating a Community of Prevention SHARE Team, Prevention Team, and Compliance Team from the Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights and Responsibilities (CSNDR) This interactive session with the SHARE Team, Prevention Team, and Compliance Team from CSNDR will offer information and practice to help students: Recognize the ways in which communities that prioritize attunement to power dynamics, consent, and prosocial norms can reduce the likelihood of interpersonal harm such as discrimination, bullying, and sexual violence Engage in ways of responding to incidents of interpersonal harm, including by being an active bystander Respond with knowledge and support to those who have experienced or participated in harm, including referring to resources | TBD |
| 11:00AM 12:00PM 1:00PM 2:00PM | 12:00PM 1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM | Colors & Connections This short workshop will give you an orientation to loneliness as a public health issue and highlight how the arts can be used to address it. After a brief intro, you’ll learn how creative expression can connect us through fun participation in an arts activity and some socializing with other new Harvard Chan students. Dr. Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, founder of Project UnLonely and Harvard Chan faculty member, will share insights on cutting-edge research that highlights the urgent need to address the loneliness epidemic. Dr Nobel also teaches HPM 561: “Loneliness and Public Health.” | Assigned |
| 1:00PM | 3:00PM | Career and Professional Development Office Drop-In Hours The Office of Career and Professional Development helps students and alumni build successful and rewarding careers in public health. | Kresge G4 |
| 2:00PM 3:40PM | 3:20PM 5:00PM | Case Study Method Workshop The objectives of this interactive session are to introduce you to the case method at Harvard Chan, help you learn more about an important public health problem, and get to know and learn from your fellow students. Please note there is pre-work for this workshop. Led by: Bill Bean, Instructor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Rick Siegrist, Senior Lecturer on Health Care Management & Faculty Director of the DrPH Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health | Assigned when you RSVP |
| 5:30PM | 7:30PM | New Student Game Night Kresge Cafeteria, Harvard Chan Kick off your Harvard Chan experience with a night of games, laughter, and new friends! Join us for an evening of board games, snacks, and plenty of chances to connect with your classmates in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Bring your favorite board or tabletop game to share—or just come ready to play! We’ll provide games and refreshments—just bring your competitive spirit and enthusiasm. | Kresge Cafeteria |