A group of passionate Harvard University students, representing the Law School’s student government, has been advocating for increased student involvement in the search for the school’s next dean. Despite their demands, the university has not yet committed to including students in the advisory committee responsible for selecting the new dean.
The student government passed a resolution in December, urging for at least two student representatives to be added to the Dean Search Advisory Committee. They emphasized the significance of student voices in shaping the Harvard Law School community and requested broader avenues for student participation.
While it is common practice at Harvard and many peer institutions to have faculty members exclusively on such advisory committees, the student representatives argued for a more inclusive approach. They highlighted examples from other law schools where students were included in dean search committees as a model to follow.
University officials cited the longstanding tradition of faculty-led advisory committees in dean searches and emphasized the efforts made to gather input from various community members, including students. However, they did not confirm whether a student would be added to the committee in response to the students’ requests.
The students, led by one of the first-year representatives, stressed the importance of having student representation in crucial decision-making processes. They expressed a desire for a more active role in the selection of their school’s new leader, echoing concerns from a previous dean search.
Despite the ongoing developments, the dean search committee has not disclosed any details regarding their progress in finding the next Law School dean. The students remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and considered in the decision-making process, emphasizing the value of student input in shaping the future of their academic community.
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