CAMBRIDGE – Thirteen Harvard University students who participated in the pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus will not get their degrees at commencement Thursday.
The university’s top governing board rejected a recommendation from faculty members to allow the students to graduate with their classmates.
In an online statement explaining the decision, the President and Fellows of Harvard College said degrees would not be granted to students who are not in good standing or facing a disciplinary action.
Students not eligible for degrees
“In coming to this determination, we note that the express provisions of the Harvard College Student Handbook state that students who are not in good standing are not eligible for degrees,” the statement said.
The students will be able to participate in ceremonies but will not receive degrees.
“We understand that the inability to graduate is consequential for students and their families,” the statement said. “We fully support the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ stated intention to provide expedited review, at this time, of eligible requests for reconsideration or appeal. We will consider conferral of degrees promptly if, following the completion of all FAS processes, a student becomes eligible to receive a degree.”
The pro-Palestinian encampment at Harvard Yard was put up in late April and lasted nearly three weeks. The student group was calling for Harvard to divest from Israel and “reinvest resources in Palestinian academic initiatives, communities, and culture.”
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
