Administrative Board Actions and Letters of Recommendation

The Administrative Board has adopted the following policy with regard to recommendations for students that are provided on behalf of Harvard College.

1. Allston Burr Resident Deans, Resident Deans for Freshmen, and those acting on their behalf will answer honestly and fully all questions asked of them on admissions and fellowship applications.
2. Allston Burr Resident Deans, Resident Deans for Freshmen, and those acting on their behalf will advise students of their responsibility to answer honestly and fully all questions asked on admissions and fellowship applications.
3. Any requirement to withdraw for academic reasons must always be mentioned in all recommendations for students provided on behalf of Harvard College.
4. Any requirement to withdraw or probation for disciplinary reasons must always be mentioned in all recommendations for students provided on behalf of Harvard College..
5. Allston Burr Resident Deans, Resident Deans for Freshmen, and those acting on their behalf will amend any letters of recommendation provided on behalf of Harvard College to reflect any change in a student's status that occurs while the student's application or candidacy is under active consideration.
6. Every recommendation mentioning one or more actions taken for disciplinary or academic reasons will state that doing so is mandated by College policy. The letters will place such actions in the context of the student's overall undergraduate experience at Harvard.
7. If a disciplinary matter is pending at the time a letter of recommendation is prepared, the letter will state that a disciplinary matter is pending, and that this is being reported as a matter of College policy.