10.01 Student Organizations

Overview

The HMS/HSDM Student Council serves as the student government for both HMS and HSDM. The Office of Student Affairs provides direct administrative support to Student Council and recognized student organizations and serves as a liaison between student groups and the HMS, HSDM, and Harvard University administration.

Student organizations are subject to applicable policies and procedures of HMS, HSDM, Harvard University, and the Student Council.

U.S. Restricted Party Screening Guidance for Student Groups Organizing, Sponsoring, or Hosting Programs/Events Online and Abroad

Student groups at Harvard provide valuable educational and social opportunities for students and give them the opportunity to form connections around common academic, cultural, political, and social interests. Student groups also contribute to the overall intellectual and social life of the University and enrich the opportunities and experience of Harvard students, faculty, and staff by offering programming and events that are consistent with the University’s teaching and research mission. These may include programs or events hosted abroad or online that include international participants. This guidance is designed to help ensure that student groups and their leaders engage in international programming in a manner consistent with their legal responsibilities.

U.S. federal law – including regulations administered by agencies such as the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and State – restricts or prohibits U.S.-based individuals and entities from providing services, including University and student-organized programs and events, to certain foreign individuals and entities that are formally designated on U.S. sanctions or export controls restricted party lists (“Restricted Parties”). All U.S-based individuals and entities, including Harvard students and student groups, are also prohibited from engaging in many financial transactions (such as accepting fees or payments, accepting gifts in support of the organization, providing compensation or stipends, or reimbursing costs) with Restricted Parties. Individuals who violate U.S. sanctions and export controls laws may be subject to federal civil and criminal penalties.

To facilitate compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls laws, Harvard has adopted University-wide guidance governing screening of Restricted Parties for educational programs. This includes any programs, conferences, seminars, workshops, webinars, or similar events that Harvard is directly involved in facilitating, sponsoring, or organizing. The guidance covers events that take place online (partially or fully) or abroad that Harvard hosts, sponsors (meaning that Harvard provides resources, support, or official backing for the program), or organizes, independently or with others as a co-host, co-sponsor, or co-organizer.

As part of its compliance responsibilities, each Harvard student group must comply with Harvard’s University-wide guidance on Restricted Party and export control screening for events that are online or that take place outside the United States where the student group is itself a host, sponsor, or organizer (or co-host, co-sponsor, or co-organizer) – particularly for events that involve international payments to or from student organizations. In addition, Harvard student groups must coordinate with their School’s development office before accepting gifts from donors to ensure appropriate screenings have been conducted.

If you have questions about compliance with U.S. sanctions and export control laws, or require assistance with screening, contact your Dean of Students office, who will work with your School Export Control Administrator (ECA).

For more information, reference the University’s Educational Program Screening resources, including the Bulletin on Educational Programs and Screening, the FAQs, and Infographic on Screening for Educational Programs.

Updated 6/15/26