Dear Colleagues,
As we begin 2024, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on our role at the University, what we mean to the Harvard community, our upcoming agenda, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As I write this, I’m reminded of a question submitted during last month’s all-staff meeting: is Campus Services here to simply keep the University running or is our role to try and accomplish ambitious new things? The answer to both is a resounding ‘yes.’
Supporting a Complex Campus
Campus Services is charged with ensuring our 830-acre campus operates smoothly and in many ways, Harvard is like a small city. From afar, the daily responsibilities to provide transportation; enhance safety; facilitate international support; offer good food and hospitality; and provide space, shelter, and reliable infrastructure may seem simple. However, executing these duties at a high-level, for a community totaling approximately 45,000 people, requires immense planning, focus, and hard work. I’m grateful for the diligence and skill our team brings to campus each day as there’s nothing simple or easy about operating such a complex campus in today’s ever-changing world. I want you to know that your contributions are valued.
Advancing Ambitious Initiatives
This year will be a time when we take big steps to advance new initiatives. In Allston, construction soon begins on a new home for the American Repertory Theatre and 276 apartments for Harvard affiliates. The Art, Film, and Visual Studies program will expand into new studio space at 92 Seattle Street and the timber structure for the new Conference Center will rise. We’ll continue to find better ways to transport the 1 in 5 College students who take classes at the Science & Engineering Complex and begin to expand Allston commissary capacity for HUDS. We’ll implement modifications to the parking and transit program that will benefit many essential on-campus workers and we will also take meaningful steps towards creating a more sustainable campus. We’ll also begin the search for an inaugural director of occupational medicine to support the health and wellness of Harvard’s workers. These are just a few examples of exciting new initiatives that will have significant impact.
Fostering Community
It’s not just what we do, but also how we do it, that matters. Our employees offer a sense of stability and warmth throughout the campus. That’s more important now than ever. The Crimson penned an obituary for recently departed Dining team member Mary Quinlan that personifies what we can mean to the Harvard community and, in some ways, what our work here can offer us as employees: pride, community, and an intellectual outlet. Every day we make a positive impact on the people of Harvard, not just the place. This sense of community is a big part of who we are as an organization.
Ensuring Campus Services is a Place Where Everyone Can Thrive
For us to provide the best services and to continue fostering a sense of community, we need to make sure Campus Services is an organization where everyone can thrive. Later this year, we’ll launch an employee engagement assessment. This systematic approach to learning about our strengths and opportunities will give us the data we need to improve the ways we work together while supporting team members and their career goals.
Managing Change Together
We have a bold agenda for 2024, both in stewarding the daily needs of our campus and in advancing exciting new initiatives. But we also know unexpected changes are part of our work. I was saddened to see the resignation of President Gay. Claudine is someone I deeply admire and from whom I’ve learned a lot. She’ll continue to be an important part of our community. As I think about the year ahead, I know we’ll come together to support interim-President Alan Garber, who is an insightful, kind, and thoughtful leader. I’m committed to joining this effort by supporting your goals and ambitions. You can read interim-President Alan Garber’s recent message to the University community on the Office of the President website.
It’s an honor to work with you and I look forward to meeting the challenges ahead, both known and unknown, new and old.
Happy New Year,
Sean