Below are position descriptions for all HCSA Officer Positions.
Harvard Chan Student Association President, Executive Board
The President leads the executive board and general body as the chief administrative officer and official representative of HCSA. They act as the key bridge between HCSA and the Harvard Chan School administration, serving as the principal liaison to the Office of Student Affairs and communicating with the Office for Student Services and the Deans’ offices. The President bears principal responsibility for building collaboration across all HCSA divisions and helps them achieve their goals during the school year. The position’s responsibility for preserving institutional memory is great. In addition to chairing the summer team to prepare for orientation and the following school year, it is the President’s responsibility to gather activity reports and evaluations from the Vice Presidents and pass along lessons learned to future administrations.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Executive Board
The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for soliciting concerns that arise from the Harvard Chan School Student body, related to all matters regarding their education and academic life. S/He is responsible for overseeing all activities related to the Division of Academic Affairs and its members, all Academic Department and Academic Program officers. The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall be responsible for chairing Division meetings, and establishing committees, events, survey(s), and operating procedures necessary to achieve the goals of the Division.
Vice President of Communications, Executive Board
The Vice President of Communications serves with the President and other Vice Presidents on the Executive Board. This position also works to ensure effective communication between HCSA divisions, and is charged with improving methods of communication between HCSA officers and the student community. The Vice President of Communications maintains the official HCSA attendance record, keeps track of HCSA officers’ good standing, and holds them accountable for the loss and recovery of voting privileges. S/He sends minutes after each meeting to the full council, and posts on the HCSA website for public viewing within 48 hours.
Vice President of Finance, Executive Board
The Vice President of Finance serves with the President and other Vice Presidents on the Executive Board. This position is responsible for working closely with all officers of HCSA to allocate the yearly budget, maintain a record of revenues and expenditures throughout the year, and oversee the sale of tickets to all HCSA events. This position manages the HCSA funding provided to student organizations and creates a process to accept and evaluate student organization funding proposals and allocate HCSA funding to student organizations in association with OSA staff.
Vice President of Student Advocacy, Executive Board
The Vice President of Student Advocacy is responsible for soliciting concerns that arise from the Harvard Chan student body regarding their welfare, inclusion, and the policy or political environment at the School. The Vice President of Student Advocacy oversees the efforts of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate, the International Student Advocate, and the Harvard Graduate Council External Advocacy Committee Representative. S/He is also responsible for providing forums for student feedback and support including hosting town halls, creating surveys, and/or other avenues for students to safely voice their concerns. S/He should also establish collaborative working relationships with student organization leaders to ensure that the needs of student organizations are met. The VP of Student Advocacy serves on the summer team.
Vice President of Student Life, Executive Board
The Vice President of Student Life leads the Division of Student Life and is responsible for improving the social environment and student life atmosphere at the Harvard Chan School and overseeing the activities of the Health and Wellness Coordinator and the Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. S/he works with officers of HCSA, the Office of Student Affairs, the Director of Community Engagement, and others to improve the lives of students by helping to create opportunities for socialization, exercise, and service at the school. Additionally, this position manages the planning and preparation of all events and extra-curricular activities hosted by HCSA.
Person-At-Large, Executive Board
The Person-at-Large provides advice and historical context to the current Executive Board. They can be a currently enrolled student or alumnus/alumna, but must have formerly served in HCSA, preferably on the Executive Board, for at least one year. This position has no voting privileges and cannot incur expenses. This position is appointed by a consensus among elected officers over the summer months in order to provide continuity of knowledge to new HCSA officers. The Person-at-Large may not hold another role in HCSA. The Person-at-Large is to be someone local to the Boston area and easily accessible.
Academic Program Representatives, Division of Academic Affairs
There are nine Academic Program Representatives within the Division of Academic Affairs; only currently enrolled students specifically from a degree program housed at or under the Harvard Chan School may run in an election to represent it. Likewise, only currently enrolled students from that degree program may elect their representative.
Master of Science, 42.5 and 60 credits – one officer
Master of Science, 80 credits – one officer
Master of Public Health in Epidemiology – one officer
Master of Public Health, 65 credits – one officer
Master of Public Health, 45 credits – two officers
Master of Public Health GEN – one officer
Doctor of Public Health – one officer
Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science – one officer
Program Representatives will zealously represent and advocate for all members of their respective Academic Programs. Each officer will take reasonable means to survey members, hold town halls, and office hours for their respective Academic Programs to better understand issues of concern and keep members updated on Student Association initiatives and events. Program Representatives will hold academic and social events that bring students from their program together to build community and network.
Public Relations Coordinator, Division of Communication
The Public Relations Coordinator is responsible for ensuring effective communication between HCSA and the Harvard community. S/he does this by executing marketing, outreach and messaging activities regarding events of interest to students, as well as receiving student feedback on ideas and needs. The Public Relations Coordinator is also responsible for maintaining the HCSA website, Harvard Chan Engage HCSA page and social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). The Public Relations Coordinator also manages Stall Stories; a HCSA publication each month featured in the bathroom, and is responsible for seeking interesting, informative, culturally competent, and entertaining content to share with the student body. The Stall Stories Editor also writes, formats, prints and distributes a paper edition of Stall Stories every month during the regular academic year.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate, Division of Student Advocacy
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate aims to promote inclusion at the Harvard Chan School. This position reports to the Vice President of Student Advocacy. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Representative also regularly attends the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion (DACDI) as the HCSA representative. This representative also actively engages with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer to ensure that all students feel safe and welcome at the Harvard Chan School. This representative is responsible for soliciting, reporting, working to address, and communicating about diversity and inclusion issues facing Harvard Chan students.
International Students Advocate, Division of Student Advocacy
The International Students Advocate serves as the liaison between HCSA and the Harvard Chan School’s international student community, including international students and international student organizations. The International Students Advocate should maintain regular contact with international students and international student groups through surveys and/or regular office hours, and communicate regularly with the Vice President of Student Advocacy and the Student Advocacy Committee. Additionally, the International Student Advocate works with the Harvard University International Office, Office for Student Affairs, and Office of Financial Aid, to address international student concerns and issues. This representative also liaises with the Office for Alumni Affairs to connect international students to alumni mentors. Furthermore, this representative works with existing student organizations to co-organize cultural events throughout the academic year and is responsible for planning HCSA’s annual variety show: INIGHT
Harvard Graduate Council (HGC) Representative, Division of Student Advocacy
The Harvard Graduate Council (HGC) representative is responsible for ensuring effective communication between students at the Harvard Chan School and the broader Harvard community. They attend all HGC meetings and play an active role within HGC committees. The HGC representative promotes awareness of HGC and its activities among Harvard Chan students and form ties between Harvard Chan and other Harvard graduate schools by promoting and co-organizing events (e.g., conferences, lectures, social gatherings).
Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Division of Student Advocacy
The Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator works with the Harvard Chan School Director of Community Engagement and student organizations to coordinate volunteer opportunities for students at least twice per semester. This includes surveying new and current students to catalog skills and abilities, which could be aligned with student interests to provide needed services to community organizations. It also involves identifying existing volunteer programs in the community and facilitating student assistance to those organizations, and sponsoring, advertising, and implementing volunteer programs, which integrate community needs with student expertise and interest. Additionally, the individual in this role is responsible for awarding the HCSA Community Engagement Award at the end of each academic year prior to graduation.
Health and Wellness Coordinator, Division of Student Life
The Health and Wellness Coordinator is responsible for regularly surveying the student body to assess wellness needs and organizing activities or services to respond appropriately. The position engages with university resources (e.g., Harvard University Health Services) to identify and address unmet health needs in the student body. The Health and Wellness Coordinator works with the Office of Student Affairs, Vanderbilt Hall, Shattuck House Residential Community Advisors and others to sponsor, advertise, offer, and evaluate sporting or wellness activities for students, aiming to offer at least two per semester.
Professional Development Coordinator, Division of Student Life
The Professional Development Coordinator is focused on meeting the professional needs of the student body through resource creation and delivery, events, and activities. They are responsible for planning and overseeing activities that will allow students to develop and work towards their career goals, network, and access. The coordinator will work together with the Office of Career and Professional Development to create and promote materials, facilitate any necessary HCSA led training, workshops, student or alumni panels, etc.
If you have any questions please contact hcsa@hsph.harvard.edu.
