The Harvard Foundation supports inclusion efforts in Harvard College's residential life system. Since 2003, our team has coordinated support and training for Harvard College's Race Relations Tutors and Proctors. More recently, Harvard houses have added First-Generation / Low-Income Tutors, which also receive support from the Harvard Foundation. The Harvard Foundation offers programmatic support and funding to all Houses for cultural and race relations programming.
Today, the primary roles of the Race Relations and FGLI Student Support Tutors & Proctors are to:
1. Promote House/Yard based programming/discussions (both social and informative) in the area of intercultural and race relations, in an effort to increase student awareness and understanding across differences.
2. Serve as a point of first contact for students who have concerns about racial, ethnic, and/or religious discrimination. It is important to note that race relations advisors are not expected to be solely responsible for addressing or responding to any racial conflict or crisis among residents. They are encouraged to report any race/religious discrimination or conflict to their faculty deans, resident deans, and/or the Harvard College Dean of Students Office using this bias reporting form.
The Harvard Foundation provides support to the race relations tutors for their programs, projects, and initiatives. Race Relations tutors are expected to prepare for their role of providing support for students in the areas of race relations and conflict resolution by attending Harvard Foundation orientation programs, discussion sessions, and other initiatives by the Harvard University Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The Harvard Foundation also provides consultations for resident deans, tutors, proctors, and other house staff in how to foster inclusion and equity in Harvard student residences.