2026–27 HES Student Organization Elections

• April 7, 5 p.m.: Elections office hours (Zoom recording)
• April 13, 9 a.m.: Call for applications opens
• April 17, 5 p.m.: Call for applications closes
• April 20 by 12 p.m./noon: Candidates announced, campaign period begins
• April 21, 7:30 p.m.: Meet the Candidates Night hosted by HESA (Zoom) 
• April 27, 12 p.m./noon: Campaign period ends, ballot opens
• April 27, 12 p.m./noon: Expense receipts due
• May 4, 12 p.m./noon: Ballot closes
• May 8 by 5 p.m.: Election results announced

Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA):

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Director of Events
• Director of Clubs & Society Affairs
• Director of Communications
• Director of Community and Public Services
• Director of Culture & Belonging
• Director of Student Resource Connection
• Director of Technology

Recognized Student Clubs:

• President
• Vice President
• Director of Events

Please note that the Harvard Extension School International Relations Student Club and Management and Finance Student Club failed to elect Executive Boards for the 2025-26 academic year. Failure to elect for the 2026-27 academic year will result in the dissolution of the clubs.

• Must be a currently enrolled non-graduating degree candidate.
• Must be in good academic and behavioral standing at Harvard.
• Must have completed at least one semester after their official date of admission.
• Must identify and run on a platform that does not mirror the organizational efforts of the Division of Continuing Education and that can be achieved during a one-year term (For example: The creation of programs and activities that better prepare students for leadership in a virtual workplace).
• HESA Only (excluding Student Clubs): Candidates running for President or Vice President must have previously served in one of the following leadership positions:
  • President
  • Vice President
  • Director
  • Deputy Director
  • Liaison
  • HGC representative
  • Club or Society President
  • Club or Society Vice President
• Please note that a student leader may only serve one complete term in the same recognized leadership position. For more information, see the HESA Constitution.
• Student Clubs Only (excluding HESA): Candidates running for President, Vice President, or Director of Events must be degree candidates within the club's affiliated program. For the HES Pre-Medical Student Club, candidates must be enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Medical Studies.

Note: All elected members of any HES Student Organization can only hold one leadership role at Harvard. This includes serving as a DCE Global Ambassador, Harvard-wide council, and committee leadership.

The application for 2026-2027 Student Organization Executive Board positions will not become available until April 13 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time and will remain open until April 17 at 5 p.m. ET.

We strongly advise starting your application as soon as possible. It is important to note that no duplicate application forms will be accepted. Once an application form is submitted, it is a final submission. No late applications will be accepted. You are eligible to apply for one Executive Board position only.

The application consists of the following materials:

• A Statement of Purpose (no more than 300 words)
• A response to the application essay question (no more than 300 words)
  • Please describe your previous student involvement at the Harvard Extension School. This can include participation in student organizations and societies, organizing and group work within classes, online presence, etc.
• A headshot (minimum 400 x 400 pixels)
• A link to your LinkedIn Profile (to be shared on the Candidate Information Page)
• A link to a 3-minute (or less) video wherein you introduce yourself and address the questions below. Please note we are unable to accept or approve any videos longer than 3 minutes.
• Why are you running?
• Do you have previous board or volunteer service experience?
• What has been your biggest contribution to the HES community beyond the classroom?
• What leadership strengths and skills do you bring to the role?
• If elected, what is the top goal you hope to accomplish during your term?

Violation of the rules below may result in the disqualification of your candidacy or suspension of the election. All candidates are expected to uphold the values of the Harvard Extension School community, demonstrating integrity, honesty, and respect in all matters related to student organization elections. We require all candidates to fully comply with the campaign rules, student conduct policies, and other Division of Continuing Education policies.

Additionally, all candidates must be aware of HES and Harvard University policies and are responsible for ensuring that the election process adheres to the policies listed below:

• Anti-Hazing Policy
• Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policy
• Title IX Policy
• University Rights and Responsibilities

We reserve the authority to disqualify individual candidates and/or suspend the election if candidates engage in campaign violations or other misconduct arising from the electoral process. There will be a zero-tolerance policy for any inappropriate behavior.

Rule 1 | Keep your campaign positive: Focus on your own goals and objectives. It is paramount to maintain the high standards of Harvard University. While you may distinguish yourself from and express disagreement with the positions of other candidates, false claims and personal attacks against other candidates will not be tolerated.

For example, an appropriate way to disagree with another candidate's position might be:

"While I agree with John Smith that increasing a sense of belonging for HES students is of the utmost importance, I do not think that increasing our on-campus programming is the correct way to approach the problem. We should be prioritizing virtual accessibility given how many of our students are not located in the Cambridge area."

Rule 2 | Use of the student directory: Student directory information is intended for finding information on individuals you may know. Bulk downloading of directory information is prohibited. The use of directory information to support mass communication is prohibited.

Rule 3 | Campaign messaging:

• Campaign messaging, as it is used in these election guidelines, refers to all written communications used by candidates (or on behalf of candidates) to further their campaign for an Executive Board position. This includes, but is not limited to, emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, and social media posts. If you are unsure whether these rules apply to a particular medium of campaigning, please contact the HES Elections Team at Elections@Extension.Harvard.edu before campaigning with that medium.
• All campaign messaging is subject to Rule 1 — Keep your campaign positive. This means that your campaign materials should not include negative or derogatory language about other candidates. Campaign messaging should focus specifically on you as an individual, your qualifications, and your goals for the Student Organization you hope to represent.
• Usage of AI in developing campaign materials is permitted, so long as all other campaign rules are respected.
• Email: Mass emailing is not allowed in any capacity, regardless of a candidate’s personal relationship with those on the email list.
• Social Media:
  • Acceptable places to campaign include:
    • Your personal social media accounts, including WhatsApp chats or group messages outside of the HESA WhatsApp community
    • The HESA Facebook group
    • The HES Connect WhatsApp chat. Candidates may not campaign in WhatsApp chats that are focused on a particular interest, identity, region, class, degree program, etc. This is to prevent topic-specific communication channels from being overwhelmed with election content. If you are unsure if a specific WhatsApp channel is appropriate to post in, please email Elections@Extension.Harvard.edu prior to posting.
      • Candidates running for Student Club Executive Board positions (excluding HESA) may campaign within WhatsApp chats designated for communications related to that specific club.
      • If you do not have access to the HESA WhatsApp Community, please email the current HESA President at President@HESA.DCE.Harvard.edu.
  • Unacceptable places to campaign include:
    • Official course-related communication platforms (e.g., Canvas, Zoom, etc.)
    • Any alumni-focused pages, groups, channels, or platforms, including HES Alumni LinkedIn groups
    • WhatsApp channels that are focused on a particular interest, identity, region, class, degree program, etc.

Rule 4 — Flyer distribution: Should you be enrolled in an in-person course, flyers may be distributed to students enrolled in your course(s). Flyers may not be distributed during class time.

Rule 5 — Harvard trademarks: Posters, flyers, and other outlets for your campaign (including social media) must not include Harvard emblems that would suggest endorsement by the administration. Harvard logos on items of clothing are allowed since these do not suggest endorsement.

Rule 6 — Campaign expenses: Campaign materials — including posters, flyers, videos, website, and any other materials — are to be paid for by the candidate (or their campaign team) and must not exceed a total cost of $150 for the whole campaign. Receipts for all campaign expenses must be submitted via email to Elections@Extension.Harvard.edu no later than April 27, at 12 p.m./noon Eastern Time.

Rule 7 — Endorsement: Student organizations may not endorse specific candidates. Officers and other organizational leaders may individually and personally endorse candidates, provided that they state that they are acting in their personal capacity and not on behalf of the organization. Student organizations and their leaders acting in their official roles are entitled to share information about the election, but they must include equal information about each candidate. Should a student organization or a specific student organization leader endorse a candidate in their official capacity, that candidate is subject to immediate disqualification. It may also result in disciplinary action for the club and/or club leaders per the procedures laid out in the 2025–26 Student Organization Resource Guide.

Rule 8 — Election: Should you win the election for your position, you will be contacted via email by the Elections email: Elections@Extension.Harvard.edu. You will have 48 hours from the time the email was sent to accept or decline the position.

If an alleged violation(s) of the rules above is reported, these allegations will be thoroughly reviewed by HES administrators before determining the appropriate outcome, including but not limited to disqualification of candidacy or suspension of the election.

The HES Student Elections Team will host Elections Office Hours on April 7 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. This session is an unstructured opportunity for candidates to ask clarifying questions regarding the updated campaign rules and election process, to ensure they meet all expectations set forth by the Elections Team. Participation is not required, and a recording will be shared after the fact.

Additional questions regarding campaign rules can be sent to Elections@Extension.Harvard.edu.

• Candidates must secure at least fifty-one percent (51%) of all votes in order to be elected to their corresponding Student Organization Leadership position.
• There will be one ballot for all Student Organizations. Each student can vote for leadership in each student organization (or abstain) if they choose, all within the same ballot.
• Students are encouraged to review all of the candidates' materials, which will be posted on this webpage, before accessing the link they receive to cast a ballot, as you may be unable to return to the ballot page upon leaving the page.