Proposed Name Change to Harvard School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Dear DCE Community,

I’m writing to share a proposal that would position the Division of Continuing Education (DCE) for its next chapter, one that reflects who we are today and who we are becoming.

The challenges of a rapidly changing world are creating real opportunities for DCE and the rigorous, flexible education that has always defined us. Our learners come to us with a clear purpose: They want to build new skills and deepen their knowledge, on timelines that fit their lives and careers. Employers want people whose credentials clearly show what they know and can do. Few institutions are better positioned to meet this moment than DCE.

Our mission always has been — and always will be — driven by our commitment to expand access to learning and knowledge. We trace that mission back to 1835, when John Lowell Jr., in his will, funded an institute to provide the people of Boston free public lectures. In 1910, we began offering Harvard courses to people in the community who couldn’t attend traditional classes. Today, we bring the academic rigor of Harvard within reach of high-achieving, non-traditional students across their lifetimes, from high school students to mid-career professionals to senior citizens still hungry for learning in retirement. We serve the University’s largest and most eclectic student body, across every time zone and professional background with high-impact, high-value programs aligned with Harvard’s values and commitment to excellence and rigor.

Our mission is strong, and so is our work driving that mission. Each of our four academic units (Harvard Extension School, Harvard Summer School, Harvard Professional & Executive Development, and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement) has earned a strong reputation. But they often are seen as separate and without a clear connection to each other and their shared mission. Our graduate degree names also do not completely convey what our students studied, and these degrees can be hard to distinguish from other Harvard degrees. Our students deserve credentials that clearly reflect their accomplishments, and employers deserve a clear picture of what our graduates bring to the job.

The Harvard School of Continuing and Professional Studies

We have proposed changing the name of the Division of Continuing Education to the Harvard School of Continuing and Professional Studies. This proposed new name sends one clear signal about the caliber of our programs and the distinctive paths our students take, and it aligns us with many of our Ivy and Ivy+ peers. Our four academic units would come together under one school and identity, making it easier for current and prospective learners to see the full range of what we offer. Our mission, and the academic substance and rigor of a Harvard education, remain strong.

Master of Liberal Studies and Master of Professional Studies

Our current graduate degree, the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, often fails to communicate a graduate’s field of study, and too many of our alumni have to explain their degree title on résumés and in interviews. We are proposing two new degree names: the Master of Liberal Studies for our liberal arts programs and the Master of Professional Studies for our applied and professional programs. Both names are clear and widely recognized across higher education. Our graduate degrees would remain under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) governance and keep their existing academic standards, and our graduates’ achievements would be recognized more fully for what they are.

What will remain is our steadfast commitment to our earn-your-way-in admissions pathway, rigorous grading standards, access, world class pedagogy, commitment to ed tech innovation, and alignment with FAS as the foundation of everything we do. This proposal makes the identity around that excellence as clear as the education itself.

Serving Undergraduates

Our undergraduate program has long played an important role in opening Harvard to adult learners. We are not proposing any change to the Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies at this time. Instead, we are reviewing the program and how it can best serve today’s part-time adult learners, and we will make no proposed changes until that review is complete.

What Comes Next

Changes to a school’s name and degrees require approval from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and, ultimately, Harvard’s Governing Boards: the Board of Overseers and the Harvard Corporation. We presented the proposal to the FAS faculty on November 3, 2026. If they approve it, it will move to the Governing Boards. I deeply respect the faculty governance and deliberation that are central to Harvard’s excellence, and I will share updates as the process moves forward. If approved, the new name would take effect on April 6, 2027.

This proposal reflects broad input from faculty, staff, and academic and administrative leaders across DCE and FAS. I am grateful to my colleagues for their thoughtful contributions.

Our purpose has not changed since 1835: to open the doors of learning. This proposal helps the world see more clearly who we are and what our students are accomplishing. We look forward to a continued dialogue on what’s ahead.

Sincerely,

Nancy J. Coleman
Dean, Harvard Division of Continuing Education and University Extension

What is the timeline for a decision and, if approved, for any changes?

The proposed school and degree name changes are currently under review by the Governing Bodies of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the University. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is expected to vote on the proposal in December 2026, followed by review by the Harvard Governing Boards. A final decision is expected in December 2026. If approved, the changes would take effect on April 6, 2027.

Are the Harvard Extension School, Summer School, Professional & Executive Development, and Institute for Learning in Retirement names changing?

Under the proposal, if approved, all academic programs of the Division of Continuing Education would operate under the new Harvard School of Continuing and Professional Studies (HSCPS).

Will your mission or academic standards change?

No. Our mission and academic standards will not change.

What are the new degree names being proposed?

Under the proposal, the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies (ALM) will be replaced by a Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) or a Master of Professional Studies (MPS), depending on field of study. Decisions about which fields of study will fall under each new degree are still under review, and no decisions have been made at this time.

We will share updates with our community as soon as more information becomes available.

We are not proposing a new name for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies (ALB) at this time.

I am graduating in May 2027 — can I get one of the new degrees?

If the new degree names are approved by the University, May 2027 would be the first time the new degrees can be conferred. May 2027 graduates would therefore have the option to graduate under the new degree name.

The approval process is ongoing, but we expect to share more information in early 2027 if the new degree names are approved.

Will the school name change affect my diploma?

If the school name changes are approved, diplomas would not be affected because they display the name of the University rather than the school.

Further, if the name change is approved, we will provide guidance to alumni, current degree candidates, and future students on how to describe the relationship between Harvard Extension School and the Harvard School of Continuing and Professional Studies. We will also update the transcript key to document the transition.

I’m an alumnus. Can I get the name of my degree changed and/or a new diploma with the new degree name?

Degrees already awarded cannot be changed retroactively. Education records, including transcripts and diplomas, must reflect the degrees approved by the University and effective at the time of conferral.

Because your degree was conferred prior to the approved name change, your diploma and degree must retain the names that were in effect when your degree was awarded.

Can I get the new school name on my previously earned certificate?

If you have already earned a certificate, it cannot be updated to reflect the new school name because it is based on the program name at the time the certificate was issued.

I have more questions — how do I get more information?

We will update the community as additional information becomes available.