Labor groups urge harvard to protect non-tenure-track faculty with endowment funds | news | the harvard crimson

A coalition of Harvard and Boston-area labor organizations passed out flyers around the entrances to Harvard Yard before Thursday’s Commencement ceremony began, urging attendees to call on

the University to use endowment funds to protect non-tenure-track faculty. The flyer and an associated webpage, linked with a QR code, called on recipients to email University

administrators, including President Alan M. Garber ’76, with a variety of demands. They asked Garber to preserve faculty appointments for non-tenure-track faculty and protect research

funding with money from the University’s endowment. “I really worry that the institution’s not just spirit, but its legacy is threatened right now, not just by the federal funding cuts, but

also by Harvard's own behavior, to choose not to save certain folks and save others,” Lisa Gulesserian, Harvard Academic Workers-United Auto Workers member, said. On May 16, the Faculty

of Arts and Sciences announced $250 million in funding for senior and tenure-track faculty whose grants were terminated. “Post-doctoral scholars, our researchers, our staff scientists and

even lab assistants — everybody who is in more contingent positions, less able to stay here long term, is the most vulnerable and is being helped the least,” Gulesserian said. The flyers

also encouraged increased support for international students and scholars, including facilitating remote access to research and classes and assisting with transfers and co-enrollment. “A lot

of our unit — Harvard Academic Workers — a lot of us came in on J-1 visas, also, that are affected by the visa revocation threat,” Gulesserian said. The Thursday flyer distribution is

supported by Higher Education Labor United, a national labor organization, and other Boston Area non-tenure-track faculty unions. According to Gulesserian, following the Trump

administration’s attempt to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visa Program certification, HELU expressed interest in organizing in support of the University. “Higher education is under

attack, and Harvard is the most visible victim at the moment, but it will affect all of us if we don't stop it,” Gulesserian said. Advertisement _CORRECTION: MAY 29, 2025_ _A previous

version of this article misspelled Lisa Gulesserian’s surname on two references._ —Staff writer Hugo C. Chiasson can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X

@HugoChiassonn. —Staff writer Stephanie Dragoi can be reached at [email protected].