Harvard Financial Aid Initiative
“Our doors have long been open to talented students regardless of financial need but many students simply do not know or believe this. We are determined to change both the perception and the reality.”
- President L.H. Summers, February 29, 2004
The Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI), was announced by Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers in March 2004, and is aimed at economic barriers to college, and provides further benefits to low and moderate income families. It is designed to enable more talented students from families of low and moderate incomes to attend Harvard College.
Beginning in 2004, parents of families with incomes of less than $40,000 no longer will be asked to contribute to the cost of their child’s education at Harvard. In addition, Harvard also is reducing substantially the expected parental contributions of families with incomes between $40,000 and $60,000. Taken together, we hope to brighten the prospects of a Harvard education for many who otherwise might have imagined it unaffordable.
To carry out the goals of this initiative, ten student coordinators are available to assist potential applicants during the academic year. They are prepared to describe and explain not only basic financial aid policy and practice, but also to discuss more general aspects of student life at Harvard College. Office hours are maintained throughout the academic year, beginning in late September and ending in late May. The telephone number is 617-384-8213.
Web site: <a href=“http://admissions.college.harvard.edu/hfai/[/url]”>http://admissions.college.harvard.edu/hfai/</a>