Harvard University is actively working to regain trust following a tumultuous period marked by scandals, campus unrest, and declining public faith. Over the past several years, the institution has implemented a range of policies focused on safeguarding academic freedom, combating grade inflation, encouraging dialogue, adapting to AI, and re-emphasizing academic pursuits. According to professors at the university, these efforts are showing positive results.
Steven Pinker, a Harvard psychology professor, noted that university leadership now appears to recognize the issues that have troubled higher education, and Harvard in particular. He stated that initiatives promoting constructive dialogue and intellectual vitality are becoming more prevalent.
Since Alan Garber took over as president in January 2024, Harvard has established an Open Inquiry and Constructive Dialogue Working Group. The university has also revised its protest policies to prohibit demonstrations in sensitive areas like libraries, classrooms, dormitories, and dining halls. Furthermore, a faculty committee decided that Harvard will no longer issue institutional statements on controversial external issues unless they directly pertain to campus life, a departure from previous practices.
The Arts and Sciences faculty have introduced new rules for viewpoint-neutral teaching, explicitly stating in the student handbook that a student's political views should not affect their grades and that professors' views outside the classroom should not impact their teaching. Starting in Fall 2025, course evaluations will include questions for students on whether their instructors encouraged diverse viewpoints.
Santiago Romero-Brufau, a professor of biostatistics, has observed a noticeable shift, describing the campus atmosphere as less tense and expressing that individuals seem more comfortable speaking freely without fear of reprisal. He highlighted the adoption of Chatham House Rules for classroom discussions, allowing students to share what was discussed but not attribute specific statements, as a measure to reduce self-censorship.
Philosophy professor Ned Hall, who has long advocated for open inquiry, agreed that these changes are a significant step forward. He noted that students are increasingly interested in engaging in discussions on controversial topics and are growing impatient with a campus culture that can stifle open expression.
These reforms appear to have had a tangible impact on Harvard's standing. While previously ranked last for free expression by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the university has since climbed to 71st out of 261 institutions and is now among the top 25 for political tolerance.
Laura Beltz, FIRE's Director of Policy Reform, suggested that the cumulative effect of these changes sends a positive message to students about Harvard's commitment to free speech. She emphasized that maintaining this commitment will be an ongoing challenge as new student cohorts arrive each year.
To address this, Harvard has introduced changes to its admissions and orientation processes. Applicants for the Class of 2029 were required to write an essay about a time they disagreed with someone and what they learned from the experience. Incoming students must now complete an orientation module titled “Intellectual Life and Constructive Disagreement,” signaling the university's emphasis on engaging respectfully with differing viewpoints.
Harvard has also taken steps to address grade inflation. Following an internal review that showed a significant increase in the median GPA, a faculty committee proposed a cap of 20% on A grades in undergraduate courses, which was approved and will take effect in Fall 2027. Pinker acknowledged this as a positive start, also noting the increasing practice of professors taking attendance in large lectures, which he has adopted for the first time in his career.
The university is also confronting the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The Derek Bok Center launched a “Teaching and AI” initiative to help faculty redesign assignments to be more resistant to AI, suggesting methods like in-person and oral examinations.
These collective changes, according to Pinker, are fostering an academic renewal, encouraging students and faculty to prioritize academic pursuits over other campus activities.