Harvard University has maintained selective faculty and staff recruitment even after a university-wide hiring freeze was announced in March, according to The Harvard Crimson. President Alan M. Garber ’76 imposed the freeze to preserve “financial flexibility” amid uncertainties over federal funding, including potential cuts to research grants and a proposed endowment tax increase that could cost the university $300 million annually.
Exemptions for high-priority positions
Despite the freeze, certain searches have been allowed to proceed for positions considered “critical” or “high priority.” At the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), five faculty searches are currently active, including newly authorized lines in artificial intelligence and public policy, according to The Harvard Crimson. Other searches in American politics, junior analytics, and power and difference, previously delayed by HKS’s internal freeze, have resumed, placing the school on track for a normal hiring rate this year.
Varied impact across university departments
The exemptions have not resulted in uniform hiring across the university. Leaders of seven departments under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) told The Harvard Crimson they have not hired new faculty since the freeze. Staff recruitment has continued in a limited capacity, with new rules requiring divisional deans’ approval for appointments. Positions typically initiated by faculty—such as postdocs, research assistants, and lab technicians—have generally continued when funding is available and leadership signs off.
Open positions and active searches
According to The Harvard Crimson, Harvard currently has at least eight open faculty searches, down from 37 in 2023 and 14 in 2024. Staff hiring remains active with approximately 175 open positions, covering roles from research compliance officers to chefs and email marketing coordinators. Outside HKS, faculty searches are ongoing in applied mathematics, mechanical engineering and material science, environmental science and engineering, government, and housing studies.
Faculty numbers remain strong
Despite the freeze, FAS’s ladder faculty ranks have grown, reaching 744 tenured and tenure-track faculty this year—13 more than last year and the largest cohort in at least a decade. FAS Dean for Faculty Affairs and Planning Nina Zipser told The Harvard Crimson that this growth is due to successful searches completed before the freeze and fewer faculty departures than expected.
Top leadership appointments continue
Harvard has also filled key leadership roles during the freeze. Anthony Campbell, formerly of Yale University’s police department, was appointed Harvard’s new police chief last month. Additionally, interim deans at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education were given permanent appointments, all while the hiring freeze remains in place.
About the Author
