Harvard University Perks And Freebies A Guide To Student And Faculty Benefits

Harvard University, a premier academic institution, offers a variety of free and discounted benefits to its active students, faculty, staff, and researchers. These perks span technology, entertainment, literature, and even survey incentives, providing significant value to the university community. While not a traditional consumer sample program, these institutional benefits represent a form of free access and no-cost resources that can be highly valuable for eligible individuals. This article outlines the key freebies and perks available through Harvard's official channels, based exclusively on information provided in the source documents.

The benefits are categorized by type and are available to specific Harvard-affiliated groups. Eligibility typically requires an active Harvard status, such as being a student, faculty member, staff, or researcher. Some benefits are accessible through Harvard's IT services, while others are provided through the Harvard Library system or specific administrative offices. The following sections detail these opportunities, emphasizing the official processes and requirements as stated in the source materials.

Technology and Software Discounts

Active Harvard students, faculty, staff, and researchers are eligible for free and discounted software and hardware. These benefits are managed through Harvard's IT services and are intended to support academic work and research. The specific offers and their eligibility criteria are outlined below.

Software and Hardware Discounts: - B&H Photo, Video, & Audio: Purchases of computers and technology products for photography, video, audio, and more are available at academic pricing. - Cellular Service Discounts: Discounts on cellular service plans are available, though specific providers and terms are not detailed in the source. - Computer Hardware: Discounts are available on computer hardware purchases. - EndNote: The reference management tool EndNote is available for purchase at academic pricing. This purchase includes access to EndNote online with unlimited file storage, unlimited reference storage, and group sharing capabilities. It is important to note that this licensed product is intended for use ONLY in support of Harvard University classroom instruction, coursework, and non-commercial research. It cannot be installed on a computer physically located in a hospital, clinic, or other similar facility. - LinkedIn Learning: Active members have access to over 15,000 on-demand courses covering computer software, business skills, and creative skills from industry experts. - Parallels: A 1-year subscription to Parallels is available for purchase at academic pricing, allowing users to run Windows applications on a Mac without rebooting. - SAS and SPSS: An IBM® SPSS® Statistics license can be purchased at academic pricing for a personally-owned computer. - Wolfram Software: Free access is available to Wolfram technical computing software, including Mathematica, Alpha Notebook Edition, and Alpha Pro.

These technology perks are designed to facilitate academic and research activities. The source material emphasizes that these benefits are for personal use in support of Harvard-related work and come with specific licensing restrictions, such as the prohibition on use in medical facilities for certain software.

Entertainment and Media Access through Harvard Library

The Harvard Library provides a wide array of free entertainment and media resources for students. These include access to news, films, streaming video, music collections, and more. The following services are available to Harvard students at no cost.

News and Streaming Services: - Newspapers and News Access: Students can read the news for free through library-provided resources. - Streaming Video: The library offers a streaming video collection with content ranging from feature films and documentaries to BBC productions of Shakespeare's plays. This service is intended to provide alternatives to commercial platforms like Netflix, Prime, and HBO Max. A streaming video guide is available to help users find content that suits their taste and mood. - Met Opera on Demand: Students can enjoy a night in with access to the Met Opera on Demand database, which provides instant access to more than 700 full-length Met performances.

Music and Audio Collections: - Playlist Creation: Students are encouraged to create new and amazing playlists. For hip-hop fans, the Classic Crates collection is available. This is a partnership between the Loeb Music Library and the Hutchins Center's Hip Hop Archive. - Podcasts and Audio Content: While not explicitly listed in the entertainment section, the availability of streaming audio and the Libby app for audiobooks (mentioned in the reading section) suggests additional audio content is accessible.

Film Archive: - Harvard Film Archive (HFA): The HFA, a division of the Harvard Library, offers free admission to its Public Cinema for students. The source notes that the archive reopened on July 5, indicating it is an active, ongoing benefit. Students are encouraged to check the HFA's online calendar for showtimes.

These media perks are part of the Harvard Library's mission to provide resources beyond commercial streaming services. They are freely available to students and represent a significant value, especially for those interested in film, opera, and diverse music collections.

Reading and Literary Resources

Harvard students have extensive access to leisure reading collections, both physical and digital. These resources are curated specifically for the student body and are available at no cost.

Lamont Library's Farnsworth Collection: - Location and Description: Located on the 3rd floor of Lamont Library, the Farnsworth Collection is a leisure reading collection built for Harvard students, often with their input. It is described as a "glorious grab bag of genres." - Content: The collection includes bestsellers, mysteries, popular histories, graphic novels, cookbooks, crafting books, travel writing, and more. Students can browse the collection onsite or look online at some of the 2024 books that have arrived there. The collection can be searched by adding keywords to a special HOLLIS search. - Digital Access: Students can install the Libby app to access the Farnsworth collection of ebooks and audiobooks, providing convenient digital reading options.

Additional Library Resources: - Lamont's New Book Shelves: Located on Level 1, these shelves are curated by student workers who choose the titles to display, offering another spot for browsing new releases. - Woodberry Poetry Room: Situated on Lamont's 3rd floor, this architectural jewel sponsors live readings and special events each semester. From a personal computer, students can access the WPR Listening Booth to hear poetry readings from past and present. On selected Wednesdays, students can even write on poet John Ashbery's Royal KMM typewriter.

These literary resources are designed to encourage leisure reading and engagement with poetry and literature. The collections are student-focused and updated regularly, with both physical and digital access points to accommodate different preferences.

Survey Incentives and Participation Rewards

Harvard's administrative offices have been known to extend rewards to students who participate in surveys. This practice is part of a broader effort to increase student engagement and gather information on student needs and preferences.

Survey Participation and Incentives: - First-Year Advising Network Survey: In a recent academic year, 78 percent of the freshman class filled out this survey, indicating a high participation rate. The source suggests that incentives played a role in this success. - Student Government Elections: In contrast, voter turnout for student government president elections has been low, with fewer than a third of undergraduates voting in each of the last four academic years. Some students have attributed this low turnout to a lack of incentives. - Office of the Dean of Students (DSO) Initiatives: The DSO has extended rewards to students who participate in College surveys and is actively seeking new ideas to motivate more students to fill out forms. The office formed a Student Survey Advisory Group (SSAG) and works with a team of nine undergraduates to improve participation. The stated goal is to collect information on what students want and need.

While the specific rewards for survey participation are not detailed in the source material, the information confirms that incentives are used to encourage student engagement. This practice is distinct from traditional product samples but represents a form of free benefit for participation in university activities.

General Freebies for College Applicants

For prospective students, there is an interest in colleges that provide free items just for applying. According to the source, it is true that some colleges send free stuff or swag to students who apply or demonstrate interest. However, this is not the norm, and the items are typically of low monetary value—such as stickers, buttons, pens, or small branded items.

The source advises that rather than seeking out schools specifically for freebies, students should focus on finding colleges that fit their academic and extracurricular interests. Freebies should be considered a bonus. Additionally, attending college fairs or visiting campuses may be a more effective way to collect such items, as long as the interest in the college is genuine.

It is important to note that the source does not specifically identify Harvard University as a college that sends free swag to applicants. The information is general and applies to some colleges, but not all. Therefore, prospective applicants should not assume they will receive free items from Harvard based on this information alone.

Eligibility and Access

The benefits and freebies described are available to specific groups within the Harvard community. The eligibility criteria are generally tied to active status at the university.

Eligible Groups: - Active Harvard students - Faculty - Staff - Researchers

Access Methods: - Technology Discounts: These are typically accessed through Harvard's IT services portal or designated vendor pages. Students and staff may need to log in with their Harvard credentials to verify eligibility and access academic pricing. - Library Resources: Entertainment, streaming, and reading resources are available through the Harvard Library website. Students can use their library accounts to access digital collections like Libby, streaming video guides, and the Met Opera on Demand database. Physical resources, such as the Harvard Film Archive and Lamont Library collections, require in-person visits, though some digital access is available remotely. - Survey Incentives: Participation in surveys is usually initiated by university offices like the DSO or HUA. Students receive invitations to complete surveys, and incentives, if any, are provided upon completion. There is no public-facing sign-up page for these incentives; they are distributed internally.

Geographic Restrictions: - The technology software licenses, such as EndNote, have specific geographic and use restrictions. For example, they cannot be installed on computers located in hospitals or clinics. Other benefits, like streaming media and library access, are likely available to students regardless of location, provided they have an internet connection and valid Harvard credentials.

Expiration Dates and Ongoing Offers: - The source material does not provide specific expiration dates for most offers. However, the reopening of the Harvard Film Archive on July 5 indicates that some benefits are seasonal or have specific start dates. The technology discounts and software access are generally ongoing for active members, but users should check the IT services page for the most current information.

Conclusion

Harvard University provides a diverse range of free and discounted benefits to its active community members. These include significant technology and software discounts, extensive entertainment and media access through the Harvard Library, curated reading collections, and participation incentives for surveys. While these perks are not traditional consumer product samples, they represent valuable no-cost resources that can enhance the academic and personal experience of students, faculty, and staff.

For eligible individuals, accessing these benefits typically requires an active Harvard affiliation and may involve using university-provided portals or physical facilities. The benefits are designed to support academic work, research, and leisure, with specific licensing and use restrictions in place. Prospective students should note that while some colleges offer free swag for applicants, this is not a universal practice, and Harvard's primary value lies in its educational resources rather than promotional giveaways.

Overall, the freebies and perks at Harvard are a testament to the institution's commitment to supporting its community through accessible technology, media, and literary resources. By leveraging these official benefits, members can enjoy significant savings and access to high-quality materials that would otherwise require personal expenditure.

Sources

1. IT Perks & Discounts
2. Library Perks and Freebies
3. Freebies and Library Perks
4. Free Stuff from Colleges for Applying
5. Survey Incentives and Food Stickers