New from Harvard Extension School

[alexf.1990]

they don't make their online students wear a scarlet letter.

Pretty sure Harvard Extension School, Bachelor of Liberal Arts, and Master of Liberal Arts aren't scarlet letters.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on that. I wouldn't want to complete a major and have to advertise a general studies degree with a concentration.

The resume guidance allows alumni to list their degree in either of the following formats:

• Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Harvard University Extension School.
  • Include field of study, minor, and degree honors when applicable. 
    
• Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Extension Studies, Harvard University.
  

The intent isn't to give students a scarlet letter; it's to differentiate the Extension School grads from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences grads. Traditionally, only GSAS grads would list "Harvard University" on their resumes, and everyone else would list the school they associate with (HBS, HKS, HLS, etc.). The problem is that the Extension School grads were being confused with the GSAS grads. Harvard changed the rules to require Extension School grads to state their association with the Extension School explicitly.

I can't imagine there are more than a few thousand HES grads in the whole country. The problem with resumes was probably sparked by internal politics within Harvard more than any deception by HES grads. Another problem I see is that people who have only taken one or two classes at HES will that they attended Harvard University on their LinkedIn. I see the same thing with Harvard Business School Online certificate holders.