Harvard Extension School Students Rally for Degree Name Change

[collegecareerstudent]

You did say the current president promised a name change. I didn't promise that. I also didn't campaign on that, either. I just want to clarify that. So, yes, I'd assume you would know my name if you're going to say I said something. I'd say it's logical to think that. And no, I don't use my actual name, but that hasn't stopped people from finding me, though I find that endearing and encouraging.

I didn't mean you specifically when I said people are suggesting I should stop fighting. When people are calling the comment thread dust and outright saying change isn't going to happen, it comes off as suggesting it's a moot point to even have the fight. That's where I disagree with several people. I'd say as an alum you have more sway than they do, but I just don't like the rhetoric that nothing will ever happen to make this better. Personally, I know what my degree name will say and I have accepted that, but I'm not fighting this fight for me.

You are correct in that HESA only has so much power. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences needs to put this on the agenda and they need to make the decision, but they haven't. I am going to have a push during fall semester when I move to Cambridge to try to stress the issue. Let me know if you want to be involved.

I waited 12 years before joining HES. During that time, I read up on these issues. So I'm not surprised, especially back then, but with the Crimson asking for change as well, and retracting their negative statements about HES, I really do feel the tide is turning. I just want people to care, because no President can bring forth the issue alone. We need support and numbers but with so many of us scattered all over the world, several students not knowing about HESA or having conflicting obligations, I sometimes, like prior presidents, feel like I'm screaming into a void.

I actually lost a 6 figure job over the naming issue and a Harvard College student sabotaging me, and another student just got an offer rescinded because of an employer's interpretation of the value of an HES degree, so it's a mixed bag. I'm delighted you haven't had a negative experience like that.

I do think if nothing else- allowing for IT degrees to be Master of Science except Liberal Arts is a good start in the right direction.