Student Support
We know that life does not stop while you are in graduate school and there are many reasons you may need academic, medical, and/or personal support and resources while at HDS. There are many people at HDS available to provide support and counsel during your time at HDS. The following are just a few of the folks and supports available to you. For Title IX information and reporting, please visit the Title IX and Identity-Based Resources page.
Kelly Tyman, Assistant Director for Student Support (she/her pronouns), provides holistic student support to HDS students. This includes being a resource and support for academic concerns, accommodations, emotional support, medical and mental health concerns, and personal difficulties. Kelly also serves as the Local Disability Coordinator. With questions about accessibility requests, please email accessibility@hds.harvard.edu.
Katie Caponera, Director of Student Life (she/her pronouns), is a resource for students in the areas of community engagement and connection, student organizations, and student events/programs. This includes oversight of Orientation for the incoming class, HDS Commencement activities, various weekly community gatherings, and student-facing communications such as the weekly community bulletin.
Steph Gauchel, Interim Associate Dean of Student Services (he or they pronouns), is available to meet with students around any concerns or needs and can connect students with other resources and help coordinate care. He is a resource for HDS international students and works closely with the HDS Registrar’ Office and the Harvard International Office (HIO) around support. Steph also serves as the HDS Title IX Resource Coordinator and Local Designated Resource for the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policies for HDS students. He is a primary support in helping students understand and navigate informal and formal complaints and grievance processes. Steph is also a member of the HDS Community Care Team in the Office of Community and Belonging.
Kerry Maloney, HDS Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, (she/her pronouns) is available to faculty and students for spiritual support, direction, care, and counsel; for assistance in times of wonder or need of any kind; for referral to resources; and as the confidential Title IX resource for the HDS campus. Please see the Grief Support Resources section of the Religious and Spiritual Life pages for more information on how to find support in and around Harvard's campus.
Melissa Bartholomew, Associate Dean of Community and Belonging, (she/her pronouns) is available to faculty, students, and staff to provide support and resources for navigating challenges pertaining to identity. Her work is guided by the Office of Community and Belonging's vision statement: "Rooted in love, the vision of the HDS Office of Community and Belonging is one of a future where all people embrace their common humanity, affirm their interdependence within a pluralistic world, and work in support of the flourishing of all beings."
Health and Wellness
HDS students have different levels of access to Harvard University Health Services and Counseling and Mental Health Services through the Student Health Fee and for those who utilize the Student Health Insurance. The following are links and text provided by the Harvard University Health Services website and provide the most up-to-date information.
The Student Health Fee covers most services on campus at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS), including internal medicine and specialty care. The Student Health Insurance Plan provides major medical coverage throughout the United States and abroad.
The Student Health Fee covers mental health services at HUHS, while the Student Health Insurance Plan covers both outpatient and inpatient mental health services outside of HUHS (limitations apply).
TimelyCare is a virtual health and wellbeing platform designed for University students. Harvard students who have paid the Student Health Fee can use TimelyCare to access services including scheduled counseling, psychiatry, peer support, health coaching, and self-care content.
Understanding Health Insurance
Familiarize yourself with these commonly used health insurance terms as they will help you better understand your coverage, and how health care reform may impact you.
The Patient Advocate helps you:
- Navigate the health care system
- Explore choices for your medical care
- Resolve or mediate problems
- Discuss financial assistance options
- Coordinate special needs arrangements
Members may apply for financial support from the Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) Medical Hardship Fund.
Accessibility
Harvard Divinity School is dedicated to providing students with appropriate support and services to ensure that they have an accessible and welcoming learning environment. At Harvard Divinity School, disability is a welcome and celebrated part of the diversity that makes up HDS. In any given year, many students with visible and invisible disabilities actively participate in our programming.
HDS’s services for students with disabilities, located in the Office for Student Services, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended in 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in providing services to students with disabilities.
The HDS student process for applying for accommodations is an interactive process and reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case process: based on application completion, your documentation, our conversations, and any needed discussions with your faculty.
Students are required to submit current documentation by an appropriate medical care professional and must include the student’s name, diagnosis, and detail the functional limitations caused by the diagnosis. This documentation should also outline the treating medical professional’s recommended accommodations. Additional documentation may be requested, as needed.
Please note that obtaining documentation from a medical professional may take time and students should plan accordingly. Please allow up to two weeks for accommodation to be in place. Some resources, such as sign language interpreters and/or CART, as well as some assistive technologies make take longer to arrange. The University will make every effort to secure services.
Intake Process
- Complete the HDS Accommodations Request Form 2025-2026
- Upload required documentation.
- Meet with the Local Disability Coordinator.
- If accommodations are implemented, students will review letter prior to email to Instructors.
- Accommodations letter sent to the instructors identified by student
Please note that accommodation letters are not automatically generated each semester to ensure student’s fullest agency in identifying when and which courses and faculty a student wants a letter delivered. If students request accommodations for subsequent semesters, they should confirm the request by emailing accessibility@hds.harvard.edu.
Contacting the Accommodations Team Please email accessibility@hds.harvard.edu if you have any questions or need any assistance.
Daytime Van Service – is designed for students, faculty members and staff, who because of physical impairment or medical condition, find it difficult or impossible to use the regular fully accessible shuttle bus.
Harvard University Disability Resources (UDR)
University Disability Resources welcomes students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities and is available as a central, university-wide resource on disability-related information and issues. Information on Harvard University Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedure can also be found on the UDR website. UDR notes that the Harvard University Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedure is intended to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints involving discrimination on the basis of disability.
Learning and Writing Support
There is no one typical HDS student. Each cohort of students is made up of individuals with a variety of academic and professional experience, and the rigors of the HDS classroom can be particularly challenging, especially for students who are coming back to school, changing disciplines, or are non-native English speakers and writers. The Assistant Director of Student Support coordinates learning resources and support services that are flexible and designed to meet the varied needs of our student population.
Learning Support
Learning support is designed to assist students with academic and learning concerns. These concerns may include, but are not limited to, struggles learning new material, reading comprehension, time management, and writing or test-taking difficulties. Students may contact the Assistant Director for Student Support at accessibility@hds.harvard.edu to schedule an appointment.
A referral may also be available for a neuropsychological screening with a Neuropsychologist. Sometimes students come to HDS having previously been diagnosed with a learning disability and with experience with accommodations and learning strategies. Sometimes it is during a student’s graduate studies where problems may surface that ultimately lead to diagnosis of a learning disability, as well as subsequent treatment and counseling. Our Neuropsychologist does not conduct a full neuropsychological test but can conduct a neuropsychological screening to help establish a baseline sense as to whether or not there are any underlying issues for a student and, if so, what accommodations are recommended.
HDS Student Referral and Guide for Writing Support
There are many reasons why an HDS student may need support around their writing, and you are not alone if you are feeling in need of this support. For example, some HDS students need support around writing in the humanities, returning to academia after some time away, developing strong theses or outlines for papers, and/or understanding writing styles and citations coming from a different field or as an international student.
Please visit Writing Resources on the HDS intranet (HarvardKey login required) if you would like to learn more about our resources. If you have any questions or would like to talk about resources, please reach out to the Assistant Director for Student Support at accessibility@hds.harvard.edu.
International Students
The HDS Office of Student Life recognizes the challenges international students experience when becoming acquainted with a new country, culture, and lifestyle, as well as the adjustments associated with a new academic environment.
All international students should also be familiar with the Harvard International Office (HIO) which offers services related to immigration issues. Once accepted to HDS, each student will work with their HIO advisor throughout their academic experience to assist them with visa issuance, international travel documentation, work authorizations and others. Please visit the Harvard University International Office website for more information and to activate your immigration records.
The HIO International student advisor to HDS is:
Hannah Klare
Assistant Advisor to International Students and Scholars
Harvard International Office
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Smith Center Room 864
Cambridge, MA, 02138
Phone: 617.496.2822
Email: hannah_klare@harvard.edu