Collecting race, ethnicity data

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s new guidelines on the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data for employees, Harvard, along with all educational institutions, will be required to collect race and ethnicity information from new employees. To conform with the new categories, Harvard will resurvey its current faculty and staff to collect race and ethnicity information using the new format. While submission of this information is voluntary and confidential, the new data allows the University to comply with the new federal requirements.

The new standard uses a two-question format that provides individuals greater flexibility in reporting their race and ethnicity. For example, individuals can now identify themselves as belonging to more than one racial category.

In addition, Harvard employees have an opportunity to voluntarily self-identify their veteran status based on the new U.S. Department of Labor definitions. As a federal contractor, the University is required to collect and report veteran status data each year.

Harvard community members can confirm or re-identify race and ethnicity and identify their veteran status by logging into PeopleSoft. In addition, a University-wide email regarding this matter will be sent today (Sept. 13). For questions regarding the data collection, please view the New Demographic Data Collection Format FAQ on HARVie. (Please note that in order to review the FAQ document, you will be asked to login to HARVie using your Harvard ID and PIN after clicking the link above.)