Around the Schools: Faculty of Arts and Sciences

As part of an effort to develop creative solutions to Harvard’s projected long-term budget deficit, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and Harvard College recently launched an online Idea Bank where community members can submit recommendations for reducing costs and generating revenues.

This online forum is one of several ways that administrators are attempting to engage the entire FAS and Harvard College community to consider ways to advance the University’s core mission of teaching and research in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

In April, FAS Dean Michael Smith convened ad hoc working groups made up of students, faculty, and staff to review many of the highest ranked Idea Bank suggestions and help make informed budget recommendations.

To make budget recommendations or to help rank ideas submitted by others, visit the Idea Bank at http://ideabank.unix.fas.harvard.edu/.

To better understand the financial situation at FAS, community members are encouraged to review the recording of Smith’s Sept. 15 discussion, which can be viewed by clicking on the “Watch the Video” link at the FAS planning Web site at http://www.fas.harvard.edu/home/planning/index.html.