Harvard College Dean David J. Deming Addresses Summer Layoffs Amidst $365 Million Deficit
Harvard College Dean David J. Deming described the summer's restructuring, which included dozens of staff layoffs, as 'horrible' but necessary to address a $365 million structural deficit within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The restructuring eliminated 165 positions, dissolved the College’s Office of Student Services, revived the Freshman Dean’s Office, and established the Secretary of the College. Additionally, a new five-day in-office requirement was imposed for staff. Deming stated that while some student programming was lost, the majority remained intact, and the initial weeks of the semester proceeded without major issues. He emphasized that the decisions were ultimately his, made after extensive deliberation and feedback from various stakeholders. The changes represent a return to an administrative structure that Harvard had in place less than a decade ago, reversing some decisions made by his predecessor, Rakesh Khurana.
