Student Experience
Background Video of South asian countries and their people
Intellectual Vitality is a student-led effort to make the Harvard College experience more meaningful – by fostering a culture of deeper engagement across classrooms, residential spaces, and social settings.
Founded in the principles of rigor, charity, and open exploration, this approach thrives on viewpoint diversity and the shared belief that exchanging ideas across differences isn’t just encouraged – it’s a defining strength of our community.
Explore how Intellectual Vitality is beginning to take root across Harvard College.
Perspectives for First-years
Explore how first-year students build critical conversation skills and connect across differences through our Intellectual Vitality initiatives.
Student Advisory Board
The Student Advisory Board (SAB) brings Intellectual Vitality to life. Made up of students from across the College, the SAB represents a broad cross-section of the undergraduate community. Its members serve as connectors—amplifying student-led initiatives, encouraging campus-wide engagement, and helping shape Intellectual Vitality’s direction. Together, they foster a shared sense of responsibility and keep curiosity at the heart of the Harvard College experience.
Objectives
- To define the message of Intellectual Vitality from the student perspective. This may take form through events and other community engagement, and written communications.
- To develop criteria for funding program proposals, and allocate funding appropriately, ensuring the spirit of Intellectual Vitality is upheld.
- To collaborate with the Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) on pedagogical initiatives to ensure classrooms foster curious, charitable discourse and encourage the exchange of ideas.
- To review and update student training materials, including those through pre-orientation and orientation, to align the mission of Intellectual Vitality with the broader values of the College, promoting a culture of epistemic humility and academic rigor.
- To serve as a sounding board for students, providing support and cultivating an environment of respectful engagement that contributes to a stronger sense of community at the College.
Student voices
Hear first-hand why it matters.
Get Involved.
Want to join the conversation? Reach out to Camila Nardozzi to bring Intellectual Vitality to your student group, organization, or department.
Student Advisory Board
Through the SAB, the College will foster the bottom-up adoption of intellectual vitality in the different student spheres or activities at the College.
Fellowship in Values Engagement
The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, in partnership with Harvard’s Dean of Students Office, is piloting the new Fellowship in Values Engagement (FiVE) program. The goal is to foster intellectual vitality among undergraduates by promoting ethical reflection and civil discourse.