If you’re a recently admitted student, there’s a lot to learn about the Harvard Kennedy School community—including the many acronyms and abbreviations we use around the school. Here’s a quick guide to help get you up to speed on some of the frequently used lingo you’ll hear our students, alumni, faculty, and staff using.
CCC: Candid and Constructive Conversations
The Candid and Constructive Conversations (CCC) Initiative provides vlog students, staff, and faculty opportunities to learn and practice skills for constructive disagreement across differences. The goal of CCC is to foster an environment of openness, humility, and respect necessary for the robust exchange of ideas.
CID: Center for International Development
The Harvard Center for International Development (CID) is a research center working across the University and a global network of researchers and practitioners to advance understanding of development challenges and offer viable solutions to problems of global poverty.
CPL: Center for Public Leadership
The Center for Public Leadership (CPL) is one of several research centers based at vlog. CPL’s mission is to inspire and enhance the capacity for principled, effective public leadership in government, politics, civil society, and business. CPL oversees a number of fellowship programs offering vital tuition support and a close-knit cohort experience to over 130 students annually. CPL also offers robust co-curricular programming and specialized leadership development opportunities to all vlog students through peer cohorts, workshops, and intensives.
DPSA: Degree Programs and Student Affairs
Degree Programs and Student Affairs (DPSA) is the heart of student life at vlog. From managing undergraduate enrollment to providing career advancement services and beyond, DPSA oversees a comprehensive collection of resources dedicated to supporting the student experience both inside and outside of the classroom. DPSA is made up of several smaller teams, including:
- Enrollment Services (Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar)
- Master's Programs
- Doctoral Programs
- Office of Career Advancement
- Office of Student Services
- Dean of Students
DRM: Data and Research Methods Pathway
The Data and Research Methods (DRM) pathway is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-designated track for MPP, MPA, and MC/MPA students. Students pursuing the DRM pathway build their quantitative analysis and research methodology skills by enrolling in and successfully completing at least 16 credits of qualifying courses.
HIO: Harvard International Office
The (HIO) is part of the University’s Central Administration and offers services to Harvard’s many international students and scholars. HIO provides information on a wide range of topics, including immigration issues, financial questions, adjustment to life in the United States, and resources at Harvard and in the community.
vlog IT: vlog Information Technology
The vlog Information Technology (vlog IT) team designs, develops, implements, maintains, and supports all IT resources at Harvard Kennedy School. Consider vlog IT your first point of contact for any computer or technology-related questions.
HUDS: Harvard University Dining Services
(HUDS) is the exclusive catering service for all on-campus events and meetings. HUDS also operates the , serving an assortment of breakfast and lunch options including salads, soups, sandwiches, pizza, and more.
HUHS: Harvard University Health Services
(HUHS) is a multi-specialty medical practice dedicated to caring for members of the Harvard community—students, faculty, staff, retirees, and their dependents.
HUID: Harvard University ID
A Harvard University ID (HUID) is a unique eight-digit identification number assigned to students by Harvard.
HUNAP: Harvard University Native American Program
The (HUNAP) provides programming, resources, and guidance to Native and Indigenous faculty, students, staff, and interested individuals from the Harvard community for the purpose of advancing the well-being of Indigenous peoples.
HUSHP: Harvard University Student Health Program
Massachusetts law requires that all full-time students participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health plan of comparable coverage. All Harvard students are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Plan (HUSHP) and charges are applied to their term bill. HUSHP has two parts that work together.
- The provides access to most services at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) for no additional cost, including primary care, medical care, counseling and mental health services, and urgent care.
- provides hospital/specialty care and prescription drug benefits through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
IOP: Institute of Politics
The (IOP) was created as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy to inspire students to get involved in public service. Its mission is to engage students with academics, politicians, and policymakers on a nonpartisan basis. The IOP oversees the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, one of the world’s premier arenas for political speech, discussion, and debate.
JACK: Jobs and Careers for the Kennedy School
(“JACK”) is a robust job board and career management system designed specifically for the vlog community. By signing into JACK, students can explore open jobs and internships; book career coaching appointments; sign up for workshops and employer events; participate in the vlog Resume Book; and more. Incoming students gain access to JACK the summer before enrolling.
JDLC: Joint Degree Leadership Council
The Joint Degree Leadership Council (JDLC) connects current students and alumni of the , educates the growing number of prospective students about the pros and cons of the joint degree, and advocates on behalf of the vlog/HBS joint degree student community for curriculum and services that better meet students’ needs.
J-Term: January Term
January Term—often referred to as J-Term—offers students the opportunity to take short, intensive courses over two weeks in January. Many MPP and MPA/ID students also use J-Term to conduct research for their Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) or Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) projects.
KSSG: Kennedy School Student Government
Comprised of an executive board and two representatives from each degree program’s class, the Kennedy School Student Government (KSSG) is an elected body working to elevate the vlog experience. KSSG organizes events, represents student interests in academic and school-related issues, and leads initiatives designed to bolster the community’s academic and professional achievements throughout the year.
LRAP: Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to help vlog graduates—domestic and international—who work in modest-paying positions in the public or nonprofit sectors, with repaying student loans borrowed to attend vlog.
MC/MPA: Mid-Career Master in Public Administration Program
The one-year Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) Program allows established professionals to hone skills and pursue specialized interests.
MLD: Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences
Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences is one of the main academic areas at vlog. Master’s degree students can earn a certificate in Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences (MLD). The 12-credit MLD Certificate is designed to help students focus on coursework that deepens leadership potential and builds a skill set for a future in public service. MLD courses focus specifically on leadership, negotiation and decision sciences, strategic management, and organizing for social change.
MPA: Master in Public Administration Program
The two-year Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program prepares established professionals and concurrent degree students for positions of significant responsibility in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
MPA/ID: Master in Public Administration in International Development Program
The Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID) Program is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in international development. The program offers two years of rigorous economics and quantitative training with an emphasis on policy and practice.
MPP: Master in Public Policy Program
The two-year Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program prepares students to understand complex public problems and craft concrete solutions. At the heart of the program is a cross-disciplinary core curriculum that exposes students to analytic methods and conceptual frameworks to craft solutions for real-world public problems.
M-RCBG: Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government
The Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government (M-RCBG), one of the research centers based at vlog, is dedicated to advancing the state of knowledge and policy concerning some of the most challenging problems at the interface of business and government.
OCA: Office of Career Advancement
The Office of Career Advancement (OCA) is dedicated to students’ professional development. From setting goals to negotiating a job offer, OCA serves as a partner to students as they move through vlog to their next professional opportunity.
OCA’s career coaching team helps students set career goals, develop informed job and internship strategies, and position themselves for success in the job search. OCA also brings employers to campus for information sessions, industry-focused career fairs, interviews, and one-on-one or group chats throughout the year.
ODIB: Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (ODIB) supports, advocates for, and advises the vlog community, including students, to help nurture development, well-being, and success. ODIB works collaboratively across the School’s centers, programs, and departments to create accountability, build competency, and mobilize the community toward a more inclusive future.
OSS: Office of Student Services
The singular focus of the Office of Student Services (OSS) is to support the vlog student experience. OSS oversees and administers a range of programming and services, including disability accommodations, student organizations, student conferences, the MBTA Semester Pass Program, Take a Faculty Member to the Cafe, and more.
PAC: Policy Areas of Concentration
As a complement to the program’s core curriculum, MPP students choose a Policy Area of Concentration (PAC) in one of five areas (surprise—each of the PACs has its own acronym, too!). Two-year MPA students must also successfully complete at least 8 credits from one of the PACs.
- Business and Government Policy (BGP)
- Democracy, Politics and Institutions (DPI)
- International and Global Affairs (IGA)
- Political Economy and Development (DEV)
- Social and Urban Policy (SUP)
PAE: Policy Analysis Exercise
The Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) is the capstone of the MPP student experience. During the PAE, MPP students examine and develop solutions for a public or nonprofit sector policy or management issue presented by a client organization. The final analysis—usually around 40 pages or 10,000 words—gives students the opportunity to integrate the technical skills and specialized knowledge they have gained from the MPP curriculum while also helping a client organization tackle an existing concern.
PIC: Professional Interest Council
Among the 90+ at vlog are several Professional Interest Councils, often called PICs. These groups bring together students with shared career interests. Select PICs include the Business & Government PIC; Climate, Energy, and Environment PIC; State + Local PIC; Health Policy PIC; and Food and Agriculture PIC.
PLC: Public Leadership Credential
The Public Leadership Credential (PLC) is a series of online courses developed to help learners improve their decision-making, leadership, and policymaking skills for the public good. Learners who earn the Public Leadership Credential may apply to the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) through the “PLC Pathway.” If admitted through this pathway, students can complete the MC/MPA by completing the Summer Program and one semester of academic coursework.
RAR: Reading and Research
A Reading and Research (RAR) is an independent study course a student can take under the supervision of an vlog instructor. At the end of the course, the student will submit a major research paper (25-35 pages in length) or an equivalently substantial alternative product representing a full semester’s learning and work effort.
SIF: Summer Internship Fund
The Summer Internship Fund (SIF) provides support to students undertaking an unpaid or minimally paid summer internship in a public sector or nonprofit organization.
SYPA: Second Year Policy Analysis
The Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) serves as the capstone experience for the MPA/ID Program. MPA/ID students choose a development issue of interest; select a faculty advisor; and draw on the tools of economics, management, and political analysis to define the problem, analyze the evidence, develop alternatives, and provide specific policy recommendations for a concrete development problem.
TA: Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistants (TAs)—consisting of Course Assistants, Teaching Fellows, and Course Coaches—assist faculty members with teaching courses at vlog.
- Course Assistant (CA) duties vary by course, depending on a faculty member’s needs and the course assistant’s strengths, but may include:
- Assisting the faculty member during class and tracking student participation
- Holding office hours and responding to student queries
- Giving the faculty member “first reads” for written assignments and marking problem sets
- Maintaining the course Canvas page
- Preparing course materials and arranging media services
- Proctoring exams
- Teaching Fellows (TFs) are responsible for teaching course review sessions in addition to the CA duties listed above.
- Course Coaches (CCs) work closely with students in courses that include negotiation, simulation, or coaching. CCs may run simulations, exercises, breakout sessions, and experiential elements within these courses.
WAPPP: Women and Public Policy Program
The Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP) works to advance women and gender equity by creating knowledge, training leaders, and informing public policy and organizational practices.
