Harvard’s decision to impose a hiring freeze through the end of the semester has sent shockwaves through its smaller, non‑tenure‑track language programs. Departments that rely on preceptors—contract instructors capped at two, three, or eight years—are now facing imminent vacancies they cannot fill. With course registration deadlines looming, offerings in Amharic, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Armenian, Indo‑Persian literature, and even certain Asian American & Pacific Islander Studies classes hang in the balance.
Hiring Freeze Meets Time‑Capped Appointments
Non‑tenure‑track instructors at Harvard serve under strict time caps before their appointments expire. Normally, programs would launch national searches to replace departing faculty, but the current freeze has halted all new hires. Even extensions meant to bridge gaps require prior searches, leaving no procedural workaround. As a result, courses slated for fall may simply disappear from the catalogue.
Programs on the Brink
- Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations: The sole Armenian preceptor’s contract ends in June, and without an approved extension, key Armenian courses may vanish next year.
- Slavic Languages & Literatures: Instructors in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian face contract expirations, jeopardizing these less‑commonly taught courses.
- African Language Program: Staffed almost entirely by TAs, it will lose its only Ge’ez expert, meaning that classical Ethiopic script instruction vanishes.
- South Asian Studies: The Indo‑Persian literature preceptor is set to depart, with the department scrambling to retain her despite the freeze.
- Ethnicity, Migration, Rights (EMR): Four planned AAPI Studies courses cannot proceed without filling lecturer positions, stalling program growth.
Broader Impact on Language Preservation
Harvard’s small language offerings play an outsized role in training the next generation of diplomats, scholars, and translators. When elite universities suspend these courses, the ripple effects threaten the survival of endangered languages and narrow the pipeline of experts essential for cultural preservation and global engagement.
Union Negotiations and Faculty Protections
The Academic Workers of Harvard union has long fought to eliminate time caps for preceptors. While the university agreed earlier this year to partially roll back caps, it refused a full moratorium during contract bargaining. Union leaders have pressed for clarity on freeze exceptions and non‑citizen protections, but administrators have offered few answers, leaving instructors in limbo.
Possible Solutions and Workarounds
- Expanded TA Roles: Some departments are turning to graduate teaching assistants, whose appointments can extend up to eight years. While helpful, TAs lack the expertise and continuity of seasoned preceptors.
- Cross‑Department Collaboration: Joint appointments or shared courses with neighboring institutions could preserve offerings, though logistical and accreditation hurdles remain.
- Online and Hybrid Instruction: Virtual courses taught by remote experts may temporarily fill gaps, but they lack the rich, in‑person immersion essential for language mastery.
- Advocacy for Targeted Exceptions: Departments are appealing for narrow exemptions to the freeze for critical language positions, arguing that these roles are vital to Harvard’s global mission.
Conclusion
Harvard’s hiring freeze, while aimed at fiscal prudence, poses a serious threat to its commitment to linguistic diversity and global scholarship. Without swift action—whether through targeted exemptions, strengthened union agreements, or creative instructional models—Harvard risks eroding decades of investment in lesser‑taught languages. The coming months will reveal whether the university can balance budgetary constraints with its role as a steward of world languages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why does Harvard impose time caps on non‑tenure‑track instructors?
Time caps are meant to encourage career progression and ensure regular faculty reviews, but they limit how long contract instructors can teach before reapplying or departing.
Q2: What triggered the university‑wide hiring freeze?
The freeze was announced by President Garber as a temporary cost‑saving measure, intended to run through the semester amid broader budgetary reviews.
Q3: How do teaching assistants differ from preceptors?
TAs are typically graduate students with limited teaching experience and part‑time roles; preceptors are dedicated instructors with specialized expertise and full teaching loads.
Q4: Can departments bypass the freeze for critical hires?
Exemptions require proof of an unsuccessful national search, which the freeze itself prevents, creating a procedural catch‑22.
Q5: What long‑term risks do language program cuts pose?
Eliminating niche language courses undermines cultural preservation, reduces global competency training, and shrinks the pool of future translators and regional experts.
Q6: How can students advocate for their language courses?
Students can petition departments and administrators, join union efforts, and highlight the importance of these programs at public forums and university meetings.
Sources The Harvard Crimson
