Harvard University, which celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1986, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Founded 16 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, the University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 18,000 degree candidates, including undergraduates and students in 10 principal academic units. An additional 13,000 students are enrolled in one or more courses in the Harvard Extension School. Over 14,000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2,000 faculty. There are also 7,000 faculty appointments in affiliated teaching hospitals. In short, Harvard University is one of the most selective Ivy League colleges, and offers one of the most sought after educations in the world.

Harvard University men and women represent an array of ethnic groups, religious traditions, and political persuasions. They come from every region of the United States and more than 100 other countries. They include undergraduates and graduate, continuing education, and Summer School students. Harvard students have a remarkable range of backgrounds and academic and extracurricular interests. Two-thirds come from public schools, and about two-thirds receive some form of financial aid.

In appointing professors to tenured positions, Harvard conducts nationwide - and, in many cases, worldwide - searches to identify men and women who are the leading scholars and teachers in their fields. It's no wonder that as one the country's elite Ivy League colleges, Harvard University is known worldwide for its academic excellence.