There are two categories of Person of Interest (POI) role types: authorized and not authorized. (In both cases, apart from the exception of Smithsonian Employee roles, POI data is entered directly into MIDAS.)  Rules for Authorizers and Administrators are at the bottom of this page.

Guide to All POI Role Types

For more information on all available POI role types (including the ones rolled out in 2015), see the table below, including their MIDAS codes, a description of each type, and helpful examples.

Download a PDF of this table here for a handy printable reference.

Key:
  Role available as of late 2015
  Authorizer is required
  Expiration date is required
  Expiration date is optional

Role Type & Code			Description
Academic Advisor ADVISOR			A non-appointed academic advisor to a Harvard student Example: A thesis advisor
Collaborator COLLABOR			A researcher or other type of academic or administrative collaborator Example: A Stanford researcher working with HKS on a joint project
Consultant CONSULT			Someone providing consulting services, either independently or through a firm Example: A sole-proprietor technology consultant (or firm) advising Harvard
Contractor CONTRACT			Temporary agency or independent worker contracted to augment staff Example: A temp from an agency such as Randstad
Family Member FAMILY			Family members of Harvard affiliates who need physical access to Harvard housing Example: A spouse of a professor living in Harvard housing
Field Education Supervisor FIELDEDS			A non-appointed supervisor of a student in a field education placement Example: A church pastor overseeing an HDS student’s in-field study
HMC Employee HMCEMP			An employee of Harvard Management Company (HMC)
Hospital Employee HOSPEMPL			An employee at a Harvard-affiliated hospital requiring access to Harvard resources Example: An MGH employee who administers grants for Harvard faculty
Incoming Employee or Transfer INCEMPL			An individual with an accepted job offer, or an interdepartmental transfer, requiring access before their official start date Example: A non-US citizen awaiting home country paperwork
Inter-School Affiliated Staff INTERAFF			A staff member who needs access to resources in multiple Schools Example: A Central Admin employee who works at one of the Schools
Other OTHER			Any other Harvard sponsored affiliation not listed here Using this role code requires an explanation in the Notes field
Overseer OVERSEER			Member of the Board of Overseers
Retiree RETIREE			Retired Harvard employee
Retired Hospital Affiliate HOSPRET			Retired employee who held a Harvard appointment at a Harvard-affiliated hospital
Security SECURITY			A company representative of a security-service provider Example: A Securitas employee working at Harvard
Guest or Visitor GUEST			A guest or visitor to Harvard Example: A visiting lecturer
Smithsonian Employee SAOAFFIL			An employee of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
Spouse of Deceased Retiree SPOUSE			Spouse of deceased retired Harvard employee
Spouse of Deceased Hospital Affiliate HOSPSPOU			Spouse of deceased retired employee who held a Harvard appointment at a Harvard-affiliated hospital
Tenant TENANT			Individuals requiring physical access to property leased from Harvard Examples: A resident of Harvard Real Estate housing, an employee of a company leasing lab space from HMS
Vendor VENDOR			A company representative of a service provider to Harvard Example: A copier repair or vending-machine supply worker
Volunteer VOLUNTER			An individual doing unpaid work in support of a Harvard department or School Examples: A non-paid worker in the HLS clinical program, a volunteer guide at the Harvard Arboretum

Rules for Authorizers and Administrators

Sponsored POI Roles require someone to authorize (sponsor) the role. The authorizer may be held accountable for how the individual with the POI affiliation uses Harvard resources. POI roles may also include a person who administers the role on behalf of the authorizer. Sponsored POI roles are required to have a term end date, usually no longer than one year from the start date.

An authorizer must meet the following employee criteria:

1. Is a current and active employee of Harvard University AND
2. Has an official email address recorded in the identity registry AND
   1. Is either Junior or Senior faculty OR
   2. Is a paid employee of one of the following categories:
   • A* Admin & Professional
   • O* Other Faculty

An authorizer and someone administering the POI role on his/her behalf must meet the following criteria:

1. Is a current and active employee of Harvard University AND
2. Has an official email address recorded in the identity registry AND
   1. Is either Junior or Senior faculty OR
   2. Is a paid employee of one of the following categories:
   • A* Admin & Professional
   • G* Graduate Students
   • I* TAs, Other Staff
   • N* External Post Docs NHR
   • O* Other Faculty
   • Y* Internal Post Docs
   • Z* Ext Post Docs Harvard Research
   • S* Support Staff

OR

1. Has an Official email address recorded in the Identity Registry AND
2. Has an active POI role of type “Contractor” or "Consultant"