Guide to POI Role Types
The tables below include a description of each POI role type, some real-life examples, and information about service eligibility. Please note that most of the POI Roles listed here do not provide individuals with library access (physical or e-resources). Please check with the Harvard Library Privileges Office if you need to obtain library access for someone.
Individually Sponsored POI Role Types
The roles types below must be sponsored by and individual and include a role end date.
Role Type & Code | Description | VPN eligible? | Email eligible? | ID card eligible? | Library Access? |
Academic Advisor ADVISOR |
An academic advisor to a Harvard student with no other Harvard affiliation Examples: A thesis advisor from outside of Harvard who needs my.harvard access. An advisor for medical school applications who needs access to various systems. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Consultant CONSULT |
Someone providing consulting services, either independently or through a firm Examples: A sole-proprietor technology consultant advising Harvard. An employee of a consulting firm engaged on a project at Harvard. An independent contractor approved through HR. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Contingent Worker CONTRACT |
A contingent worker hired through Fieldglass/Yoh Examples: A temp from an agency such as Randstad. A contract developer or business analyst from an IT staffing agency. A contract financial analyst from a financial staffing agency. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
External Administrative Affiliate |
An individual from outside Harvard partnering on an administrative initiative or process |
Yes | No | No | No |
External Core Customer |
External customers of shared-use core facilities or fee-for-service research facilities Examples: Customers of the Mouse Behavior Core, MicRoN facility, or Neurobiology Imaging Facility. Users of the Center for Nanoscale Systems or Harvard Center for Biological Imaging. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
Family Member/ Family Support FAMILY |
Family members or support providers for Harvard affiliates who need physical access to Harvard housing or daycare Examples: A spouse or partner of a professor, resident tutor or proctor living in undergraduate housing. A family member of a child enrolled in a campus Child Care Center. HBS Partners. A long-term caregiver or dog walker for a resident in Harvard housing. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
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 |
Yes | Yes | No | No |
Incoming Employee or Transfer INCEMPL |
An individual with an accepted job offer who needs an active role to facilitate the onboarding process Examples: An incoming employee who cannot come to campus in advance of their start date to complete their I-9. An interdepartmental transfer for whom the new school/unit would like to establish accounts. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Interschool Affiliate INTERAFF |
An active affiliate who needs access to resources in a School/Unit other than the one where their primary affiliation resides Examples: An FAS faculty member teaching a class at the Law School who needs access to HLS resources. A Central Admin employee who supports one of the Schools. A student in a joint degree program who needs access to resources in their joint school. |
Yes | No | No | No |
Security SECURITY |
A company representative of a security-service provider Example: A Securitas employee working at Harvard |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Tenant TENANT |
An individual requiring physical access to property leased or rented from Harvard Examples: An employee of a company leasing lab space from the University. A resident of Harvard University Housing with no other affiliation. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
Vendor VENDOR |
A company representative of a service provider to Harvard Examples: A technician for a company such as Siemens, Ricoh or Verizon. An employee of a Harvard Child Care Center. Employees of roofing, moving or other service companies hired by Harvard who require building access. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Visitor - COVID GUEST |
A visitor who is on campus for more than 7 days and must enroll in the University's COVID testing program per coronavirus policy guidance. Examples: A participant in the Ceramics or Dance program. |
No | No | No | No |
Volunteer VOLUNTER |
An individual 18 years of age or older volunteering their services or donating their time for University activities Examples: A club or Shared Interest Group volunteer for Harvard Alumni Association, a volunteer guide at the Harvard Arboretum |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Restricted POI Role Types
The role types below are restricted in use to certain schools or units, noted in the description section. Some are sponsored by individuals while others are sponsored by departments.
Key: Authorizer is required
Expiration date is required
Expiration date is optional
Role Type & Code | Description | VPN eligible? | Email eligible? | ID card eligible? | Library Access? | ||
HMC Employee HMCEMP |
![]() |
![]() |
An employee of Harvard Management Company (HMC) |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Hospital Administrator HOSPEMPL |
![]() |
![]() |
An administrator at a Harvard-affiliated hospital requiring access to Harvard applications. |
Yes | No | No | No |
Overseer OVERSEER |
![]() |
![]() |
A Member of the Board of Overseers or a former Corporation Member For Office of the Governing Boards use only. |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Partner of Deceased Retiree SPOUSE |
![]() |
![]() |
Partner of a deceased retired Harvard employee |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
Research Collaborator COLLABOR |
![]() |
![]() |
Individuals who do not hold a Harvard appointment or employment but who are participating in an active research collaboration with a Harvard-based researcher and have a legitimate and verified business need to access Harvard research space, data or systems to conduct their collaborative research work. As of July 15, 2021 only the following schools will support Research Collaborator POIs:
In all other schools/units, consult with faculty affairs/academic affairs regarding an appropriate appointment type. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Retiree RETIREE |
![]() |
Retired Harvard employee |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
Smithsonian Employee SAOAFFIL |
![]() |
An employee of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Rules for Sponsors and Sponsor Delegates
Sponsored POI Roles require someone to sponsor (authorize) the role. The Sponsor 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 Sponsor, a Sponsor Delegate. Sponsored POI roles are required to have a term end date, usually no longer than one year from the start date.
A Sponsor must meet the following employee criteria:
- Is a current and active employee of Harvard University AND
-
Is a paid employee of one of the following categories: OR
- A: Admin & Professional
- F: Senior Faculty
- J: Junior Faculty
- O: Other Faculty
- S: Support Staff
-
Is an unpaid employee of one of the following categories at Harvard Medical School:
- F: Senior Faculty
- J: Junior Faculty
A Sponsor Delegate must meet the following criteria:
- Is a current and active employee of Harvard University AND
-
Is a paid employee of one of the following categories:
- A:Admin & Professional
- F: Senior Faculty
- G: Graduate Students
- J: Junior Faculty
- O: Other Faculty
- S: Support Staff
- U: Service & Trade Hourly