In the summer prior to your first quarter, you will receive many emails from Harris Orientation which prepare you for the Harris student experience. Starting in late spring, we will compile the information and resources included in those emails below for you to reference as needed. 

Visit this website often, and continue to check your personal and UChicago email accounts for important action items and due dates as you make your transition to Chicago and Harris. 

On this page:

Key Communications

Summer 2026 Communications Roadmap

Welcome to the Harris community!

We’re excited to share information about the Harris experience with you in advance of the fall quarter.

In the coming weeks, you will begin to receive three weekly digest emails. These emails will be sent until classes officially begin on September 28.

On Tuesdays, starting in May, you will receive the Preparedness Digest. This series will outline key steps, actions, and tasks you need to complete over the summer to be set up for success when the fall quarter begins.

On Thursdays, starting in June, you will receive the Career Digest from our Career Development Office ("CDO"). This digest will feature advice, tools, and opportunities designed to help you reach your career goals.

On Sundays, starting in late June, you will receive the Events Digest. Use these emails to plan your week, register for events, build your network, and get involved with your UChicago community. These emails will also include information about Harris Orientation programming.

Outside of those digests, you will also receive important emails about academics, orientation, resources, advising, and other topics throughout the summer. We will also catalog each Preparedness Digest as well as other communications you may want to refer back to on the Admitted Students Portal. We recommend you review those previous communications and action items in the portal.

And remember, please email us at harrisorientation@uchicago.edu with any questions.

Welcome from the Harris Dean of Students Office

As your dean of students, I would like to welcome you to the Harris community and give you a brief overview of how my office assists and supports you throughout your time at Harris. Our team oversees several of the areas that make up your student experience, including:

  • Academic advising
  • Course registration
  • Disability accommodations
  • The Writing Workshop
  • Tutoring for core courses
  • Academic support programs, including Math & Coding Camp and Jumpstart
  • Student policies and conduct
  • Financial aid
  • Student support and advocacy

Our team’s guiding values are support and advocacy for students: we advocate for students to faculty and instructors, assist students with emergencies, and help you navigate and maximize your Harris experience through hands-on support and resources.

At the beginning of August, you will receive an introduction to your assigned academic advisor. Your advisor will be your go-to person throughout your Harris experience. In addition to helping you select classes and tracking your progress toward your degree, academic advisors also support you for both academic and personal concerns and can help resolve most day-to-day issues. They will be your first point of contact for support and your advocate for academic success.

My most important role is supporting and advocating for you. I encourage you to come to me at any time during your Harris journey to seek help with a problem or emergency or to share feedback about your Harris experience. You are welcome to set a meeting with me, drop in to my office for a quick chat, or talk with me when you see me around the Keller Center. Students are the best and most important part of my job.

You will be hearing much more from me and my team in the coming months, but you can learn more about the dean of students team and the academic support we offer, including academic advising and the Writing Workshop.  

I am so excited to meet you and to help you make the most of your time at Harris!

Sincerely,

Kate Shannon Biddle
Dean of Students, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

Preparedness Digests

Career Digests