fall 2024 recap

As the fall semester closes, we wanted to provide visibility into some of our team’s accomplishments and what you can expect from us in the spring. It was a full (and fun) semester, and we hope you have a great winter break!

fall accomplishments:

  • We hosted Holidazzle: Après in the Alps. It was the highest attended gala in SA history with over 1,900 guests (just shy of the max venue capacity), and ticket prices were $25 lower compared to last year. ECs especially were very excited about our special guest, DJ Don Woodbury, and the dance floor was full all night.

  • We inherited and saved the RC classroom flag tradition. We developed a new, centralized process with clearer criteria for students to request flags. The rules and deadlines were applied consistently, in accordance with our HBS Community Values, and flags were hung right before the end of the fall semester. According to MBA leadership and HBS Operations, this was the smoothest the process has ever been.

  • We introduced new and revived offerings in our Products Office (Spangler 007). After changing our staffing model and opening months earlier than ever before, we brought back personalized business cards, the 30% TUMI discount, and introduced new gear for Harvard-Yale (including the infamous Harvard Bear Sweaters). We also had an earlier Patagonia order window and distributed all Patagonias directly to RC classrooms for the first time ever based on the distribution bottlenecks (thanks TOM) last year.

  • We hosted the Harvard-Yale Tailgate & Watch Party. It was different from our traditional (outdoor) tailgates due to new HBS-specific field restrictions, so we reimagined what this event could be. We hosted it at the largest concert venue in New England and brought in some EC student DJs who eventually transformed it into a dance party for over 1,600 guests.

  • We brought back Community MyTakes in Klarman. PRIDE (National Coming Out Day), LASO/LatAM (Hispanic Heritage Month), and AFAA (Veterans Day) were all invited to present. These have been more widely advertised and attendance is up compared to last year.

  • We offered free coffee/tea to students on the first day of classes every week. This was a brand new initiative based on last year’s feedback from the Class of 2025. Each week, we serve over 300 students in the back of the Grille before they head to class.

  • We gave all students a $10 printing credit for the year. This was also a brand new initiative. The fall printing amount posted on your student bill in January will already reflect this $10 taken off - and anything unused will carry over to the spring. ECs also had free printing during the add/drop period covered by SAS, so it was a big year for printing.

  • We had a strong showing at RC START. Like last year, we created a spreadsheet for RCs to organize BOS101 events. New this year, we organized small group dinners, formalized Section Reveal (fully sponsored by the MBA program), orchestrated a packed house for EC MyTakes in Klarman, and brought back Section Olympics for the first time in 6 years.

spring preview:

  • We will host RC and EC Gala. We already sent out placeholders so you, your sections, and long distance partners can plan ahead. Gala will be at a new venue this year, ticket prices will be lower, and the event will be open later (2AM instead of 12AM).

  • We will facilitate our speaker selection process for Class Day. Class Day is the day before Graduation and it’s just for HBS Class of 2025. Stay tuned for more details about how you can apply to be a featured speaker at the event.

  • We will continue offering free coffee/tea to students on the first day of classes every week. It will still be in the back of the Grille, but the time is being shifted a tad later to 8AM - 11AM to reflect demand peaks.

  • We will continue introducing new products to the Products Office (Spangler 007). Stay tuned for more details about future releases, including more sweaters, new stationary, and limited edition gear; all of this revenue will help lower ticket prices to our future events even further.

  • We will continue hosting Community MyTakes in Klarman. Stay tuned for which student clubs and organizations will present during this HBS tradition. We will send Outlook Invitations once confirmed!