Besides attracting a diverse array of students who want a taste of the Harvard experience, Harvard Summer School brings in many off-campus instructors as well.

Many summer school courses are taught by non-Harvard faculty, which has led some students to wonder just how “veritable” a Harvard experience the summer school really is.

“I find it not unacceptable but disappointing that we are not being taught by Harvard professors,” says Ifiginia Petridou, a high school student from Greece.

Despite the administration’s annual efforts to recruit Harvard faculty for summer school teaching positions, few Harvard professors are available—either they want a break and vacation time or they want the time to conduct their own research—so every year the summer school recruits professors from other colleges like Boston College or Tufts University, to fill its roster.

According to Dean of the Summer School Peter Buck, the summer school recruits most of its outside faculty through the departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

“I talk to the department chairs and we come up with a list. Then we go after people we are interested in,” Buck says.

Regina Boyland, assistant director for the summer school’s academic administration, explains that many of the summer instructors have previous experience at Harvard.

“Many trained at Harvard or have taught here as visiting professors,” says Boyland.