“I don’t know fully what the motivations are, but I do know that there are people who are fighting a cultural battle. I don’t know if that is what is driving the administration. They don’t like what’s happened to campuses, and sometimes they don’t like what we represent,” Garber told NPR.
“What I can tell you is Harvard is a very old institution, much older than the country. And as long as there has been a United States of America, Harvard has thought that its role is to serve the nation.”
In its commitment to serving the American people, the university has expanded its financial aid offerings this year.
Harvard has also released 122 free courses for 2025 that anyone with access to a computer can take, completely free of charge.
While it is unclear if these courses have been offered in response to the Trump administration, 40 government classes (some free, others with a fee) are available online to anyone who wants to learn.
Of the free government classes offered, some include lessons on constitutional foundations, U.S. public policy, citizen politics in America, an overview of the three branches of government, civic engagement in a constitutional democracy, and how to build public leadership.
Harvard offers free courses in multiple disciplines, including humanities, art and design, business, health and medicine, computer science, and more. Some courses include a brief one-time lecture, while others can last up to 16 weeks.
Many courses are available for free, and enrollees simply must create an online account to access them. Those who want to get a verified certificate after completing a course can pay a fee. And since all of the courses are available online and for a wide range of students, they can be taken at any pace.
Other free courses that are not categorized as government subjects include other helpful social skills, like salary negotiating, resilient leadership, strengthening community health programs, humanitarian response to emergencies, the health effects of climate change, and even an introduction to critical thinking.
Although free courses have long been an offering of the university — and others, including MIT and Yale — thousands on social media are responding with pride to Harvard’s ongoing commitment to accessible education and free expression.
“They’re offering free, college-level courses online for every U.S. citizen — and not just random stuff,” TikTok creator Tall Nate shared online this weekend, in a video reaching more than 5 million viewers.
“There’s no gatekeeping, there’s no tuition; just access. So yeah, that means I go to Harvard now. And so do you!”
Commenters flooded Tall Nate’s video, expressing enthusiasm for the offerings, sharing what classes they have already signed up to take, and even eagerly bragging about their new Harvard sweatshirts to represent their “new” school.
“I learned how to code from Harvard’s free resources back in COVID,” one person commented. “I took their classes and even ‘graduated’ with a certificate. It helped me land a job … I will definitely take this course, too, to learn and to support!”
“The whole catalog is poppin’ tbh,” another wrote.
“Let’s get educated,” another said. “May Harvard always remain on the right side of history; with the people, for the people.”
Those interested in enrolling can find a full catalog of free courses online now.
What on earth made Trump think the governance of a private university – or a State university either – are any of his business?
Alice Blair Wesley