#  Residential Life 

 



##  Residential Life 

 

 

       ![A first-year student unloads his car with the help of residential staff during first-year move-in.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-04/HarvardMove-In_082625_0062%20Large.jpeg?itok=FU4sXnu8) 

 

 



 

 



 

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Incoming students live in the central part of campus, which includes the first-year dormitories, Annenberg dining hall, Widener and Lamont libraries, and academic buildings. You're also just steps from stores and restaurants in Harvard Square.

First-year students are assigned to one of four residential neighborhoods called "Yards", each with a dedicated Resident Dean. Each Yard includes dormitories, and within the dorm students are grouped into entryways of 15-45 students.

[Learn about life in the Yard → ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/life-yard)



 

##  About the Yards 

As a first-year student, you'll live in one of the **four** residential neighborhoods called Yards, which are located at the geographic and historic center of College life. First-year students are required to live on campus, and the College and the First-Year Experience Office share the goal of ensuring that every first-year student will be able to live in Harvard-affiliated housing. We also recognize the importance of the first year in building a sense of class identity.



 

 

 

       ![Students during first-year move-in lugging luggage and amenities into their first-year dorms in the Yard.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-04/HarvardMove-In_082625_0268%20Large.jpeg?itok=KWIajouC) 

 

 



 

 



  [### Crimson Yard

 ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/crimson-yard) 

   ![The Crimson Yard shield.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/Crimson-Yard-Shield.png?itok=ro58_-0_) 

 

 

 

  [### Elm Yard

 ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/elm-yard) 

   ![The Elm Yard shield.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/Elm-Yard-Shield.png?itok=ZIo_CFco) 

 

 

 

  [### Ivy Yard

 ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/ivy-yard) 

   ![The Ivy Yard shield.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/Ivy-Yard-Shield.png?itok=hiqKYKZj) 

 

 

 

  [### Oak Yard

 ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/oak-yard) 

   ![The Oak Yard shield.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/Oak-Yard-Shield.png?itok=E9F806kW) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Available May 5 - Due May 15, 2026

### Housing Questionnaire 

 

It might be hard to imagine that in August you will be living on Harvard’s campus in one of the [**first-year dorms**](/residential-life/first-year-dorms "First-Year Dorms"), meeting your future roommates for the first time. The answers to your housing questionnaire will help us match you with potential roommates.



 [ Complete the Housing Questionnaire arrow\_circle\_right ](http://harvard.starrezhousing.com/starrezportalx) 

 



      ![First-year students going through the Yard with their dorm community on their way to an orientation event.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-05/2029CrimsonKickoff_082625_0060%20Large.jpeg?itok=kikULJvE) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

##  First-Year Dining 

During your first-year, you dine with your classmates at Annenberg dining hall with menus curated by our talented chefs at Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS). All students enjoy unlimited meal plans to all undergraduate dining halls. Conveniently located just outside of the Yard, Annenberg is a picturesque dining hall that many liken to Hogwarts. Students can access breakfast at Annenberg between 7:30-10:30AM, lunch between 11:30AM-2PM, and dinner between 4:30-7:30PM. First-year students can also enjoy brain breaks between 9-11PM to help power through their p-sets, and a special weekend brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:30AM-2PM with unlimited [veritaffles](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_DON7ouEtE/)!



 

 

 

       ![Bird's eye photo of Annenberg Dining Hall.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-05/2029CrimsonKickoff_082625_0002%20Large.jpeg?itok=YwYOo1o5) 

 

 



 

 





 

 

 



 

 

 

### Dietary Accommodations 

 

[Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS)](https://www.dining.harvard.edu/undergraduate-dining) makes every effort to accommodate the various dietary requirements of students. We are committed to stringent food safety measures and to educating our employees about food allergies and intolerances.

[Learn more about Kosher & Halal dining →](https://www.dining.harvard.edu/undergraduate-dining/kosher-halal-dining)

If you have specific dietary needs and/or food allergies, you should:

1. Register and apply for a dining accommodation with the [Disability Access Office (DAO)](https://dao.fas.harvard.edu/). This process takes several weeks to complete, so please apply as soon as possible.
2. Attend the dining accommodation meeting with your DAO Advisor and HUDS Management Team to discuss a plan for you to equitably access dining hall options on campus.
3. Stay connected with your DAO Advisor and HUDS Management Team through your senior year.



 



      ![Three students enjoy a meal and a laugh at Annenberg dining hall during first-year orientation.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-04/2029CrimsonKickoff_082625_0008%20Large.jpeg?itok=y-wO5I_I) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

##  Yard Operations 

Conveniently located in the Yard, Harvard Yard Operations, affectionately known as Yard Ops, is a division of FAS Physical Resources and Planning. Yard Ops is responsible for the maintenance of over 40 FAS buildings, including first-year dormitories, administrative offices, and classrooms. Yard Ops also handles the following services: card access, lost key replacement (First Years only), lost and found for the Yard Classroom buildings, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, two-wheelers, dorm inspections, and yard vehicle access. Additionally, Yard Ops is responsible for preparing the buildings for incoming students, reunions, commencement, and summer school.



 

 [ Visit the YardOps website arrow\_circle\_right ](https://yardops.fas.harvard.edu/) [ Review First-Year Move-In Information arrow\_circle\_right ](/residential-life/move-in-information) 

 

       ![Yard Operations tent in the Yard on first-year move-in day.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-04/Harvard2028Move-In_082824_0023%20Large.jpeg?h=40cbc97d&itok=AOlsfciV)