Students who participate in an approved series of Academy activities and events qualify to become Academy Fellows.
REQUIREMENTS:
Harman Fellow Inductees are to complete a portfolio of engagements that demonstrate involvement in the Harman Academy at a variety of offerings across our spaces in Doheny and Leavey Libraries. Fellow candidates are also required to complete the Quadrants Series to qualify for induction as Fellows into the Harman Academy.
Pathway to completing your Harman Fellow Portfolio:
- Complete a minimum of 10 engagements worth of participation
- The Quadrants sessions (Q1+2, Q3+4) are required and fulfill 2 of the 10 engagements in your portfolio
- The remaining 8 engagements must be distributed across the two Harman Academy spaces, with a minimum of 2 engagements coming from either space at Doheny Library or Leavey Library (Ahmanson Lab)
- FINAL ELEMENT FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO: Meet with a Harman Academy Advisory Board member ahead of graduation. While this is a requirement, this is not an exit interview, but a meaningful conversation with a member of the Harman Advisory board to discuss a sample of your work and your time with the Academy. To learn more about the members of the Harman Academy’s board, click [HERE]
(For example, in addition to the Quadrants, a student could attend 6 Polymathic Pizzas at Doheny and 2 Workshops at the Ahmanson Lab to meet the minimum requirements. Alternatively, a student might focus activity at the Lab along with the Quadrants and two Polymathic Pizzas.) These are just 2 of many possible combinations a prospective Fellow could use to complete the requirements.
Participation in these offerings should be thoughtful and engaged as judged by Harman Academy staff or faculty.
The offerings of the Harman Academy are listed below, with numeric “engagement values” noted:
Harman Academy in Doheny Library
- Polymathic Pizzas (1 engagement per session)
- Polymathic Book Club (2 engagements for attendance at all three sessions in a semester)
- Goethe Society Outings (1 engagement per outing)
- Polymathic Practicum (1 engagement per session)
- Los Angeles Polymathic Inquiry class (2 engagement for completion of class)
- Catalina Retreat Cohort (2 engagements for attending weekend long retreat)
- Catalina Planning Committee (3 engagements for committee semester long participation)
- Miscellaneous Special Events (1 engagement per session)
Ahmanson Lab in Leavey Library
- Ahmanson Conversation Series (1 engagement per session)
- Simulation & Society Class (2 engagements for completion of class)
- Critical Reading Groups (1 engagement per session)
- Lab Reading Group (1 engagement per session)
- Lab Research Group (1 engagement per session)
- Collaboratories (6 engagements for yearlong participation)
- Lab Student Working Groups (2 engagements per session)
- Workshops (1 engagement per session)
- Miscellaneous Special Events (1 engagement per session)
In the Fall semester before graduating, inductee candidates must schedule a meeting with Harman Academy Academic Director Dr. Karin Huebner to discuss your progress to becoming a Fellow. Also, in preparation for the meeting with Dr. Huebner, fill out the Harman Fellow application. (Note: The application will be available on October 1st, 2026, so stay tuned!).
Email Dr. Karin Huebner at khubener@usc.edu to discuss the steps needed to take to complete the requirements and fill out the informational application form. Please note, the application includes a short written portion, 100 - 200 words, for you to reflect on your favorite/most memorable/impactful session you’ve attended OR answer the question “How has your polymathy expanded/grown over the course of your time in the Academy?”.
If you are graduating in Spring 2027, the Induction of Fellows application form will be available on THURSDAY OCTOBER 1st, 2026.
THE INDUCTION CEREMONY:
The Harman Academy hosts a celebration for the graduating class of Harman Fellows: the Induction Ceremony. This ceremony is usually held on a Thursday morning during Commencement week, includes speeches given by a select group of the graduating Harman Fellow class, bestowal of sashes embroidered with the Harman Academy’s symbols (paid for by the Academy), and a certificate. Graduating Harman Fellows are encouraged to invite their friends and family for this celebration held in the Academy space in Doheny Library, with a catered reception to follow.
And once the ceremony is over, the newly inducted Fellows become part of the Academy’s esteemed group of Alumni.
NOTE: We hold ONE ceremony for graduating Fellows a year, in May. If a student graduating in a Fall semester would like to participate in the May ceremony, you would need to make a plan to complete the requirements in the Spring semester before your Fall semester graduation.
QUESTIONS?
Any questions about becoming a Harman Fellow may be directed to:
Karin Huebner, Academic Director of Programs khuebner@usc.edu
Curtis Fletcher, Director of the Ahmanson Lab cfletche@usc.edu
Tara McPherson, Director of the Harman Academy tmcphers@usc.edu
Our Academy Fellows program is administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.