As a research institution receiving millions of dollars from the federal government, as an employer with responsibility for managing the hiring and employment of some 12,000 faculty and staff, and as a producer of new information and knowledge with a potential value on the open market, Harvard must comply with myriad legal requirements. Federal and state laws and city ordinances govern the University's behavior in many areas such as:

employment and benefits

affirmative action and nondiscrimination

student financial aid

immigration

intellectual property

sponsored research

environmental quality

occupational health and safety

land use and zoning

records access and privacy

tax compliance

health care administration

While the schools and departments are responsible for complying with laws and regulations, the University is ultimately accountable should there be any failure to meet these requirements.

The Central Administration plays a key role in helping schools and departments to better understand laws and regulations, which change frequently, and to develop procedures and recordkeeping to ensure compliance. The Office of the General Counsel and the Environmental Health and Safety department are two departments within the Central Administration that are deeply involved in this area, but there are also many more.