Harvard University is the oldest institute of higher learning in the United States. Founded 16 years after the arrival of Pilgrims at Plymouth, the university has grown from 9 students with a single to the present enrollment of more than 18 000 students, including undergraduates and students in 10 graduate and professional schools. Over 14 000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2 000 faculties. Harvard has produced six presidents of the United States and 34 Nobel winners.

During its early years, Harvard offered a classic academic course based on the model of English universities, but consistent with the prevailing (流行的，盛行的；占优势的) Puritan philosophy. Although many of its early graduates became ministers in Puritan churches throughout New England, the university never formally belonged to a specific religious group.

Under President Pusey, Harvard started what was then the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of American higher education. It was 82.5 million dollars program for the university. The program increased faculty salaries, broadened students aid. created new professorships, and expanded Harvard’s physical facilities.

Nell L. Rudenstine took office as Harvard’s 26th president in 1991. As part of an overall effort to achieve greater coordination among the university’s schools and faculties, Rudenstine encouraged academic planning and identified some of Harvard’s main intellectual priorities. He also stressed the importance of the university’s excellence in undergraduate education, the significance of keeping Harvard’s door open to students from families of different economic backgrounds, the task of adapting the research university to an era of both rapid information growth and serious fund shortage.