On March 1, 1989, Harwad was tapped to succeed Thomas Hedley Reynolds as the sixth President of Bates College. His first years leading the college revolved around stressing the importance of egalitarian values and involvement in the community through the creation of a thesis program, and the strengthening of the study-abroad program. Overall, he would create 22 new programs available to students and faculty. He expanded the campus of Bates by constructing Pettengill Hall, the Residential Village, and the Bates College Coastal Center at Shortridge.
