A Harvard University faculty member who agreed to lead Harvey Weinstein’s defence team at his rape trial is losing his position as head of a student house at the prestigious Ivy League college.

After weeks of student protests and social media outrage, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana has announced he would not renew the appointment of Ronald Sullivan, the school’s first black faculty dean.

Sullivan’s wife and fellow dean, Stephanie Robinson, was also fired from Winthrop House. The Sullivans have lived at the house and supervised students there.

Some students and faculty members have faulted Sullivan’s decision to represent Weinstein and his response to students’ concerns.

Khurana called the situation regrettable and said efforts to improve the climate were ineffective.

The couple said in an email they were surprised and dismayed. They said Harvard unilaterally ended discussions that had been progressing.

Fifty-two members of the Harvard Law School faculty earlier signed a letter of support for Sullivan, stressing his devotion to the tradition of representing those who are accused of criminal conduct, no matter how reviled the accused might be.

That defence did not not quell student protests, leading to Dean Rakesh Khurana’s decision.

-with AAP