Faculty Approves Tutorial, General Studies Revisions

The Faculty yesterday approved without dissent the extensive liberalization of the rules governing tutorial and the granting of the cum laude in General Studies.

Although completely reworded by the Committee on Educational Policy during the last month, the motion adopted remains essentially the same as that presented to the Faculty in January and originally proposed by Richard T. Gill '48, Allston Burr Senior Tutor of Leverett House. The alterations made tended to enlarge departmental freedom in interpreting and implementing the program.

Beginning next year the present close relationship between Honors candidacy and the tutorial program will be drastically loosened. In effect, the distinction between Honors and non-Honors candidates created by the Faculty legislation of May 1958 will be eliminated.

All students outside the Natural Sciences, Architectural Sciences, and Music will be allowed to take Junior and Senior tutorial and write a thesis providing they can meet minimal requirements.

In a note accompanying the motion, Gill stated, "the Department would have every right to use the student's course record, the tutor's recommendation, or other such criteria, in addition to a satisfactory performance (C- or higher)" as a condition of admission to Junior and Senior tutorial. "It is understood, however, that the condition that a student be doing work of honors quality either within or outside his department would not be used as a criterion for admission..." he stated.

Students desiring to take tutorial and write a thesis in the Senior year will still have to follow a stiffer program than those not electing to take tutorial. As presently, departments may prescribe additional courses, language requirements or other requirements for members of the tutorial program.

One fundamental alteration made during the last month will allow departments to offer non-credit tutorial as well as credits tutorial. Although Dean Monro admitted last night that this could allow the distinction between Honors and non-Honors in by the backdoor, he claimed that this was highly unlikely.

Credit Tutorial Favored

Gill further noted that the few departments that might set up a dual program would most probably use different criteria than Honors or non-Honors for the two. Both men emphasized that the new legislation establishes a strong presumption in favor of tutorial for credit.

A student who elects not to enter Senior tutorial will automatically become a candidate for the degree cum laude in General Studies, beginning next year. The Honors degree will be awarded automatically to all such students who receive the necessary 11 1/2 As and Bs.