HRPC Plans Student Role In Revamping Curriculum

The Harvard-Radcliffe Policy Committee is formulating plans for a new system of student representation on committees to revamp college curricula.

At an HRPC meeting last week, a tentative scheme was developed which would improve communication between the undergraduate body and the Faculty following the recommendations of the Fainsod Committee.

One of the proposals of the Fainsod Report, which comes before the Faculty today, is a Committee on Undergraduate Education, to consist of five members of the Faculty and five students.

The purpose of that committee is "to improve the quality of education in Harvard College, " by establishing "departmental channels of communication."

The HRPC plan provides the mechanism for student involvement in the Fainsod-proposed apparatus.

"All they did is build a structure down to the students," said HRPC President Donald J. Gogel '71. "It's up to the students to build their own structure to meet what's left at the top."

Details are still very sketchy, but the first step would be for each departmental faculty to call an open meeting of students in that field. "I'd forsee this group an autonomous student group, sending a representative to the HRPC." Gogel said.

The newly-elected representatives would join with the old members of the HRPC to elect five student members to the proposed Committee on Undergraduate Education. "It is the concern of the HRPC that these members should be elected in some manner that will assure legitimacy and student competence," the HRPC president said.

Buffer Zone

Another feature of the plan is the establishment of a Committee on Undergraduate Instruction (CUI) in each department to act as "a buffer zone."

Including interested departmental Faculty members as well as elected representatives of the open student meeting, the function of the CUI would be "curriculum evaluation and general department at concerns,"

According to Gogel. Dean May has expressed "startling interest" in revamping Harvard's academic system. The HRPC hopes the plan will be ready for presentation to the Faculty within three weeks.