Rudenstine's Vision Meets With Reality

President Neil L. Rudenstine's vision of a more cooperative University has made its way from rhetoric to reality, at least in one classroom.

For the 18 students in Earth and Planetary Sciences 98--a course taught by professors from a several Harvard faculties--Rudenstine's vision has meant more interesting classmates, better teaching and an academic situation that will prepare them better to solve global problems.

And the students appreciate it.

"It's the best class I think I'm ever going to take at Harvard," said Brenna D. Segal '95.

"It's excellent," said Joshua L. Tosteson '94, who gives the class "high, high, high marks."

Before Rudenstine, it could never have happened.

"I wouldn't have thought of ever doing something like this three years ago," said Rotch Professor of Atmospheric Science Michael B. McElroy. "You couldn't have done it."

Three years ago, Harvard was a decentralized university. The nine faculties operated on the principle of financial independence--"every tub on its own bottom."

Today, while separate budget and accounting systems--and some long-standing feuds--are preserved, the faculties are much more willing to cooperate, especially on academic matters.

McElroy said that in the past deans would have instinctively sought "to preserve their faculty time." Now, McElroy said, "They're not arguing about who pays for their time."

Professors who teach across tub lines now win "brownie points," with their dean, McElroy said.

As a result, scholars from the School of Public Health, the Center for Population Studies and the Kennedy School of Government are helping teach Earth and Planetary Sciences 98with McElroy, who chairs a University-widecommittee on environmental studies.

McElroy and William C. Clark--who is vice-chairof the committee and Harman professor ofinternational science, public policy and humandevelopment--lead the class.

Rudenstine has fostered some of the newcooperation by appointing deans who agree with himon the need for more academic teamwork betweenschools.

"My sense of the situation is that the dean ofthe Kennedy School is very committed tocross-school cooperation," said Ted Parson, aresearcher at the Kennedy School who designed theworkshop exercise students in the class areworking on. "It's very strongly encouraged."

Parson said he thinks the class is "a terrificidea," and that teaching in the course hascomplemented his research interests.

The class has drawn students, as well asfaculty, from all over the University.

Twelve undergraduates learn together with sixgraduate students from the schools of government,design and public health.

"It's really a diverse group," said NickySheats, a 1982 graduate of the Law School and theKennedy School and the teaching fellow for thecourse. "So far, I think they are getting alongfine."

Sheats said the group is a good model forproblem-solving situations in the real world, whenpeople approach problems from differentperspectives--scientist or politician,industrialist or activist.

Class activities are designed to model realworld situations. For the first segment, studentsconsidering the problem of ozone depletion werebroken up into groups and charged with developingcompeting policy recommendations. Another group ofstudents will pose as the president's domesticpolicy council, listen to the policyrecommendations and make a judgment.

During the course of the semester, the classwill also tackle a wetlands shopping centercontroversy, tropical deforestation and toxicwaste disposal

McElroy and William C. Clark--who is vice-chairof the committee and Harman professor ofinternational science, public policy and humandevelopment--lead the class.

Rudenstine has fostered some of the newcooperation by appointing deans who agree with himon the need for more academic teamwork betweenschools.

"My sense of the situation is that the dean ofthe Kennedy School is very committed tocross-school cooperation," said Ted Parson, aresearcher at the Kennedy School who designed theworkshop exercise students in the class areworking on. "It's very strongly encouraged."

Parson said he thinks the class is "a terrificidea," and that teaching in the course hascomplemented his research interests.

The class has drawn students, as well asfaculty, from all over the University.

Twelve undergraduates learn together with sixgraduate students from the schools of government,design and public health.

"It's really a diverse group," said NickySheats, a 1982 graduate of the Law School and theKennedy School and the teaching fellow for thecourse. "So far, I think they are getting alongfine."

Sheats said the group is a good model forproblem-solving situations in the real world, whenpeople approach problems from differentperspectives--scientist or politician,industrialist or activist.

Class activities are designed to model realworld situations. For the first segment, studentsconsidering the problem of ozone depletion werebroken up into groups and charged with developingcompeting policy recommendations. Another group ofstudents will pose as the president's domesticpolicy council, listen to the policyrecommendations and make a judgment.

During the course of the semester, the classwill also tackle a wetlands shopping centercontroversy, tropical deforestation and toxicwaste disposal