CUE Suggests Revising Records

Driven by fears of grade inflation and a desire to provide more accurate pictures of student performance, the Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE) yesterday recommended to the Educational Policy Committee that Harvard student transcripts be revamped.

The committee did not offer any specific criteria for changing the transcripts, but possible additions discussed yesterday included listing the median grade for courses, course size and a cumulative grade index.

Dean for Undergraduate Education Lawrence Buell, who chairs CUE and is a member of the Educational Policy Committee, said that among committee members, he senses "more caution than enthusiasm and considerable opposition to" the possible transcript additions.

But Buell said the committee does see a need for changes. "You do have uneasiness over the informativeness of the transcript as it now stands," he said.

Many of the committee members said they were concerned that the additions would discourage students from taking harder courses, devalue grades and increase competition among students. Others voiced concerns that the change might make it more difficult for students to gain admission into graduate, medical and law schools.

Some committee members said they felt course size and median grade numbersdo not take into account the increased ability ofstudents in harder courses.

In other business, the committee discussedimplementing mandatory teaching fellowevaluations.

Joseph S. Evangelista '96, vice chair of theUndergraduate Council student affairs committee,said teaching fellows should be required to studyat the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, meetmore stringent language proficiency requirements,and he said "the departments have to conductevaluations."

But several committee members said they feltadditional evaluations would place moreadministrative burdens on departments and wouldduplicate the function of the CUE guide.

The committee also discussed keeping librariesopen later. Committee members from theUndergraduate Council recommended having aselected library remain open from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Sidney Verba '53, director of the HarvardUniversity library, cited security problems andthe added financial burden of keeping librariesopen late at night.

A study of student needs for library facilitiesduring later hours is being conducted by theUniversity Library and will continue in CabotLibrary when it remains open until 3 a.m. duringreading period and exam week

In other business, the committee discussedimplementing mandatory teaching fellowevaluations.

Joseph S. Evangelista '96, vice chair of theUndergraduate Council student affairs committee,said teaching fellows should be required to studyat the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, meetmore stringent language proficiency requirements,and he said "the departments have to conductevaluations."

But several committee members said they feltadditional evaluations would place moreadministrative burdens on departments and wouldduplicate the function of the CUE guide.

The committee also discussed keeping librariesopen later. Committee members from theUndergraduate Council recommended having aselected library remain open from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Sidney Verba '53, director of the HarvardUniversity library, cited security problems andthe added financial burden of keeping librariesopen late at night.

A study of student needs for library facilitiesduring later hours is being conducted by theUniversity Library and will continue in CabotLibrary when it remains open until 3 a.m. duringreading period and exam week