A Sound Investment

The line separating Harvard’s Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences (DEAS) from the rest of the liberal arts-oriented Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) has always been blurry and ill-defined. DEAS, which administers Harvard’s computer science, applied math, and engineering concentrations, is currently a part of FAS. But the DEAS’s focus on “applied” knowledge makes the division’s mission subtly different from that of most College concentrations.

Differences notwithstanding, DEAS continues to be an important portion of FAS. Up to now, however, its place beneath FAS’s liberal arts wing has somewhat obscured the division’s unique contributions. And its small size has kept it from competing effectively for engineering, applied math, and computer science students. These millstones could be lifted under a new plan, proposed by DEAS Dean Venkatesh “Venky” Narayanamurti, which would enlarge DEAS’ faculty and change the division into a full-fledged “school” under FAS auspices. The Faculty should approve this proposal in the fall because it promises to strengthen Harvard’s technical credentials and encourage new intra-University synergies in exchange for a minimal commitment of new resources.

Many scientists have speculated that the 21st century will be the century of biology, just as advances in physics dominated the previous one. These proposed changes to DEAS will push the University further towards fulfilling University President Lawrence H. Summers’ goal to make Harvard a pre-eminent biological research institution. So, too, will they free DEAS’ hands to work with other parts of the University, both through the status change to a “school” and the addition of jointly-endowed professorships.

For Harvard to compete with schools such as Princeton, Caltech, and MIT in attracting top students and professors, DEAS must expand both its faculty and its international prominence. Making it easier for undergraduate engineering concentrators to take a fifth year to complete their more rigorous requirements is important, too, as the move would enable these students to take more liberal arts electives, as well. The proposal establishes a coherent plan by which all of these beneficial changes can happen.

The only possible objection to the expansion of DEAS appears to be monetary. With FAS running a large deficit, any money spent on DEAS should not detract from resources that other parts of FAS badly need. The same departmental turf wars that have doomed recent attempts at creating new concentrations could sink DEAS’ expansion. But whether the Faculty deems DEAS’ expansion to be critical or not, Faculty members should know that the financial impact of the proposal on FAS will be minimal. A good portion of the funding will come from other parts of the University, including gifts for biomedical research and jointly-endowed professorships. Much of FAS’ funding has already been committed, some in the form of physical resources like the Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering building. Additional fundraising will cover further expenditures.

Liberal arts-oriented Faculty should not doubt the wisdom of expanding DEAS, especially in light of the efforts taken to reduce the financial impact of the changes on FAS. If Harvard is to retain its place at the top of higher education, it cannot pass up opportunities to grow any of its parts. DEAS has been overshadowed for too long. An investment in the division now will allow Harvard to lead new areas of research in the future.