Pusey Says College Requirements Are 'Too Low' for Modern Student

The present academic requirements for the Harvard student should undergo a "fresh appraisal," according to President Pusey, "for the present generation is proving that the College standard has been too low."

In his annual report to the Board of Overseers, Pusey points out that "scholastic requirements designed for an earlier generation of students may not be those best suited to provoke the largest possible effort toward independent study in the present generation."

This statement by Pusey indicates further the Administration's desire to concentrate on a program of more "independent study" for the College student. This policy was first brought to light in October, when J. P. Elder, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and member of the Committee on Educational Policy suggested that seniors would have more time for such work if they were excused from examinations and regular classes.

In his report, Pusey cited the fact that each year the percentage of students on the Dean's List has grown with 40 per cent of all undergraduates achieving this rank. He emphasized "This is not to say that there are brighter or abler students in college now than there were five year ago. The relevant point is that the proportion of exceptionally intelligent in each class is greater than ever before in Harvard's history." Taking this into view, Pusey added, "It would be a serious error for the Faculty now to devote its energy to preserving an earlier standard which is too low for the present generation of students."

The year-old Advanced Standing program, according to Pusey, has been one of the first real steps toward the increase of independent study at the College. In his report, he commented that the chief purpose of the program is "not so much to shorten the term of college education as it is to encourage more independent work in the upper years."

Elder advocated an expansion of the Advanced Standing program so that students would be able to pursue a more individualistic plan of study.