Wilcox Seeks Revisions in Gen Ed Rules

A leading College official yesterday asked the Faculty to consider allowing advanced placement students to waive part of their General Education requirement.

Edward T. Wilcox, Director of Advanced Standing, pointed out that while this practice is followed in the Natural Sciences, "no distinction is made between regular and advanced preparation in the Social Sciences and Humanities."

Only those with Sophomore Standing who earn advanced placement in the Social Sciences or Humanities can replace the Gen. Ed. requirement with a middle-group course in these areas. "This raises the question of whether we are going far enough to encourage all our able students to enter the most difficult courses for which they are prepared," he said.

In his annual report to the Faculty--to be released today--Wilcox points out that the Advanced Placement program at Harvard has grown from 39 students in 1954 to almost one-third of the present Freshman Class this year. At the same time, the number of secondary schools sending students to the College with some previous college-level training has increased seven-fold.

The report also shows that the scholastic records of Advanced Standing Sophomores--who have increased from a handful in 1955 to 55 this year--have been excellent.

Wilcox called on departments to be more liberal in granting credit toward the concentration requirement for the degree to New Sophomores who earn advanced placement in courses within the department concerned.