HPC Plans to Survey Departments, Report Yearly on Possible Reforms

A series of regular reports on the strengths and weaknesses of each academic department will be issued by the Harvard Policy Committee beginning this fall.

Under the plan, approved by the HPC Thursday, a department will be studied at least once every four years. Several concentrators in each department will work with an HPC member in the preparation of a report.

"What we want to do is convince the departments that we can make a responsible study," Michael E. Abram '66, HPC chairman, said last night. "Then we'll have to go back to them with our recommendations and see what we can do to adoption."

Reports on the departments of Astronomy, Biology, Far Eastern Languages, Government, Philosophy, Social Relations and Visual Studies are tentatively planned for the end of November, Abram said. "We've talked to several departments about the program," he explained, "and, so far all have been very co-operative."

Along with the reports, the HPC will continue sponsoring year-end meetings between faculty members of each department and graduating seniors.

The HPC also voted Thursday to find out how many students have been inconvenienced by courage meeting at the same time and by the number of courses not offered this year. Pools will be distributed in one to two weeks, Abram said.