H.U.C. Receives Enthusiastic Response From Colleges to Exchange Program

Twelve colleges have responded enthusiastically to the Harvard Undergraduate Council's request to join Harvard in a student exchange program.

An HUC committee, headed by Henry Sondheimer '66, sent letters in October to twelve college deans. The committee has received reactions ranging from moderate to wildly enthusiastic," Sondheimer said.

The HUC plan would have Harvard sophomores spend their spring semester at another college and receive full credit for the courses that they take. The students of the other schools would attend Harvard during the period. All the students would pay tuition to the ollege they normally attend.

At present, the University generally does not accept credits received outside Harvard, nor has the University participated in exchange programs similar to the one under discussion.

HUC members received the plan with "a great response," said Sondheimer, though it may not be presented for several months. Many fear that the University will be reluctant to accept credits from other schools. Sondheimer hopes that a new "ecumenical spirit" in the University will aid approval.

Different Environments

The twelve schools involved in the exchange will provide an environment very different from that of an Ivy League college. "Harvard people could very much profit by going into a different atmosphere to study," Sondheimer said. Among the schools contacted by the HUC are: Michigan, Wisconsin, Tulane, Chicago, Reed, Swarthmore, and Harvey Mudd.

Existing Programs

Several colleges are engaged in transfer programs similar to the one proposed by the HUC. Swarthmore exchanges students with Pomona, and Michigan has a program with Tuskegee Institute. The Harvard proposal is more extensive and could involve over 400 students from the thirteen schools each year. The HUC plans for 30 to 40 sophomores to participate in the program.

The HUC became acquainted with this kind of program when it was discussed at a meeting of Ivy League student government leaders this fall.