HPC Considers Fourth Course 'Pass-Fail' Plan

The Harvard Policy Committee is having second thoughts about its proposal that all upperclassmen be allowed to take a free fifth course in which they would be graded only "pass" or "fail."

At a two-hour meeting last night, HPC members discussed dropping the plan and substituting another: letting every student take one of his four regular courses pass-fail.

They decided -- because of the complexity of the issue -- to postpone any decision for at least two weeks.

The fifth course plan, drafted and passed by the HPC last October, has already won the endorsement of the Committee on Educational Policy (a group of 12 senior professors who recommend legislation on academic matters to the Faculty).

But the CEP gave the undergraduate organization another shot at the plan a few weeks ago, because it wanted to get opinions on several details it had added. Ronald L. Trosper '67, outgoing HPC president, said last night that the CEP will probably be willing to hold back any recommendation to the Faculty while his group makes up its mind.

The new proposal, that students be allowed to take one of their regular four courses pass-fail, was drafted by Martin Slate '67, HPC representative from Winthrop House, Bruce W. Chalmers, Master of Winthrop House, and Standish H. Meacham, Allston Burr Senior Tutor in Winthrop House.

They argue that Harvard's four-course load is ideal, and that it would be a mistake to give students more incentive to carry a heavier program. Students who want to experiment outside the four-course load, they say, can and do audit fifth courses.

But the option to take one out of the four courses pass-fail would leave students more time to do independent work or go out for extra-curricular activities, they claim. And, though they admit some students would take advantage of" the option, they feel that most would honestly benefit from it.

HPC members -- both the outgoing ones and the new appointees who will take over in a few weeks -- were split on the proposal.

But they did agree on another piece of legislation endorsed by the CEP, permitting juniors to take five graded courses free in their junior year and then take only three courses in their senior year