Corporation Approves Non-Merger with Radcliffe

The "non-merger" of Harvard and Radcliffe cleared one more hurdle last week as the Harvard Corporation met and approved the proposal, which had previously been passed by the Trustees and Council of Radcliffe.

Now the only obstacle remaining to "a closer working arrangement" between Harvard and Radcliffe is the formal vote of the Harvard Board of Overseers, which will meet on March 8.

If the Overseers approve the proposal, as they are expected to, a revised contract will be drawn up between Harvard and Radcliffe. It will become effective in June, 1971 and be reviewed during 1971-73.

Committee

The new arrangement was developed by a committee consisting of two Corporation members, two Radcliffe Trustees, President Pusey, and Mary I. Bunting, president of Radcliffe. Under the plan, Radcliffe's administration and House system would be fully integrated into Harvard's.

The President of Radcliffe, for example, would become a Harvard Dean, appointed by the governing boards of Harvard and Radcliffe. She would be given the special function of "initiating and extending educational opportunities for women within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences."

However, Radcliffe would still be responsible for its own admissions, financial aids, career counseling, and alumbnac activities. The Radcliffe Institute and the Sehlesinger Library would also remain autonomous.

Harvard would absorb Radcliffe's financial deficit.

Mrs. Helen H. Gilbert, a Radcliffe Trustee and a member of the "non-merger" committee, said yesterday that many details of the new contract remain to be worked out, and that there would be an effort to get "informal student input" on many issues.