$1 Million Donation By IBM Endows New Professorship

The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has pledged $1 million to endow a professorship in computer science. The pledge is as large a corporate grant as the University's $250 million capital fund drive has received.

A growing student interest in computers, sharp cutbacks in federal funding for the applied sciences, and the recent quantitative reasoning computer requirement have combined to make the professorship necessary. Thomas M. Reardon, the University's director of development, said yesterday.

IBM contributes about $60 million a year to support universities in fields related to the company's business. IBM spokesman Margaret Anderson said yesterday, adding that the Harvard professorship will emphasize the "practical side" of computer science.

Paul C. Martin, dean of the division of Applied Sciences, which will gain the new chair, said yesterday the new professor will pursue research and may teach Applied Sciences 10, the introductory computer courses.

The grant comes after eight months of negotiations between the University and IBM, Marlin said IBM gave Harvard $250,000 of the grant in December and will pay the remaining $750,000 over the next several years.

The IBM grant brings the University's fund-drive total to $123 million, of which $7 million has come from corporation.