FAS Okays Citations For Advanced Work In Language Study

After a vigorous debate by professors peppering their oratory with phrases like "sine qua non" and "quod erat demonstrandum," the Faculty passed a proposal to award citations at graduation to undergraduates who have completed high-level work in a foreign language.

The Faculty also approved new guidelines for the overhaul of the graduate student financial aid program, without any increases in Faculty spending.

The new foreign language program follows up on the Faculty's call last spring for an increased emphasis on foreign language study in the undergraduate curriculum without increasing the requirements for graduation. After a December report on the issue, the Educational Policy Committee developed the citation system.

The language citation program would award certificates to students who take four additional half courses, beyond the currently required one year. Two of these courses must be above the third-year level of the language.

According to William M. Todd III, dean of undergraduate education, the citations aim to provide an incentive to study language without an actual increase in requirements.

"The citations have been designed to require a minimum of bureaucratic effort from the Registrar, our students and departments," Todd said.

Some Faculty opposed the citation program, calling it an "unprecedented" program that would place too much emphasis on the language study.

"There are many areas of endeavor that I think this Faculty would like to encourage our students to pursue beyond what we require," said Professor of Philosophy Warren D. Goldfarb '69, who said he had voted against the proposal in the Faculty Council.

Goldfarb said he thought students might take additional language courses simply for the sake of obtaining the citation, and thereby use up valuable electives.

"I suspect that the citation program, with the notation on the transcript and in the Commencement program, will look too attractive," he said.

Charles S. Maier '60, Krupp professor of European studies, suggested the best way for students to advance their language proficiency is to go to places where they are not "native speaker[s]."

Maier said he would like Harvard to allow more students the freedom to study languages abroad.

But many professors--from departments like Romance Languages and Lit- eratures, East Asian Studies and theClassics--voiced their support for the citationprogram.

Gregory Nagy, Jones professor of classicalGreek literature, called the study of foreignlanguage "a jewel in the crown" of the Harvardeducation. He praised graduates of the College as"cultivated" people and partly attributed this totheir familiarity with foreign cultures.

Susan R. Suleiman, Dillon professor of thecivilization of France, noted that Harvard, unlikemany comparable institutions, lacks an advancedrequirement in foreign languages.

Others, including Professor of RomanceLanguages and Literatures Christie McDonald,suggested that the new program might help studentsbetter plan their selection of language courses.

The citation program will be reviewed by theFaculty Council five years after the firstcitations are awarded.

More Aid for Grad Students

The Faculty approved a report issued by theFaculty Committee on Graduate Student FinancialSupport, chaired by Professor of AnthropologyPeter T. Ellison.

The "Ellison report" calls for the transitionof the graduate student financial aid program to acohort-based system--where students are informedof their intended funding packages for at leastfour years.

The Faculty also approved an amendment proposedby the Faculty Council, which stressesdepartmental involvement in designing aid packagesand the role of graduate students in teachingundergraduate courses.

The main goals of the improved financial aidsystem are to provide four-year commitments tograduate students, incorporate teaching intofinancial aid offers more "rationally" and moreeffective fundraising for graduate studentsupport.

Susan G. Pedersen, professor of history, calledthe improved system an important step inrecognizing the importance of the graduateprogram.

"Harvard is a premier training ground for thenext generation of scholars," she said. "We needto maintain that, and in some programs, we need torecover that."

But Pedersen expressed concern that Harvard maynot be able to attract the best graduate studentswithout additional funding for the program.

"We must make a very concerted effort to raisemoney for the Graduate School," Pedersen said inan interview last night. "We simply need moreresources to have competitive programs of anappropriate size."

Pedersen said she recognized that increasinggraduate student financial support would requiredifficult budgetary decisions. However, sheemphasized how important graduate students are tothe Faculty.

"This is an issue of such importance to theFaculty that whatever obstacles lie in our way wehave to find a way," she said in the meeting. "Ifthere are choices to be made, let's make them. Ifthe system doesn't work, let's restructure it."

After a discussion focused on how essentialgraduate students are to the Faculty, Toddaddressed how the increased support for graduatestudents would benefit undergraduates.

"I hope some small corner of our hearts remainsfor our undergraduates," he said.

Todd said the reforms in the system wouldbenefit undergraduates in two ways.

"The reforms will require that departments plancourses some time in advance," Todd said. "Andthis will allow undergraduates to plan theircourses more than one semester in advance therebygiving them more flexibility in scheduling andmore opportunity to take advantage of our wealthof courses."

Todd also pointed out how the incorporation ofteaching into financial support programs wouldlead to more of a focus on preparing graduatestudents to take on teaching responsibilities.

"The new program of graduate support will againfocus our attention on this aspect of graduatetraining, to the benefit of our undergraduates aswell as our graduate students," he said

Gregory Nagy, Jones professor of classicalGreek literature, called the study of foreignlanguage "a jewel in the crown" of the Harvardeducation. He praised graduates of the College as"cultivated" people and partly attributed this totheir familiarity with foreign cultures.

Susan R. Suleiman, Dillon professor of thecivilization of France, noted that Harvard, unlikemany comparable institutions, lacks an advancedrequirement in foreign languages.

Others, including Professor of RomanceLanguages and Literatures Christie McDonald,suggested that the new program might help studentsbetter plan their selection of language courses.

The citation program will be reviewed by theFaculty Council five years after the firstcitations are awarded.

More Aid for Grad Students

The Faculty approved a report issued by theFaculty Committee on Graduate Student FinancialSupport, chaired by Professor of AnthropologyPeter T. Ellison.

The "Ellison report" calls for the transitionof the graduate student financial aid program to acohort-based system--where students are informedof their intended funding packages for at leastfour years.

The Faculty also approved an amendment proposedby the Faculty Council, which stressesdepartmental involvement in designing aid packagesand the role of graduate students in teachingundergraduate courses.

The main goals of the improved financial aidsystem are to provide four-year commitments tograduate students, incorporate teaching intofinancial aid offers more "rationally" and moreeffective fundraising for graduate studentsupport.

Susan G. Pedersen, professor of history, calledthe improved system an important step inrecognizing the importance of the graduateprogram.

"Harvard is a premier training ground for thenext generation of scholars," she said. "We needto maintain that, and in some programs, we need torecover that."

But Pedersen expressed concern that Harvard maynot be able to attract the best graduate studentswithout additional funding for the program.

"We must make a very concerted effort to raisemoney for the Graduate School," Pedersen said inan interview last night. "We simply need moreresources to have competitive programs of anappropriate size."

Pedersen said she recognized that increasinggraduate student financial support would requiredifficult budgetary decisions. However, sheemphasized how important graduate students are tothe Faculty.

"This is an issue of such importance to theFaculty that whatever obstacles lie in our way wehave to find a way," she said in the meeting. "Ifthere are choices to be made, let's make them. Ifthe system doesn't work, let's restructure it."

After a discussion focused on how essentialgraduate students are to the Faculty, Toddaddressed how the increased support for graduatestudents would benefit undergraduates.

"I hope some small corner of our hearts remainsfor our undergraduates," he said.

Todd said the reforms in the system wouldbenefit undergraduates in two ways.

"The reforms will require that departments plancourses some time in advance," Todd said. "Andthis will allow undergraduates to plan theircourses more than one semester in advance therebygiving them more flexibility in scheduling andmore opportunity to take advantage of our wealthof courses."

Todd also pointed out how the incorporation ofteaching into financial support programs wouldlead to more of a focus on preparing graduatestudents to take on teaching responsibilities.

"The new program of graduate support will againfocus our attention on this aspect of graduatetraining, to the benefit of our undergraduates aswell as our graduate students," he said