Heed Radcliffe Report

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study recently received an evaluative report on its operations that proposes significant changes for the newly-born institute. The 51-page document, prepared by a committee of higher education professionals, calls for Radcliffe to eliminate programs which do not focus on the Institute's declared mission of studying "women, gender and society."

Radcliffe should adopt these suggestions and streamline its operations by eliminating extraneous programs that are not encompassed within its mission. These unrelated educational programs currently offered by Radcliffe should be moved to other schools so that they are not lost to the University, but they should be evicted from their present place at the Institute. For instance, Radcliffe's programs in landscape design and landscape design history, though valuable, are not pertinent to women, gender and society and would do better finding a home elsewhere.

The report's suggestion to better utilize the Institute's buildings and staff is on target as well. With limited free space available at the University, efficient use is of the utmost importance. We urge Radcliffe to make the necessary changes to ensure that the prime real estate of the Radcliffe Institute realizes its full value.

Finally, we agree with the report that the Institute should direct its resources toward faculty appointments and its fellows program to be able to best serve its community. We maintain, however, that the opportunities at the Radcliffe Institute should continue to be open to undergraduates, and as the women, gender and society programs expand, the opportunities for undergrads should grow as well. The resources once devoted to the students of Radcliffe College should not be lost to undergraduates now that the schools have merged.