This new twelve-week reading period would provide opportunity for the student and his tutor to work together closely, (tutorial would be omitted for fall and spring terms) and at the end of the study, the student in both sophomore and junior years would have to produce one 10,000 word paper on a subject within his own area of concentration and one 5,000 word paper on a subject outside his own area. In senior year, the period would be used to produce only the thesis, a paper of 15,000 to 25,000 words. General examinations would follow upon the handing in of this extended paper and would mark the end of the winter term.

The Honors Program

Then in the spring of senior year, any student could present his tutor with a schedule for auditing some of the courses which he regretted missing during the previous three and two-thirds years.

Awards of honors would be made by each department on the basis of the thirty-three formal half-courses completed (thirteen in the freshman year, including General Education Ahf; eight in the sophomore and junior years, four in the fall term of the senior year); the average of grades on the thirty-five thousand words devoted to his field and the ten thousand to distribution; and his showing on the general examination.

That is the plan as it has been outlined to us. For professors, of course, it would mean that the number of lectures would have to be condensed by about two weeks, but the reward would be a period of 12 weeks for concentrated research. And for students, this period would provide the chance to revitalize the tutorial program, the most intelligent way to incorporate independent study for all into the course-grade system, and a great opportunity for giving purpose to the House system. During this winter period, college-wide extra-curricular activities should be at a minimum (The CRIMSON, for instance, should publish only twice each week), and instead House discussion groups would give some intellectual life to Houses which now are chiefly places to sleep, to eat, and perhaps to produce a few plays.

To be sure, other suggestions may come forth which have similar potential for independent study, for the House system, and for the tutorial program. But for the time being, and as our parting shot, so to speak, we would like to give our strong endorsement to this plan for a three-term year. Under it, we are certain that Harvard would provide both the depth and breadth essential to a liberal education.