A selective service board of appeals in California has refused to reverse the 1-A classification of a Harvard undergraduate, despite a letter from the University informing the board that the student is carrying a full course load and making normal progress.

Michael Ehrhardt '66 was classified 1-A by his local board in late October. Although Ehrhardt is a candidate for honors and has never taken a leave of absence, the board said it did not believe that he could be taking a full course load at the rate of only 12 units a year.

Ehrhardt told the State board of appeals that 12 units was equivalent to four full courses--the normal number for any student. He also had Harvard send the State board a letter confirming his record. The college sent the board a copy of Rules Relating to College Studies, underlining the appropriate paragraphs.

The State board of appeals, however, met in November and refused to reverse the decision of the local board. Ehrhardt has been provisionally granted 1-SC status, meaning that he can finish the academic year before induction.

This is not the first case in which a local board has confused the 12 unit course load with a "half-time" course load and has classified a student 1-A. But in past cases a letter from the University has been sufficient evidence of "normal progress" to reverse the decision and secure deferment on appeal.

The state Director of California, Col. Paul Henderson, said yesterday that "this thing still could be a misunderstanding." He admitted, however, that since the State appeals board's decision was unanimous, Ehrhardt will be denied further appeal.