Dean Epps has proposed a plan to prevent his office from again underestimating the number of students who will return each term from leaves of absence. The plan is designed to prevent another housing crisis like the one this Fall. Epps said yesterday.

The plan would give students on leave an incentive to inform the College of their return several months in advance, by guaranteeing better housing if they file their return applications early.

"An early-warning system is required because so many students are taking leaves of absence." Epps said yesterday. Epps estimated that only 89 per cent of Harvard students now complete their four years without interruption.

Under Epps plan, the sooner a student informs the College that he plans to return, the better his chances for housing will be.

If a student informed the College February 1 that he will return the following September, the College would guarantee him a room in the House with which he was affiliated before leaving. He would be required to pay a deposit on his room rent, then his name would be entered in the Spring lottery for sophomores entering the House.

If a student told the College by June 1. the College would assure him of a room in some House, but not necessarily the one with which he was previously affiliated.

If he told the College after June 1. "we will do the best we can to find him a room somewhere in a House." Epps said yesterday.

For the first time this year. Epps office reserved four rooms in Claverly so that the College could at least provide beds for returning students who informed the College too late to get a room.

Epps said that Kenneth H. Levinson, assistant senior tutor in Lowell House, suggested the plan to him. Genevieve Austin, assistant dean of Students, said that to date, only 20 of the 240 students on leave have filed return applications for this Spring.