Gary R. Orren, associate professor of Government, will leave Harvard next year to teach at Brandeis, the secretary to the dean of the faculty at Brandeis confirmed yesterday.

Zina Goldman said Orren has accepted Brandeis' offer of a teaching position in the politics department, to begin September, 1979. "The arrangement has been completed," she added.

Orren, who teaches several courses in voting patterns and quantative methods and is a fellow at the Center for International Affairs (CFIA), declined to comment yesterday.

Goldman declined to elaborate on the nature of Orren's teaching position at Brandeis, but sources in the Government Department indicated that tenure considerations may have influenced Orren's decision.

Since the University recently named him an associate professor, Orren would have had several years before being reviewed for tenure at Harvard. The number of open tenured positions in the Government Department, however, is relatively low.

Tight Market

Arthur Maass, Thomson Professor of Government, said yesterday that although he is not familiar with Orren's reasons for leaving Harvard, "tenure must influence the case for every assistant and associate professor."

"He's a wonderful teacher, and I am very sorry to see him go," Maass said.

Numbers

Orren taught Government 132, "The American Political Process," which reflected his interest in quantative methods, especially in public opinion and voting patterns.

Several Government students commented yesterday that Orren was one of the most popular young professors in the department.

Sidney P. Verba, chairman of the Government Department, was on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment.