Some professors deny the Guide permission because they distrust it: others simply are unwilling to sacrifice 20 minutes of class time so their students can complete the Guide's written questionnaires, Okun adds.

The Guide bases its evaluations on students' responses to a standardized survey. The survey, which is distributed in class toward the end of the semester, asks students to rate the performance of professors and section leaders on a seven-point scale. It also asks students to rate the degree of difficulty and time consumption of the course work. Several essay-style questions seek personal comments to balance the objective data.

The reams of data are fed into a Science Center computer, which spews out neatly processed statistics for each course.

Drawing heavily on the individual comments, CUE writers prepare descriptive essays to accompany the numbers. Last year, Okun says, each piece was edited three times before being cleared for publication.

The Guide also includes information provided by the instructors about the reading lists and course requirements.

"We try to be objective. We combine what professors say and what students say to give a balanced view of the course," Okun says.

Although the Guide is a University publication and officials help shape its editorial thrust, the actual writeups are free from official censorship, Okun says.

The finished product is distributed free of charge to professors and students at the beginning of each year.

The Guide Applied

As the only source of critical information about Harvard courses and teachers, the CUE Guide is put to a variety of uses.

Once professors have submitted grades to the Registrar's Office, the Guide sends them reports of their ratings.

As a result of a Faculty directive issued last year, the Guide also sends professors copies of the original student evaluation forms. Professors are requested to share this material with their teaching fellows.

Some professors say they get the greatest benefit from seeing students' individual comments. "I don't get a great deal out of the numbers. I learn from thoughtful comments about the course," says Michael B. McElroy. Rotch Professor of Atmospheric Science.

McElroy also notes that the CUE offers professors a different perspective on their colleagues. "The CUE Guide allows me to get an idea of how serious my colleagues are about their teaching," he adds.

While professors use the CUE Guide to fine-tune their teaching and compare themselves with their colleagues, students are its main consumers. When it's time for undergraduates to shop around, sitting down with the Guide and the course catalog is standard procedure for more than a few.