A committee of professors from throughout the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) will examine current uses and possible expansion of computers and related technology.

The Committee on Information Technology, appointed by Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles, is chaired by Paul C. Martin, dean of the division of applied sciences.

In a letter distributed to faculty members earlier this week, Martin said the committee has been "asked to advise the dean [of the Faculty] on what priority should be given various current and prospective uses of information technology."

In an interview yesterday, Martin said the committee will be exploring a "very broad set of questions."

"It involves looking at what we do now, what we spend now, how we do it," he said.

Knowles has said that current budgetaryconstraints will require the faculty to prioritizeeffective uses of current FAS funds and todetermine uses of the money raised in theUniversity's upcoming fund drive.

Martin said the Faculty may decide to allocatefunds to expand its technology resources.

"I'm sure the current budget constraints willaffect everything, but there are funds being spentin this area now," Martin said.

The committee wants to begin the process bydetermining the extent of Harvard's currenttechnological resources, Martin said. Committeemembers have begun examining services such as theUniversity computer system and the Office ofInformation Technology.

Other Universities Informed

Martin said committee members have alsoscheduled meetings with officials from otheruniversities.

"We've set goals of going through a crashcourse of informing ourselves about what is goingon here and else-where in the first month and ahalf," he said.

Once the committee has accomplished this goal,he said, it will consult other faculty members.

Optimistic

Martin said the committee is "optimistic" aboutmaking at least "some preliminary statement" bythe end of the spring term.

Other committee members include Associate Deanfor Undergraduate Education David Pilbeam,Associate Dean for Administration Robert A.Rotner, Associate Dean for Research and the AlliedInstitutions Richard G. Leahy and Associate Deanof FAS and Mallinkrodt Professor of ChemistryGeorge M. Whitesides '60.

Scientists Peter T. Ellison, Cabot associateprofessor of anthropology and director of theQuantitative Reasoning Requirement portion of theCore, Harry R. Lewis, McKay professor of computerscience, and Eric Mazur, McKay professor ofapplied physics, also serve on the committee.

Several non-scientists serve on the committee,including Loeb Professor of the Social StudiesJill M. Hooley, Professor of Romance Languages andLiteratures Alice A. Jardine and CoolidgeProfessor of History and Professor of EconomicsDavid S. Landes.

In addition, Robert D. Putnam, former dean ofthe Kennedy School of Government and Priceprofessor of politics, will serve on thecommittee