College residents will be allowed key card access to every upper class house between noon and 8 p.m., following a decision by the house masters and the Committee on House Life (COHL).

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 said in an interview yesterday that masters designate specific entryways universal card key access to common areas during that time.

Lewis said the program will be implemented once several "operational details," such as deciding on accessible entryways and entering data on the computer, are settled.

"We've definitely taken a big step forward," Lewis said.

COHL student member Robert B. Wolinsky '98-'97 speculated that the program will likely be implemented by January.

"The impression I got is that we can hope for it by the end of the semester," Wolinsky said. "I think it's definitely a good start.... What [College officials] will find is that it is in everybody's best interest."

The program, as it now stands, will be evaluated at the end of the year.

"This will be done and revisited at the end of the term," Lewis said.

But Sandra A. Naddaff, the Mather House master, said there has been no timetable set for evaluating the program.

"I don't think there has been any limits put on the trial period," Naddaff said.

If the program is successful, hours of access could be expanded, committee members said.

"Twelve to eight is a great start, but it's still limited, in terms of meeting times for student groups and in the morning if you want to get breakfast [in another house]," said Elizabeth A. Haynes '98. "It would be nice to see the hours open up a bit more, from nine until 10 or 11."

According to Lewis the masters primary concern with universal card access is the threat posed to security.

"For us security is a particular problem and, therefore, even opening a few doors is already a problem due to [Cabot's] architectural speciality," said Jurij Striedter, the Cabot House master, adding that students living in Cabot currently only use keys.

Lewis said the masters addressed potential security problems in the COHL meeting, but did not consult the Harvard police.