"The University does have a strong policy against sexual harassment and there are formal and informal procedures for women to go through to make a complaint," Avery says.

In addition to such support services, the Faculty's Standing Committee on the Status of Women was formed in 1971, "to create a climate in which prejudice against women, or apathy towards their presence and future at Harvard, will be hard to maintain," Pedersen says.

The committee takes issues of concern to Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles.

"It seeks to serve as a sounding board for concerns of women Faculty in particular," Pedersen says.

The committee hosts as series of luncheons to discuss issues of concern to female Faculty throughout the year.

Still, many female professors say they do not think these support services are comprehensive enough.

"The main problem with being a woman faculty member at Harvard is that there simply aren't enough of us," Pedersen says. "As a result, women on average have heavier administrative responsibilities within FAS."

Others also say more female Faculty members are necessary as role models for graduate students pursuing careers in academia.

"The best way to improve the situation would be to have more female Faculty, as I find that I can relate to them better," Torrie says.