The report criticized not only the astronomy department's treatment of junior faculty, but the University's promotion system in general.

"The committee expressed concern about the process of tenure," says Sidney C. Wolff, chair of the visiting committee and director of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories.

The visiting committee believed, she says, that Harvard's tenure process "compromises the department's ability to hire the best faculty."

Yet University officials say they do not believe that the tenure process negatively affects the quality of research and instruction.

"Tenuring junior faculty is an issue in many departments," says Elizabeth Doherty, an associate dean. While Doherty would not comment on the astronomy department's junior faculty in particular, she did say "It is often the case that junior faculty go on to distinguished careers elsewhere."

Knowles said he hopes all junior faculty go on to distinguished careers, whether at Harvard or elsewhere.

However, one junior faculty member who was contacted by The Crimson, says the problems facing junior members of the Astronomy Department go much deeper than tenure alone.

"When I was offered a permanent position at another excellent institution, I gladly accepted," a former associate professor says. "I was very very glad when I was able to leave," saying the department was "unsupportive and unfriendly."