The change in title was only one of many in the back of this term's supplement to the Courses of Instruction: "Alyssa Goodman, Professor of Astronomy."

But this seemingly small modification represents the result of months of negotiation and controversy.

Over the summer, Goodman became the second woman in the Department of Astronomy ever to receive tenure--and thus the word "associate" was dropped from her title.

Only 10 percent of junior faculty at Harvard ever receive tenure. Over the past 20 years, only three professors have been tenured by the astronomy department.

Goodman was notified of her tenure appointment in early March, but the formalities of the appointment took two months more. Then it was almost four more months before she and the University agreed on a tenure package.

Astronomy department Chair Ramesh L. Narayan, who was on the committee that decided on Goodman's tenure, said he is very excited about her appointment.

"[The department] was delighted that this appointment happened," he said. "She is a world authority in her area."

Goodman's best known work has come in the field of measuring magnetic fields in star formations, an interest she has pursued since writing her doctoral thesis at Harvard a decade ago on interstellar magnetic fields. She has taught at the University since then.