Fitzsimmons says he presents summer internship programs like the Weissman program as a solution.

And the Weissman program now appears to be bursting at the seams.

A recent program information session that was designed to accommodate fewer than 100 students actually attracted well over 150, Pavese says. And a full-time OCS staffer was hired to replace a departing part-time employee to coordinate the Weissman program, among other duties in the international opportunities office.

"In almost every talk [Knowles] gives or has given on the campaign, he mentions the Weissman program," Paul Weissman says. "It's being talked about from the top all the way down. I'm convinced that this is a commitment on their part."

But if work-abroad opportunities expand at Harvard, they seem unlikely to come from within the Weissman program. Paul Weissman says he will soon have completely endowed the program according to its original specifications. After that, he says it is up to the Harvard endowment to increase the fund.

"How much more it will grow I'm not sure, but we would all like to have as many students as possible," Weissman says.

According to Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, the carefully chosen interns have helped make the Weissman program successful. The program's selectivity should be preserved, he says.