Knowles also discussed the changing Faculty demographics in light of the Capital Campaign's pledge to increase appointments and the graying of senior Faculty since the abolition of a mandatory retirement age.

In his letter, Knowles noted that the total number of professors has not increased since 1987, despite the addition of several new tenured positions.

What this means, he said, is that although the overall number of Faculty members has not changed significantly, the number of tenured Faculty members has increased while the number of junior Faculty members declined.

"We did aim and we have succeeded in raising the number of tenured colleagues," Knowles said.

Knowles added that each department must work to improve junior Faculty recruitment and retention, noting that junior Faculty provide the "vibrancy" that leads to innovative teaching and research.

After discussion, the Faculty will decide "whether or what we should do in terms of policies that would help in junior Faculty recruitment," Knowles said.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 said the loss of junior Faculty members reduces the diversity of approach in undergraduate course offerings.

"Certainly it would not be good for Harvard to deprived of younger scholars and teachers," Lewis said. "There are many important fields, as well as the Core curriculum, where we do not offer enough courses, by faculty of any age," he said. "I look forward to growth in the size of the Faculty in certain important areas."