To prevent further delay, Mills said he pushed the committee to complete its work before the end of the academic year, so that the University community would have a chance to study the report and respond.

"We were desperately trying to finish before the end of the school year and before people were gone," he said.

Associate Vice President for Human Resources Polly Price, an official who has worked closely with the committee since its inception, said the release date had no special significance.

"It's finished, there's no reason to wait," she said. "The committee worked at a pretty intense pace for the entire year."

After the committee presents the president with the report on Thursday, Rudenstine will consider its recommendations and make copies available to all University officials who request them.

"What we have from him is an understanding that he will give the report clear and careful consideration," Mills said.

Mills said he has not met directly with Rudenstine in the past, but one of the president's staff members, Associate Vice President for Higher Education Policy A. Clayton Spencer, attended all committee meetings.