In a statement, she called it "an ingenious solution that gives Radcliffe's name to an Institute of Advanced Studies that will continue the commitment to women in society."

Virtually unanimous opinion seems to be that Rudenstine will leave the University stronger than he found it.

"The big thing one should be thinking is: is this a better institution than 10 years ago? And I think the answer is unequivocally yes," Ikenberry said.

Many of Rudenstine's colleagues also praised his personal touch as an administrator and his self-effacing demeanor--long admired by administrators and alumni alike.

"You can't write that into a job description," Ikenberry said of Rudenstine's humility.

Vartan Gregorian, the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and a former president of Brown University, described Rudenstine as "a reflective person, a private person, with public passions."

"Those of him who consider him a friend have enjoyed his honesty, integrity, compassion and hard work, not on behalf of Harvard alone but on behalf of the academic profession," he said.

Rudenstine's personality has helped him achieve his goals at the University, said Jeremiah P. Ostriker '59, the provost of Princeton.