Harvard endorsed 40 students and alums for the Rhodes Scholarship last night, a near 10 percent increase from the number of students nominated last year.

The change came after Rhodes officials and Faculty members requested that the University be more flexible in its endorsement process, said Paul A. Bohlmann, director of fellowships at the Office of Career Services (OCS).

Annually, the United States grants 32 applicants the opportunity to become Rhodes Scholars and study at Oxford University.

Last night, Harvard endorsed 40 of the 81 students who submitted preliminary Rhodes applications. Last year, the College selected only 33 of 82 candidates.

According to Bohlmann, the United States Rhodes secretary and the warden of Rhodes House in Oxford visited him and Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, "encouraging us to be a little more liberal in our endorsements."

While securing Harvard's endorsement remains a highly competitive process, this year's increase in Rhodes nominations underscored the University's new approach towards the prestigious award.

Harvard students interested in the Rhodes first submitted applications to OCS Sept. 16.

Each application was then reviewed by two committees, one made up of fellowship tutors from each House and another composed of Faculty members.