In a University with over 6,000 undergraduates and 900 classes, the reality that much of undergraduate teaching is done by teaching fellows (TFs) is one that Harvard students have to face.

But behind student complaints about the quality of their TFs lies a decentralized system through which departments hire, train, and use them.

“We hold sections because it enhances undergraduate education by providing an opportunity to deal with the material in a hands on way,” said Jeffrey Wolcowitz ’76, Associate Dean of FAS for Undergraduate Education.

And professors do not dispute the fact that in many cases, TFs can be beneficial to a student’s learning experience.

“I use my section leaders for the kind of exercises that I cannot do, namely administering weekly quizzes and making sure the students are close-reading the text,” said Lino Pertile, the professor of Literature and Arts A-26 “Dante’s Divine Comedy and Its World.”

But the reality is that professors can only provide guidlines and not mandates for what goes on outside lecture.

Making the Grade

Problems resulting from differences in TF teaching styles manifest themselves most prominently in the area of grading—the only means by which students can quantitatively assess their performance in a course.

“When my section leader assigns papers that others in the same course don’t, it makes you wonder what our grades are based on and what they really mean,” said Sophie L. Gonick ’05.

In “Literature and Arts B-51: First Nights,” section leaders grade their own papers and then meet with the professor and the other section leaders to see where their results fit in.

“I never tell a section leader to regrade the exams, but when they see where their preliminary results fit in, they have the option of readjusting them,” Kelly said.

Despite the attempts at consistency, students rarely feel satisfied with the process.

“In big classes grades don’t mean anything,” said Douglas A. Balliett ’05 .

“After all, you can know the same amount of material as someone else and get a completely different grade,” he said .

Students with concerns similar to Balliett’s are trying to make their voices heard.