"This letter was addressed to freshmen in particular since they are not yet in concentrations and thus have less contact with faculty or may find it harder to approach faculty," Pedersen said.
Pedersen said that the CUE plans to send the letter to first-years annually.
"It's important for freshmen to develop good habits early rather than having to scramble for a thesis advisor their senior year," she said.
But some first-years said they thought a letter from the CUE would not be enough to mobilize students.
Both Friedman and Rosario said the cause might be better served by an organized event to let students meet and talk to faculty.
"Having something formal takes the pressure off," Rosario said.
Friedman suggested that an open house-type event for large courses would encourage students to speak to big-name professors.
"Dean [of Freshmen Elizabeth Studley] Nathans just had an open house, and people who were interested in meeting her went," he said. "Something like that could work for some of the bigger courses."