Although the committee members are sworn to secrecy, the most frequently mentioned shortlist candidates include University of Michigan President Lee C. Bollinger, Harvard Provost Harvey V. Fineberg '67, former Princeton Dean of the Faculty Amy Gutmann '71 and former treasury secretary Lawrence H. Summers.

An announcement on the 27th president of Harvard is expected by the end of the month.

Charles L. Slichter '45, who chaired the search committee that selected current President Neil L. Rudenstine, said that the presidential search committee needs to be coy when dealing with the Overseers.

They must balance the need for confidentiality with a need to inform the Overseers, who vote to confirm the search committee's final recommendation.

Speaking about the December Overseers meeting, at which search chair Robert G. Stone Jr. '45 read the group a list of candidates for the presidency, Slichter said that it was possible that the search committee already had a few candidates in mind for closer consideration.

"I could well imagine that the search committee didn't reveal all to the Overseers at that time," he said. "I don't think the Overseers would consider that to be dishonest."

The Overseers meet on a regular basis throughout the academic year. If a new president is decided before the next meeting of the board, as is likely to be the case, the Overseers will convene a special meeting to ratify the choice.