"Neither prefects nor other undergraduates may see the student records on which comprehensive and appropriately-informed advising needs to be based," Nathans writes.
Some proctors agree that access to records gives them an advantage over potential peer advisors.
"The confidential information is very helpful," says James I. White, a proctor in Greenough.
But White also notes that many students decide to explore academic areas at Harvard that depart from what they were interested in in high school.
Others are not convinced that peer advisors would be at a serious disadvantage in giving good advice because of their lack of access to a student's academic records.
"I think that information is incredibly irrelevant," Melanie A. Brennand '01, a former officer of the Prefect Program. "As far as I'm concerned, everyone starts on a clean slate here."
THE ROLE OF A PREFECT
Read more in News
TECH Off and Running, But Still Defining ItselfRecommended Articles
-
Peer Academic Advising: Not for First-YearsImproving academic advising for freshman is one of Dean of Freshman Elizabeth Studley Nathans' top priorities, and her rallying behind
-
Time to Talk Birds 'n BeesL AST WEEK THE Crimson reported that an upperclass prefect had resigned after becoming romantically involved with a freshman advisee.
-
New Dean, Old ProblemThe appointment of Monique Rinere as the first associate dean of advising programs is an encouraging sign that the College
-
College Pulls Plug On PrefectsThe 20-year-old Prefect Program will be abolished effective this fall, the new Associate Dean of Advising Programs Monique Rinere said
-
Perfecting PrefectsEarlier this week, Associate Dean of Advising Programs Monique Rinere announced the the creation of a Student Advisory Board (SAB)
-
DISSENTING OPINION: Prefects + Advising = 3For far too long, the College’s Prefect Program has underwhelmed. While admittedly well-intentioned, the program has suffered mainly from a