Since faculty members are relatively few compared to the number of students, there is a limit to how many committees—which must include a full faculty member as one of three readers—can be assembled in a given year.

In trying to meet the needs of an expanding undergraduate population, the department has addressed the thesis adviser crunch by expanding the “Board of Honors Tutors,” a group of non-departmental researchers who may serve as thesis advisers.

The tutors, many of whom are faculty members of the Harvard Medical and Business Schools, “offer our students a wonderful expansion of research opportunities,” says Harriman.

But for many students who have interests outside of those studied by the approved advisers, putting together a committee of readers and finding an adviser can be a Herculean task.

“I planned on writing a thesis even before I came to college,” says Ron L. Chapman ’03, but adds he encountered too many problems finding an adviser and eventually gave up on the idea.

Chapman, who plans to go to graduate school for counseling psychology, says he wanted to write on religion and interracial relationships, but could not find a faculty member willing to advise him.

“I went through five or six different people, and they all asked ‘how can you tie that into the research I’m already doing,’ and then, ‘I can’t help you,’” he says.

“I didn’t realize until junior year that no one was willing to reach out of their own area,” he says.

The department suggested he try the Divinity School, but again he had no luck. “They kept giving me names, and it kept not working out. I just bounced back and forth,” he says.

Communication Disorder

Chapman says his main complaint about the department is continued miscommunication.

“I’d like to see [the department] more willing to help you, like other departments. It would’ve been helpful if they made their expectations clearer.”

Carlene M. MacMillan ’03, who is writing a thesis this fall, says “the hoops [you have to jump through] to find a committee are a pain, and not beneficial.”

MacMillan says her road to thesis-writing was fraught with miscommunication with the department.

“I think they’re not clear about what they expect,” says MacMillan.