But Summers said that the proposed efforts would compromise the University’s standards and reaffirmed their importance.

“There is...significant evidence that suggests [there exist], if not overt discrimination, habits of mind that lead to a kind of passive discrimination,” he said.

Kirby said the matter would be put to a longer discussion at November’s Faculty meeting.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Also at yesterday’s meeting, Summers spoke optimistically about the University’s continued accessibility to foreign students despite the introduction of stricter visa procedures following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

While the number of international students has dropped in past years, Summers said more foreign students came to Harvard this year. He said that the number of students unable to attend Harvard decreased by 80 percent this year because of the government’s procedural reform and the continuing dialogue between University and government officials.

Summers said the University is also working to change the perception among foreign students that barriers to attending American universities are prohibitive. He mentioned the University’s decision to cover the cost of the fee for the immigration check to enter the United States as “an important symbolic step” towards altering that perception.

He also raised concerns regarding export control rules that may be interpreted to ban foreigners’ ability to use sophisticated scientific equipment in the lab. Such laws are laxly interpreted today though may be reapplied in the future to inhibit foreign professors’ and students’ access to such equipment.

Summers said that “the currently prevailing interpretation [of the law] will be the continuing interpretation.” The Faculty also unanimously approved the creation of standing committees of higher degrees in systems biology and in chemical biology.

—Staff writer Laura L. Krug can be reached at krug@fas.harvard.edu. —Staff writer William C. Marra can be reached at wmarra@fas.harvard.edu.