Faculty Members Discuss Diversity, Ph.D. Prospects

By Debra Bradley Ruder

Gazette Staff

The value of having a student body that is racially, ethnically, geographically, and otherwise diverse was the topic of lively discussion at Tuesday's meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

"I think this is an extremely significant issue for American higher education," President Neil L. Rudenstine said upon introducing a discussion about his recent report, "Diversity and Learning." He reaffirmed the message of his report and his April 4 statement to the community, emphasizing the profound educational benefits of having students live and learn within a pluralistic university.

Several faculty members applauded the commitment to a diverse student body, while others raised questions about Harvard's admissions policies.

Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, described the enormous growth in the Asian-American undergraduate population. "I've had to totally revise the way I teach," given the influx of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and others into her classroom. "This University is a much more interesting place to teach than it was when I started here," she said. "Diversity has tremendously enriched the University."

Harvey Mansfield, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government, wondered what racial preferences Harvard gives to achieve diversity among students, faculty, and staff. "If we don't know what we're doing, we ought to take stock," he said.

Ruth Wisse, professor of Yiddish literature and of comparative literature, said she is concerned that the emphasis on ethnic diversity has gone hand-in-hand with increased intellectual conformism and a fear of offending others who might be different from oneself -- what some call "political correctness."

Both she and Mansfield suggested that diversity represents a political and partisan issue.

"I do not see this as a political debate," Rudenstine countered. Harvard's approach to admissions is "not only not partisan, it's actually consistent with the law of the land."

Asked by a student about the recently randomized housing selection process, the President said he generally supports the move because the structures of the institution ought to reflect its commitment to encouraging people of different backgrounds to interact.

The Faculty also discussed future job prospects for Ph.D. recipients. A recent report by the FAS Office of Career Services found that only 27 percent of doctoral candidates graduating in 1994-95 landed teaching appointments immediately, compared to 41 percent in 1986. Although 34 percent of those earning degrees in 1994-95 had secured postdoctoral positions in academia, nearly 14 percent were not yet employed by the time of graduation.

Richard Tarrant, Acting Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), described some options for addressing the problem.

Faculty can, for example, help doctoral students find work by offering advice on job searches and resume writing, and by encouraging students to consider alternatives to academic positions. Many graduate students are hesitant to consider other options -- or at least to tell their advisers they are doing so -- "since they may feel that they are failing themselves or us," Tarrant said.

Tarrant recommended against shrinking admissions to the Graduate School for several reasons, including the fact that graduate programs need a minimum number of doctoral students to create a stimulating learning environment. He said more data is needed on the employment status of Ph.D.'s a few years out of school.

Anthropology Professor Peter Ellison noted that the current GSAS funding formula penalizes departments like his own that choose to reduce the number of graduate students in order to concentrate the investment on those who are accepted.

In other business Tuesday:

* Faculty applauded three faculty members who were recently promoted to full professor from within: Richard McNally (psychology), Goran Ekstrom (earth and planetary sciences), and Stephen Rosen (government).

* FAS Dean Jeremy R. Knowles announced that the Committee on Concentration in Physical Sciences has voted to disband, and that the Faculty Council has confirmed the vote. No new concentrators will be accepted beginning with the Class of 2000.

* Knowles, in response to a student's question, said that two FAS committees are reviewing the possibility of reducing the size of class sections, but that no proposals are imminent.