FAS Faculty Approves New Language Citation

By Alvin Powell

Contributing Writer

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences approved a new language citation program Tuesday that will recognize students who pursue advanced work in foreign languages and aims to encourage more students to study language beyond Harvard's one-year requirement.

Faculty members also gave the go-ahead for a new system of funding graduate student education which will move toward four-year financial aid packages in an effort to provide more financial stability for graduate students. They also approved a new smoking policy that will ban smoking in University residence halls, including common areas, offices, and studentsÕ rooms. The current policy only bans smoking in common areas.

The new language program grew out of a discussion at a Faculty Meeting a year ago about how to increase student interest in learning languages without creating new requirements. The language citation will appear on students' transcript and be noted in the Commencement program.

Supporters of the program said it is an effort to reverse a decades-long trend during which fewer and fewer students continued language study to advanced levels. Dean for Undergraduate Education William Todd introduced the proposal and said he believes it will serve the goal of bringing more students to advanced language proficiency. Along with advanced language skills, the program will also enhance cultural understanding.

The citation program will consist of four half-courses of language instruction beyond the first-year level. Courses that are not language courses but are taught in a foreign language will also count toward that requirement. Two of the half-courses must be at the third-year level of instruction or beyond. Students must receive a B- or better in order for the courses to count toward the citation.

Some faculty members questioned whether a citation is the best way to encourage advanced language study. Some professors said that there are other skills that are important to encourage in students and questioned whether the language citation program would open the door to a host of citations for a variety of different programs below the level of a concentration.

The program, which will be reviewed five years after the first citations are received, was approved on a voice vote despite the dissent.

The faculty unanimously approved the changes in graduate student financial aid. Discussed thoroughly at the last Faculty Meeting in April, the changes are intended to make Harvard more attractive to top graduate students. They extend to four years the current two-year financial commitment the University makes to entering students and take into account the fact that many graduate students become teaching fellows.

Before approving the changes, the faculty approved an amendment to the proposal that established certain principles to ensure that undergraduate learning is the paramount concern in selecting teachers and to reinforce the responsibility of the course instructor in selection and evaluation of graduate student teachers.

The amendment requires a report on the new system in three years. A discussion of additional funding for graduate student financial aid, if needed, would occur at that time.

President Neil L. Rudenstine praised the new program, saying it is an important step for the University and the graduate school.

The new smoking policy was approved without discussion. The measure would include the following new language in the 1998-1999 Handbook for Students:

"As of fall term, 1998-1999, smoking is prohibited in all areas of Houses and dormitories, including but not restricted to all common areas, offices, tutor residences and student bedrooms and common rooms. Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action and in cancellation of the rooming contract. University Health Services provides education and assistance to students who wish to stop smoking. Students may contact University Health Services, Center for Wellness and Health Communication at 495-9629 for further information."