Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson and Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine shake hands after the announcement. Photo by Rose Lincoln.

Radcliffe College and Harvard University on April 20 announced their intention to merge and thereby establish the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study as an integral part of Harvard. The governing boards of both institutions have approved the key elements to frame a formal agreement.

The Institute will be an interdisciplinary center where leading scholars can promote learning and scholarship across a broad array of academic and professional fields within the setting of a major university. A key feature of the Radcliffe Institute will be a continuing commitment to the study of women, gender, and society. The Institute also will offer non- degree educational programs.

"This exciting plan is a natural progression in Radcliffe's history, joining the interests of both Radcliffe and Harvard on an important intellectual frontier," said Nancy-Beth Gordon Sheerr, chairman of the Radcliffe College Board of Trustees. "Our new design will make the Radcliffe of the future a larger and more significant institution squarely within Harvard and offer stellar new opportunities to explore issues of deep concern to women."

"Today's announcement represents an historic step for Radcliffe and Harvard," said Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine. "It will bring together the intellectual, human, and financial resources of both institutions in a way that benefits both. This opens a new chapter in a partnership more than a century old, and launches an exciting new venture."

"For generations Radcliffe has promoted women's higher education, studied women's lives, and enhanced their opportunities to make significant contributions in the world," said Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson. "This new incarnation of Radcliffe within Harvard will extend our reach while continuing in a new form our historic mission and community of alumnae, alumni, and friends."

At the announcement of the historic agreement were (from left to right) Mary Maples Dunn, director of the Schlesinger Library, who will become the interim leader of Radcliffe in July; Nancy-Beth Gordon Sheerr, chairman of the Radcliffe College Board of Trustees; Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson; and Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine. Photo by Jon Chase.

Rudenstine noted that an academic planning process for the Institute, building on Radcliffe's current programs, will begin this summer. "The academic content of the Institute's programs will be shaped by the Dean of the Institute in consultation with faculty members, leaders at Radcliffe, and other advisers," he explained.

"I am enthusiastic about both aspects of the new Institute's mission," said Harvard Provost Harvey V. Fineberg, who oversees inter-faculty initiatives at the University. "The Radcliffe Institute will fortify and enhance already strong programs at Radcliffe and throughout the University concerned with women, gender, and society. And the Institute will become a powerful new vehicle at Harvard to promote scholarship and career advancement across a spectrum of fields."

The Institute will attract excellent scholars at every career stage, according to Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Jeremy R. Knowles. "More established colleagues will come and enrich our environment, and I expect that junior faculty will have new opportunities for the support of their scholarly work," Knowles said. "Over the past hundred years, Radcliffe has led us to the full integration of undergraduate women into Harvard College, and -- in this exciting transformation -- the Radcliffe Institute will now support advanced study across the intellectual landscape."

Wilson also announced that after 10 years as President of Radcliffe, she will step down and take a sabbatical that was long delayed to ensure the completion of Radcliffe's planning for its future. In July, Mary Maples Dunn, director of the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe and former President of Smith College, will be appointed as the interim leader of Radcliffe and will serve until the permanent Dean of the Radcliffe Institute is appointed.

Among the elements of the proposed agreement are:

• The Radcliffe Institute will bring together faculty, fellows, visiting scholars, and creative artists representing a variety of fields of study, scholarly approaches, and career stages.

• The Radcliffe Institute will sustain a commitment to the study of women, gender, and society.

• The Radcliffe Institute will offer non-degree educational programs.

• Harvard's President will appoint the first permanent Dean of the Radcliffe Institute in consultation with, and with confirmation by, a special committee composed of leaders from both Radcliffe and Harvard.

• The Dean of the Radcliffe Institute will participate in the leadership and management of the University in the same manner as the Deans of Harvard's nine Faculties.

• Radcliffe will be merged legally with Harvard, and Radcliffe's assets will become part of the University. Radcliffe and Harvard each will dedicate approximately $150 million to support the programs of the Institute. The remainder of Radcliffe's current endowment, approximately $50 million, will continue to be dedicated to support undergraduate financial aid.

• The Radcliffe Institute will be centered in Radcliffe Yard and surrounding properties currently owned by Radcliffe College. Undergraduates will continue to be housed in the Radcliffe Quadrangle.

• Women undergraduates will be admitted directly to Harvard in the same manner as men.

• Individual members of the Radcliffe Institute may teach in the programs of Harvard's Faculties and Schools, by arrangement with the appropriate Deans, and consistent with each Faculty's established procedures.

• The Institute will offer such activities as symposia, colloquia, workshops, and conferences open to the University community as a whole, including undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, fellows, and graduates.

• After President Wilson steps down from her post, Mary Maples Dunn, director of the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe and former President of Smith College, will be appointed interim leader of Radcliffe and will be expected to serve until a permanent Dean of the Radcliffe Institute is appointed.