News
Amid Boston Overdose Crisis, a Pair of Harvard Students Are Bringing Narcan to the Red Line
News
At First Cambridge City Council Election Forum, Candidates Clash Over Building Emissions
News
Harvard’s Updated Sustainability Plan Garners Optimistic Responses from Student Climate Activists
News
‘Sunroof’ Singer Nicky Youre Lights Up Harvard Yard at Crimson Jam
News
‘The Architect of the Whole Plan’: Harvard Law Graduate Ken Chesebro’s Path to Jan. 6
Dean Elder, in his recurrent crusade to shorten the academic life of the Harvard graduate student, is now reportedly seeking Faculty approval of a plan limiting Ph.D. candidates to a three year term of residence.
The proposal, aimed at the ten per cent of GSAS students who show signs of turning professional, is commendable as an attempt to eliminate graduate deadwood. It is unpalatable, however, as a program for the Ph.D.
Its inflexibility would have the effect of either ignoring the research problems which constantly beset the most well-intentioned thesis writer or discouraging students from undertaking ambitious projects which they feel might carry them beyond the three-year limit.
If the Harvard Ph.D. is to remain a meaningful achievement, the GSAS must, admittedly, dispense with those students who simply enjoy Cambridge life, but have no real interest in a scholastic carrer. On the other hand, an arbitrary Ph.D. curriculum, such as Elder proposes, would also eliminate those students who, for various reasons, could not complete their thesis in time.
Unless Dean Elder revises his program to take these contingencies into account, his plan could be more of a danger to Ph.D. standards than a help.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.