Provost Announces Spring Office Hours

Provost Jerry R. Green will hold office hours next month, joining the growing number of top University administrators to set aside specific time to meet with students.

Green will be available to meet with all students in his Mass. Hall office on November 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. and on December 2 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., his assistant said yesterday.

Last fall, President Neil L. Rudenstine held his first office hours, which were widely seen as a symbol of his accessibility and openness. Rudenstine was compared to former President Derek C. Bok, who did not hold office hours in the later years of his presidency.

College officials, like Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 and Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, have long held office hours. Earlier this year, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Lawrence A. Buell announced office hours as well.

Green will hold the hours in Mass. Hall, although in an interview last week he said he will consider meeting with students in other areas of campus. He said Medical School students, for instance, might be inconvienced by a trip to the Yard.

Meeting with students may serve to increase Green's name recognition among students.

"It's very natural that people don't know who I am," Green said. He said that the second-ranking Universitywide official usually gets less attention than the president.

"Over time, I think the two of us should be treated as a pair," Green said. Office hours are one step toward that goal.

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles said in an interview yesterday that he has never held office hours as dean. He said he thinks meetings with student groups, like the Core Committee, for example, are more productive.

"For me, one of the best ways is question and answer in the Undergraduate Council, or a group of people," Knowles said. "I find that most helpful, seeing the shape of the gener- al concern as distinct from the idiosyncraticconcern."

Knowles said he would consider holding officehours if he perceived student interest.

"If it seems to be felt that office hours on aone-on-one basis are more helpful," he said, "Ishall do it."

The Crimson Staff contributed to thereporting of this story.

Knowles said he would consider holding officehours if he perceived student interest.

"If it seems to be felt that office hours on aone-on-one basis are more helpful," he said, "Ishall do it."

The Crimson Staff contributed to thereporting of this story.