An American Association Association of University Professors sub-committee yesterday commended Harvard and four other colleges for supporting faculty members accused of Communist affiliations.

The University was cited for taking no action against Wendell H. Furry, associate professor of Physics, who will be tried for contempt of Congress in May. Though Furry answered questions about his own Communist activities, he refused to speak about his research associates and was thus charged with contempt.

Cornell University was praised for keeping Marcus Singer, a former instructor in Zoology here, on its payroll after indictment, although it did relieve him of his teaching duties. Singer was convicted last Friday of contempt of Congress but has appealed.

The AANP group also recommended that the University of California, Ohio State University, Rutgers, Temple, and Jefferson Medical College be censured for firing or suspending faculty members in civil rights controversies.