Pedersen also reminded the Faculty of the importance of offering a sufficient number of Core classes each semester.

Pedersen said that she and Knowles are working to reach the goal of 12 courses in each Core area per year, and that they are considering increasing departmental alternatives for the Core areas.

At the meeting, Professor Richard F. Thomas, chair of the classics department, said he was concerned that asking more professors to teach Freshmen seminars and Core classes would result in fewer professors to teach small departmental courses.

Knowles also emphasized his overall goal for the Faculty: increasing its size.

"This is a very important moment of financial stability for the Faculty," he said. "Without focus we could lose an extraordinary opportunity to improve the quality of the institution."

Knowles emphasized that increasing the size of the Faculty would benefit each of the three constituencies of the institution--undergraduates, graduate students and the members of the Faculty themselves.

He said such an increase would allow more senior professors to teach Freshmen seminars, and perhaps provide more opportunities for Faculty leave.