But a tough recruiting environment, space constraints and the perception that Harvard does not tenure its own junior faculty are all major obstacles to growth that students and faculty alike say is necessary to the future of undergraduate education.

Spread Too Thin

Dean of Undergraduate Education Susan G. Pedersen '82 says the need for more faculty is widely recognized among deans and professors.

"Many colleagues seem to be quite overworked--we're simply spread too thin," she said.

Departments like psychology that have experienced a recent surge in concentrators have been most affected by understaffing.

According to Psychology Department Chair Daniel L. Schacter, the department has had to recruit additional lecturers thesis advisors from the Medical School in order to meet undergraduate demand.

Professor of Psychology Stephen M. Kosslyn painted a picture of a department more likely to be found at a large state school than at a private university.

"The whole system is being stretched," he said. "Students are having trouble getting into concentration requirements because they're full; [they] can't get people to advise their theses."