Reischauer said the review’s launch in the fall of 2009 was part of and motivated by a broader University effort to re-examine its policies in the aftermath of the financial crisis—a moment of self-reflection for the broader University community.

“The fact is that all parts of the University have been asked to look themselves in the mirror, reassess how they might do their job to the optimal degree, and it’s only natural that we should do the same thing,” Reischauer said.

But—just as many parts of the University continue to make changes after the economic downturn—it may take years to assess whether the Corporation’s pledge to be more open will actually be realized.

“They have made their vows, but so do men and women make vows in marriage. In seven years, half of them have broken their vows,” Abernathy said. “So we’ll have to wait and see.”

—Staff writer Elias J. Groll can be reached at egroll@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Zoe A. Y. Weinberg can be reached at zoe.weinberg@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer William N. White can be reached at wwhite@fas.harvard.edu.