Unit 13. Harvard university

Harvard University, which celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1986, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Harvard College was established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was named for its first benefactor, John Harvard of Charlestown, a young minister who, upon his death in 1638, left his library and half his estate to the new institution.

Founded 16 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, the University has grown from 9 students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 18 000 degree candidates, including undergraduates and students in 10 principal academic units. An additional 13 000 students are enrolled in one or more courses in the Harvard Extension School. Over 14 000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2 000 teachers.

The University has two governing boards. The first one - The Harvard Corporation - known formally as the President and Fellows of Harvard College - is the University's executive board. The second board is the oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere, the seven-member board, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University's finances and business affairs. Significant matters of educational and institutional policy are also brought before the President and Fellows by the President and Deans.

In appointing professors to tenured positions, Harvard conducts nationwide - and, in many cases, worldwide - searches to identify men and women who are the leading scholars and teachers in their fields. Although the process leading to tenured appointments varies from School to School, in each case the final appointment is subject to approval by the President and the Governing Boards of the University.

You can ask yourself: Who is the typical Harvard student? The answer is that there is no such person, because each student is a unique individual. Seven presidents of the United States – John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and George W. Bush – were graduates of Harvard. Its faculty have produced more than 40 Nobel laureates.

Harvard men and women represent an array of ethnic groups, religious traditions, and political persuasions. They come from every region of the United States and more than 100 other countries. They include undergraduates and graduates, continuing education, and Summer School students. In 1997, Mary Fasano became the oldest person ever to earn a Harvard degree when she graduated from the Extension School at the age of 89.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Answer the questions.

1. When was Harvard University founded?

2. Who established the University?

3. Who is the University named for?

4. Who was its first benefactor?

5. What is the administrative structure of the University?

6. How many people work at Harvard?

7. Who is the typical Harvard student?

8. Are all Harvard students American?

9. Do you know any famous people – graduates of Harvard?

10. How old was the oldest Harvard student?

Exercise 2. Insert the right word.

Additional, responsible, day-to-day, persuasions, worldwide, significant, policy, affairs, anniversary, enrolments, field, estate, array, board, was founded.

1. Jack and Kim celebrated their twentieth wedding … in January.

2. His … was valued at $150 000.

3. Student …have more than doubled this year.

4. Eton College … by Henry VI in 1440.

5. … information can be obtained from the centre.

6. There was disagreement among the agency's … of governors.

7. We have offices in over 56 countries….

8. Peter's an expert in his….

9. There was a vast …of flowers to choose from.

10. We need people with talent, whatever their political….

11. Please inform us if there are any … changes in your plans

12. The company has adopted a strict no-smoking….

13. The airline is legally …for the safety of its passengers.

14. I am not prepared to discuss my financial …with the press.

15. The manager is responsible for the … running of the hotel.

Exercise 3. Match the abbreviations with their definitions.

1. PhD BrE , Ph.D. AmE A. Bachelor of Arts

2. M.Sc. BrE or M.S. – AmE B. Bachelor of Science

3. MA C. Doctor of Philosophy

4. BA D. Master of Science

5. BSc BrE; B.S AmE E. Master of Arts

Exercise 4. Match the word with its definition.

1. Undergraduate A. a first university degree in a subject such as history, languages, or English literature

2. Graduate B. a university degree in a subject such as history, languages, or English literature that you can get after your first degree

3. Postgraduate C. a university degree of a very high level, which involves doing advanced research

4. Degree D. a first university degree, such as a BA, BSc., or B.S

5. Doctor of Philosophy E. a student at college or university, who is working for their first degree

6. Master's degree SEC F. someone who has completed a university degree, especially a first degree

7. Master of Arts G. the qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course

8. Master of Science H. a university degree such as an MA, M.Sc., or M.S., that you can get by studying for one or two years after your first degree

9. Bachelor's degree SEC I. a first university degree in a science subject

10. Bachelor of Arts G. a university degree in a science subject that you can get after your first degree

11. Bachelor of Science K. someone who is studying at a university to get a master's degree or a PhD

Exercise 5. Match the figures and the nouns as they are used in the UNIT.

1. 350

2. 18 000

3. 16

4. 40

5. 2 000

6. 89

7. 13 000

8. 100

9. 14 000

10. 10

11. 2

12. 9

13. 7 000

A) students

B) people

C) teachers

D) anniversary

E) degree candidates

F) years

G) academic units

H) appointments

I) years old

J) students

K) Nobel laureates

L) countries

M) boards

Exercise 6. Find the English equivalent to the Russian verb.

1. Отмечать

2. Учреждать

3. Основывать

4. Включать в себя

5. Быть ответственным за что-либо

6. Назначать

7. Одобрять

8. Продолжать

9. Представлять

10. Становиться