Opinion: Sections Are Too Large

Harvard College students are speaking out about the ineffectiveness of large section sizes in their classes, with many calling for a shift to smaller, more engaging tutorials.

A recent column by a Harvard student highlighted the frustration felt by many students who feel that the current class structure at the prestigious university is failing to provide them with a meaningful learning experience. The student shared a message from a friend who admitted to graduating with a decent GPA despite knowing almost nothing about economics, a major red flag for an Economics concentrator.

The issue of large section sizes has been a long-standing concern at Harvard, with a failed campaign from a teaching fellow-led organization a decade ago pushing for smaller section sizes of 12 students. Despite this, the average section size at the College remains around 15 students, according to a 2019 document from the Program in General Education.

Students argue that large sections lead to underwhelming learning experiences, with many students simply going through the motions to earn participation points. Smaller tutorials, on the other hand, encourage more active participation and in-depth discussions, ultimately leading to a more enriching learning experience.

The call for smaller section sizes has gained momentum, with students advocating for a shift to a tutorial model that caps class sizes at around 10 students or fewer. While this would require additional resources in terms of hiring more teaching fellows and course assistants, students believe that the investment in improving student learning is well worth it.

Ultimately, students hope that by implementing smaller section sizes, Harvard can truly deliver on its promise of providing a transformative educational experience for all students.