Consultants program

Last year, the Committee on Physics Faculties in Colleges recommended the establishment of a pilot program of continuing consultants to colleges. “The advice and assistance of established physicists,” said the COPFIC report to the physics community (Physics Today, May 1964, p 38), “will be helpful to colleges that are seeking to improve their curriculum and the opportunities for faculty research”. With the COPFIC proposals as a basis, the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics applied to the National Science Foundation to have a consultants project included within the NSF‐sponsored Visiting Scientists Program. This authorization was subsequently granted, and now arrangements are under way to launch a pilot program this spring in about ten college physics departments, enabling them to secure the continuing services of consultants from larger institutions. If the project is successful and support is available, it will be continued and expanded.