Under financial pressure and intense competition from other area schools, the Brandeis University Summer Odyssey program was discontinued last October, ending a long tradition of science research and learning for many high school students. This was the first summer that the program was absent.The decision, which former provost Mel Bernstein made in Oct. 2002, according to Advisor to the Provost Michaele Whelan, suspended the program that had been offered annually at Brandeis through the Rabb School of Summer and Continuing Studies. According to the University's statement on the program, the decision was made after "careful consultation with involved faculty, the School Council for Science and relevant departments such as admissions and development."

"This was a decision that needed to be made, (but) no one wanted to see the program go," said Dennis Nealon, director of Media Relations in the Office of Public Affairs.

Attended by sophomore, junior and senior high school students, the Summer Odyssey provided social and extra-curricular activities, in addition to the opportunity for high-level scientific studies and enrichment in a collegiate laboratory setting. The program operated as one of two distinct summer programs offered by Brandeis for high school students. The other, Genesis, is a program designed for students interested in arts, humanities, Jewish studies and social action, according to the Rabb School Web site.

Genesis celebrated its seventh year this summer and will continue its run. In the past, the two programs combined have claimed the participation of about 250 high school students each summer and 46 Brandeis alumni.

Whelan headed the academic evaluation of Summer Odyssey, a factor considered in the decision to close the program. According to Whelan, "All academic and economic factors were considered."

Whelan confirmed the program's considerable inability to compete as a "small university compared to large institutions" as one of the "key variables" in the decision.

Such larger colleges and universities have the advantage of relatively greater access to resources necessary to building and maintaining quality programs, according to Nealon.

A statement released to the Justice by the University, upon originally inquiring about the absence of Odyssey, said, "Institutions with medical schools, for example, have been able to offer more courses, for credit, in a wider range of subjects and with more infrastructure."

The statement cited "academic" and "economic" factors as reasons for the program's termination.

"Several variables contributed to the decision," the statement said, "including an inability by a relatively small university such as Brandeis to compete against much larger institutions when it comes to maintaining programs like Summer Odyssey."

According to Whelan, the Odyssey program was one of the first of its kind when it originated at Brandeis, precluding any concern about competition from other schools. Since larger institutions have developed similar programs, Brandeis Summer Odyssey has watched its applicant pool diminish consistently over the years. Universities, such as Stanford and Cornell, were enrolling 260 and 789 students respectively, while Brandeis was enrolling only 130.

This difficulty attracting students may be part of a larger trend throughout the Boston area, according to a Boston Globe article published in late July. The article, titled "College summer programs see dip," said that perhaps fewer families are willing to pay the cost of such programs, noting that an increase in financial aid applications coincides with the decrease in applications to summer programs.

The Globe found, for example, that Boston College and Harvard University, in addition to Brandeis, have experienced a reduction in applications. Brandeis specifically was mentioned for having experienced a 40-student drop in applications to the Genesis program. Only the Boston University research program, "one of the cheapest with tuition slightly more than $2,000," was cited in the article for an increase in applications this year.

Also deriving in part from Summer Odyssey's difficulty competing is a financial strain. According to Whelan, although Odyssey did not incur major losses to the University, it did not make a profit either.

"(The) current economy is a factor and it's always considered (but as) one of many, many factors," Nealon said. "Obviously these types of programs need dollars."

Union Senate Executive Reports from the week of March 28, further link financial and economic indicators to the decision to terminate the Odyssey program. According to Nicole Amarteifio '04, senator for racial minority students, the Rabb School informed her that "Summer Odyssey does not bring profit and therefore (will be) closed. Genesis (will not be, as it) has a large endowment."

Amarteifio added at the senate meeting, "Summer Odyssey at least attracted minority students. Both programs are needed."

Amarteifio was unavailable for comment for this article.

According to Nealon, "infinitely more resourceful" institutions will be able to meet the needs of programs similar to Odyssey, while Brandeis can focus its efforts completely on meeting the needs of and creating high standards for the programs it continues to offer.

"It's never easy to close a high quality program," Whelan said, noting Odyssey's asset of a "very dedicated director" and the sense that "many students really enjoyed the program."

Nonetheless, after a review of all factors, the team of decision-makers determined the closing of the program to be a necessary step. Whelan also said the University will continue to shift more focus towards the quality and status of all summer school programs.

"(Brandeis) must look to benefit the most students in the best possible way," Nealon said. "Brandeis strives to do what it does to the utmost. It looks to maintain its quality and intimacy. You see that in the decision (to discontinue the program).