William C. Mao and Veronica H. Paulus

A Faculty of Arts and Sciences committee released a report Friday concluding that many Harvard College students self-censor when discussing controversial topics and frequently prioritize extracurricular commitments over their academics.

The committee recommended strengthening course attendance requirements, discouraging phone use in class, standardizing grading, and amending student and faculty handbooks to include a classroom confidentiality policy.

The group — dubbed the Classroom Social Compact Committee — was convened by FAS Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra in February during a moment of both hand-wringing and soul-searching over the state of free speech on Harvard’s campus.

And its report comes amid a wider push from faculty to bring students back into the classroom amid complaints that students underemphasize academics and seek out easier courses.

“Many Harvard College students do not prioritize their courses and some view extensive extracurricular commitments as a more fulfilling, meaningful, and useful allocation of their time,” the report’s authors wrote. “Most faculty view student curricular disengagement with alarm.”

The committee, led by History professor Maya R. Jasanoff ’96 and Economics professor David I. Laibson ’88, was tasked with developing guidelines for student engagement and classroom dialogue. Its seven members conducted more than 30 listening sessions and reviewed 11 surveys of students, faculty, and alumni, including undergraduate course evaluations.

FAS Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra endorsed the committee’s recommendations in a letter to Jasanoff and Laibson, writing that they “promise to bring us closer to a learning environment that is worthy of Harvard and aligned with what are emerging as our shared aspirations as a faculty.”