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Lawrence H Summers who became the President of Harvard University in 2001, had devised an expansion plan for the University. In early 2005, in the midst of the implementation of expansion plans, Summers got enmeshed in a highly publicised battle with Harvard''s ''powerful'' Faculty of Arts and Sciences, after a remark he made in the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER) conference that women had less innate ability to perform in science and mathematics than men. Although Summers repeatedly apologised for his comments later, critics commented that Summers'' remarks were ''wildly inappropriate'' coming from the head of the nation''s oldest university. Meanwhile, some faculty members voiced a ‘lack of confidence’ in Summers'' management and leadership style, and condemned his controversial statements about the abilities of women. Some analysts felt that resuming the expansion plans would be difficult in the light of the ‘lack of confidence’ motion by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which was considered to be a strong lobby in the university. This case study details the growth plans formulated by Summers in the light of the fast-changing global economy. The case helps discuss whether the series of controversies, can act as a hindrance for Summers to continue with his growth plans for the university.