Included in the report is ACUP's recommended distribution of an unallocated $450,000 in the FY01 budget, with $200,000 going toward the University's technology and information infrastructure, $100,000 for the library's acquisition budget, and $150,000 toward graduate student financial aid. During a portion of the meeting, a student group held a silent demonstration in support of a need-blind admissions policy
At its May 1 meeting, the Advisory Committee on University Planning (ACUP) finalized its spring semester report on budget priorities, but not before hearing two students speak on behalf of nearly 100 others who sat silently in the Corporation Room to demonstrate their support for a need-blind admissions policy.
Included in the report, which will be submitted to President Blumstein, is ACUP's recommended distribution of an unallocated $450,000 in the FY01 budget. The report recommends that $200,000 go toward the University's technology and information infrastructure; $100,000 go toward the University library's acquisition budget; and $150,000 go toward graduate student financial aid.
The report acknowledges that support for each of these priorities serves the interest of the entire University, and that "these allocations are simply first steps in what the committee hopes are longer-term commitments."
In addition, the report offers recommendations about benefits, classroom quality, deferred maintenance and capital projects.
But it was the recommendation about a need-blind admissions policy that produced the most discussion. ACUP members continued a debate begun at its April 24 meeting. At that time, several members backed a recommendation that Brown establish a deadline for becoming fully need blind. Others countered that the University's current financial aid policy, which meets 100 percent of an undergraduate's financial need, is a more important principle to support. Still others noted that improved financial aid packages for graduate students would enhance the University's mission overall.
When ACUP resumed its consideration of University priorities on May 1, Seth Andrew '00, president of the Undergraduate Council of Students, and Jennie Leszkiewicz '01, the council's vice president, addressed ACUP on behalf of the silent demonstrators. Andrew scolded ACUP for supporting construction of the Life Science Building and "renovations to the president's house" at the expense of achieving need-blind admissions. Leszkiewicz said a need-blind admissions policy "is fundamental to our perception to the outside world and our perception of ourselves," and asserted that alumni refuse to contribute to Brown because it is not need blind.
The ACUP report to Blumstein recommends "that the University vigorously continue its efforts toward adopting a fully 'need-blind' admissions system for undergraduate students" and notes that Brown has made strides toward need-blind admissions "through the implementation of a plan of indexing and incremental fundraising." However, the report makes no specific recommendation about funding a need-blind policy. Instead, members will await a report from a financial aid task force, which is expected to offer several options for addressing the need-blind issue. The task force, led by Corporation Trustee Frederic Alper, will deliver its report to Blumstein this month.
When ACUP resumes meeting next fall, it will consider the options outlined in the Alper report as well as athletics funding, major capital building projects, and task force reports on diversity issues and campus life.