Brown University News Bureau

The Brown University News Bureau

1995-1996 index

Distributed March 6, 1996
Contact: Mark Nickel

A lifelong community of scholars

Brown University announces creation of Royce Fellows Program

The Royce Fellows Program, established by a $3-million gift from alumnus Charles Royce '61, will provide support for undergraduate research projects and other academic enrichment and confer lifelong membership in the Society of Royce Fellows.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- This spring, Brown University will honor some of its most outstanding undergraduate scholars by admitting them to lifelong membership in a new honorary society.

The Royce Fellows Program, announced recently by the Office of the Dean of the College, celebrates exceptional academic performance, creativity, leadership and community service by undergraduates. It will support research and other educational enrichment projects of each fellow's choosing and will confer lifetime membership in the Society of Royce Fellows.

"Through the Royce Fellows Program, we hope to establish a community of scholars - students, faculty and alumni - that will enrich academic life on campus and improve the University's ability to attract and retain the nation's most promising young scholars," said Kenneth Sacks, dean of the College. "The concern for supporting excellence in scholarship and service is a direct reflection of Charles Royce's work on the Corporation Committee on Admission and Financial Aid" (CAFA).

The Royce Fellows Program was established by a $3-million gift from Charles Royce, a 1961 graduate of Brown and parent of two Brown graduates. Royce, president of the Royce Funds, served as a University trustee from 1989 to 1995 and was an active member of several committees, including CAFA, which he chaired in 1994-95. He remains active with CAFA as a trustee emeritus.

Royce Fellows will receive awards of up to $4,000 that will support a proposed research or curricular project or a public service project during the summer or academic year. The award includes a small stipend and additional support to meet such project expenses as travel to conferences, purchase of books, acquisition of software or research equipment and so forth.

A group of eight senior faculty has been invited by President Vartan Gregorian to become members of the society and help establish it as a challenging and enriching environment within the University. The Royce Society will meet regularly throughout the academic year to develop a collective identity and sense of common purpose and to engage distinguished guests of the University in discussions.

All students who have attended Brown for at least one year are eligible for consideration as Royce Fellows, although the selection process has a strong preference for rising juniors. Undergraduates may apply on their own behalf or may be nominated by faculty. Application materials are available from the Swearer Center for Public Service, which will administer the program. A selection committee of faculty, deans and administrators will review proposals and award fellowships. Deadline for the first round of applications and project proposals is April 2. The 1995-96 Royce Fellows will be announced by May 1.

All students who hold National Scholarships at Brown will be automatically considered as candidates, and two well-established University programs will provide an additional means of identifying applicants: the Undergraduate Teaching and Research Assistantships (UTRAs) and several programs supervised by the Howard R. Swearer Center for Public Service. The most meritorious students from those programs will be recommended for consideration as Royce Fellows. If they receive fellowships, their UTRA or Swearer Center projects will be supported through the Royce Programs.

"In addition to its recognition and support of excellence, membership in the Royce Society will become a lifelong tie to Brown," Sacks said. "The Royce Society will be recognized as a voice that offers insights into the nature of undergraduate life at Brown, and Royce Fellows will demonstrate the social awareness and intellectual values that define the Brown ideal."

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