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Letter from the President

February 2007

Dear Members of the Brown Community,

The Corporation of Brown University has just completed its regular February meeting. The weekend's agenda was particularly full, and the discussions at the Friday retreat were comprehensive, thoughtful, and informative.  I am writing to share a few highlights with you.

ACTIONS OF THE CORPORATION

With the terms of the senior officers of the Corporation expiring on June 30, 2007, the Corporation elected new officers at its business meeting on Saturday morning.  I am pleased to report that Thomas J. Tisch, a 1976 Brown graduate and managing partner of a private investment firm in New York City, will become Brown¹s 20th chancellor on July 1.  He succeeds Stephen Robert '62, who has served as chancellor for nine years. Jerome C. Vascellaro, a 1974 graduate, was elected as vice chancellor, succeeding Marie J. Langlois '64.  The Corporation voted to extend by one year the terms of Wendy J. Strothman '72, secretary, and Matthew J. Mallow '64, treasurer.  More information is available online at http://www.brown.edu/news/2006-07/06-102.html

Renovation of Faunce House

In recognition of Chancellor Stephen Robert's years of extraordinary and dedicated service to the University, and in appreciation of his very generous gift for the purpose, the Corporation approved a major renovation and reorganization of Faunce House as a new campus center. The new space, which will be named the Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center, will be open to students on a 24-hour, 7-day basis, and will include a variety of improvements to enhance student and community life at Brown. More information is available online at
http://www.brown.edu/news/2006-07/06-104.html

Slavery and Justice

The Corporation endorsed a set of initiatives in response to the Report of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice.  The University's full response can be found on the Slavery and Justice Web site at http://brown.edu/slaveryjustice.

Center for International Economics

The Corporation received a gift from William R. Rhodes, an alumnus and trustee emeritus of Brown, to create and endow both the William R. Rhodes '57 Center for International Economics and the William R. Rhodes '57 Professorship in International Economics.  The Rhodes Center will be important as the University expands its international relationships and its curricular offerings in global affairs. More information is available online at http://www.brown.edu/news/2006- 07/06-106.html

Budget and Tuition

The University's consolidated budget will increase 6.4 percent next year to nearly $705 million in order to support priorities of the Plan for Academic Enrichment and to allow a series of additional initiatives, including the University's growing international interests and an expansion of undergraduate housing. The FY08 budget will fund continuing growth of the Brown faculty, adding between 15 and 25 positions for the 2007-08 academic year.  Tuition and fees will increase by 5 percent; and the budget will provide a 10 percent increase in undergraduate financial aid resources over what the University will have spent at the end of the current fiscal year to support need-blind undergraduate admission and to accommodate increased aid for international undergraduates.  More information about the budget is available online at http://www.brown.edu/news/2006- 07/06-101.html

Social Choice Fund

Finally, the Corporation approved the administration's recommendation that a Social Choice Fund be created. This fund will provide a vehicle for donors who wish to support Brown through an investment vehicle with an environmentally responsible focus. More information at http://www.brown.edu/news/2006-07/06-103.html

DISCUSSIONS

On Friday, the Corporation gathered at the Westin Hotel for a full-day retreat to discuss and debate several key strategic issues for the University.

The first half of the retreat was devoted to a review of the strategic planning efforts for the medical school, newly renamed The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in recognition of the recent $100 million gift made by the Warren Alpert Foundation. The Corporation voiced its support for the ambitious plans that are underway for enhancing the medical school's standing as one of the country's leading medical education institutions. These goals include

(a) planning for the eventual construction of a new medical education building for the school that would be built either on the campus of the Rhode Island Hospital or in the Jewelry District; (b) strengthening the coordination of research activities between faculty members who are based at the Alpert Medical School's affiliated hospitals and Brown faculty members who are based at the University's campus on College Hill; and (c) working more closely with the University's affiliated hospitals to develop plans for establishing ambitious areas of excellence in biomedical research.

In the second discussion session, Charles M. Vest, president emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gave a wide-ranging presentation on the important role of research universities in an increasingly globalized world.

Finally, the Corporation concluded its retreat with a discussion of the University's long-term financial and capital planning.

The Corporation repeatedly expressed gratitude for the diligence of faculty, staff, students and alumni who work to strengthen the University in so many important ways.  The efforts described above would be virtually impossible without such widespread involvement. Thank you, once again, for your valued contributions.

Sincerely,

Ruth J. Simmons President