Letter from the President
May 25, 2008
Dear Members of the Brown Community,
At its final meeting of the academic year, the Corporation took a number of actions. Highlights of the meeting are noted below with links to additional details on the Web.
ACTIONS OF THE CORPORATION
Faculty Support/Academic Programs
The Corporation awarded 2,211 degrees: 1,542 bachelor’s degrees, 347 master’s degrees, 70 medical degrees, 205 Ph.D’s, 40 Master of Arts, ad eundem and 7 honorary doctorates.
Supporting the work of the Brown faculty is one of the highest priorities of the Plan for Academic Enrichment. The Corporation approved the establishment of three new endowed professorships: the Joukowsky Family Professorship in Archaeology, the Louise Lamphere Visiting Professorship and the Rahel Varnhagen (1771-1833) Professorship of International Affairs, Law and Modern Culture.
The Corporation approved a new policy for promotion of associate professors as recommended by the faculty. The policy requires that all tenured associate professors be reviewed for promotion to professor after ten years and at least every five years thereafter, if not promoted. Associate professors have the option to defer this review.
The Corporation also approved the recommendations of the faculty to rename the Center for Latin American Studies as the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, to rename the John Nicholas Brown Center for the Study of American Civilization as the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage, and to transform and rename the existing Brain Science Program into the Brown Institute for Brain Science.
STRATEGIC DISCUSSION
On Thursday afternoon, the Dean of the Faculty provided current and former members of the Corporation with an update on the initial progress on Phase II of the Plan for Academic Enrichment and how increases in financial aid have affected our ability to attract an outstanding and diverse incoming class. More information about the Plan for Academic Enrichment can be found at the following website: http://www.brown.edu/web/pae/
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
As is customary, the Corporation discussed a number of issues that they expect to review and take action on in the coming year. These include: the report of the working group on graduate education, the work of the task force on undergraduate education, and how the economic outlook might alter the university’s plans in the coming years.
The Corporation approved the sale of the gold-domed Old Stone Bank building and Benoni Cooke House, 86-110 South Main Street, Providence, RI. The Benoni-Cooke House, which houses the offices of Brown’s General Counsel and Internal Audit Office, will be leased back for a period of three years.
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS
The Corporation accepted almost $20 million in gifts, including funds for endowed professorships, fellowships, scholarships, the renovation of Faunce House and the planned Creative Arts Center. It also accepted a gift from the estate of Mary Ann Lippitt to fund the Mary Ann Lippitt Head Coaching Chair in Women’s Swimming and Diving.
The co-chairs of the Campaign announced that, as of Commencement Weekend 2008, the Boldly Brown campaign has officially passed the $1.2 billion mark on the way toward a goal of $1.4 billion. They noted that this milestone is evidence of the hard work and generosity of many in the Brown family.
Further information about these actions can be found at: http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2008/05/may08corp
OFFICERS AND NEW MEMBERS ELECTED
The Corporation elected two new fellows, two new trustees, and a new treasurer and secretary. Alison Ressler ’80, current Chair of the Advancement Committee, will replace Matt Mallow ’64, as treasurer. Matt Mallow ’64 is retiring after seventeen years as a trustee and ten as treasurer. Don Hood ScM ’68, PhD ’70 will become secretary, replacing Wendy Strothman ’72, who is retiring after seventeen years on the corporation, and ten as secretary.
The Corporation also elected two new fellows, Mark Blumenkranz ’72, MD ’75, MMS ’76, current Chair of the Brown Medical School Committee, and Robin Lenhardt ’89, a former trustee. Two new trustees were elected to the Corporation: Steve Cohen P’08, and Nancy Fuld Neff ’76, P’06. Brief biographical notes on the new officers, trustees and fellows are available online: http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2008/05/may08corp
Sincerely,
Ruth J. Simmons