Outside review found TWTP popular but lacking clarity
Ben Leubsdorf
Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: Campus News
Acting on last year's independent review of the Third World Transition Program, the Third World Center has formed a faculty advisory committee and is working to better explain TWTP's mission to the Brown community.
The review, conducted by Brad Rose Consulting of Wellesley, Mass., was submitted to Associate Provost and Director of Institutional Diversity Brenda Allen on Jan. 10.
"I think everyone has their own view of what prompted (the review)," said Associate Dean of the College Karen McLaurin '74, director of the TWC. "I think there was a consensus among senior staff that dictated that it was time to look at this program and assess why students are so passionate about this program."
"It wasn't any particular issue," said David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services. "It was more a sense that there was a lot of discussion about the Third World Transition Program, and we knew we would benefit from a more systematic look at the program."
The review, which incorporated focus groups of current students and alums, interviews and an Internet-based survey of alums of color, found that "support for the program is very strong among interviewees and survey respondents." Seventy percent of alums surveyed said "TWTP played a significant role in helping them to complete their education at Brown," and 97 percent said they would recommend that all incoming students of color participate in the program. The sample included 167 former TWTP participants and 22 non-participants.
But the Rose report also noted that "TWTP's mission and purposes may not be as transparent and accessible as they could be to non-participants and the broader Brown University community," and administrators agree.
"I think there has been for a long time and probably continues to be a lack of clarity, at least in the minds of some, about the mission of TWTP and its place at Brown," Greene said.
"It's something worth constantly clarifying," he added.
The review, conducted by Brad Rose Consulting of Wellesley, Mass., was submitted to Associate Provost and Director of Institutional Diversity Brenda Allen on Jan. 10.
"I think everyone has their own view of what prompted (the review)," said Associate Dean of the College Karen McLaurin '74, director of the TWC. "I think there was a consensus among senior staff that dictated that it was time to look at this program and assess why students are so passionate about this program."
"It wasn't any particular issue," said David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services. "It was more a sense that there was a lot of discussion about the Third World Transition Program, and we knew we would benefit from a more systematic look at the program."
The review, which incorporated focus groups of current students and alums, interviews and an Internet-based survey of alums of color, found that "support for the program is very strong among interviewees and survey respondents." Seventy percent of alums surveyed said "TWTP played a significant role in helping them to complete their education at Brown," and 97 percent said they would recommend that all incoming students of color participate in the program. The sample included 167 former TWTP participants and 22 non-participants.
But the Rose report also noted that "TWTP's mission and purposes may not be as transparent and accessible as they could be to non-participants and the broader Brown University community," and administrators agree.
"I think there has been for a long time and probably continues to be a lack of clarity, at least in the minds of some, about the mission of TWTP and its place at Brown," Greene said.
"It's something worth constantly clarifying," he added.