The Brown Corporation authorized a more than 30 percent increase in financial aid for international students and discussed various other steps the University could take to bolster its presence abroad during its meetings over the weekend. In addition, the University's governing body formally accepted more than $70 million in gifts and discussed a wide range of initiatives.
According to an Oct. 7 press release, the Corporation's strategic discussion session on Friday yielded several recommendations for strengthening the University's international profile. These included appointing an official to report directly to the provost on the effort, reviewing curricular offerings, developing regional advisory councils to recruit students and expanding student and faculty exchanges, international research programs and internship opportunities.
"Changes underway across the world bring new opportunities and demands to higher education and to Brown," President Ruth Simmons said in the release. "It is difficult to envision a future for Brown that does not include a larger and more effective capacity for internationally competitive programs of research and instruction."
Provost David Kertzer '69 P'95 P'98 said he will appoint a faculty committee in the next few weeks to advise him on the search for an internationalization official. Regarding increased financial aid, Kertzer told The Herald, "We are providing additional funds for the recruitment of the class of 2011 to enable more international students with financial aid to attend Brown. The difference should already be noticeable in next year's first-year class."
Despite the funding increase, international students will still not be admitted need-blind, as Americans have been for the last four years.
"Providing additional resources for international financial aid will have an immediate impact on the University's ability to attract talented undergraduate students from around the world, particularly from less-developed countries," Chancellor Stephen Robert '62 P'91 said in the release. "The Corporation is eager to take this necessary and appropriate first step on the path to a greater international role for Brown."
Among other issues discussed were recent allegations of police misconduct made by Brown students against the Providence Police Department and the Department of Public Safety, options for the creation of a social choice fund for donors and the progress of the University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice.
No endowed professorships were assigned at the Corporation's fall meeting.
The Corporation's campus life and facilities and design committees received a report from Interim Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Russell Carey '91 MA'06 on possibilities for expanding undergraduate housing. "Construction of new residence halls would respond to a number of important academic and social goals," Simmons wrote in a campus-wide e-mail sent Oct. 7.
The Corporation also authorized a $50-million tax-exempt commercial paper program, $23 million of which will be used to refinance taxable debt and finance the outfitting of the Program in Public Health building at 121 South Main St. Commercial paper is a low-risk type of unregistered bond commonly used by large banks and corporations to hold working capital for a short period of time. According to Elizabeth Huidekoper, executive vice president for finance and administration, an extra $27 million was put into commercial paper to make it more easily accessible in the future.
Gifts to Boldly Brown
The Corporation also accepted more than $70 million in gifts from over a dozen donors made to the University as part of its $1.4 billion Campaign for Academic Enrichment. The Corporation must formally accept any gifts of more than $1 million.
Some of the largest include a $15-million donation from the C.V. Starr Foundation to fund the new Commerce, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship program. The funding will endow three professorships - one each in engineering, sociology and economics - and establish a $3 million flexible program fund, according to Senior Vice President for Advancement Ronald Vanden Dorpel AM '71.
Family members of the late Sidney Frank '42 announced they will give the University $3 million to endow graduate fellowships in the Division of Biology and Medicine.
Additionally, approximately $9 million in three gifts will help fund the Creative Arts Council and the new facility planned for it, according to the press release, and a $26.5 million bequest by Eleanor Schwartz '29 will fund scholarships for women.
Members of the Corporation were briefed on the progress of the Campaign for Academic Enrichment. Vanden Dorpel said he "heard nothing but the highest praise" about Boldly Brown-related efforts. In a March 2 Herald article, former Provost Robert Zimmer echoed a University Resources Committee report that expressed concern about the ratio of cash paid to the campaign versus pledges actually made. "We probably have to do a little more encouraging of donors to pay their pledges sooner, if at all possible," Zimmer said in March.
But according to Vanden Dorpel, the campaign is currently "doing exceptionally well in the timely fulfillment of gifts and pledges." He said that, as of Sept. 30, the campaign has raised $776 million of its $1.4 billion goal, with 61 percent already paid in cash or securities. 84 percent of the $201 million raised for scholarships so far has already been paid in cash and is presently helping to pay out financial aid. The University has raised $200 million for the campaign before the end of its first public year.
