News

Local businesses open shop in face of hurricane

Series of celebrations marks 19th inauguration

In ceremonies punctuated with insights from the past, celebrations of present successes and excitement for the future, members of the Brown community and distinguished guests marked the inauguration of the University's 19th president, Christina Paxson. Friday's event was intended to celebrate the inauguration, ...

U. cancels classes as hurricane threat looms

University officials used the Brown Alert system at approximately 7:30pm to notify the community that Monday classes would be canceled and administrative offices closed due to the projected effects of Sandy, a Category 1 hurricane packing 75 mile-per-hour winds and currently moving up the East Coast. ...

BREAKING: Classes cancelled tomorrow as Hurricane Sandy approaches

Classes are canceled tomorrow, and administrative buildings will be closed as the University prepares for the incoming Hurricane Sandy, administrators announced in a text message to the community at 7:30 p.m.

Panels address municipal pension crisis, reform

Though Rhode Island's current unfunded municipal pension liability stands at $2.1 billion, it only amounts to a fraction of the $7 trillion liability problem plaguing cities and towns across the country.  Two panels of policy experts, local politicians and state officials analyzed the origins and ...

Udacity co-founder talks online learning

The ongoing discussion about online learning and its evolving role within higher education continued Thursday afternoon at a talk given by Sebastian Thrun, co-founder and chief executive officer of Udacity, an online education program. Thrun's lecture, hosted by Professor of Computer Science Michael ...

Report details challenges to tenure review process

Evaluating faculty members' teaching during tenure review continues to be a challenge for several departments, according to the 2012 report from the Teaching, Promotions and Appointments Committee, a faculty governance committee. Some departments pay less attention to "challenging teaching issues" or ...

Corp. to gather for first time under Paxson

In its first gathering under President Christina Paxson, the Corporation will meet this weekend to hear updates about Paxson's recently formed strategic planning committees. The weekend will also include the official inauguration of Paxson as the University's 19th president. The six planning committees ...

Paxson inauguration to continue legacy of celebration

As President Christina Paxson steps onto the inaugural stage Saturday donning the presidential gown and chain, she will play the lead role in a University tradition that stretches back nearly 250 years. The University will host a community event celebrating Paxson tonight at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, ...

Teach-in highlights effects of dirty coal

A panel of environmental experts and activists addressed students at Brown Divest Coal's teach-in last night to discuss the environmental, social and political effects of the world's dependence on coal. The teach-in is part of Brown Divest Coal's campaign to convince the University not to invest in ...

Paxson starts steady as U. faces changing tides

When former president Ruth Simmons arrived at Brown in 2001, she was ready to effect major change. "I fear we have gotten caught up in enhancements of all kinds while fundamentals are wanting," she told faculty in the first week of the school year. Eleven years later, in the wake of Simmons' reforms, ...

Forbes' best cities for working mothers

Forbes Magazine named Providence the fifth of 20 top cities for working mothers in a ranking released earlier this month. According to its website, Forbes ranked the top 20 cities out of the 50 most highly populated metropolitan areas, using the priorities of working mothers as a checklist. Metrics ...

R.I. ranks seventh in energy efficiency

The 2012 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's report card has ranked Rhode Island the seventh-most energy efficient state in the country, adding to the state's impressive record of energy-related accomplishments. Since the passage of Rhode Island's Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency ...

City & State Roundup

Initiatives spark creative discussion

Corporation trustees speak to UCS to increase transparency

Alison Cohen '09 and Eric Rodriguez '08, the two current young alumni trustees of the Corporation, spoke to the Undergraduate Council of Students last night about financial aid, internationalization and the Corporation's past and future initiatives.

R.I. ballot asks voters to deliberate on environmental issues

With election day less than two weeks away, Rhode Island voters will soon make a decision on several questions that could have a major impact on the state's environmental future. 

Modern Family star entertains crowd with college stories

Julie Bowen '91 was sitting in the makeup room of her first acting job when she realized she had nothing to say. She had no prior acting experience and no future bookings - the topics of choice for the girls around her. But then somebody mentioned "the world," and suddenly Bowen had something to add. ...

Historian describes listening in on Kennedy's Oval Office

Ted Widmer, assistant for special projects to President Christina Paxson and senior adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said he felt like a "fly on the wall" while listening to the secret recordings of former president John F. Kennedy P'83.

U. receives more than $50 million from NIH

Despite the uncertainty surrounding its future funding levels, the National Institutes of Health awarded $146.96 million to Rhode Island organizations in the 2012 fiscal year, with Brown receiving about 40 percent of the new award total with $58.7 million. Other top recipients include Rhode Island Hospital, ...