BROWN UNIVERSITY REPORT TO THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES JANUARY 2009 BROWN UNIVERSITY Report to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Table of Contents Institutional Characteristics and Organizational Charts Preface ............................................................................................................................................................. i Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... iii Standard One: Mission and Purpose ............................................................................................................... 1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Description................................................................................................................................................. 1 Appraisal .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Projection ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Institutional Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 3 Standard Two: Planning and Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 4 Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Description................................................................................................................................................. 4 Planning ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Academic Planning ............................................................................................................................... 5 Financial Planning ................................................................................................................................ 6 Capital/Physical Planning ..................................................................................................................... 6 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Appraisal .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Successful University-wide planning .................................................................................................... 9 Commitment to ongoing, periodic assessment .....................................................................................10 Making better use of institutional data .................................................................................................11 Disciplined implementation of the department review process: ..........................................................12 Projection ..................................................................................................................................................12 Institutional Effectiveness ........................................................................................................................13 Standard Three: Organization and Governance .............................................................................................15 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................15 Description................................................................................................................................................15 Corporation ..........................................................................................................................................15 Faculty .................................................................................................................................................17 Administration .....................................................................................................................................18 Student Government ............................................................................................................................19 Appraisal ...................................................................................................................................................20 Projection ..................................................................................................................................................22 Institutional Effectiveness ........................................................................................................................23 Standard Four: Area of Emphasis: The Undergraduate Academic Program .................................................24 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................24 Description................................................................................................................................................24 Appraisal ...................................................................................................................................................27 Liberal Education at Brown .................................................................................................................27 Science .................................................................................................................................................32 Writing .................................................................................................................................................33 Internationalization ..............................................................................................................................34 The Concentration ................................................................................................................................36 Teaching and Learning ........................................................................................................................42 Advising at Brown ...............................................................................................................................47 Markers of Academic Success .............................................................................................................52 Academic Program Governance & Planning .......................................................................................54 Projection ..................................................................................................................................................55 Institutional Effectiveness ........................................................................................................................56 Standard Four: The Graduate Academic Program .........................................................................................57 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................57 Description................................................................................................................................................57 Size and Scope .....................................................................................................................................57 Coursework and Completion Requirement ..........................................................................................58 Admission and Financial Support ........................................................................................................60 Administration .....................................................................................................................................61 Appraisal ...................................................................................................................................................61 Admissions...........................................................................................................................................62 Program Review and Evaluation ..........................................................................................................62 Multidisciplinary Initiatives and New Degree Programs .....................................................................64 Funding ................................................................................................................................................66 Administration .....................................................................................................................................67 Communications and Community .......................................................................................................68 Facilities ...............................................................................................................................................68