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Brown University Profile

Providence, Rhode Island

The Basics

Founded in 1764, Brown University is a large Ivy League institution located in the historic City of Providence, Rhode Island. The footprint of the site is large, and unique for an urban school with approximately 140 acres of property situated atop a large hill overlooking the city. The physical layout observes numerous historic buildings shared by Brown, and local residents including the Rhode Island School of Design. The streets are narrow and steep to walk, and drive on due to the hilly terrain. The campus itself has approximately 243 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities.

The overall physical layout of the campus is typical of a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between Thayer Street, and the College Greens between George & Waterman Streets during my daytime visit. The buildings and open spaces of the facility were very clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students and local residents the ability to interact with each other in a very positive way. Brown students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The only negative is the shortage of parking spaces within the area, local residents maintain control of their parking spaces during all times of the day.

The published demographic information for the university describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Brown University has developed a large campus facility to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, Research, and a Comprehensive education format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors. The university also has developed educational relationships with the Rhode Island School of Design, which is located within Brown’s overall footprint.

Brown University Demographics

The University is home to approximately 2771 male, and 3160 female students. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 96% of students are from out of state, mostly the Middle Atlantic. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including students from all 50 states, 72 foreign countries, and Canada. 52% of students are white, 14% Asian Americans, 7% are Black, 7% are Hispanic, and 14% are the race is unknown.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Brown University has a large educational system that offer Liberal Arts, Research, and Comprehensive under graduate programs. Below is a specific list of admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Brown University guarantees housing for all undergraduate students (except transfers) who has filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students. The school has started developing housing resources for upper classman through it’s capital improvement initiatives. The University apartments are new, and beautiful, but only upper classmen can rent them. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document. Brown University Residential Life Policy Document: http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/index.html

Off Campus Housing

Brown University has been described as a mini-city within a hill top muti- cultural residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community of College Hill is to re-assert the point that Brown’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows almost every student to have housing within walking distance to the campus. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university off campus housing demands. The demand for housing, especially off campus housing is usually a tough issue for institutions attempting to keep students within the general geographical area. Brown has addressed this issue by buying up residential buildings and developing housing networks. One such network is called The University Auxiliary Housing Assistance Program, which lists local rooms and apartments for students. Contact information for these services can be found on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Brown University is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with an outstanding social, and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The local community of College Hill only adds to the universities international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. Brown also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical environment is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community groups. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, windows, and light poles. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Brown students went as far as hanging banners outside residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Brown has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 240 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 15 intramural sports activities. Brown also has 10 national fraternities for men, and 3 national sororities for women.

Campus life at Brown is more than academic excellence; it’s about school sports, fraternities, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums. The university also has several global education centers in the area for students to learn, and gather information about studying abroad. The down side of sports activities on the College Hill campus is the walk to Erickson Athletic Complex, which is a good distance away by foot. The up side is the available exercise facilities within the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center (OMAC), which is also in the Erickson complex. Brown participates in the Ivy League, which is a NCAA Division I Varsity Sports division for Women and Men. Currently, the university fields 17 men’s teams, and 20 women’s teams. Brown has several athletic venues for students to watch, and enjoy university sports including Erickson A.C.

Public Transportation

Campus transportation resources for Brown students is available through the campus shuttle (Safe Ride) System which provides van service for daily classes, student activities, and links to Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). This service is crucial to students who don’t have cars because it provides transportation services to the entire College Hill section of Providence. Brown students depend on this service to take them to 14 specific areas of the campus including the Erickson Complex for sporting events, Thayer Street for Shopping, and Prospect Street for academic classes within the College Green.

The Safe Ride van service provides reliable van service to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The university also has a very large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads.

Community Profile

The City of Providence has been described as scholarly and intellectual due to its student population and historical neighborhood architecture. The city also has a cosmopolitan feel to it because it’s houses the state capital, along with numerous historical restaurants, performing arts, museums, and finally sporting venues. Providence is also a coastal community situated within 45 minutes of Boston, and 45 minutes to the sailing capital of the world Newport RI. The footprint of the community also seems to be split into several different neighborhoods including the state capital area, the downtown business center, federal hill, and the historic buildings around the Brown campus.

The area of Providence in which the university is geographically situated is called College Hill. This unique community overlooks the city and acts like a natural barrier to encapsulate the academic community from the rest of the city. This community within a community has everything it needs for students and residents including shopping, social activities, and city services within walking distance to the campus. The greatest number of residents east of Benefit Street is in fact a college student. The school owns most of the buildings up to Arlington Street. The local pedestrian walkway on Thayer Street links local residents and students to a large number of restaurants and local shops because the street cuts straight thru the campus itself.

The community has a real city type feel to it because people usually walk on Thayer Street for food and shopping because having a car is a luxury due to very limited parking resources. The issue of walking alone at night outside the perimeter of the campus gates should also be curtailed in my opinion. The local streets in, and around the campus seem to be well patrolled by public safety but students should always exercise caution when walking around the community. The City of Providence does have some high crime areas that students should be aware of during all times of the day.

The following demographics for the City of Providence describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 175,255 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Brown University has a strong relationship with this diverse community. An example of this commitment can be observed through Brown’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services, legal programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% of residents are male, 52 are female. 54.5% of residents are white, 14.5% are African American, 25% are Hispanic or Latino, and 6% are Asian. The median age of population is 28 years old. 74% of residents are 18 years old or over and 10% of city residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Providence is also interesting. 92% of all housing units within the city are occupied. 65% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 35% of units are owner-occupied. Only 8% of total available housing was vacant.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. Rhode Island enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Rhode Island also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well.

Providence Rhode Island Area Hotel Quick Links Page

Hotels

Hotels within Providence.

Saunders Inn at Brown University
101 Thayer Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Providence Biltmore Hotel
11 Dollance Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
The Hotel Providence
139 Mathewson Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Radisson Hotel Providence Harbor
220 India Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Providence Marriott Downtown
1 Orms Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02904
Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown
58 Weybosset Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Providence Hilton
21 Atwells Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
The Westin Providence
1 W.Exchange Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
32 Exchange Terrace
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Hotels

Below is a list of accommodations approximately 20 minutes from Brown University within the T.F. Green Airport facility in Warwick Rhode Island.

Sheraton Providence Airport
1850 Post Road
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
Radisson Providence Airport
2081 Post Road
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
Best Western Providence Airport
2138 Post Road
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886

City of Providence Transportation Links

Providence Regional Train & Bus Services:

Organized Tours of Providence Rhode Island

Providence Museums & Galleries

Below is a sample list of Museums & Galleries in the City of Providence Rhode Island. A complete list can be found at: www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism/museums.php

Restaurants in Providence Rhode Island

Complete information about hotels, restaurants, shopping, museums, and general tourism activities in nearby Boston Massachusetts can be found in the document “ Everything in Boston” on the Your College Profile web site

Brown University Links

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