Brown Pledges Need-Blind Admissions

Newly-installed Brown University President Ruth J. Simmons presented on Monday a plan to eliminate financial need as a criterion in admissions decisions.

Simmons urged Brown’s Advisory Committee on University Planning to aim for a need-blind admissions policy beginning with the Class of 2007.

If Brown’s governing body approves the plan in February, the university will become the last Ivy League school to adopt a need-blind policy.

Brown University Director of Financial Aid Michael Bartini said that in past years Brown has been unable to accept some students each year—usually less than 5 percent of the class—due to the inability to finance their education.

According to the Brown Daily Herald, the Alper Committee on Financial Aid offered five- and eight-year plans for becoming need-blind.

Invoking this policy will cost $3 to $8 million, which will come from university sources, fundraising, endowment and donations to the university, said Bartini.

Bartini emphasized economic diversity as an important benefit of the plan.

“As a leading institution we hope that all qualified candidates should be able to come,” said Bartini.

The discussion of need-blind acceptance has prompted positive reactions both on Brown’s campus and among other Ivy League schools.

“The student response is overwhelmingly positive,” Brown University Director of News Service Mark Nickel said. “There’s a lot of support on campus and with alumni.”

“It’s wonderful they have placed a high priority on future excellence,” Harvard Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath-Lewis ’70-’73 said.

“We all benefit—all first tier universities—because more students think they can go to the schools that they want,” she added.

“It’s really a case of where the rising tide lifts all boats,” she said.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 agreed.

“If the public perceives Ivies as being need-blind, it helps everyone,” Fitzsimmons said.

“As we enter difficult economic times the underlying idea that there is plenty of financial aid is crucial.”

The need blind policy is merely a part of newly installed President Simmons’ vision.

The plan calls for large investment in faculty and students including upgrading the network, increasing faculty salary, decreasing class size and emphasizing undergraduate education.

It is still in the process of being refined before it is presented to the Corporation in February.

“Planning groups have been working on parts of the plan for a while,” Nickel said.

“Simmons is soliciting reactions, inputs and suggestions from students and staff,” she said.