Abstract
The formal ambitions and societal expectations of anchor institutions have shifted over time. Many universities have evolved from walled-off enclaves, to self-interested urban redevelopers, to mutual gain negotiators. Detailed accounts exist of universities, as anchor institutions, directly displacing low-income communities of color by utilizing the higher education provisions of urban renewal. This case study of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, adds to this history by documenting the university’s contribution to the diminution of a working-class neighborhood of color specifically through student residency philosophies and policies, enrollment expansion, and real-estate decisions, during 1937–1987. Brown University’s choices played out in a neighborhood already scarred by interstate highway construction and urban renewal. Drawing from primary source materials on institutional decision-making this work examines the transformation of Brown University’s models of student housing amidst evolving community concerns about the demolition of historic properties and push back around increasing displacement pressures. Several issues and research directions for the new era of equity centered anchor work emerge from this historical recounting of an anchor institution’s student housing choices.
Highlights
The place-based nature of institutions of higher education (IHE) marks them as anchor institutions.Yet, the communities where IHE are embedded anchor place; they too are anchor institutions [1,2].This historical case study examines Brown University’s student residency philosophies and policies, enrollment expansion, and residential real estate holding decisions during 1937–1987
The authors contend IHE anchor work can benefit from explicating the neighborhood impacts of the various models of student housing adopted by universities
A national leader for the fourth era academic anchor work of civically engaged IHE, during this period Brown failed to integrate its corporate decisions on student housing and real estate holdings into a place-based mutual gains approach
Summary
The communities where IHE are embedded anchor place; they too are anchor institutions [1,2] This historical case study examines Brown University’s student residency philosophies and policies, enrollment expansion, and residential real estate holding decisions during 1937–1987. The authors contend IHE anchor work can benefit from explicating the neighborhood impacts of the various models of student housing adopted by universities. Concerns from some about demolitions for dormitories in College Hill spawned a national model for preserving the historic fabric of neighborhoods. These concerns gave way to confrontations with residents of the Fox Point neighborhood when an increasing off-campus student population filled rental housing units. This research highlights actions of Societies 2020, 10, 85; doi:10.3390/soc10040085 www.mdpi.com/journal/societies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
