Community Service A key component of Brown's identity and mission is its commitment to public service, at both the institutional and the individual level. In keeping with this philosophy, Brown undergraduates perform more than 150,000 hours of community service each year. At least 1,000 of the estimated 1,500 students annually who do some sort of community service do it through Brown's Swearer Center for Public Service, named after Howard R. Swearer, the 15th president of Brown. The Swearer Center's philosophy is that building relationships between people and institutions is a central component of service. The center has established more than 30 projects to engage students in meaningful partnerships in the areas of the arts, health, and education.
All projects aim to bring students and local communities together to foster positive social change.
The Swearer Center works closely with Brown faculty and staff to develop opportunities for learning and community involvement. Students who wish to explore service possibilities other than those available through the Swearer Center are encouraged to consult the center's Community Organization Directory, a database of volunteer opportunities at more than 200 local agencies. One in three students participates in some form of programming sponsored by the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life. Each Thursday of the academic semester, students and other Brown community members of all faiths are invited to a weekly supper and discussion at the home of the University chaplain, the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson. All students are required to obtain a Brown I.D. card.