Brown's new provost is investing his first few months at University Hall listening and learning about Brown so that he can make informed decisions that will help steer the University through the potentially difficult course. One of the worst mistakes a new administrator can make is coming into a new environment with a ready, aim, fire approach. This is not Pomerantz's first tour of duty at Brown. It was then, in fact, that I made my decision to go on to an academic career. What follows are excerpts from an interview with Pomerantz.
Every university claims to be unique.
Brown is one of the few schools that is truly distinctive in its character. And probably the most distinctive element is its curriculum. It changes every year. It is a dynamic entity that ought to be monitored on a regular basis, not just every 20 years. In 1992, a strategic plan was devised for the entire university.