Brown University
Committee on Electronically Mediated Instruction

The Charge to the Committee

In April 1999 Provost William Simmons of Brown University appointed a committee to explore distance learning and its possible relevance for Brown. The Provost articulated three questions to guide our deliberations:

In what ways, if any, could distance learning make a positive contribution to Brown's primary educational mission as a residential university?
How could it be utilized effectively to strengthen alumni solidarity?
Could it contribute a new revenue stream that would justify its development at Brown?

Members of the Committee

The committee consisted of Professors Christopher Amirault, William Crossgrove (co-chair), Jimmie Doll, Andrew Foster, Peter Heywood, and John Savage (co-chair). Our email addresses are FirstName_LastName@brown.edu. (A note on the committee and its precursor.)

What is Distance Learning?

Distance Learning, a much discussed form of EMI, refers to learning that occurs at least partially outside of the traditional classroom. A particularly relevant definition of distance learning is "any electronically mediated formal learning program wherein the students and faculty are separated by distance, time, or both." (Report to the Provost: Distance Learning at Cornell University, May 28, 1998.) Distance Education at a Glance is a good first source to consult on this subject.

The Committee's Final Report

The final report of the committee is now available. Please send comments and suggestions to the committee co-chairs William Crossgrove and John Savage.

Reports of Meetings

Valuable Sources of Information on Distance Learning

A very thoughtful report on distance learning was done at the University of Illinois.
Books on distance learning.
Interesting and novel Brown University web sites.
Important news articles on distance learning.
Other selected sites on distance learning.
The Futures Project at Brown is pursuing many of the questions that were asked by the Committee.
A summary of a June 14 discussion held at the Taubman Center on the impact of technology on education is a report of the Futures Project.
The policy of Harvard University governing outside faculty activities prevents Harvard faculty from establishing an exclusive relationship with another educational organization. An enlightening roundtable discussion at Harvard on the future of the research university reported in the Sept-Oct issue of Harvard Magazine includes a discussion of the obligations of Harvard faculty with respect to teaching.

Please send comments on this web page to
John Savage

Last modified: Thu Feb 15 17:49:43 EST 2001

Brown University Committee on Electronically Mediated Instruction