Brown University plans to lay off 48 employees and cancel 55 unfilled positions following pressure sparked by a student investigation into administrative excess.
A former Brown student, Alex Shieh, publicly challenged the university’s staffing practices by emailing over 3,800 non-faculty employees asking, “What do you do all day?” in an attempt to expose perceived redundancies. His campaign, known as Bloat@Brown, prompted Brown’s leadership to respond with actual cuts.
University officials announced the hiring freeze would be extended by eliminating the 55 open, budgeted positions, in addition to the 48 layoffs. The move suggests Brown acknowledges administrative costs are unsustainable under current financial pressures.
Critics view the shift as a victory for accountability in higher education. They argue many administrative roles in elite universities exist to maintain bureaucracy, not support teaching or mission-driven goals. The cuts at Brown reinforce skepticism over rising tuition when schools expand non‑academic staffing.
Supporters of Shieh’s approach say grassroots oversight—students scrutinizing spending—can force institutions to self-correct. The Brown case could embolden similar efforts at universities nationwide to reduce bloat and refocus on academic priorities.
