JWU Pledges to Renew 20-Year Commitment to the City of Providence

PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - September 5, 2023 – In 2003, Johnson & Wales University joined Brown University, Providence College and the Rhode Island School of Design to collectively commit to the City of Providence to provide voluntary payments totaling $50 million over the following 20 years. During this timeframe, JWU honored its commitment even during the years of difficult economic times, acknowledging the critical importance of supporting the capital city.

This year, JWU and the three other institutions of higher education have been working diligently and collaboratively with the new mayor of Providence to craft a proposal that continues the university’s strong commitment to the city. Senior administrators from JWU joined the Mayor of Providence today to announce the draft agreement that will now go before the Providence City Council for review and approval.

Highlights of the draft proposal include:

• A 20-year term with the four institutions collectively committing to more than $170 million in voluntary payments
• All or most of the voluntary payments will be directed by the City to the following five areas:
  Pre-K through 12 education
  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  Community, Safety, and Well-being

Promotion of the City as a Safe, Vibrant and Inviting Place to Live, Work, and Learn
Climate Change and Resiliency /Adaption, Infrastructure and Policy

• A commitment to provide voluntary community contributions whose value is the same or greater than the annual financial voluntary payment (as an example, JWU, Brown and Providence College all host Providence Police sub-stations)

“The higher education landscape has changed dramatically and so has Johnson & Wales since the university committed to provide voluntary payments to the City of Providence twenty years ago,” said JWU Chancellor Mim L. Runey, LP.D. “What hasn’t changed is our deep commitment to being a good neighbor and community partner in our capital city that is home to thousands of Johnson & Wales’ students, faculty, staff and alumni, all contributing to the vibrancy of Providence. From providing financial aid to students from Providence to sharing our facilities and athletic fields and offering hundreds of hours of community service annually, there are so many ways we give back to the city.  We are proud to renew our 20-year pledge to continue to support the City of Providence both financially and in service.”

About JWU

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provide students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Pelosi, vice president, communications and government relations, (O) 401-598-1848, (C) 401-258-1113