Celebrating the Presidency of
Robert L. Carothers, 1991-2009
Timeline
The year was 1991. Rhode Island was in the midst of a major fiscal crisis. On campus, roofs leaked, residence halls and buildings suffered the effects of years of deferred maintenance and there was little opportunity for scholarships to attract top students. The University had developed a solid reputation as the nation's number one party school, and there was a tremendous sense of cynicism.
This is where President Carothers began the makeover to improve the University's structure, infrastructure, and curriculum. He walked onto campus with a whole new vision, language, and leadership approach.
Click on a date below to show or hide the events that took place during that year.
1991
Dr. Robert L. Carothers named URI's 10th president
Set the tone for his leadership style -- cancelled inauguration celebrations due to budget
Mackal Field House, the $8.3 million recreational facility dedicated.
Whispering Pines Conference Center, Sycamore Lodge construction begins at W. Alton Jones Campus
Social Sciences Research Center, home of the internationally known Cancer Prevention Research Center
Center for Atmospheric Chemistry, Narragansett Bay Campus
President Carothers Arrives - Atmospheric Chemistry - CPRC
1992
Centennial Year
University celebrates Centennial with year-long events
President launches first new teaching-learning initiative
President meets with the Black Student Leadership Group who had presented a list of 14 "action agenda" items calling for URI to build a more diverse community. During his tenure, multicultural student enrollment grew from 5.6 percent (886) to 11.5 percent (1,806) and the University has continued to build a multicultural community
Investigation of gambling ring related to NCAA basketball teams
Whispering Pines Conference Center, W. Alton Jones Campus
Sailing Pavilion at Point Judith Pond
Centennial - Research University - Black Student Leadership
1993
University Library. $13.5 million expansion completed.
Independence Square II built
Residence Hall renovations begin
Dining Services Distribution Center completed
Library Expansion - Residential Life - Independence II
1994
Launches first-ever $50 million Capital Campaign
Groundbreaking. Coastal Institute, Narragansett Bay Campus
Memorial Union. $5.3 million renovation completed
Capital Campaign - Memorial Union
1995
President Carothers dramatically changes URI's alcohol policy
Creates the URI's first merit-based scholarship program to encourage top high school students to attend the University
Groundbreaking, Chester H. Kirk engineering facility expansion
Centennial Scholars - Alcohol Policy - Kirk Engineering Expansion
1996
Carothers creates "President's Partnership Program" to support interdisciplinary, hands-on teaching, learning and research teams of faculty and students
Carothers' bold action - forfeits football game in response to team members' assault on fraternity. Action is lauded nationwide
President initiates URI's "Common Agenda" strategic planning sessions
Providence Campus moves to the historic Shepard Building
Coastal Institute, Narragansett Bay Campus
Health Services, $1.4 million expansion
Bond support: $40.6 million for URI, RIC and CCRI Telecommunications initiative; $33.8 million for rehabilitation of URI's Ballentine, Green, and Ranger Halls; a performing arts building at RIC; and an expansion of the CCRI Knight
Partnership Program - Football Forfeit - Shepard Building
1997
President Carothers becomes one of only eight top academic officials appointed to the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention's Presidential Leadership Group
President receives the James H. Ottmar Award from the Rhode Island Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence in recognition of his leadership role on the issue of student alcohol and other substance abuse both on- and off-campus
Center for Student Leadership Development created
Capital Campaign Finale, campaign raised more than $67 million
Technology initiative underway
Campaign Finale - Leadership Appointment - Student Leadership Development
1998
University among nine schools out of 140 in a Harvard School of Public Health national study that showed a statistically significant decline in binge drinking since 1994
Basketball team reaches the Elite Eight in St. Louis
Multicultural Center completed
Ocean Technology Center, Narragansett Bay Campus
Fine Arts Center renovations
Bond support: $20.99 million for rehabilitation of Lippitt, and Ranger and Independence Halls
Ocean Technology Center - Elite 8 - Multicultural Center
1999
President Carothers' three-year contract renewed after initial conflict and the resultant outpouring of support by all University stakeholders
University's Diversity Convention, "A Miracle in the Making," to enhance cultural communication. Led to annual diversity week celebrations
President creates new Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies
Coastal Institute, Kingston Campus
Upper College Road transformation begins - First International Engineering Program house opens
Vietnam War Memorial dedicated
Central boiler plant renovated and operation transferred to private contractor
Contract Renewal - Diversity Convention - Nonviolence and Peace Studies
2000
President's Commission on the Status of Women formed
President approves Master Plan to guide future physical growth, facilities planning, and environmental management of all campuses
Bond support: $36.95 million, residence halls at URI, RIC and creation of a CCRI satellite campus in Newport
$64 million, seven-year residential living renovation plan begins, first creating the Freshman Village
Chafee Social Science building is closed due to elevated levels of PCBs. Begins process of testing, clean-up and relocation of faculty, staff and classes.
Social Science Research Center expansion completed
Ryan Center construction begins
Steam plant renovation completed
Freshman Village - Master Plan - Social Science Research Center
2001
President announces University smoke-free initiative with Department of Health, and the American Cancer Society, N.E. Division
President, alumni leadership and others begin new tradition of alcohol-free homecoming festivities
Coastal Institute Building, Kingston
Newman Hall, Office of Admission, opens (renovation of former Theta Chi House)
Chafee Social Science Center reopens
New Traditions - Smoke-free Initiative - Coastal Institute
2002
Thomas M. Ryan Center opens
Bradford R. Boss Ice Arena opens
Freshman Village opens from renovation of six residence halls
URI Foundation Building opens
Women's Center moves to new home on Upper College Rd. (Renovated Phi Sigma Kappa House)
New Openings - Ryan Center - Freshman Village
2003
Biotech initiative launched
Ballentine Hall renovated, expanded
Green Hall restored, reopens
Biotech Begins - Back to Business in Ballentine - Green Hall Restored
2004
President Carothers received the "Presidents Leadership Group Award" from the Education Development Center, a research organization that runs a national college health and safety division
Blount Aquaculture Center opens, Narragansett Bay Campus
210 Flagg Rd (Surge) building Phase 2
Campus Police Station complete
Bond support: $20,000,000 -construction, renovation, and rehabilitation residence halls; $14,000,000, Pell Library-Undersea Exploration Center; $50,000,000, Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences
Leadership - Aquaculture Center - Voter Support
2005
URI was featured in The Princeton Review's Colleges With A Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement (Random House)
Alumni Center opens
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity house completed, first new Fraternity house built in 25 years
College with a Conscience - Alumni Center - ZBT
2006
President launches first comprehensive branding initiative to define the University's distinctiveness in the marketplace
Swan Hall, formerly Independence Hall reopens after renovations
Meade Stadium improvements
Emergency Medical Services Building
Central Warehouse Expansion
Major Utility upgrades
Bond support: $65,000,000, new College of Pharmacy building
Brand Initiative - Voter Support: Pharmacy
2007
President Carothers interviewed on NBC Nightly News, New report on bringe drinking, drug abuse, college students and teens
President begins three-year term as chairman of the Council of Presidents of the Global U8 Consortium, a group of universities from around the world formed to address emerging issues
President receives the 2007 Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award for his efforts to reduce student alcohol abuse
The Central Falls High School: A University of Rhode Island Academy partnership established
Three residence halls, Eddy, Wiley, and Garrahy Halls open
Hope Commons Dining Hall opens
"Little Four" residence hall renovations
IEP II House opens
Tyler Hall Computer Center renovation
New Chi Phi Fraternity House
Initiative begins to reduce University's carbon footprint
Major new utilities installed servicing North District plan
Hope Commons - Safety Award - Carbon Footprint
2008
President receives the 2008 Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement from The New England Board of Higher Education
URI's Federal Center of Excellence in Explosives Detection, Mitigation, Response and Characterization established
President announces the University's new brand voice and visual standards to distinguish it in the higher education marketplace.
Lippitt Hall reopens
Lifetime Achievement - Explosives - Lippitt Hall
2009
As of May, President Carothers will have awarded degrees to about 43,000 students, more than 38 percent of the total degrees conferred since 1892
Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences opens
Ocean Science and Exploration Center
Groundbreaking for College of Pharmacy building
43,000 degrees conferred - Biotechnology and Life Sciences - Pharmacy
