Brandeis University facts for kids
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| Motto | Hebrew: אמת, romanized: Emet (Truth) |
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Motto in English
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"Truth even unto its innermost parts" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | October 20, 1948 |
| Founder | Israel Goldstein and Albert Einstein |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $1.22 billion (2023) |
| President | Ronald D. Liebowitz |
| Provost | Carol Fierke |
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Academic staff
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544 (2021) |
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Administrative staff
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1,314 (2021) |
| Students | 5,581 (2022) |
| Undergraduates | 3,687 (2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,894 (2022) |
| Location |
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United States
42°21′56″N 71°15′35″W / 42.365664°N 71.259742°W |
| Campus | Small city, 235 acres (95 ha) |
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| Colors | Blue |
| Nickname | Judges |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | The Judge and Ollie the Owl (named for Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.) |
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Brandeis University is a private research university located in Waltham, Massachusetts. It's close to the big city of Boston. The university started in 1948 and was designed to be a place for everyone, no matter their background. It was built on the land of a former school called Middlesex University. Brandeis is named after Louis Brandeis, who was a very important judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brandeis is known for its strong focus on liberal arts, which means students learn about many different subjects like history, literature, science, and art. It's also recognized as a university with "Very high research activity," meaning lots of important studies happen there.
Many famous people have studied or taught at Brandeis. These include Nobel Prize winners like Roderick MacKinnon and Drew Weissman, and even the people who created the TV show Friends, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
Contents
History of Brandeis University
How Brandeis Began
Brandeis University was built on the site of Middlesex University, a medical school. The founder of Middlesex University, John Hall Smith, wanted his school to become a non-religious university open to all. After he passed away, Middlesex University faced money problems.
C. Ruggles Smith, John Hall Smith's son, looked for a way to save the school. He found a group in New York led by Israel Goldstein that wanted to start a new university. This group was looking for a campus to build a non-religious university sponsored by Jewish people. Smith offered them the Middlesex campus.
Goldstein was excited about the chance to get a campus near New York and Boston, which had large Jewish communities. He teamed up with George Alpert, a lawyer from Boston who was good at raising money.
By February 1946, Goldstein had convinced Albert Einstein, a world-famous scientist, to get involved. Einstein believed the new university would attract the best young minds. His involvement brought a lot of attention to the new school.
The group bought the land and buildings from Middlesex University. They announced that the new school would be called The Albert Einstein Foundation for Higher Learning, Inc. It would be a university open to students and teachers of all backgrounds.
The trustees wanted to name the university after Einstein, but he said no. So, on July 16, 1946, they decided to name it after Louis Brandeis, the Supreme Court Justice.
Einstein later had disagreements with the foundation and decided to leave. Despite this, the plans for the university continued. On November 1, 1946, it was officially announced that the new university would be named Brandeis University.
Opening Its Doors
On April 26, 1948, Abram L. Sachar was chosen as Brandeis' first president. He promised that Brandeis would be a place of honest learning and service. He also said that students and teachers would never be chosen based on their race, religion, or background. Students applying to Brandeis were not asked about these things.
Brandeis opened its doors on October 14, 1948, to its first class of 107 students. They were taught by thirteen instructors in eight buildings. Students came from many different states and countries. The library was once a barn, and students lived in former medical school buildings and army barracks.
Early Years and Growth
Eleanor Roosevelt, a former First Lady, joined the board of trustees in 1949. In March 1950, construction began on dorms so more students could live on campus.
Brandeis also started its football team, playing its first game in 1950. The team had some wins and losses before the university decided to stop the varsity football program in 1960. This allowed Brandeis to focus on other sports.
In 1951, Brandeis was allowed to give out master's and doctorate degrees. The first class of 101 students graduated on June 16, 1952. Leonard Bernstein, a famous composer, helped plan the graduation ceremony, which included the first performance of his opera Trouble in Tahiti.
In 1954, Brandeis started building an interfaith center with separate chapels for Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. These three chapels were built around a natural pond.
In 1956, a new library was built, named the Bertha and Jacob Goldfarb Library. It was designed to hold many books.
A large bronze statue of Justice Louis D. Brandeis was put on campus in 1956. It was made by sculptor Robert Berks to celebrate 100 years since Brandeis' birth.
In 1985, Brandeis joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group of leading research universities.
Student Protests in the 1960s
Brandeis was a place where students often spoke out about important issues, especially during the 1960s. Students protested against the Vietnam War.
In January 1969, about 70 black students took over Ford Hall, a student center. They asked for more black teachers, more black students, and a new department for African American studies. Other students also protested to support them. The students left Ford Hall after eleven days, and no property was damaged. This led to the creation of an Afro-American studies department.
Brandeis in the 21st Century
Brandeis continues to grow and add new facilities. The university focuses on research and providing a great education for its students.
University Presidents
Here are the people who have led Brandeis University:
| Name | Years | Note |
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| Abram L. Sachar | 1948–1968 | First president |
| Morris B. Abram | 1968–1970 | |
| Charles I. Schottland | 1970–1972 | |
| Marver Bernstein | 1972–1983 | |
| Evelyn Handler | 1983–1991 | |
| Stuart Altman | 1990–1991 | Interim president |
| Samuel O. Thier | 1991–1994 | |
| Jehuda Reinharz | 1994–2010 | |
| Frederick M. Lawrence | 2011–2015 | |
| Lisa M. Lynch | 2015–2016 | Interim president |
| Ronald D. Liebowitz | 2016–present | Current president |
Brandeis Campus Life
Brandeis University has a beautiful campus with many different buildings and places for students to learn, live, and relax.
Special Schools at Brandeis
Brandeis has several special schools that focus on different areas of study:
- The Heller School: This school focuses on social policy and management. Students learn about how to improve health, mental health, and help communities around the world.
- International Business School: This school teaches about business, money, and economics. It helps students prepare for jobs in global business.
- Rabb School of Continuing Studies: This school offers many different courses for people who want to keep learning throughout their lives.
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: This is where students go for advanced degrees, like master's and doctorates, in many different subjects.
Rose Art Museum
The Rose Art Museum opened in 1961. It's a museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Library
The Brandeis Library is a huge resource for students and teachers. It has over 1.5 million physical books and more than 600,000 e-books. It also has many online journals and databases. The library's special collections include rare books and old documents.
Research Centers
Brandeis has several important research centers:
- Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies: This center studies Jewish life in the United States.
- Steinhardt Social Research Institute: This institute collects and studies information about the Jewish community and different religions and cultures in the U.S.
- Women's Studies Research Center: This center studies gender and women's issues. It also has a gallery for feminist artwork.
Academics and Learning
| ARWU World | 301–400 |
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| THES World | 251–300 |
| USNWR National University | 60 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 161 |
| Forbes | 121 |
Brandeis is known for its strong academic programs. U.S. News & World Report often ranks Brandeis among the top national universities.
The university has a College of Arts and Sciences with many different departments and programs. Students can choose from over 40 majors and 47 minors.
Brandeis is part of the Boston Library Consortium. This means students can use and borrow books from other major universities in the area, like Tufts University.
Notable People from Brandeis
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Roderick MacKinnon (graduated 1978) won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003.
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Drew Weissman (graduated 1981) won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023.
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Edward Witten (graduated 1971) is a theoretical physicist and Fields Medal winner.
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Leslie Lamport (graduated 1972) is a computer scientist who won the Turing Award.
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Karen Uhlenbeck (graduated 1968) was the first woman to win the Abel Prize in Mathematics.
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Eve Marder (graduated 1965) won the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience (2016) and National Medals of Science (2023).
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Robert Zimmer (graduated 1968) is a mathematician and former president of the University of Chicago.
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Thomas Friedman (graduated 1975) is a journalist who has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.
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Margo Jefferson (graduated 1970) won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.
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V. Balakrishnan (physicist) (graduated 1970) is an Indian theoretical physicist.
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Mitch Albom (graduated 1979) is a best-selling author, known for Tuesdays with Morrie.
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Angela Davis (graduated 1965) is an American activist and author.
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Adam Cheyer (graduated 1988) co-founded Siri (the voice assistant on iPhones).
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Debra Messing (graduated 1990) is an Emmy Award–winning actress.
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David Kertzer (graduated 1974) is a historian who won a Pulitzer Prize.
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Sidney Blumenthal (graduated 1969) is a journalist and political advisor.
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Many well-known people have graduated from Brandeis. These include the creators of the TV show Friends, David Crane and Marta Kauffman. Other famous alumni include political activist Angela Davis, journalist Thomas Friedman, and computer scientist Leslie Lamport.
Brandeis has also had many distinguished teachers. These include Nobel Prize winners Michael Rosbash and Jeffrey C. Hall, famous composer Leonard Bernstein, and psychologist Abraham Maslow.
Sports at Brandeis
Brandeis has 19 varsity sports teams that compete in Division III of the NCAA. They are part of the University Athletic Association (UAA).
Brandeis teams have won national championships in men's soccer (1976) and men's cross country (1983). Many teams have also earned high national rankings.
Besides varsity sports, Brandeis also has 20 club sports, like ultimate frisbee and crew. There are also many intramural sports that students, teachers, and staff can play for fun.
Research at Brandeis
Brandeis is known as a university with "Very High Research Activity." In 2017, it spent over $68 million on research projects. These projects are often supported by groups like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
The university's science departments study many different areas, from tiny molecules to how whole organisms behave. Brandeis science teachers include members of the National Academy of Science.
Undergraduate students at Brandeis can work with teachers and other researchers on original laboratory projects. Brandeis also helps students find money to support their own research ideas.
Student Life at Brandeis
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 44% |
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| Foreign national | 20% |
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| Asian | 15% |
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| Hispanic | 8% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Black | 6% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 16% |
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| Affluent | 84% |
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Brandeis has a very active student government and over 270 student organizations. Unlike some universities, Brandeis does not officially recognize fraternities and sororities. This is because the university believes student groups should be open to everyone, based on interest or skill.
Brandeis has many student groups, including 11 singing groups (a cappella), six student-run theater companies, and comedy groups. There are also many clubs focused on cultural arts and student activism, like groups for environmentalism and LGBTQ+ rights. The Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society (B.A.D.A.S.S.) is one of the top debate teams in the U.S.
Cholmondeley's coffeehouse, or "Chums," is a popular spot for student performances and concerts. Famous musicians like Tracy Chapman and Bob Dylan have played there. Chums is named after a basset hound who used to roam the campus!
Brandeis is also working to be more environmentally friendly. They have a student-organized Farmers' Market, a recycling program, and use wind power for some of their electricity. Students can even take classes that help them work on sustainability projects on campus and in the local community.
Students can also take "Community Engaged Learning" (CEL) courses. These classes allow students to get hands-on experience by working with the community.
The Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps (BEMCO) is a group of student volunteers who provide free emergency medical services on campus. There's also a student-run shuttle service called "Branvan" that provides safe rides around campus and into Waltham.
The university is about 9 miles (14 km) west of Boston. Students can get there by train, a free shuttle to Boston and Cambridge, or by bus.
Wien International Scholarship
The Wien International Scholarship Program helps international undergraduate students study at Brandeis. It was started in 1958 by Lawrence A. and Mae Wien. Their goals were to help people from different countries understand each other better, give foreign students a chance to study in the U.S., and make Brandeis a richer place for learning. The scholarship can cover all or part of the tuition fees. Students who receive the scholarship often go on a week-long trip in the U.S.
Images for kids
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Undergraduate Admissions Center
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Shapiro Campus Center
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Brandeis para niños
- List of Brandeis University people
- National Center for Jewish Film
- Our Generation Speaks
- Rosenstiel Award
