The University conceived Building on Distinction as a living document.

In 2015, the Operational Plan for Building Brown’s Excellence translated the strategic plan’s inspiring goals into concrete actions designed to enable the University to fulfill its mission and consolidate its role as a leader in higher education and research. The following year, after a community-wide process, the University launched Pathways to Diversity and Inclusion: An Action Plan for Brown University as a companion to the strategic plan, outlining steps for Brown to become a fully diverse and inclusive community. 

During the summer of 2018 Provost Richard M. Locke worked with academic and administrative colleagues to review, reconsider and refine the original Operational Plans. This highly collaborative and data-driven process assessed progress made toward the original goals outlined in the Operational Plan; made adjustments based on new strategic priorities and major updates within each area of the plan; and sharpened strategic and fundraising goals for the remainder of the BrownTogether fundraising campaign.