Dear Undergraduate, Graduate and Medical Students, 

By this time, most students have returned to the Providence area, and we are so glad to have you back and preparing for spring semester. We are writing with some brief reminders about where to find some important resources and requirements pertaining to campus operations in the context of COVID-19.  

Where to Find Information: The Healthy Brown website continues to be the primary location for information about prevention, testing and tracing, academics, research and life on campus. On this website, you will also find the current Campus Activity Status and COVID-19 Dashboard.  

Masks and Social Distancing: Masks and social distancing remain among the most important health and safety measures we can take as individuals and a community. Brown requires that face coverings be worn indoors with very few exceptions. Everyone should wear a mask or face covering in alignment with the University’s COVID-19 Campus Safety Policy. 

Handwashing: While a simple action, handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds is also an extremely important preventive measure that everyone can take. If you do not have access to soap and water, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative to keep your hands clean, particularly after spending any time in public spaces.

COVID-19 Testing: Students in the Providence area are required to be tested consistent with their Location of Study or activity level. Undergraduates, for example, are required to be tested twice per week and must schedule and complete a test every three to four days. Routine asymptomatic testing is scheduled through Verily’s web application. Routine testing locations are at OMAC, One Davol or the Omni Hotel (for residents). Students living in the Jewelry District are reminded that the One Davol testing site is particularly convenient and will be helpful in minimizing travel. If you are experiencing symptoms or think you might have been exposed to COVID-19, immediately contact Health Services at 401-863-1330 or nursing@health.brown.edu. Do not go on-campus or to Brown’s routine testing facilities, as you may risk infecting others.

How to Report Concerns: Everyone at Brown can help to support a healthy campus environment by reporting behaviors inconsistent with or in violation of the University’s COVID-19 Campus Safety Policy. To report a concern about a student, please use the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards’ COVID-19 Incident Complaint Form. If you wish to make an anonymous report, you can call Brown’s anonymous reporting hotline at 877-318-9184 or report online. All reports will be given careful attention by the appropriate Brown University administrators.

Quiet Period: Undergraduate students living on campus or in Brown-leased properties beyond campus are required to abide by protocols in place for the Quiet Period, a core strategy to limit spread of the virus, until Jan. 27. During stage one of the Quiet Period, on-campus undergraduates must remain in their residential buildings except for a limited number of specific essential activities. Students living off-campus cannot come to campus until Jan. 27 after the conclusion of the Quiet Period. During the Quiet Period you will need to wear masks and remain socially distanced around everyone, including your pod-mates. Information about Quiet Period events and programming can be found in the BrownU mobile app and Today@Brown. 

Safeguarding the health of the campus community and our neighbors in Providence continues to be a shared responsibility, and we appreciate your commitment to community health and safety.

Eric Estes
Vice President for Campus Life

Vanessa Britto
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Executive Director of Health and Wellness

Koren Bakkegard
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Dean of Students