I write today with details on a new mechanism called “Campus Activity Status” the University has launched for designating what levels of activity are permissible on campus under prevailing health conditions at any given time, led by a new working group charged with monitoring a variety of factors to determine those campus activity levels. Prevalence of COVID-19 on our campus is one of the factors, and along with the new Campus Activity Status levels, Brown is launching a public dashboard to report on positive cases of COVID-19, based on data from our testing program.

The University has established a simple Level 1 / Level 2 / Level 3 framework for designating Campus Activity Status in a way that is clear and easy to understand. These levels are a resource for our community, providing a simple guide for what levels of activity comply with current health protocols and prevention measures on campus. A webpage on the Healthy Brown website lists clearly a set of permitted activities corresponding with each level, serving as a go-to reference point for information on requirements and activity limitations in place at any moment.

As one example, whenever health and other factors establish a Level 1status for the campus -- the current Campus Activity Status in place as the fall term begins -- all classes will be held remotely; social gatherings are limited to five people; and no University-supported off-campus in-person activities are permitted. Should the University move to Level 2, however, classes with 20 or fewer students could be held in person; social gatherings can include up to 15 people; and some off-campus activities may be allowed.

And the Campus Activity Status page outlines that, at Level 3, classes with more than 20 students could be held in person, and limitations on gatherings, meeting sizes and other activities further decrease. Guidelines for measures including masks, social distancing, dining, exercising and more are established for each level as well.

To determine the activity level, a new COVID-19 Campus Activity Level Review Team will review up-to-date data on a variety of factors at least twice per week. The public dashboard, which can be viewed on the HealthyBrown.edu website, reports on some of these factors, including asymptomatic test positivity in the Brown community based on our routine testing program, weekly COVID-19 cases incidents in Providence and cases in Rhode Island. Other factors the Campus Activity Level Review Team will review include, among others, symptomatic test positivity at Brown; use and capacity of isolation and quarantine spaces on campus; and test turnaround times. Based on an assessment of all factors as a whole, the team will recommend to Brown’s senior leaders whether the Campus Activity Status level should remain the same or be changed.

It’s important to note that this approach is designed to be nimble, with the ability to navigate from one level to another quickly, as the public health situation demands. It’s also essential to make clear that Campus Activity Status is distinct from whether students are in residence at Brown, or not, and decisions already made about the academic calendar. For example, if the University progresses to Level 2 or 3 status but the public health situation forces a move back to Level 1, that will not automatically prompt an evacuation of campus -- rather, it would mean more limited on-campus activity, such as a return to remote instruction and smaller gatherings. Similarly, if the University is able to progress to Level 3, Brown will not revise its de-densified three-term model -- it would simply allow for the option of holding larger in-person classes if that is deemed safe.

The Campus Activity Level and the Campus Activity Level Review Team were established from recommendations of the Healthy Fall 2020 Task Force. With many elements of Brown’s Plan for a Healthy and Safe 2020-21 underway and a decision to come soon on whether in-person undergraduate instruction will resume in October, the Healthy Fall 2020 Task Force has come to an end. Its work is now in implementation, including the activity levels.

All students, faculty and staff are expected to align their activities to the “current” campus activity level and in compliance with the COVID-19 Campus Safety Policy. The current Campus Activity Status is now highlighted on the Healthy Brown website, and full details on what activities are permitted under each level are available here, along with a list of review team members: https://healthy.brown.edu/covid-19-campus-activity-status

We hope these tools assist everyone in the Brown community with navigating appropriate activity levels on campus and appreciate in advance your assistance in making this a successful academic year.

Sincerely,
Russell Carey
Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy