Dear Student, 

We hope you are well as we begin the Fall 2020 semester. A few days ago, we welcomed a limited number of students to campus for Phase One of having undergraduates on campus for the start of the semester at Brown. We still hope to invite students enrolled to live in residence back to campus by the end of September for the start of in-person instruction on October 6, assuming public health conditions allow this. The University will make this decision about Phase Two of inviting students for on-campus operations by September 11. 

In the meantime, so that we are ready for this move, should it occur, we need some information from you. This message outlines essential information that you need to submit no later than 11:59 pm EDT on Monday, September 7, to give our housing staff the time needed to work with you and other students through the housing assignment process.

Information Needed 

To ensure that we have the most accurate information for housing assignments, we need you to complete a new Housing Questionnaire no later than the 11:59 pm EDT deadline on Monday, September 7. Please understand that this deadline is final. We need to begin the housing assignment process immediately thereafter, and we cannot make adjustments after this date.   

The new Housing Questionnaire will gather information about your preferred housing type and preferred neighbors. It’s important to understand that students who arrived in Phase One and students who arrive in Phase Two cannot be housed together until after the Phase Two Quiet Period has concluded (and only as space is available). Students you may have identified as preferred neighbors when you completed the original Housing Questionnaire in July may not be moving on campus as part of Phase Two. It is your responsibility to confirm with your preferred neighbors that they are also confirmed to arrive in Phase Two. 

Greek and Program Houses: If a sufficient number of members of a Greek or Program House are returning to campus in Phase Two, we will endeavor to house those members together in or near their house. Provided that space is available, members who arrived in Phase One will have the opportunity to be relocated with other members of their group after the end of the Phase Two Quiet Period. 

Housing Accommodations: We continue to maintain all approved Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and religious accommodation information. Preference or pull-in changes cannot be made.

The Housing Questionnaire is only for students planning to arrive on campus in Phase Two. Students who wish to live and study remotely outside of the Providence area must email Fall2020@brown.edu to request a change from “on campus” to “remote.” The final deadline for this request is 5 pm EDT on Monday, September 14. Students who choose a remote location of study and live in Providence will be violating the University’s rules and potentially endangering the health and safety of themselves and others. Dishonesty about location of study will be referred to the student conduct process, and possible sanctions could include academic suspension.

Information for Phase Two Arrival 

Should health conditions allow, Move-In for Phase Two will occur over three days between Friday, September 18 and Sunday, September 20. You will be able to choose one of these three days when you receive your housing assignment (no later than 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 15). We recommend that students NOT purchase tickets until the decision about Phase Two is announced.

We are aware of the coincidence of the move-in dates and Quiet Period for Phase Two with the Jewish High Holy Days. Students observing the Jewish High Holy Days will have the opportunity either to move in on Thursday, September 17 (prior to the start of Rosh Hashanah) or on Tuesday, September 29 (after Yom Kippur). Students can select their preferred option in the new Housing Questionnaire. 

Phase Two Quiet Period

To promote public health and wellness, students arriving on campus for Phase Two will be housed in different residences from students who arrived in Phase One. As a primary prevention measure, students living on campus are required to observe a 14-day Quiet Period that includes a period of time when students will be required to remain in their residence halls except to get a COVID-19 test, receive care from Health Services by appointment, or to pick up dining hall meals. All students must observe the quiet period regardless of their pre-arrival test status (including antibody testing) and geographical point of departure. 

In Closing

We know this has been and continues to be a challenging time for everyone. Our priority continues to be the health and wellness of the Brown community. We are committed to helping make your return to campus as smooth as possible. 

Sincerely, 
The Staff of the Office of Residential Life