We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy, and that you’re looking forward to the start of your experience at Brown University. 

As Brown President Christina H. Paxson shared when the University announced its academic year plans in July, we are making plans to welcome you to campus in January to begin your full-time studies. We are writing to provide some information about what to expect on campus in the spring term and outline the information we need from you by Monday, October 26, so that we can plan for your arrival. 

One of the most important steps we need you to take now is to let us know (via a form linked below) whether during the spring semester you plan to live and study on campus; live and study remotely (defined as studying at least 30 miles outside of the Providence area); or live and study as a commuter at your family’s permanent home address within 30 miles of Providence. First-year students may not live off campus in the Providence area unless it is as a commuter living with their family at their permanent address. Students who choose to live and study remotely outside of the Providence area will not be enrolled in Brown’s COVID-19 testing program and therefore are not permitted to visit campus or interact in person with other members of the Brown community.

Students who choose to live on campus will receive a communication in approximately two weeks asking for information about their housing preferences and meal plan selection. This communication will also provide more information about student move-in, scheduled for Jan. 10-12, 2021. As a primary prevention measure, all students living on campus will be required to observe the 14-day quiet period which will include a period of time when students will be expected 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.

Please use this link to submit your Spring 2021 Location of Study no later than 11:59 pm (EDT) on Monday, Oct. 26. You can make changes to your Location of Study form anytime before that deadline, but please note that we will be unable to accommodate requests for on-campus housing made after this deadline; students who have selected a remote location of study by this deadline are making a commitment to live and study remotely for the entire spring term. If you have any questions about the Location of Study form, please consult these Frequently Asked Questions and, if you need additional information, please email Spring2021@brown.edu. 

Regardless of your location of study, you will have an opportunity to participate in New Student Orientation from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 and apply to participate in Bruno Beginnings, a seven-week program that introduces new students to campus resources, traditions and opportunities via peer-led discussions.

Commitment to follow health protocols

As we look forward to a successful spring semester, the health and safety of our community will remain our highest priority — and preventing the spread of COVID-19 will require the full participation and cooperation of all students, staff and faculty and strict adherence to public health protocols. As part of this shared endeavor, all students are required to agree to the Student Commitment to COVID-19 Community Health and Safety Requirements (Student Commitment) and to complete an online educational module prior to Nov. 12, 2020. You will receive a follow-up email with further information and an individualized link.

Given the importance of protecting community health, failure of students on or off campus in the Providence area to comply with the health and safety requirements outlined in the Student Commitment is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. These requirements include, but are not limited to, wearing masks, social distancing, testing (more on this below), contact tracing, and limiting the size of social gatherings for attendees. The University will address any reported violations through the COVID-19 Student Conduct Procedures with discipline up to and including removal from campus and academic suspension.

Required COVID-19 testing 

Students who will live on campus or as a commuter at their family’s permanent address within 30 miles of campus must follow a set of pre-arrival requirements and recommendations and will be required to be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at Brown. Students will then be required to participate in routine asymptomatic testing twice per week. This testing is free of charge. 

The University has implemented a comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contract tracing program, which requires that students and other members of the Brown community use a digital tool via their computers or mobile devices to schedule their twice-weekly COVID-19 tests and to record daily symptoms. This tool is designed to protect individual privacy. The University will not have access via the app to information on where students go, and symptoms data will only be used after students’ names have been removed. Data from the tool will be useful for identifying health trends on campus and informing the amount of routine testing that is needed. You will receive more information about this tool prior to your arrival.

Please note that the deadline to submit required medical forms, transcript(s) and the health insurance waiver is Nov. 1, 2020.

As a reminder, every member of our community should be prepared to be flexible in the event that the status of the pandemic prompts adjustments to University planning or academic operations. While our fall term has started very successfully, we continue to monitor the state of COVID-19 spread regionally to ensure that our 2020-21 plans remain the best approach. 

Please look forward to receiving additional information as we near the start of the spring term at Brown. In the meantime, we look forward to receiving this important information from you about your plans for the spring.

Sincerely,

Eric Estes
Vice President for Campus Life

Rashid Zia
Dean of the College