Supervision
You will learn quickly how—and how necessary it is—to balance your academic responsibilities with responsible living in a new community. Time management is a skill that will serve you well in college, so learning this skill by practicing it while in high school is highly beneficial. At a minimum, you will be expected to attend 5 hours of class each weekday; complete 2-3 hours of out-of-class work each day, sometimes with classmates; understand the dining hall locations and hours so you can eat three meals each day; keep yourself hydrated throughout the day; attend all mandatory evening hall meetings with your Resident Assistant; abide by the daily curfew, ensuring you are checking in with your resident staff each night by 10 p.m. and remaining on your floor until 6 a.m.; and make sure you get a good night of sleep. We also hope that you will take advantage of the many extra-curricular activities that will be available to you.
While a lot will be expected of you as a Leadership Institute student, you will navigate these expectations with the help of a team of carefully selected and trained staff. Brown University’s Pre-College Student Life team includes year-round staff, Student Life Managers who often work with K-12 students throughout the year, Coordinators who are primarily enrolled in graduate degree programs in student affairs or higher education, Resident Assistants, who are generally college-aged and support the residential experience and live with students, as well as staff supporting campus-wide events and housing operations.
These skilled and caring staff help you learn how to balance the competing demands of an exceptionally rich and rewarding academic and social life. They serve as a connector to everything from guiding you to resources around campus, familiarizing you with extra-curricular activities and supporting you with both emergency and non-emergent needs. Our primary goal is to create a safe atmosphere that supports your success. Additionally, the residential staff's emphasis on community-building and individual responsibility encourages students to develop these necessary skills and capacities in a way that is as enjoyable as it is rewarding.
Contacting Pre-College Students
You and your parents/guardians may find that cell phones are the most convenient option for keeping in touch. Except in emergency situations, Brown University staff cannot honor requests to locate a student; hence, our request is that prior to the start of the program you and your parents/guardians agree on the frequency and methods for keeping in touch while you are attending. For example, you could decide together that you will text your parent/guardian every evening at a certain hour, or that you will call them every other day at a certain time. If there is an emergency situation in which a student needs to be contacted, parents/guardians can contact the Brown Department of Public Safety: 401-863-3322 and ask to speak to the Student Life Manager on Call. If you have any non-emergency questions or concerns, please contact the Pre-College office at 401-863-7900 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
Personal Health and Medical Emergencies
If you have a minor health concern, you can be seen at Brown University’s Health Services Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Should you need to visit Health Services, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment by calling 401-863-3953. Nursing advice is available 24/7 at 401-863-1330, and certified first aid staff are also available to assist on evenings or weekends. If you require non-emergency care from a healthcare professional outside of Brown University Health Services hours, you may also be taken to a local Urgent Care facility. In the event of a medical emergency, you will generally be transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.
You are responsible for safely storing and taking your own prescription medication. If you are not accustomed to managing your own medication you should work with your parents/guardians to determine the best approach to do so during the program.
Illness
You should inform program staff as soon as you are not feeling well, and will be asked to self-administer a COVID test and/or take your temperature, among other actions. If you are ill, you will need to be separated from others in the program to lower the possibility of any illness spreading and it is possible you may be asked to make plans to depart campus. Please note: there may be additional or different protocols implemented by a field trip location or local airport and are dependent on public health guidelines at the time of the program.
Curfew
You are required to check in with residential staff every evening at 10 p.m. ET and remain on your floor until 6 a.m. ET the following morning. The residential staff will place a call to the parents/guardians of any student who is late for curfew. The Department of Public Safety will be informed after an appropriate interval of time if a student has not checked in, and a protocol will be initiated to ensure the safety of the student
Adhering to the curfew policy is your responsibility. While residential staff will take reasonable measures to ensure that you adhere to the curfew, once you have been verified as being within the residence halls at the designated time, you will be in violation of policies should you choose to leave your residence hall area. If we become aware of a curfew violation, you will be referred to our student conduct process. Repeated and/or serious violations of the curfew could result in dismissal from the program.
For more details, please read the Residential Policies on our website.
Travel in Rhode Island
You are permitted to travel and explore the state of Rhode Island without parental/guardian permission provided that travel will not interfere with the expectations of the program, including curfew. If you want to leave the state, your parent/guardian must submit an Out-of-State Travel Form found in the Optional Section of the Parent/Guardian Checklist (linked in an onboarding email) at least 24 hours prior to departing campus.
Overnight Leave
If an overnight leave is required, an Overnight Leave Form found in the Optional Section of the Parent/Guardian Checklist should be submitted at least 24 hours prior to departing campus.
If you would like to depart campus for the evening your parent/guardian may request to do so on your behalf for the following reasons:
- extraordinary, verifiable personal or family circumstances (e.g. illness, injury or other);
- religious beliefs and commitments; or
- significant, rare and/or time-sensitive opportunities (occupational, educational or other).
What is Our Schedule?
The Leadership Institute is an immersive experience where you are living and learning with other students participating in the Institute. While its schedule differs from other Pre-College Programs taking place on Brown’s campus at the same time, students have the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities offered to all on-campus pre-college students.
| Monday to Friday |
|
|---|
| 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Class |
| 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Lunch |
| 12:30 to 3 p.m. |
Class |
| 3 to 5:30 p.m. |
Optional leadership activities, free time to study or time to engage in recreational/educational activities |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. |
Dinner and free time |
| 7 to 10 p.m. |
Community meetings, free time to study or time to engage in recreational/educational activities |
| Saturday and Sunday |
|
|---|
| All day |
Free time for study, recreational and educational activities |
| All Days |
|
|---|
| 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
Curfew |
Class Attendance
Instructors will take attendance during each class.
While we understand that many students have very busy summer schedules, you should not enroll in classes that conflict with commitments that would require you to miss any days of class. Brown Pre-College courses are intensive learning experiences. Leadership Institute students will spend 5 hours in class each weekday. Missing classes jeopardizes your ability to engage successfully and complete coursework, and since many classes also involve group work, missing classes can negatively impact the learning experience of other students in your class. Missing classes can also result in being dismissed from the program.
Outside of Class Expectations
You will be expected to complete at least 2 to 3 hours of homework each day. This work may include readings, group projects and writing assignments.
Academic Resources
You should consider taking advantage of many of the resources listed below. In college, getting support and learning outside of class is a great benefit and does not necessarily indicate you are having challenges. It’s a good idea to start getting comfortable using these resources now so you are prepared to do so in college.
- Course Materials: You are notified via your student portal at least two weeks prior to the start of your course regarding books or materials that you need to purchase. Other course specific supplies will be provided, if applicable. You should come prepared with pencils/pens, a notebook and any other essential items that you need for note-taking.
- Canvas: You will have access to course-specific resources virtually in Canvas at least one week before your course start date.
- Libraries: All active students are able to access University Library resources virtually and in-person. To visit the Brown University Library follow the link here. If you request to borrow books from the library, they can be picked up in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library Lobby at 10 Prospect Street.
- Writing Center: You can make an appointment to request support with writing assignments. Please follow the link here for details and an appointment request form.
- Language Support: Brown offers support to students whose primary language is not English. To find out more and to make an appointment, please follow the link here.
- Instructor Office Hours: Office hours are a regular part of learning in universities. They are not the same as needing to meet with a teacher in high school because there is a problem. During office hours you can discuss course content and assignments, ask questions to expand your learning and have the opportunity to build a relationship with your instructor. Instructors will share their available office hours with you during the first course meeting and likely in the syllabus. We recommend you take advantage of these opportunities.
What is a “Challenge Course?”
During this program, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Challenge Course or Low Ropes Course. A Challenge Course is an outdoor experience that challenges groups to solve problems and work effectively together. It provides you with an opportunity to gain insight into your own leadership style and to observe the ways in which groups work best. Experiential learning provides a “living laboratory” for your analysis and complements more academic discussions regarding leadership; it is a powerful teaching tool. We will travel by bus to an off-site location to use a Challenge Course.
Tick Awareness During Challenge Course
As with most outdoor locations in the Northeast, deer ticks that sometimes carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses may be present at the site where the Challenge Course is held. Should you be from a region that does not have ticks, we want you to know about deer ticks and tick-bite prevention.
To reduce your risk of a tick bite you are:
- Asked to check yourself carefully for ticks at the end of the day.
- Encouraged to wear long-pants, mid-calf socks and close-toed shoes.
Should you find a tick on yourself, Brown Health Services will implement a protocol that may include tick removal and/or a preventative course of antibiotics. Some parents/guardians may be interested in purchasing tick-repellent clothing or permethrin to treat clothes and shoes for this activity prior to the course. Information can be found here.
If you experience any flu-like symptoms, joint aches or a bulls-eye rash upon your return home, you should contact your medical provider and inform them that you have been in an area where there are deer ticks that sometimes carry Lyme disease.
What is the Action Plan?
We believe that students have the ability and responsibility to be engaged global citizens. The Action Plan is a capstone project that enables you to apply what you've learned at Brown in your home communities.
We will help you define the issues that you are passionate about and construct a plan to address them. We work with you to set realistic goals, identify mentors and resource people and anticipate challenges.
Instructors and Leadership Institute Teaching Associates will help you design an Action Plan that fits your interests and skills. As one of your capstone assignments, you will share an oral presentation of your Action Plan with your peers.
What are some examples of Action Plans?
- Developing a program, initiative or educational campaign (e.g., climate change, media literacy, body image) in your school, house of worship, or neighborhood.
- Collaborating with existing organizations or community groups that address a societal problem such as affordable housing, relationship violence or college access.
- Planning and implementing a fundraiser for an organization or cause.
- Improving your own leadership skills or developing your content knowledge around an issue of importance to you.
Activities
Upon arrival, you will be provided access to an in-person activities and excursions calendar. Registration for virtual workshops, mentor groups and webinars will be available in the student portal.
You will also have access to the Nelson Fitness Center, including their pool and fitness classes, throughout the duration of your program.
Housing
You will be assigned to a single, double or triple occupancy room. In most cases, roommates are within one year of age. Roommate requests will not be honored. Students who need to request housing accommodations based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability should indicate they may require an accommodation when completing the Medical Authorization and Health History Form. Please email accessibility@brown.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in two of Brown’s dining halls daily. Three meals a day are included in the cost of residential program fees.
Dining Services Information
There are resources to help you with food-related allergies, dietary restrictions and other needs for accommodations to navigate the options in the dining halls. Prior to arrival, you should familiarize yourself with Brown’s dining website which provides information about the various dietary options available. This site also includes icons for specific food types (e.g. gluten-free) that are consistent with those found in the on-campus dining locations. Brown offers a variety of options and signage that allow many students to manage without additional accommodations. Students with food restrictions are encouraged to utilize the Brown Dining My Meal site while on campus. This tool is designed to help you make educated food choices in Brown’s dining halls and includes specific ingredients used in all available dishes.
If you have a food allergy, dietary restriction or a need for another accommodation, please indicate this on your Medical Authorization and Health History Form by May 31. The University’s Dietician will reach out to you directly to offer to discuss your dining options. Options could include using an online special meal request system, access to the Allergen Friendly Pantry and guidance navigating the online information and dining halls. In addition, temporary dining accommodations can be provided using a Chef's card that is available on request when you swipe into the main dining hall, the Sharpe Refectory (Ratty). These cards can be used to request a special meal if you arrive on a weekend and have not yet formally arranged accommodations. These cards will enable you to request a meal that is gluten-free or free of the following allergens: shellfish, soy, dairy, nuts, peanuts, eggs, wheat, alcohol and fish. The menu options using this card are more limited and a meal is provided once the card is received, so these meals will take some additional time to prepare.
Laundry
There are laundry facilities in all residence halls. You will need to supply your own detergent. All washers and dryers operate by swiping a Bear Bucks Guest Card (see information below). It costs $1.75 to wash and $1.75 to dry a load of laundry.
Bear Bucks
Bear Bucks Guest Cards allow you to use laundry machines and vending machines. You must purchase a Bear Bucks Guest Card for $1.00 at a Bear Bucks Kiosk. Money should be added to your Bear Bucks Guest Card as needed and in small increments as the unused balance is non-refundable. Please DO NOT add funds/Bear Bucks directly to your Brown ID card.
Bear Bucks Kiosks to purchase Bear Bucks Guest Cards are available to you at the following locations on campus.
- Sharpe Refectory
- Page-Robinson Hall
- Brown Bookstore
- Emery Woolley Hall
Mail Services
Mail may be sent to you during the program. Please do not send packages of bedding or clothing needed on move-in day in advance of your arrival, since the University’s mailroom is not open for package pick-up on Sundays.
Please note that mail sent to college campuses requires additional processing time for sorting and distribution, and any standard mailing or shipping delays may result in the mail or packages not reaching you prior to your campus departure. For those reasons, any mail/packages should be coordinated to arrive no later than one week prior to your departure. Mail should be sent to:
Student Name
Brown Pre-College Student
69 Brown Street
Providence, RI 02912
Lost and Found
The lost and found is located at the Department of Public Safety 401-863-1663. Items of value left behind in residence halls, such as jewelry, money and laptop computers will be turned in and students should call the DPS office to retrieve lost items.