Enrolled student information for BELL: Rhode Island
Enrolled student information for BELL: Rhode Island
We are looking forward to your participation in this unique and engaging program. Please review these web pages carefully with your parent(s)/guardian(s) and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. You and your parent(s)/guardian(s) can speak with a Program Advisor by calling 401-863-7900 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET) or by email at precollege@brown.edu.
Please check your email and your student portal periodically as these are the places where you will be notified when required forms are available for you to complete. Additional requirements may be added throughout the cycle.
Be sure all of your forms and payment are completed by their assigned deadline:
Students who enroll after these deadlines are expected to complete form requirements and make payment within 48 hours of enrollment.
As stated above under Important Dates, there will be a required online program orientation for you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) on Sunday, May 18 at 3 p.m. ET, so please plan accordingly to be able to attend. Register here for this required session. To participate in this orientation, you will need access to a computer or smartphone (no webcam is necessary, but useful if you’d like to use it).
You should log in to your student portal to complete your pre-program requirements. Parent(s)/guardian(s) also receive a checklist of items to complete, sent via email, so please remind them to check their email accounts for this important information that requires action.
The usernames and passwords associated with your Brown email address will be needed prior to and during your course time. Please be sure to document all usernames and passwords.
Forms are available through your student portal and are submitted electronically through DocuSign, an electronic signature provider where you can digitally complete and sign your required forms and waivers, as well as upload your required physical and immunization records. Most forms include sections for both students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to complete. Please note that additional requirements may be added throughout the cycle. Check your portal periodically for new requirements.
If applicable, you may request accommodations based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability, including medical conditions, temporary injuries and food allergies. Please be aware that all accommodation requests will be considered, however, there may be limits as to what can be provided without sufficient notice. Be sure to submit your requests using the required Medical Authorization and Health History Form and BELL Dietary Support Form by Wednesday, April 9. Please also indicate dietary preferences, including vegetarians and vegans, to allow us to plan accordingly. We will work with the staff to make accommodations for dietary restrictions and food allergies if we are notified by the April 9 deadline. Read more about the Brown University Dining Halls in the Dining Services Information section below. Please email accessibility@brown.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Two weeks prior to your course start date, log onto Canvas to complete your course orientation and pre-work prior to arriving on site.
Directions:
You will reside in a Brown University residence hall room. These rooms will include typical college furniture: a bed, desk and chair, dresser, trash can and access to wireless internet. Residence hall rooms are equipped with a portable air conditioning unit or will have central air conditioning.
*There will be a very limited number of linen sets, blankets, towels and pillows available for purchase in the Brown Bookstore upon arrival. You are encouraged to bring your own linens because we cannot guarantee the availability of these items
All program activities, excursions and meals while both on and off campus are free of charge so the need for spending money will be minimal. You will have access to the Brown University dining halls and we encourage you to eat meals there. However, if you want to make purchases at the Brown Bookstore or local shops, or dine at local restaurants during your free time, those can be purchased with cash or, in most cases, credit or debit cards.
Students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to coordinate transportation to and from Brown’s campus. Brown Pre-College is unable to provide transportation or coordinate travel assistance. Please consider purchasing travel insurance if you are flying to campus, and please check in with your airline well in advance to confirm that you have the proper documentation and identification necessary to travel.
In addition, citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries must apply for an authorization to travel to the United States using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which is available at http://www.esta.us/visa_waiver_countries.html. Other foreign citizens will need a non-immigrant visa issued by a United States Embassy or Consulate. To schedule a visa interview appointment, please visit http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english.html.
The Department of State specifically lists short-term summer high school programs as qualifying activities for a B-2 visa 9 FAM 402.5-5(I)(3)(e) Thus, the B-2 visa is the appropriate classification for visitors who will engage in our United States-based pre-college enrichment series. If you need a letter specific to applying for a visa beyond your admissions letter that you can find in your student portal, please contact our office and request a “letter of invitation”.
It is good practice to carry with you (not packed in your luggage) appropriate travel documents, including passport, visa and your Brown Pre-College letter(s) you used as confirmation of the program when you applied for your visa. While traveling to the United States, make sure you know what kind of visa you are traveling on. If the information is requested, you can share that you are attending an on-campus academic enrichment program at Brown University that is not for credit.
As with all other matters, please contact our offices (401) 863-7900 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or precollege@brown.edu, if you expect to be delayed to check-in to your program or are no longer able to attend your program for any reason.
Please consider purchasing travel insurance along with your flight. Please check in with your airline well in advance to confirm that you have the proper documentation and identification necessary to travel.
The closest airport is T.F. Green International Airport in Providence and Boston’s Logan Airport is also accessible by bus or train from Providence.
As you make travel arrangements please note the following two important requirements;
Check-In Location: Machado House, 87 Prospect Street Providence, Rhode Island
Check-In Time: 9 a.m. to Noon (12 p.m.). ET, Sunday, June 22, 2025
Noon (12 p.m.): Brief orientation for BELL Rhode Island students and their parent(s)/guardian(s).
12:30 p.m.: Parent(s)/guardian(s) depart; students and BELL staff walk to lunch at a dining hall
Go to 87 Prospect Street to check in. Machado House has multiple entrances, so please enter the building through the main entrance off of Prospect Street (pictured below).
Parking: Parent(s)/guardian(s) should be able to find street parking near Machado house. Please be aware that most curbside parking near Machado House is either metered parking with clear signage about payment options or free curbside parking during certain hours of the day. Please read signage in the area carefully.
Program staff will be available to direct you as you navigate the campus and answer any questions you may have.
Upon check-in, you will receive:
Although you should make every effort to plan your travel to Brown based on a Sunday arrival between 9 a.m. and Noon (12 p.m.) ET, procedures are in place to accommodate Saturday arrival for those students who are arriving from long distances and need to work around flight schedules. There is a $150 early arrival fee for students arriving on Saturday. Early arrival arrangements must be made by the Wednesday before your course start date. If you meet the early arrival criteria due to long-distance travel, please click through the ‘Early Arrival’ purchase link in the ‘Optional’ section of your student portal. Please note, as buildings are in use throughout the summer, the rooms for specific programs may not be available until Sunday at 9 a.m. If you are approved for early arrival, you may be housed in a different building than the one you will be assigned to on Sunday. Students who are approved to arrive early will have access to the Dining Halls on campus.
You should make every effort to arrive between 9 a.m. and Noon (12 p.m.) ET on arrival day so that you can participate in BELL Orientation and community-building activities. If you are arriving after Noon (12 p.m.), you will check in with the BELL Rhode Island staff. Please email precollege@brown.edu with the time of your late arrival and arrival instructions will be provided.
If you experience a delay while traveling, please call or text the BELL: Rhode Island On-Site with your new arrival time. Please note: This number will be shared during the pre-departure orientation session and will be sent to students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) but will not be active until a few days before the program starts.
While we make every effort to limit the amount of change in housing for students who are participating in consecutive programs or courses, students attending BELL: Rhode Island stay in a separate space from students in other on-campus programs. If you are attending another program before or after BELL: Rhode Island, you will need to move residence halls. If you are attending another program before BELL: Rhode Island, you are required to check in for BELL: Rhode Island on the Saturday before the program begins. If you are attending another program after BELL: Rhode Island, you are required to check in for that session on the Saturday before your next course begins and you must move all belongings on that day to your new room. This is another reason to make certain you pack for the program in a way that allows you to move without assistance.
To contact us in an emergency, parent(s)/guardian(s) may call the BELL: Rhode Island On-Site Director. At certain times during the program, students and/or staff may experience lapses in cell phone service. Staff will be checking the program phone often to return missed phone calls or text messages as soon as they are able.
At the beginning of the program, staff will send out an email to confirm that all students have arrived safely in Providence and have started to build community together at BELL.
At the end of the program, after students have departed, the program staff will send out another email to confirm that students have started their journeys home.
Please note that these emails will be sent out to the parent(s)/guardian(s) email address that we have on file. If you have an alternative email address that you would like included in this list, please contact the On-Site Director to share an additional email address.
You will have clear guidelines regarding where you can go alone or with a peer. Staff are available for support and assistance 24 hours a day. Despite many students being experienced and competent travelers, the BELL staff expects you to stay with the group during all lessons and community activities. Staff will inform you in advance about when you can expect free time at BELL. For example, you may get free time between some lessons and community activities, at which time you are able to explore campus before rejoining your cohort for the remainder of the day.
You will be asked to leave your cell phones in a secure location (e.g., your dorm space or a bag that you can carry with you) for many parts of the BELL program. Unless a phone is used for a part of a lesson or field trip, we expect you to have the phones secured and away during all program lessons and activities. This will include field trips where you might want to take photos, so it’s important to prepare in advance and bring a camera that is separate from a cell phone. The main goal of the BELL cell phone policy is to allow you to stay tuned into each other, the program and your natural surroundings. BELL students benefit from letting go of the frequent connection to technology, as it often helps to adjust to a new environment more quickly and form a stronger community. While some spaces or parts of the day at BELL will be entirely cell phone free, you will still have opportunities to keep in touch with friends and family at home who you lean on for support. Continued violation of the BELL cell phone policy will result in a call to your parent(s)/guardian(s).
BELL: Rhode Island does not allow swimming outside of supervised lessons or without the use of a life vest. You may choose to swim at the Nelson Fitness Center, where there is a lifeguard, during your designated free time. You should feel comfortable on a boat and near bodies of water.
You are encouraged to come to BELL with an open mind to meeting new people with diverse and varied perspectives. Each student admitted to BELL brings with them their own experiences and the cohort comes together to create a fascinating community.
At BELL, each student also contributes to day to day community life by assisting with tasks like keeping the living and learning spaces clean and taking on leadership roles among the group. BELL Staff will expect you to step up as leaders, take good care of your physical spaces, take good care of yourself and respect others.
You are encouraged to upload photos to a shared Google folder once the program begins. You will gain access to this folder closer to the program start date.
The BELL: Rhode Island program is located at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. You will be staying in one of the residence halls at Brown University. You will be assigned up to two roommates, though many students will be staying in a single dorm space. You will share private bathrooms located in the hallway of the dorm.
You will spend three nights in an individual tent at Round the Bend Farm in Massachusetts. You will have access to running water and bathrooms near the campsite. You will be preparing and cooking some of your own meals with the help of the Round the Bend Farm staff (no previous cooking experience needed).
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 any food restrictions are encouraged to utilize the Brown Dining site while on-campus. This site is designed to help you make educated food choices while navigating Brown’s dining halls.
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 and BELL Dietary Support Form by the April 9 deadline. The University’s Dietician or a program director 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.
Students with minor health concerns 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 you may also be taken to a local Urgent Care outside of Brown University Health Services hours. 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 parent(s)/guardian(s) to determine the best approach to do so during the program. All students who are taking prescription medications should bring their prescribed medication in its original container and a copy of their prescription (which can be an electronic copy). Having a copy of the original prescription will enable us to replace medication if needed. Students with life-saving asthma and anaphylaxis medications (e.g., inhalers and epi-pens) must keep them on their person at all times. If your medication requires refrigeration, we will provide access to a refrigerator for the duration of the program.
As with most outdoor locations in the Northeast, deer ticks that sometimes carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses may be present at sites where BELL: Rhode Island field trips are 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
Should you find a tick on yourself, BELL Staff will implement a protocol that may include tick removal and/or a preventative course of antibiotics. Some parent(s)/guardian(s) may be interested in purchasing tick-repellent clothing or permethrin to treat clothes and shoes 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.
You should inform program staff as soon as you are not feeling well, and may be asked to self-administer tests for specific infectious illnesses 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 the program. Please note: there may be additional or different protocols implemented by a partner lodging site, field trip or local airport and are dependent on public health guidelines at the time of the program.
With support from instructors and peers at BELL, you will create an Action Plan to apply your new leadership knowledge to an issue in your home community. Creating an Action Plan is an opportunity for you to reflect critically on what you’ve learned and to delve deeper into issues that you find particularly compelling. There are many types of Action Plans, but what is most important is that you identify a project that: addresses a need, interests you and seems feasible given your personal circumstances. While you do not need to prepare anything prior to arriving at BELL, you may want to think about some issues related to your community and come to BELL with some ideas for Action Plan topics. At BELL, you will participate in Action Plan workshops that guide you through a step by step approach to developing your project. See examples of Action Plans from previous years here.
You will receive a detailed schedule upon arrival, including classroom locations. You must attend all days of the program in order to qualify for the Course Performance Report and Certificate of Completion. In addition to three meals per day, some free time and transportation to and from site visits, the schedule below provides an idea of what the program will entail. Please note: this schedule is subject to change.
| Day | BELL Rhode Island: Digging Into Rhode Island's Food System | BELL Rhode Island: Geological, Recent and Modern Climate Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival Day and Orientation | |
| 2 | Orientation continued; community building; lessons at Brown University | |
| 3 | Round the Bend Farm Camping Retreat | Tomaquag Museum visit and Intro to Action Plans |
| 4 | Lessons at Brown University | |
| 5 | Lessons at Brown University | |
| 6 | East Farm, Peckham Farm and Narragansett Pier visits | |
| 7 | Oyster Farm Visit | Lessons at Brown University |
| 8 | Lessons at Brown University | Round the Bend Farm Camping Retreat |
| 9 | Lessons at Brown University and local community garden harvesting | |
| 10 | Lessons at Brown University and food bank visit | |
| 11 | Action Plan presentation preparation; BELL Closing Traditions | |
| 12 | BELL Closing Traditions; Action Plan Presentations; students depart | |
Please note that you are expected to prioritize the experience for the benefit of yourself and your peers. You will have one or two hours of free time dispersed throughout each day at BELL, but the free time is not always predictable and does not occur at the same time each day. Additional coursework, including online courses for Brown or other programs, is not feasible.
Our days are busy, requiring a lot of your energy and attention throughout the day. 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 parent(s)/guardian(s) 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.
| Curfew Ends | 6 a.m. |
| Breakfast | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. |
| Community Tasks | 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
| Morning Session | 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
| Free Time | 11:30 a.m. to Noon (12 p.m.) |
| Lunch | Noon (12 p.m.) to 1 p.m. |
| Solo Time | 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Afternoon Session | 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Free Time | 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Supper | 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Recreation Time | 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Evening Program | 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Free Time | 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Curfew | 10 p.m. |
There are laundry facilities in all residence halls. You will need to supply your own detergent. Students will swipe their ID card to operate machines. There is no additional fee for this service.
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
The lost and found is located at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) 401-863-1663. Items of value found 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.
You are responsible for abiding by all pre-college policies and guidelines while participating in the program. These include policies listed on the policy page as well as any policies shared with you by Student Life staff and instructors. Please also review the financial policies, including payment and refund information.
In addition to Brown University’s pre-college policies, you will also be required to follow guidelines and policies of all of the BELL partner sites, including lodging facilities, museums, transportation companies and other venues hosting your BELL cohort.
We strongly encourage parent(s)/guardian(s) and families to come to our closing day program on Brown University’s campus. This will be an opportunity for them to see the program housing, hear Action Plan presentations from the students and meet the staff. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are welcome to arrive at Machado House (87 Prospect St) between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Departure Day. Detailed information about Departure Day will be provided via email to all parent(s)/guardian(s) on our email list (i.e., the one parent(s)/guardian(s) contact information from each student application).
10 a.m. Enjoy the grounds, meet staff and students
10:30 a.m. Closing Reception (location TBD)
11 a.m. Action Plan presentations
Noon (12 p.m.) Depart from Brown University
Since Brown University's campus is populated with many programs across the summer months, you should plan to leave campus after the BELL Closing Reception and check out of your residence hall no later than Thursday, July 3 at 1 p.m. If your class schedule or long-distance travel plans necessitate staying over Friday night, you may request approval to remain until Friday, July 4 at 9 a.m. on the final Wednesday of the program. Extensions beyond this time cannot be accommodated. Students should not plan to depart campus during curfew hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
You will receive a Course Performance Report from your instructor and you in turn will be asked to complete a course evaluation upon completion of the course. If you successfully complete your program you will also receive a digital CeCertificate of Completion. The Course Performance Report and CeCertificate will be sent out in September. The CeCertificate will be sent via a secure link to the email address you have on file and the Course Performance Report will be made available in your Student Portal.