Important Dates

Be sure all of your forms and payment are completed by their assigned deadlines:

• May 13: Full payment for Leadership Institute
• May 29: All required forms for all students 

Students who enroll after these deadlines are expected to complete form requirements and make payment within 48 hours of enrollment.

Checklists

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

Forms will be made 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. 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 student portal periodically for new requirements.

Accessibility Services

If applicable, you may request accommodations based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability, including medical conditions and temporary injuries. Please be aware that all accommodation requests will be considered, however, there may be limits as to what can be provided without sufficient notice. We require all documentation, including those related to requests for accommodations, to be submitted by May 29.  Please email accessibility@brown.edu to request an accessibility services form. You may also contact that email if you have any questions or concerns.

Technology Requirements

Your Leadership Institute online course will require access to the following tech resources:

• computer with a reliable internet connection
• webcam and microphone (built-in or external)
• word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs
• PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat
• Zoom 

Some instructors may provide information about additional required software during your course orientation. 

Course Orientation

You will log into your course in Canvas during the week of June 15 to complete your course orientation, during which you will get to know Canvas (Brown's learning management system), review course expectations and strategies for your success, learn about your instructor(s) and classmates and help them to learn a bit about you. These activities should take you a few hours that week to complete at your own pace. You are required to complete your orientation by June 21. We will send you an email the day your orientation begins with instructions explaining how to access your course and begin orientation activities. From that point on, you should use your Brown email for course-related activities and information, and check daily for course announcements and updates from your instructor/instructional staff. Throughout the summer, please regularly check your Brown email account as well as the email account you used to apply to Brown Pre-College.

You will begin working with your instructor and classmates on the course itself on the course start date listed in the course catalog.

Course Expectations

You should plan to log into your course at least once each day to complete daily assignments and plan time to complete upcoming projects and meet deadlines. Expect to spend approximately 15 hours per week engaged with course materials and plan your schedule accordingly. 

Synchronous Sessions

Required synchronous Zoom sessions will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET each week and will consist of interactive workshops and presentations with your classmates, instructors and/or instructional support staff. Please ensure that you are able to attend all required live sessions, regardless of what time zone you are learning in.

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. Any 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 is the Learning Management Tool that Brown University uses for course materials, syllabus, communication with instructors and other resources for each course. Your instructor may use Canvas to provide you virtual access to course-specific resources.
• Libraries: All active students are able to access University Library resources virtually and can use library space. To visit the Brown University Library virtual access here.
• Writing Center: You can make an appointment to request support with writing assignments. Please follow the link to the Writing Center 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 to  language support services 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.

Inactive Online Students

You are required to remain active throughout your course. Inactivity within your course may result in dismissal from the program and you would not be eligible for a refund or CeCertificate of Completion. To remain active in your course you need to ensure that you are completing work and engaging in your course as required by your instructor, as noted within your course syllabus. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging with your classmates/instructor on the discussion board and completing all readings, assignments, projects and assessments on time. You should notify your instructor immediately by using your Brown.edu email regarding anything that may impact your activity in the course. It is your responsibility to stay up to date with email communications from your instructor and pre-college.   

Description of 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.

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

As an online student, you are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. These activities can connect you with students who are taking other online courses, as well as some students attending programs on the Brown campus. These activities also offer valuable preparation as you consider your college options and provide opportunities to build a wider community. Registration for these events will be available in your student portal at the start of your course. 

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 instructors and Student Life staff. Please also review the financial policies, including payment and refund information.

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 course you will 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.

Access to the Student Portal will remain available to you. Please be sure to keep you username and login. All Pre-College students' access to the Brown University Google Drive and Canvas accounts will be removed at the end of August. You will receive an email after your course with the exact date. Please be sure to transfer any important files and documents to a personal account and/or device. After this date, you will no longer have access and we will NOT be able to retrieve your account.