Important Dates

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

• May 24: Full payment for STEM 9/10 program courses
• June 2: All required forms for all students

Students registered after these deadlines are expected to complete form requirements and make payment within 48 hours of registration.

Checklists

You should log in to your student portal to complete your pre-program requirements. Parents/guardians 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 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 Physician’s Immunization and Medical Record, signed by a medical provider. Most forms include sections for both students and parents/guardians to complete.

Accessibility Services

If applicable, you may request accommodations based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability, including medical conditions, temporary injuries and significant 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 Medical Authorization and Health History Form by June 2. Please email accessibility@brown.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

COVID-19 Information 

Please visit our FAQ page for updates and information about Brown Pre-College Programs preparedness, action and response to COVID-19.

Important Packing Tips:

• Bring only what you need. If your bag is too heavy to carry by yourself, you have packed too much.
• New England summer weather can vary, so check the weather in Providence, RI (zip code: 02912) prior to packing. 

What is Provided

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 air conditioning unit and access to wireless internet. 

What to Bring

• Clothing: shorts, t-shirts, pants, etc. and clothes hangers. As summer weather in Providence can range from 50 to over 100 degrees and bright sun to heavy rain, it’s important to bring clothes that you can layer, so that regardless of the temperature, you are comfortable.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Proper attire for laboratory-based classes (if applicable, see below)
• Bathing suit (optional - you will have access to a pool in the Nelson Fitness Center)
• Umbrella/raincoat
• Sunscreen, lotion and bug spray
• Cell phone, phone charger and earbuds
• Laptop computer or tablet and charger
• Notebook and writing utensils
• Prescribed medications, contact lenses, glasses
• Toothbrush, toiletries, soap
• Bathrobe, flip-flops for shower and shower caddy
• Towels and face cloths*
• Sheets for your twin, extra-long size bed (36 by 80 inches, approximately 6 inches thick)*. You may also wish to bring a mattress cover or pad.
• Pillows*
• A light blanket*, bedspread or comforter 
• A desk lamp (if desired). All rooms have overhead lighting.
• Laundry bag and detergent (if desired)
• Small personal items to make your room feel like home (e.g. photos, trinkets or figurines)
• Fan
• Hard copy of your insurance card

*There will be a limited number of linen sets, blankets, towels and pillows available for purchase upon arrival but students are encouraged to bring their own linens because we cannot guarantee the availability of these items.

What Not to Bring

You may NOT bring pets, air conditioners, candles, weapons of any sort, including pocket or Swiss army knives or motor vehicles to campus. 

Proper Attire for Laboratory-Based Courses 

Students completing coursework in laboratories or who will be enrolled in a course that will take them into the Brown Design Workshop should keep in mind there are established practices for lab and workshop attire. Closed-toed shoes or sneakers and long pants are required. Sandals, shorts, skirts or tank tops may NOT be worn in either setting. Students with long hair should be prepared to tie their hair back for safety reasons as necessary and as required by your instructor.

Spending Money 

Students will have access to the Brown University dining halls and we encourage you to eat all meals there. All program activities and excursions are free of charge so the need for spending money will be minimal. However, if you want to make purchases at the Brown Bookstore or local shops or dine at local restaurants during your free time, spending money may be necessary.

Students who wish to use washers and dryers will need to purchase a Bear Bucks Guest Card. Please see the Laundry section below for more details.

Students and their families are required to coordinate transportation to and from Brown’s campus. Brown Pre-College is unable to provide transportation or coordinate travel assistance.

Unaccompanied Travel

In recent years, bus, train and airline carriers have instituted a range of policies related to unaccompanied minors traveling. We encourage parents/guardians to review their likely carrier’s policies early and make decisions about travel based on the assumption that students must arrive on campus for orientation and depart campus at the end of their program without assistance.

Check-In Day and Orientation

Check-In Location: Sayles Hall, on the Main Green
Check-In Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST, Sunday, July 16

Check-In

Go to Sayles Hall to check-in before proceeding to your residence hall. Check-in tables will be located in Sayles Hall, which is on the Main Green. 

The Main Green is bordered by Thayer Street, Waterman Street, Prospect Street and George Street. Please do not utilize Waterman Street as a drop-off location as it is a main artery in the city of Providence and can quickly get backed up. Please park your car in the Power Street lot or the surrounding area (see ‘Parking’ below). You should anticipate being able to manage the move-in of your belongings independently. You may want to leave your luggage in the car until after you have checked in at Sayles Hall. If you are not arriving by car, you can leave your luggage with our staff on the Main Green between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

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: 

• your residence hall assignment and room key(s);
• Brown ID card;
• lanyard on which to attach your room key(s) and Brown ID card;
• campus map; and
• other pertinent materials. 

Orientations

Before 1 p.m.: Your family should plan to eat lunch. You are able to use your ID card to have lunch in the dining hall. Parents/guardians are welcome to join their students in the dining hall and will need cash to purchase a ticket. There are also many restaurants and shops available on Thayer St.

1 p.m.: Student and Family Orientation Session for STEM 9/10 in Salomon 101. During the orientation, you will have an opportunity to meet program staff and the professional STEM 9/10 Student Life staff. 

2 p.m.: STEM 9/10 Student Life Staff begin community building activities outside of Salomon.

Parking

The Power Street parking garage, located at 111 Power Street, Providence, RI 02903, is our preferred parking location for students, families and guests. The garage entrance is located at the intersection of Power and Thayer Streets. The Main Green, where Pre-College check-in is located, is a short walk from there. Families and guests may park at this location for no fee on check-in days. We ask that all cars be moved from the parking garage no later than 8 p.m.

If the parking garage is full when you arrive, please find street parking in the surrounding area. Street parking is free on Sundays, but please be mindful of local signage.

Useful Links:

• Brown University Map
• Google Map walking directions from Power Street parking garage to Sayles Hall

Campus Tours

Campus tours for students and their families will be available at multiple times between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on check-in day. Details regarding tour times will be provided two weeks prior to check-in. Should you be unable to join a tour on Sunday during check-in, you are always welcome to sign up for a tour through the Admissions Office during your time on campus.

Early Arrival 

Although you should make every effort to plan your travel to Brown based on a Sunday arrival between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST, 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 program 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.

Late Arrival

You should make every effort to arrive between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST on Sunday before your course(s) begins so that you can participate in orientations that provide important information, community-building activities and time to settle into your room. If you are arriving after 1 p.m., you will check in with the Pre-College Student Life Housing team to access your check-in materials. Please email precollege@brown.edu with the time of your late arrival and arrival instructions will be provided.

If you experience travel delays en route, please email precollege@brown.edu to let us know what time you expect to arrive on campus so we may update our records and prepare for your arrival.

Maturity and Independence

Independence is central to the STEM 9/10 experience, and for many of you, this level of independence will be a new experience. You will need to find within yourself the self-discipline to manage your time, set priorities and be mindful of such things like eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep and doing your own laundry—all without parental assistance. The STEM 9/10 program at Brown is a great opportunity for bright, motivated young people to practice managing their daily lives in a supportive and structured environment. 

STEM 9/10 is a more structured experience than other pre-college programs occurring at the same time on campus and allows you an opportunity to begin exercising a level of personal freedom that encourages you to grow as an individual. In addition to the academic course content, you are expected to provide a significant level of care and attention to your academic project. The program also includes some free-choice time for you to explore, as well as structured activities and recreational co-curricular experiences. STEM 9/10 students stay together as a cohort in the evenings and on the weekend and are expected to engage in all of the structured program activities. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

Supervision

You will learn quickly how—and how necessary it is—to balance your academic responsibilities with responsible living in a community of like-minded students. You will do so with the help of a team of carefully selected and trained Student Life staff, including a leadership team consisting of professional staff  and 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, support the residential experience and live with students, as well as staff supporting campus-wide events and housing operations.

The skilled and caring staff serve as a resource for everything from guiding you to resources around campus, accompanying you and your peers to mandatory activities and aiding you in negotiating roommate conflicts, should they arise. RAs will help you balance the competing demands of academics and socializing, and enforce policies when necessary. The RAs lead floor meetings several times throughout the program and facilitate community building among their cluster of STEM 9/10 students. RAs not only support safety, but they are there to be a mentor and answer questions concerning high school and college life.

The residential staff's emphasis on community-building and individual responsibility encourages you to develop the necessary skills and capacities in a way that is as enjoyable as it is rewarding.

Contacting STEM 9/10 Students

The most reliable and convenient way for you and your parents/guardians to be in touch is through a personal cell phone. For this reason, we request that prior to the start of the program you and your parents/guardians arrange the frequency and methods for keeping regular times to be in touch while you are attending.

It is common that within hours of parents’/guardians’ departure, students are so immersed in the experience that their sense of time, including when they last spoke to their parents/guardians, is very different from their parents’/guardians’ sense. Please note that students spend the majority of their time in class and participating in extracurricular activities or working on their projects during which cell phone use is prohibited. STEM 9/10 students have free time in the afternoons every day. They will be available most evenings between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EST unless out on a group excursion. After 10:30 p.m., students are expected to observe quiet hours and go to sleep.

Except in emergency situations, STEM 9/10 staff cannot generally honor requests to track down a student. For the safety of our students, visitors (including parents/guardians and family members) are not permitted to enter residence halls when the program is in session.

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 our office at 401-863-7900 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.

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. EST. 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 family to determine the best approach to do so during the program.

Curfew

STEM 9/10 Residential Assistants will make sure activities are finished and you are escorted back to your residence halls before curfew. STEM 9/10 students must abide by a 10 p.m. curfew—after 10 p.m., you must be in your own rooms for the remainder of the evening. Quiet time begins at 10:30 p.m. You must remain on your floor unit until 6 a.m. Students may not leave their residence hall after curfew. 

Adhering to the curfew policy is your responsibility. While residential staff will take reasonable measures to ensure that students adhere to the curfew, once a student has been verified as being within the residence halls at the designated time, we cannot guarantee that the student will not subsequently choose to violate our policies and leave the residence hall area. If we become aware of a curfew violation, the student 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 section on our website. 

Overnight Leave

Once students arrive, it is expected that they will spend every night on campus in their assigned residence hall room. While leaving campus at any point during the program is highly discouraged, families can contact us if they need to request an overnight leave only for the weekend in the middle of the program. Students must depart after the academic component is completed on Friday and must return prior to curfew on Sunday night. Please note that your arrival and departure times may not conflict with the STEM 9/10 Programming Schedule and any conflicts will be communicated to you upon receipt of your overnight leave form. Please note that any request for overnight leave must be pre-approved by the STEM 9/10 Student Life team and is only possible considering the conditions below:  

• 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).

Please request overnight leave using the Travel Form (available mid-June) linked in the Parent/Guardian Checklist. Overnight leave for STEM 9/10 must be requested at least five days in advance. If overnight leave is granted, students should notify their Resident Assistant at least two days in advance.

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. STEM 9/10 courses are intensive learning experiences where students spend 3 hours in class each morning along with two afternoon classes each week. Missing classes jeopardizes your ability to engage successfully and complete course work. Many classes also involve group work, and missing classes can also negatively impact the learning experience of other students in your class. Students are required to attend class. Absence or inactivity within your course may result in a dismissal from the program. Students dismissed for reasons of absence or inactivity will not be refunded.

Outside of Class Expectations

You will be expected to complete 12 to 15 hours of homework over the two weeks. This work will complement the learning within the course and help you prepare for your final academic project. This work may include readings, group projects, writing assignments and presentations. 

Academic Resources

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 obtain support regarding key questions that you would like to expand your learning on and have the opportunity to build a relationship with your instructor. Instructors will share their available Office Hours with you during the first course and likely in the syllabus. We recommend you take advantage of these opportunities.

Academic Project

Faculty enhance the academic content through the inclusion of a challenging and comprehensive research project, activity or design challenge. You will spend time out of class during the two weeks working on this project and present your efforts on the final day to your instructor and peers. You are given the personal freedom to decide where and when to study within your given free-time. It is expected that you will participate actively with your group and produce a final project that will make you, your peers and instructors proud.  

Housing

STEM 9/10 students will live in Brown’s residence halls within walking distance of classrooms and dining halls. You will be assigned to live with another STEM 9/10 student, no more than 1 year apart in age. Roommate requests will not be honored. Students are assigned a roommate so that they can build friendships with new people. 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 by June 2. 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. STEM 9/10 students are also provided snacks regularly as a part of the program. 

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 any 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 June 2. 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
• Stephen Robert ‘62 Campus Center
• 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.

Campus Improvements

Students attending Brown Pre-College on campus programs may encounter campus improvement efforts, including, but not limited to, construction, painting and grounds maintenance. Wherever possible, Brown University and Brown Pre-College have taken steps to mitigate the impact of such projects on Pre-College participants.

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.

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 receive a Certificate of Completion. All completion materials including the Course Performance Report will be sent out in September. The certificate will be sent via US Mail to your listed address and the Course Performance Report will be sent electronically to the email address we have on file for you. 

Closing Day Events and Departure Schedule 

The STEM 9/10 closing events will take place on Friday, July 28 between 8:30 a.m. and noon. You will receive specific details about the schedule two weeks prior to the start of the program.

Immediately following any closing events, you and your parents/guardians should proceed to the residence halls to pack, check out and return your keys to the Student Life staff. Parents/Guardians may want to accompany you to the dining hall for lunch and if so, they would need cash to purchase a lunch ticket at the dining hall entrance. 

When to Depart from Campus

Since Brown University's campus is populated with many programs across the summer months, you should plan to leave campus after attending your last class and must return your key and check out of your residence hall no later than Friday at 4 p.m.