Important Dates

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

• May 24: Full payment for Summer@Brown courses
• June 2: All required forms due for all students

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

Checklists

Please 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. 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. Please email accessibility@brown.edu so that you have time to submit your request by June 2. You may also contact that email if you have any questions or concerns.

Course Orientation

You will log into your course in Canvas during the week before your online course begins 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 just a few hours that week to complete at your own pace. We suggest you complete your orientation by noon on the Friday before your class begins.

We will send you an email the morning your orientation begins with instructions explaining how to access your course and begin orientation activities. From this point on you should be using your Brown email for course related activities and information, checking daily for course announcements and information from your instructor/instructional support staff.

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 15 to 20 hours per week engaged with course materials and plan your schedule accordingly. In addition to the daily log-in, if you are enrolled in a: 

• Blended course, you are required to review all asynchronous content and to attend 1 to 3 pre-scheduled live sessions each week.
• Mostly asynchronous course, you are required to review all asynchronous content and you will have the opportunity to attend a few optional live sessions and/or to review the recordings of those sessions.  

The course description will indicate which type of online course you are enrolled in.

Academic Resources

• Course Materials: 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 be 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. 
• Writing Center: You can make anappointment 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.

Inactive Online Students

You are required to remain active throughout your course. 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 or receive a Certificate 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 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.

Activities

As an online student, you are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, including social events, workshops, mentor groups and webinars. These activities can connect you with students who are taking other online courses, as well as some students attending programs on the Brown campus, offer valuable preparation as you begin to consider your college options and provide opportunities to build a wider community. Registration for these events will be available in your student portal in late spring.

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.

If your online course is three weeks or longer, 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.