Dear Incoming Graduate Student,

I am delighted that you have accepted our offer of admission to the Brown University Graduate School. Congratulations on taking this step and thank you for choosing Brown for your graduate studies.

Tentative dates for Orientations are:

• International Orientation: August, 20-22, 2025
• Student of Color Orientation: August 24-25, 2025
• All-Student Orientation: August 26-27, 2025
• Resource Fair: August 28, 2025

All-Student Orientation is a required event (and International Orientation is required for international students). You will receive additional information via the Accepted Student Portal, as well as email communication this spring and summer. Your degree program may also host program-specific orientation activities.

At Brown, you have easy access to leading scholars, teachers, and researchers, as well as the Graduate School deans and staff. During the academic year, I set aside time each week to allow students to drop by and discuss your ideas and interests. You also can call or email to make an appointment with me or another dean.

As you prepare for your studies in the program, we encourage you to become familiar with the culture and resources of our vibrant University community. The Brown University Academic Code and Student Conduct Code documents provide an essential understanding of expectations and rules regarding scholarly and research pursuits and interactions on campus. You will be asked to complete an online course on the Codes after you set up your Brown email account, which we recommend you do as soon as you receive an email with instructions. 

Brown also works to provide diverse and comprehensive opportunities for health and wellbeing educational empowerment. As a new student, you are required to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students course as a beginning to this journey. We ask you to engage with this programming before starting courses, so that you feel well-informed about the variety of resources available at Brown. Look for email instructions in July. The Graduate School website offers additional information about University resources.

Our goal is that you are aware of information, as you begin your studies, that will help you be successful at Brown. In addition to knowing your degree requirements, be sure to look at your program handbook, as well as the Graduate School Handbook. Our website provides a link to most program handbooks; to find yours, look at the webpage devoted to your program.

Please retain your offer of admission. The offer represents the University's commitment to you. In the future, you may want to refer to it and this communication.

Again, congratulations on joining the Brown community. The Graduate School will be in touch with you several times before Orientation, and I look forward to welcoming you to campus.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Lewis
Dean of the Graduate School
Professor of Religious Studies
Brown University

Dear Graduate Student,

Brown University Graduate School looks forward to welcoming you to campus.

We ask that you take the following steps:

1. Set up your Brown Account - please wait 2 days after accepting your offer of admission before activating your account. The account gives you access to electronic services, including a Brown email address. Beginning in early June (for fall starts) or early January (for spring starts) the Graduate School will send email exclusively to your Brown email address. For issues, see the IT Knowledgebases or contact the Office of Information Technology Service Center.

2. To activate, you will need your Brown ID number: 140782477

1. Enter your last name, date of birth, and the ID number.
2. Read and agree to the terms of use for your Brown account, and choose a password.
3. Read and agree to the terms of use for your Google account, and choose a password.
4. Your Brown username and email address will be listed on the last page - print this page or make a note of them.

After activation, we recommend you:

1. Add a mobile number to Banner. This allows you to reset your Brown password should you forget it, and also ensures you are notified should an emergency occur at Brown. To do this, log in to selfservice.brown.edu and click Personal Information.
2. Log in to your email. You can simply visit gmail.com and log in with your Brown email address; and you'll be prompted to log in with Brown single sign on.
3. Set up Two-Step Verification. The first time you log into a Brown service like Banner, you will be prompted to set up a means of verification, such as a phone number. You can log into MyAccount after setup to add additional devices or phone numbers. Read more about two-step verification at brown.edu/go/twostep
4. Note for international students: International numbers are acceptable and they should be entered with a + in front of the country code. If you don't plan to get a US cell phone once in the country, you can use the smartphone app (Duo Mobile) over wifi or without a connection.

Please provide a photo for your Brown Identification Card. The Brown Card is the official University identification card. The image should be a passport-style “head and shoulders” image. To submit your photo, log into the secure area of Banner, Applicant and Student section, and use the link for Brown ID Online Photo Submission. Upon arrival on campus, you can pick up your card during business hours at the Brown Card Office.

3. Read our online guide for admitted students. Find important dates and contacts and learn information about governance, campus resources and services, life at Brown, and living in the Providence area.

Sincerely,
The Deans and Staff of the Graduate School

Dear Graduate Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance to Brown! The Graduate Student Council is thoroughly excited to meet you and welcome you to your new home in Providence. We hope that you will find everything you need here, and if not, don't hesitate to reach out as it is our official role as graduate student representatives to connect you with the appropriate resources.

To hopefully smooth the transition to Brown's community and Providence as much as possible, we are hosting a Housing Webinar on Monday, May 5, 2025 from 10-11:30 am EST.

As graduate students ourselves who went through the process of moving to Providence recently, both from out-of-state and out-of-the-country, we hope to be able to answer your questions and give you helpful tips about the housing market here. We will be answering frequently asked questions as well as fielding live questions from anyone tuning into the webinar.

Please sign up to attend the webinar. We will send instructions on joining the webinar to those who register. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Graduate School website (should you not be able to attend). You may also submit questions in advance.

Additionally, we encourage you to get connected to the graduate community through our social media (Facebook | Instagram), website and our mailing lists. We also invite international students to join our international grads Facebook group.

Sincerely,

2025 Executive Board of the Graduate Student Council

Kevin LoGiudice, President
Dominique Barnes, Vice President of Advocacy
Aysun Akhundlu, Chair of Nominations
Nikita Redkar and Laurel Tollison, Co-chairs of Social Events
Sofia Verba, Chair of Student Life
Nazanin Ahmadi, Treasurer
Natalie Hampton Chair of Communications
Hadiya Jagroop, Chair of Master's Advocacy
Sharanya Renjit, Chair of International Advocacy
Dominique Walker, Chair of Technology
Jean J. Jerome, Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
MJ Ahmadi, Chair of Education