Dear incoming graduate students,

We look forward to welcoming you to Brown in January and hope you are able to finish the year both safe and healthy. We’d like to share a few important details and resources in advance of the start of your program.

Brown Account
If you have not already done so, please set up your Brown Account as soon as possible. Future emails will only be sent to your Brown email address.

Read our Guide for Admitted Students
Find important dates, contacts and learn information about governance, campus resources and services, life at Brown, and living in the Providence area. Make sure to follow the instructions for obtaining your Brown Identification Card.

I-9 Process for Doctoral Students
For doctoral students planning to arrive in the U.S. prior to December 31, 2020, you may start your I-9 process online through Workday. You will then need to make an appointment with the HR Service Center (hrservicecenter@brown.edu) to complete the process in person after you have completed your 14-day quarantine.

For doctoral students arriving in the U.S. after December 31, please reach out the HR Service Center (hrservicecenter@brown.edu) to make an appointment to complete your I-9 process in person after you have completed your 14-day quarantine.

Health Insurance and Dependent Coverage
The Student Health Insurance Plan for the spring semester will begin on January 1, 2021. The deadline to waive this coverage is January 8, 2021. For any student who would like to add a dependent to their plan (see Health and Dental Insurance for more details), the deadline to do so is December 10.

Housing & Arrival
A limited number of housing options will be available through Auxiliary Housing for the spring. Please keep an eye out for a separate email on this topic tomorrow. Also check out the following links:

• Incoming Graduate Student Housing Webinar (from April 30, 2020). 
• Your First 14 Days in Providence with Quarantine Resources.

Testing
Incoming students will need to enter or update their arrival date in the MyBrown platform by December 13, 2020. Once this information is received, Brown will send you information to enroll in the on-campus testing program based on the amount of time you will be spending on campus.

Orientation to Graduate School
The Graduate School will be offering a virtual Orientation for all students starting in the Spring semester on Monday, January 11 through Wednesday, January 13, with some optional sessions potentially available on Thursday, January 14. There will be specific mandatory sessions for international students. All sessions will be recorded and available to watch at a future time. We do recommend joining the live sessions, as your schedule allows, so that you may also ask questions. More information on how to register for and attend Orientation will be available in December.

Academic and Student Conduct Codes Course
You will be asked to complete the online course on Academic Code & Code of Student Conduct in early January through an announcement in your Brown email. This is a mandatory course for all new and visiting students.

International students

• Please complete your FNIS as soon as possible after you have arrived in Providence.
• Please be sure to check out our Grad Assistant's Unofficial Guide to Brown to help get you started before and after you arrive in Providence. 
• Save the Date: We will also be hosting open hours for any questions you may have in advance of the University’s Winter Break on Wednesday, December 16 at 9 am. Further details will come via email in early December.

FAQ Pages

• Fall/Winter 2020 FAQs for Graduate Students
• International Student Community FAQs from Global Brown
• Healthy Brown FAQ

If you have any questions or concerns on any of the above contact, please email graduate_school@brown.edu. 

Sincerely,
Brown University Graduate School