Greetings!
First of all, the whole Brown Admission site has been designed with both prospective students and prospective parents-of-students in mind. If you take the time to browse, you will likely find that most of your questions will be answered. But we do understand that there are probably some things you’re concerned about that might be of little interest to your son or daughter. If you still have questions after reading through this information, please feel free to contact us.
Brown's Relationship with Students and their Parents
Health and Psychological Services
Brown's Relationship with Students and their Parents
More than many other colleges and universities, Brown builds its relationships with undergraduates on the premise that students are capable adults. The open character of the Brown curriculum is designed to be responsive to a student's individual interests. For the curriculum to work, the University presumes that students will make an effort to articulate those interests to advisors, deans, and administrators. In making its decisions, the Office of Admission considers whether each applicant has demonstrated a high level of maturity and given strong evidence of taking initiative and being a self-starter. These are the qualities best suited to the challenge of making important academic choices, something Brown students are called upon to do from their very first semester.
If Brown's distinctive academic philosophy predisposes University officers and faculty to interact with students as responsible adults, so does federal law. Brown complies with the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. The Buckley Amendment restricts the information Brown is permitted to share about individual students, while granting students clear rights to their own records.
These restrictions are occasionally frustrating to parents. University administrators and faculty do not generally share a student's grades or other details of their academic progress or social lives unless the student has consented to the release of such information. But this need not become an obstacle to effective communication between students and their parents, or parents and the University. Rather, all must subscribe early on to the idea that responsible adults share information only with the consent of everyone involved. Brown expects, for instance, that students will choose to share their grade reports with their parents. While it is important to remember that students alone are ultimately responsible for the content of their education, they should acknowledge that their parents feel a legitimate stake in that education and the progress of their personal development.
Brown believes that parental involvement in students' educations is important. University officers facilitate this involvement in the freshman and sophomore years by writing to parents at key times, alerting you to important processes and procedures your sons or daughters are experiencing and making suggestions as to how you might help them.
Unfortunately, there are also times when students run afoul of disciplinary and academic codes, or when their academic progress has failed to meet institutional expectations. The University will not hesitate to notify parents when it believes a student may be placing his or her career in serious jeopardy. University administrators may also contact parents if it is determined by a campus professional that a student is behaving recklessly, is a danger to himself or herself or others, repeatedly refuses to acknowledge official notifications from deans, has been arrested, or must receive repeated warnings about personal behavior.
The Brown Student Handbook, which is available to students during the first week of classes, includes the Tenets of Community Behavior, the Academic Code, and Brown's drug and alcohol policy. The University expects students to have familiarized themselves with the values and policies set forth in those documents, and it will not accept ignorance of the regulations as an excuse or explanation for infractions. We encourage you to take note of these codes. Brown's hope is that you will assist in focusing your student's attention on these important matters and that you will engage your son or daughter in a discussion concerning responsibility, respect for others, use of alcohol or drugs, and questions of personal safety. Brown hopes you can be an ally in educating your student to become a responsible member of this special campus community.
Health and Psychological Services
Brown University Health Services is committed to the concept of wellness for your child, as well as to providing the best possible care in times of illness. A staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and nurses are on the premises during the day. Registered nurses are on duty, and a physician on call, 24 hours a day during the school year to provide urgent care and advice.
The student health services fee itemized in the tuition bill covers most general medical care at Health Services, including primary care by provider staff, use of Brown Emergency Medical Services, health education, infirmary overnight care, and Brown Psychological Services. Students who are not covered under a parental or private insurance plan are required to purchase the insurance plan offered by the University. This plan is designed specifically to complement the services provided by Health Services and is the result of a competitive bid.
All incoming students are required to complete the Brown University Health History form before arriving on campus. A recent physical examination and/or assessment of the student's physical status is required; for those planning to participate in competitive athletics, a physical is required within the past six months. For continuity of care, students' medical records should be forwarded for any chronic and/or serious medical condition.
In accordance with Rhode Island law, Brown requires proof of immunization against measles (two immunizations, one after the age of 12 months and one after the age of four years) and rubella (one immunization after the age of 12 months). It is a Brown University requirement that students also provide proof of immunization against tetanus/diphtheria within the past 10 years, and a PPD/Mantoux skin test (tuberculosis screening) within the past six months. If documentation is unavailable, then re-immunization is required prior to matriculation. Health Services strongly recommends immunization for mumps, hepatitis B, and meningococcal disease. If your son or daughter has not had chicken pox, the Varicella vaccine is also recommended.
Students who take medication regularly must bring a written prescription to be filed with the medical record. A pharmacy at Health Services carries a limited stock of prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter products.
Psychological Services offers crisis intervention and short-term psychotherapy to students who are in psychological distress. The department also works with deans, chaplains, and peer counselors in a variety of programmatic and consultative efforts to enhance life in the University. Crisis appointments are available on a daily basis; these are assigned to students in especially urgent situations after a telephone screening. Psychological Services staff members are also on call after hours and during weekends. Each semester Psychological Services develops a variety of workshops, support groups, and presentations on mental health issues.
All student records are confidential, subject to certain permitted disclosures, and are not a part of students' medical records maintained at Health Services. Information is released only with written authorization from the student, provided that some information may be disclosed without patient consent under certain circumstances, such as in an emergency situation, or to officers of the University on a need-to-know basis.
For more information, call Psychological Services at 401 863-3476.
Support for students with disabilities
Brown University has as its primary aim the education of a highly qualified and diverse student body. The University respects each student's dignity, capacity to contribute, and desire for personal growth and accomplishment. Brown's commitment to students with disabilities is based on awareness of what students require for success and seeks to foster an environment in which that success may be achieved. As part of the commitment to help all students reach their full potential, the University offers equal educational opportunities and reasonable accommodations for the needs of qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. For more information, go to Disability Support Services.
Police and Security Services
The Department of Public Safety is responsible for the safety and security of more than 10,000 students, staff, faculty, and guests. With a jurisdiction including all University property and adjacent city streets, the department is responsible for 248 buildings over an area in excess of 140 acres.
The department provides the following services for students:
- Safewalk - A volunteer program run by undergraduates, Safewalk provides walking escorts for fellow students. Each two-person team also patrols the campus, acting as additional "eyes and ears" for community safety. Safewalk teams can be identified by their distinctive caps and by photo I.D.s.
- Campus Watch - An electronic awareness mailing sent by Brown's crime prevention officer, this e-mail service notifies students of crime alerts, scams, or violent incidents that may have occurred on or nearby campus.
- Weekly Incident Summaries - These are e-mailed or mailed to anyone upon request, including parents and relatives of students. Call 401 863-1150 for more information.
- Bike I.D. and Operation I.D. - An engraving resource to protect and help recover students' bicycles in the event of theft.
Transportation Office
The Transportation Office provides the following services for students:
- Shuttle Services - Three minivans operate on a 15-minute route around campus, ensuring that a vehicle will be at each stop every five minutes. Passengers may board and disembark anywhere along the route, at the driver's discretion. This service is available during the academic year from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.
- Escort Service - This van service for off-campus residents provides transportation to and from their homes and the campus. The escort is not a taxi service and will not take people to commercial areas or to friends' homes. This service is available during the academic year from 5 p.m to 3 a.m.
Emergency Contacts
During weekday office hours, you may contact the deans' offices at:
Dean of Student Life: 401 863-3145
For emergencies after business hours, seven days a week, you may contact the dean on call through:
Police and Security: 401 863-3322
Brown switchboard: 401 863-1000