General Information
Brown Card Services
The Brown Card is the key to a one-card system at Brown. The Brown Card system will continue to be developed with the goal of improving access and services for the safety and convenience of the University community.
The Brown Card provides user access to Libraries, Athletics, Student Activities, Computing and Information Services, Bookstore, Computer Store and many other services at Brown. User information on specific points of service related to the Brown Card is summarized below.
- Dorm and Building Access
- Brown University Dining Services (BUDS)
- Vending, Laundry, Copier and Printing Services
- University Libraries
- Brown Bookstore and Campus Shop
- Brown Computer Store
- Registrar's Office
- Hour Glass Cafe
- RIPTA U-PASS
Dorm and Building Access
The Brown Card provides individual access to University residence halls, libraries, the athletic center, parking and other buildings.
The Brown Card provides essential personal identification and is required by University policy. While on campus, the Brown Card should be carried at all times for identification purposes. It must be presented upon the requesst of a University official, including Public Safety Officers.
Inquiries regarding dorm access with the Brown Card should be directed to:
The Office of Residential Life
Wayland Arch, Box 1864
Providence RI 02912
401-863-3500
Inquiries regarding access to other campus locations should be directed to:
Brown Department of Public Safety
75 Charlesfield Street
Providence, RI 02902
401-863-3322
For access after hours, or to report a safety or security problem, call Brown Public Safety Office, 401-863-3322.
Brown University Dining Services (BUDS)
The Brown Card identifies student meal plan holders at the Sharpe Refectory and Verney-Woolley dining centers. The wide magnetic access stripe on the back of the Brown Card ID contains encoded on-line information regarding the user's board contracts which is read by BUDS dining systems to permit access to student dining. Students with board contracts also have automatic "points" credited to the Flex-Plus Dining Account. These credit points are available to be used in place of cash at any of BUDS operations on campus. Flex-Plus allows expanded, flexible food buying with the Brown Card at any Brown University Dining Services location.
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in their Brown Card Declining Balance Account can make purchases with the Brown Card at any of the BUDS locations on campus.
For information on the use of Flex-Plus and the Brown Card for dining services contact:
Brown University Dining Services
Box 1936
144 Thayer St.
Providence RI 02912
401-863-3876
Vending, Laundry, Copier and Printing Services
Brown Card readers have been installed in self-service vending, laundry, printing and copier equipment on campus in order to provide convenient access to vending services with the Brown Card. The Brown Card off-line vending stripe stores cash values up to $50 for cardholder use at campus self-service vending, laundry, printing and copier equipment. The Card Value Center (CVC) machines conveniently located on campus may be used to transfer Declining Balance funds or to deposit cash to the vending stripe. Please note: If a Brown Card is lost, stolen or damaged, the cash amount on the vending stripe may be lost.
Vending
The Brown Card vending stripe allows convenient card purchases of a wide variety of snacks and beverages from the vending machines located in residence halls and buildings throughout the Brown campus, without the need for coins.
Simply insert the Brown Card into any vending machine reader. The card's current vending stripe cash value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his beverage or snack selection. The cost of the vending purchase will be deducted from the card's vending stripe.
Brown University Dining Services manages Brown's vending program. For more information please contact Brown Dining Services , 401-863-3343.
Laundry
The Brown Card vending stripe enables students to operate the campus dormitory self-service laundry equipment without the need for coins.
Simply insert the Brown Card into the laundry machine reader. The card's current vending stripe cash value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his selection. The cost of the laundry transaction will be deducted from the card's vending stripe.
The Office of Residential Life manages Brown's laundry program. For more information please contact the Office of Residential Life, 401-863-3502.
Copier
Brown Card copier services are available at the Metcalf Copy Center, and on self-service copiers, printers, and microform equipment at the University Libraries (Rockefeller, Sciences and Orwig libraries).
Simply insert the Brown Card into any machine reader. The card's current vending stripe cash value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his selection. The cost of the copy, print, or microform transaction will be deducted from the card's vending stripe.
"Cash to card" machines located near the copier equipment at the libraries and copy centers may be used to increase value to the Brown Card vending account.
Vending cards are available for purchase at the University libraries and copy centers, and also at the Card Value Centers for $1.00 each. Visitors and guests who do not have a Brown Card but who wish the convenience of a card to purchase vending products and services on campus can use these cards. Value can be added to the vending card by inserting it into a CVC Card Reader, or at cash to card equipment at Brown's libraries and copy centers and then inserting the desired amount of currency, up to $50 maximum.
Brown's copy services are managed by Brown Graphic Services. For more information please contact the Brown Graphic Services, 401-863-1548.
University Libraries
Access to and borrowing services of the University Libraries require the Brown Card ID. Library users present their Brown Card to gain admittance. The barcode on the front of the Brown Card is used for the loan of books and materials.
Copier and microform equipment are provided by Brown Graphic Services. Inquiries on services should be directed to the Copier Pool at 401-863-1548. Cluster printing services at University Libraries are provided by Computing and Information Services at 401-863-7319.
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in the Brown Card Declining Balance Account can pay library fines using the Brown Card. For further information regarding the use of the Brown Card at University Libraries please call 401-863-2165.
Brown Bookstore and Campus Shop
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in the Brown Card Declining Balance Account can make purchases with the Brown Card at the Brown Bookstore and Campus Shop. The Brown Card also identifies students, faculty and staff for exemption from state sales tax in the University Bookstore and Campus Shop on book and supply purchases intended for academic use.
The Brown Card can also act as a charge card for purchasing books, supplies and general merchandise. The Bookstore Charge Account is administered separately from the Declining Balance Account using the student's unique ISO number. It is very important to be clear with Bookstore salespersons as to whether you would like to use your Bookstore Charge Account or your Declining Balance Account when making a purchase. For more information on the Bookstore Charge Account contact the Bookstore Business Office, or call 401-863-3166.
Brown Computer Store
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in the Brown Card Declining Balance Account can make purchases with the Brown Card at the Brown University Computer Store. The Brown Card also identifies students, faculty and staff for exemption from state sales tax in the University Computer Store on equipment and supplies purchased for academic use.
The Brown Card can also act as a charge card for purchasing computer equipment and supplies using the Bookstore Charge Account. It is very important to be clear with Computer Store salespersons as to whether you would like to use your Bookstore Charge Account or your Declining Balance Account when making a purchase. For information on the Brown University Computer Store or using the Bookstore Charge Account contact the Bookstore Business Office, or call 401-863-3166. You can also visit the Computer Store's website.
Registrar's Office
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in the Brown Card Declining Balance Account can purchase official school transcripts using the Brown Card at the Registrar's office.
For further information regarding the use of the Brown Card at the Registrar's office please call (401)-863-2500, visit their Web site, or e-mail Registrar's_Office@Brown.edu.
Hour Glass Cafe
All Brown Card holders who maintain funds in their Brown Card Declining Balance Account can make purchases with the Brown Card for food and beverages at the Hour Glass Cafe located in Bear's Lair of the Graduate Center.
Oxfam at Brown is a student run branch of the national organization Oxfam America. The mission of Oxfam America is to create lasting solutions to hunger, poverty, and social injustice through long-term partnerships with poor communities around the world. As a branch of the national organization, Oxfam at Brown seeks to support this mission through awareness-raising events and fundraising.
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus service
The Brown Card utilizing the wide magnetic access stripe on the back of the Brown Card ID contains encoded information that identifies active students, faculty and staff as members of the Brown community eligible for free RIPTA bus services anywhere in Rhode Island at no charge.