PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Heralded by the Brown Band — and seemingly undaunted by near sub-zero temperatures — this year’s midyear transfer and visiting students made their way through the Van Wickle Gates on Tuesday, Jan. 22, to mark the beginning of their academic careers at Brown.

The 46 transfer students and two visiting students, who are scheduled to start classes on Wednesday, Jan. 23, come to College Hill from universities across the country and world. Some of the institutions represented include Brandeis University, Colorado College, National Taiwan University, Princeton University, the University of Pittsburgh and Vassar College, among many others.

“This is a very impressive cohort of students who hail from a wide range of academic institutions and bring an exceptional level of breadth of academic interests and pursuits — as well as a diverse set of extracurricular backgrounds and commitment to communities and social justice,” said Julie Lee, assistant dean of the College for academic support and transfer. “I look forward to seeing how they contribute their talents and passions to our vibrant community at Brown.

The walk through the Van Wickle Gates is similar, though much smaller, to the larger procession that takes place each September, as the incoming first-year class enters through the gates for Opening Convocation. Graduating students pass through one more time — in the opposite direction — during Commencement each spring.

This spring’s visiting students include one who is here as part of the Brown-Tougaloo semester exchange, which offers students from each partner institution the opportunity to study for a semester at the other’s campus. Brown has shared a unique partnership with this historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi, since 1964.

Additionally, one student is visiting from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.