Topics
Student Life
Date September 11, 2026
Media Contact
Maggie Spear
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401-863-7287
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Photos: From Orientation to Convocation, Brown welcomes students back for a new academic year

After a week of welcomes at Brown’s student dormitories and a wide range of events to build connections among new students, the buzz on College Hill is back as the 2026-27 academic year gets underway.

Students take part in a painting activity
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Members of the Class of 2030 gather in the Kasper Multipurpose Room for a night of art, mocktails and jazz, just one of dozens of events and activities on the New Student Orientation schedule.

Bruno Leaders lead a tour
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Students mingle during a small-group meeting facilitated by Bruno Leaders, students who support the onboarding of first-year undergraduates by highlighting Brown’s values, curriculum and co-curricular experiences during Orientation.

Stonewall House table at Resource Fair
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Students affiliated with Brown’s LGBTQ Center at Stonewall House chat with first-year students at a campus resource fair.

Student sings at jam session in Sayles Hall
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A jam session welcomed new students to Sayles Hall for a night of improv jams and sharing music.

Open Curriculum lecture
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Dean of the College Ethan Pollock presents an overview of Brown’s Open Curriculum ahead of the first day of the Fall 2026 semester.

Students hug at speed-friending event
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Two students hug during a “speed-friending” event, an icebreaker activity where students took on fun conversation prompts with a partner, rotating to a new partner each round.

Students talk with professor after first class
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Students chat with Professor of Engineering Roberto Zenit on the first day of his Fluid Dynamics class in the Building for Environmental Research and Teaching.

Crowd dances with glowsticks at Orientation dance
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With its student DJs, glowing gear and high energy, the Orientation Dance is a classic tradition of New Student Orientation.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For new students at Brown, the week between residence hall move-ins and the start of classes offered no shortage of ways to celebrate, acclimate and get a crash course on the University’s history, traditions and values.

This year, Brown welcomed more than 3,200 new undergraduate, graduate and medical students to campus. They were met with a convivial spirit that lasted throughout New Student Orientation, which extended from Wednesday, Sept. 2 — when teams of students, staff and faculty volunteers greeted new arrivals and lent a hand helping members of the Class of 2030 move into their residence halls — to the University’s 263rd Opening Convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 8. 

In the days between, students got a taste of all that Brown has to offer as they attended festive and informative events, including campus resource fairs and tours, a dance on the College Green, game nights, jam sessions, an overview of the Open Curriculum and even an introduction to Providence’s iconic WaterFire arts festival. 

These photo galleries highlight moments from opening week, captured by Senior Marketing and Communications Photographer Nick Dentamaro.

Student limbos at Orientation dance
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After grabbing glow gear, students hit the Orientation Dance floor and broke into an impromptu game of limbo.

Game night
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Students gather for a game night at the Underground, Brown’s student-run coffee shop.

Students get Del's in front of Van Wickle Gates
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Students grab a refreshing Rhode Island staple —Del’s frozen lemonade — after a busy day of Orientation activities.

James Kellner shakes student's hand
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James Kellner, a professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology and environment and society, shakes a student’s hand after the first session of his Diversity of Life course.

Students stand in resource fair crowd
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At the campus resource fair, first-year students get a taste of what Brown’s campus offices, departments and student organizations have to offer.

Students play lawn games on quiet green
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Meiklejohn peer advisers play lawn games on the Front Green, frequently referred to as the Quiet Green, during a Class of 2030 social.

Bruno Leaders give tour
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Bruno Leaders, who play a critical role in welcoming new students to Brown, hold a small group meeting on the steps of the Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center.

Students hold up a sign for the first day of classes
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Wednesday, Sept. 9, marked the first day of classes for Brown University’s Fall 2026 semester.

Tags
Campus Life Clubs and Organizations Open Curriculum The College

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