Wishing you and your family a restful winter break. 🐻 No images? Click here Fall 2023 | Issue 31 Dear Brown Parents and Family Members, As December comes to a close, we reflect on the numerous highlights of the fall semester. In September, Brown celebrated its 260th Opening Convocation welcoming 3,165 new undergraduate, graduate and medical students, as upper-division students moved into two new Brook Street residence halls. The world-class Lindemann Performing Arts Center opened its doors in October as did the newly renovated Rites and Reason Theatre, one of America's oldest continually operating Black theaters. We rounded out the year with the annual Midyear Completion Celebration on December 2, which recognized 196 students, affectionately referred to as ".5ers," who completed their degrees in the fall semester. While we celebrate our students' accomplishments this semester, we also recognize that many members of our community are feeling the weight of world events in deep and personal ways. For Brown’s campus and so many other communities, devastating events like we’ve seen in Israel and Gaza come with the potential to create intense anxiety, tension, debate and even fear — and we’ve certainly seen this on our campus. Our priorities are protecting the safety of our community, fostering respectful learning environments, providing care and empathy, and taking the strongest possible stance against discrimination and harassment. A new web page, Community Care Resources Amid Global Challenges, provides a directory of the wide range of services available to support your student. I am sincerely grateful for the partnership of parents, family members and others in this important work As we look forward to the spring semester, I encourage you to join us for the next installment of the Parent and Family Webinar Series, beginning in mid-January. Information about the series and your opportunity to register will be communicated by email in early January. May each of you have a peaceful winter break with plenty of time to enjoy the company of friends and family. I look forward to connecting with you all in January. Best Wishes, Mikele Mikele St-Germain What Students Say About…What's on their (Brown Dining) plate.Autumn Wong Class of 2025 "The sandwich featured is a spicy chicken sandwich with cheese from Josiah's (AKA Jo's)! It comes from our late-night eatery and represents a warm meal after a long day of work! I choose Jo's as my dining hall because I study best at night and like to take my meal as a study break." Kenan Zaidat Class of 2025 "I saw the kosher station open in the Ratty, so I decided to give it a try. I had the chicken matzo soup, along with haddock. They've also had a halal station running this semester, which has been helpful as a Muslim at Brown." Margaret (Meg) Lorraine Class of 2026 "I had the lemon roasted garlic chicken from the allergen-aware kitchen at the Ratty because it smelled really good when I walked by!" Family Weekend 2023 Thank you to all who attended Family Weekend 2023! If you missed any of the featured sessions, recordings of highlighted events are available for viewing. Did You Know?Lessons & Carols celebrated its 107th year. On December 3, The Office of the Chaplains of Religious Life and the Department of Music presented the annual service of Lessons & Carols, which incorporates choral music, congregational hymns and religious texts and readings. The readers of the lessons broadly represented the University community and performances included music from Mark Steinbach, University Organist, the Brown Brass Ensemble, the University Chorus, directed by Frederick Jodry, Director of Choral Activities and Harmonizing Grace Gospel Choir, directed by Donnell Best. A recording of Lessons & Carols is now available for viewing. There are some changes to the Financial Aid re-application process. It's that time of year again! If you plan to reapply for financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year, you may review the application process on the Financial Aid website. Please note that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is undergoing a significant overhaul by the United States government. As a result, the ability to complete the FAFSA online has been delayed this year, but it is scheduled to be available by December 31, 2023. More detailed information about reapplying for financial aid will also be communicated to returning students via email by the Office of Financial Aid, after the Winter Break. Brown will offer a free college preparation program to Providence high schoolers. The Brown Collegiate Scholars Program aims to boost college enrollment, readiness and success for Providence students. According to the Rhode Island Department of Education, about 55% of Providence public school students enroll in two-year or four-year colleges or universities immediately after graduation, compared to 63% in Boston and 81% in New York City. The program is designed to increase that percentage by preparing cohorts of local students to enter college degree programs after high school graduation. The application process opens in February, in time to welcome its inaugural cohort to the Brown campus in summer 2024. Brown reaches goals to enroll more U.S. military veterans and increase support. Through expanded recruiting efforts, increased financial support and the support of generous donors, the University has doubled the total enrollment of undergraduate student veterans one year ahead of its scheduled goal. “Turning Brown into an affordable choice and a supportive educational environment for a broader segment of our nation’s extraordinary, courageous veterans not only honors their service, but also enhances the education of all Brown students who benefit from veterans’ perspectives and experiences,” said Brown University President Christina H. Paxson. The Insitute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) has launched a new Alumni & Family Network. IBES’ new Alumni & Family Network is a platform for passionate, environmentally focused Brunonians to share information, build connections, support early career Brown students, and stay up to date on IBES’ latest developments. Express interest in joining the network by filling out this brief form. IBES recently celebrated the publication of two books by IBES faculty: “Elemental” by Associate Provost for Sustainability, Professor of Environment and Society & Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Stephen Porder and “Residues: Thinking Through Chemical Environments” co-authored by IBES and Sociology Professor Scott Frickel. Join Prof. Porder and IBES for a virtual book talk of "Elemental" taking place on Friday, January 26. Francis J. Doyle III completes his first semester as Brown University's 14th provost. Formerly the dean of the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Provost Doyle assumed the role of Brown’s chief academic officer on July 1, 2023. Doyle’s priorities are to advance academic excellence, build community and ensure financial sustainability. As the University's chief academic officer and chief budget officer, Doyle is responsible for ensuring academic excellence and sound budgetary practices across the full range of programs in academic departments, research centers, and interdisciplinary institutes. This requires working closely with the president to advance the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The Brown Faculty Club offers parents memberships, specialty cake orders and more. Brown's historic Faculty Club, located on the corner of Benefit St. and Bannister St., serves as a place to gather, celebrate and connect with other members of the community. Parents and family members are invited to become members and enjoy its many benefits. Members can also order special occasion cakes for their student; the cakes are prepared by the University's bake shop and require 72 hours advance notice. Learn more on the Faculty Club website. KN95 masks and COVID-19 test kits are availableto students 24/7 at no cost. The University has high-quality KN95 masks and COVID-19 test kits available 24/7 at no cost for all undergraduate, graduate and medical students at the Key Office in Grad Center E. This office is open at all hours on a daily basis. Free COVID-19 tests are also available to be shipped at no cost to households and campus addresses through COVID.gov. Students are encouraged to check all tests for extended expiration dates as these dates are often extended. On the HorizonJanuary 16 - 30 Parent & Family Webinar Series, Winter Edition. Registration begins in early January. January 24 Second semester classes begin. March 23 - 31 Spring Recess Slice of LifeVeterans Day 2023More than 200 people gathered on Brown’s campus on Friday, Nov. 10, to commemorate Veterans Day— one day ahead of the federal holiday — and honor the service of U.S. military veterans and reaffirm the University’s commitment to supporting student veterans on campus. The specter of a wet, chilly forecast moved the ceremony indoors to Sayles Hall from its usual location on Simmons Quadrangle near Soldiers Memorial Arch, erected in memory of the 42 Brown students, alumni and faculty who lost their lives during World War I. But the mood indoors was warm, bright and jubilant as the community reflected on the significant growth of military-affiliated students at Brown. “Brown has recognized something very, very important — the impressive set of skills, diverse experiences and exceptional value that veterans bring to the classroom and campus community,” said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a U.S. Army veteran who delivered remarks during the ceremony. There are now 50 enrolled undergraduate student veterans at Brown, and more than 50 ROTC cadets who will go on to serve the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and — for the first time in University history — Space Force. Fourteen of those cadets were welcomed during the ceremony’s ROTC contracting event, with eight Army and six Air Force ROTC members solemnly taking their oaths. Photo by Nick Dentamaro. Links and Resourcesfor Families |