Information For:

Brown Card Services

BROWN CARD SERVICES

The Brown Card is the Official Brown University Identification Card that provides access to everyday life at Brown. The Brown Card Office keeps abreast of Industry Standards associated with One-Card Services and strives to continuously improve 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, RIPTA UPASS Program 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

The Brown Card provides individual access to University buildings such as: residence halls, libraries, the athletic center, parking. labs 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 request 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
Grad Center E
42 Charlesfield Street 
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 participants at University 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 Bear Bucks 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 are 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 ValuePort III machines located on campus may be used to add Bear Bucks funds to use these services.

 

BEVERAGE VENDING

Brown University Dining Services manages Brown's vending program. For more information please contact Brown Dining Services , 401-863-3343.


LAUNDRY

The Brown Card enables students to operate the campus dormitory self-service laundry equipment using the Bear Bucks.

Simply swipe the Brown Card into the laundry machine reader. The card's current cash value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his selection. The cost of the laundry transaction will be deducted from Bear Bucks account.

The Office of Residential Life manages Brown's laundry program. For more information please contact the Office of Residential Life, 401-863-3502.

Students can now use LaundryView! This online tool allows you to check the status of machines in any campus laundry room. Check washer/dryer availability and get an email or SMS text alert when a load completes. Find it on your computer at www.laundryview.com/brownu or from your mobile device at m.laundryview.com/brownu. Instructions are online and in each laundry room. For laundry view help call the Bear Bucks Help Line 863-5300 or email Bear-Bucks@brown.edu


COPIER

Brown Card copier services are available at the Metcalf Copy Center and on self-service copiers located around campus.

Simply swipe the Brown Card at any machine reader. The card's current Bear Bucks value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his selection. The cost of the copy transaction will be deducted from the Bear Bucks Account.

Bear Bucks Guest cards are also available for purchase at the Value Port III machines for $1.00 each. Visitors and Guests who do not have a Brown ID Card but who would like to use a card to purchase vending products and services on campus can use these cards. Value can be added to the Bear Bucks Guest card by adding cash value to their Bear Bucks Guest card.

Brown's copy services are managed by Brown Graphic Services. For more information please contact the Brown Graphic Services, 401-863-1548.

PRINTING

Brown Card printing services are available in Brown University Libraries and Computer Clusters. Card readers are installed on printing equipment to enable payment for print services.

Simply swipe the Brown Card at any machine reader. The card's current Bear Bucks value will appear. The cardholder makes her/his selection. The cost of the print transaction will be deducted from the Bear Bucks Account.

Bear Bucks Guest cards are available for purchase at the ValuePort III machines for $1.00 each. Visitors and Guests who do not have a Brown ID Card but who would like to use a card to purchase vending products and services on campus can use these cards. Value can be added to the Bear Bucks Guest card by adding cash value to their Bear Bucks Guest card.

Payment for print services is also available to students using the PawPrints account. PAWPrints is the system through which you can send documents to the cluster printers.  Print jobs can be sent from any computer in the clusters, from a dorm room or from a department building.  For more information regarding PawPrints, please visit http://www.brown.edu/cis/guide/printing, or use this PawPrints link.

Brown's print services are managed by CIS. For more information please contact CIS at 401-863-7319.

 

University Libraries

Access to and borrowing services of the University Libraries require the Brown Card ID. Library users must swipe their Brown ID Card in the card access reader to gain admittance. The barcode on the front of the Brown Card is used for the loan of books and materials.

Copier equipment is 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 Bear Bucks Account can also 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 Bear Bucks 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 Bear Bucks 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 Bear Bucks 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 Bear Bucks 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 Bear Bucks 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 Bookstore Technology Center.   

 

Health Services

Students may pay for certain fees at Health Services located at 13 Brown Street. Please contact Health Services for a detailed list of fees that may be paid for using Bear Bucks. 

 

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA UPASS) Bus Service

With a Brown ID, Ride RIPTA Buses or Trolleys for Free!
Current Faculty, Staff, and Students are eligible to ride any RIPTA bus or trolley anytime, anywhere in the state at no charge. Brown’s investment in the UPASS program is the latest effort in one of many transportation initiatives benefiting its Students and Employees.

**Note to those with a Brown VISITOR ID
Individuals with a Brown Visitor ID are not eligible for the RIPTA UPASS program.

How it Works
Swipe your Brown ID through RIPTA's fareboxes and take a seat – it's that easy! Rides will be electronically counted and RIPTA will bill the University monthly. The University will review monthly statistics to ensure that only current, valid IDs are in use. IDs that are cancelled, lost, stolen, or obsolete will be reported to RIPTA and will not work with the fareboxes.

IDs may be used on RIPTA ONLY by the person pictured on the ID. Sharing your ID for RIPTA use is strictly prohibited and will result in your card being confiscated by the RIPTA driver.