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Congratulations!
ACCOMMODATIONS
On-campus
Reservations for on-campus dormitory housing will be available for friends and family of students participating in commencement as well as alumni celebrating a reunion beginning the first week of March 2013. Please contact the Office of Residential Life at (401) 863-3500.
Off-campus
For information about off-campus hotels and other lodging, please refer to our Local Information links at the bottom of this page or click our links for Go Providence, Trip Advisor, Yelp and City Search.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND AL-ANON MEETINGS
Open meetings designed for students in recovery and for their family members and friends. Local members of AA and Al-Anon are also welcome. Typically held the Saturday before Commencement from 10am - noon, Salomon Center for Teaching, Room 203. For more information, please contact the Dean of the College at (401) 863-2536.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Official graduation announcements can be purchased in the Brown Bookstore. Visit the store's website or call (401) 863-3168 for more information.
APPLICATION TO GRADUATE
Undergraduates do NOT need to apply to graduate to receive their degree. The Application to Graduate in Banner web for undergraduates is to provide a version of their name for diploma printing purposes that differs from the one in the student information system and to provide a diploma mailing address different from that of their permanent address should the diploma need to be re-printed for any reason.
Graduate and Medical students DO need to actually apply to graduate via Banner web. Instructions for doing so can be found at each school's Commencement website.
ATTIRE
Rhode Island can be mild and sunny — even hot — or cold and rainy in late May. Recent Commencement weekends have included both weather extremes, so you should dress practically, with an eye for the weather and comfort. Low heels or flats are appropriate for navigating the grass. In the event of showers, rain gear, including water-impervious footwear, is important. Sunglasses and hats may also be useful. Layered clothing is a proven strategy.
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
NOTE:Due to the likelihood of bad weather Saturday, May 25, Brown has canceled the Baccalaureate procession. The Baccalaureate Service will still take place at 2:30 p.m. in the Meeting House. All Commencement activities scheduled for Sunday, May 26, will be held as planned.
BROWN BOOKSTORE
While in Providence, be sure to stop by the Brown University Bookstore and Campus Shop, the official store for Brown clothing and Brown gifts. Located at the corner of Thayer and Angell streets, the Bookstore carries adult and children's sweatshirts and t-shirts, pennants, souvenirs, and more. Before or after you shop you can enjoy a beverage and snack at the Bookstore's wonderful café. Special author book signings and events taking place during the weekend will be included in the materials you receive at registration. Visit the store's website or call (401) 863-3168 for more information.
BROWN DAILY HERALD COMMENCEMENT MAGAZINE
Each year, The Brown Daily Herald publishes a special Commencement Magazine for the graduating seniors, visiting friends, parents, and Alumni. This full color glossy magazine features content specific to the graduating class and is an excellent keepsake that can be found on newsstands throughout campus during the holiday weekend. For more information visit: http://www.browndailyherald.com/commencement-magazine-ads
Call us at (401) 351-3260 or email us at advertising@browndailyherald.com to reserve your space today! Space is limited and fills up rapidly. The deadline for all finalized artwork is Friday, May 10th at 2 pm. We can also help you design your graphics at no additional charge.
CAMPUS DANCE
One of Brown's best-loved Reunion and Commencement traditions, the Campus Dance brings over 11,000 people to Brown to dance the night away under a sky lit with over 600 paper lanterns. The evening joins together graduating seniors and their families, alumni of all ages, and Brown faculty and staff. Everyone enjoys meeting old classmates, seeing favorite professors, and being with friends and family. Call (401) 863-7783 for more information, or visit the Campus Dance website.
CAP AND GOWN
These may be purchased from the Brown Bookstore. Visit the store's website or call (401) 863-3168 for more information. Academic regalia is made of Greenweave(TM) material, which is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Undergraduates may purchase cap and gown beginning May 1st; no pre-order required. Students should wear cap and gown for the Baccalaureate Service on Saturday, May 25, and the Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 26.
Graduate Students should refer to Academic Regalia instructions under Special Instructions for Graduate Students.
Medical Students should refer to Academic Regalia instructions under Special Instructions for Medical Students.
DINING
Brown Dining halls will be open for Commencement Weekend. Below please find the hours and locations for dining halls this year:
Friday, May 24, 2013
Blue Room (Faunce House) 8 am– 4 pm
Lunch in Ivy Room (Sharpe Refectory) 11:30 am–1:45 pm
Lunch at Faculty Club* (1 Magee St.) 11:30 am–2:00 pm
Dinner and/or pre-Campus Dance drinks and appetizers
at Faculty Club* 5 pm–9 pm
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Breakfast in Ivy Room 7:00 am–11:30 am
Blue Room 8 am–4 pm
Lunch in Ivy Room 11:30 am–2:00 pm
Lunch at Faculty Club* 11:30 am–3:00 pm
Dinner at Faculty Club* 5 pm–9 pm
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Breakfast in Sharpe Refectory Dining Room 6:30 am–9:00 am
Blue Room 8 am–4 pm
Tents on College Green 9:00 am–3:30 pm
Campus Market (Faunce lower level) 8 am - 4 pm
*For Faculty Club: Cash/credit card accepted.
Reservations preferred; please call (401) 863-3023.
The Faculty Club bar is open throughout the weekend, stop by and view the new renovations and enjoy a drink on our patio.
DIPLOMAS
Graduate School and Medical School students receive their diplomas at their school's ceremony. All degrees are symbolically conferred during the University Ceremony. Undergraduate students who have completed their degree requirements in Summer 2012 or after will receive their diplomas at their diploma ceremony, which immediately follows the University Ceremony (view a list of ceremony locations).
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
(now known as Student and Employee Accessibility Services)
Student and Employee Accessibility Services (SEAS) provides assistance to graduates, alumni, and guests who will be attending events over Commencement Weekend.
For a map indicating handicapped accessibility points to buildings, please view Brown's accessibility map. To arrange for a wheelchair or other medical needs, see our list of local wheelchair rentals.
For further information, please contact SEAS at (401) 863-9588 or via email at seas@brown.edu.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES ON CALL SHUTTLE
The DSS Shuttle provides point-to-point rides throughout the campus for anyone with mobility concerns. To request a ride, call (401) 225-9572.
DVD
Collegiate Video provides Brown graduates a chance to revisit highlights of Commencement weekend, from the eloquence of Baccalaureate to the colorful traditions of the march through the Van Wickle Gates. The Commencement video is approximately 100 minutes long and includes favorite campus landmarks and music. Copies of the Commencement video can be ordered directly from Collegiate Video.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
For emergencies or urgent medical care, call (401) 863-4111 (3-4111 from a campus phone-indicated around campus by blue lights; you may also choose to use the red emergency button at these phones). Emergency medical personnel (EMS) will be available at major campus functions throughout the weekend and will be happy to assist you.
Brown Health Services, located at Andrews House at 13 Brown Street, will be open Friday from 9-5, Saturday 9-4, and Sunday from 9 to noon. 24-hour nursing advice is available by calling (401) 863-1330.
FORUMS
A series of informative colloquia given by faculty, distinguished guests, and alumni. Free and open to all. Saturday, May 25, at 9 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
HOUSING
See Accommodations.
INFORMATION
The Commencement Welcome Center is located on the first floor of the Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center.
INFORMATION SESSIONS
Graduating Seniors are invited to attend any one of five Commencement Information Sessions that are being offered by the Office of University Event & Conference Services on Wednesday - Thursday, April 10-11, 2013. The sessions are designed to give graduates an overview of Commencement & Reunion weekend and answer any questions. Sessions will be offered on April 10 at 2 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5 PM and April 11 at 3:30 PM and 5 PM. All sessions are approx. 1 hour long and will be held in MacMillan Hall, Room 117. Attendees will also be entered into a raffle for Campus Dance tickets!
INTERNATIONAL VISA ISSUES
International students in F1/J1 nonimmigrant status who wish to invite family members to attend Commencement may request a formal invitation letter from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS). An invitation letter will be required of the family member when s/he applies at a U.S. consulate for a visitor visa and/or when s/he requests entry at the U.S. border in visitor status. The request form is available online.
LOST AND FOUND
Brown's Department of Public Safety coordinates the lost and found desk. If you find an item, bring it to Department of Public Safety headquarters, 75 Charlesfield Street. Call (401) 863-3322 regarding any lost items.
MID-YEAR COMPLETERS
Undergraduate mid-year completers are welcome to "walk" in either the May ceremony preceding or following their December completion. All mid-year completers should check in with their concentration directors to learn about their concentrations' specific guidelines. Diplomas are issued the May following the December completion.
PARKING
In addition to the streets around the Brown campus, you may park your car in any of the University lots anytime beginning 5 p.m. Friday through the weekend. Read more parking information.
PETS
If you must bring a pet to Commencement, please remember that the weather is unpredictable and the College Green is very crowded. All pets should be kept on leashes while on campus throughout the entire weekend.
PHOTOS
The best place to take a photograph of your graduating student is at the afternoon diploma ceremony following the University exercises on the College Green. In addition, the Van Wickle Gates will remain open through 6 p.m. on Monday, May 27. The Brown bear statue, "Bruno," on the College Green near Faunce House Arch is another favorite location for photos.
PROVIDENCE INFO
See our links below to local information about accommodations, dining, and more in Providence.
PROCESSION
Visit our Procession page for more information.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES FOR COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND
Friday May 24th
1:00 pm Jumuah prayers
Brown Muslim Student Center, Morriss–Champlin Hall, lower level
6:00 pm Shabbat
Four family-friendly Shabbat service options (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Havurah).
Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center, 80 Brown Street
7:30 pm Brown RISD Hillel Community Kiddush and Shabbat Dinner
Reservations requested. Call 401 863-2805 or email. [$]
Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center, 80 Brown Street
Saturday, May 25th
7:00 pm Third Shabbat meal / dinner at Brown RISD Hillel
Reservations requested. Call 401 863-2805 or email.
Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center, 80 Brown Street
9:00 pm Havdallah and WaterFire
End Shabbat with the traditional havdallah ceremony at Brown RISD Hillel and then head down College Hill to the view the floating bonfires of WaterFire from a Hillel tent. Meet at Hillel or the tent.
Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center, 80 Brown Street; The Riverwalk, Downtown Providence
Sunday, May 26th
8:00 am Roman Catholic Mass
Sayles Hall
8:00 am Ecumenical Christian / Protestant worship
Manning Chapel
REUNION
Brown's alumni reunion takes place during the same weekend as Commencement. The Maddock Alumni Center at 38 Brown Street (corner of George and Brown streets) is the official hospitality center for Reunion Weekend. Reunion student staff will be available throughout the weekend to offer assistance with event locations, directions on campus and in Providence, and any questions you may have concerning Reunion Weekend.
For additional reunion information, please see the Brown Alumni Association.
SEATING
Seating on the College Green is on a first-come, first-served basis. The reserved sections of open seats in the center are for the seniors, graduate and medical students when they return for the University Ceremony.
SHUTTLE SERVICE for Guests with Disabilities
The Accessibility Services (SEAS) shuttle provides on-request rides for people with disabilities or medical conditions to locations throughout the campus. Wheelchair accessible. Rides can be scheduled in advance. Due to heavy ridership, Sunday rides should be planned in advance. Call (401) 225-9572 to reach the SEAS Shuttle. For more information, please visit the Student and Employee Accessibility Services website.
Friday: 11 am–3 am; Saturday: 7 am–1 am; Sunday: 6 am–6 pm
SHUTTLE SERVICE TO ALPERT MEDICAL SCHOOL
Shuttle service will be provided to and from the Van Wickle Gates and Alpert Medical School (222 Richmond St.) on Friday, May 24, from 1 to 6:30 PM, and on Saturday, May 25, from 2:30 to 6 PM.
STORM PLAN
View the Commencement Storm Plan page for more information.
STREET CLOSURES
In order to accommodate the Baccalaureate and Commencement Processions, several streets will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. 2013 closures will be announced on our Parking Information page.
TICKETS
Tickets are NOT required for commencement ceremonies.
UNDERSTANDING COMMENCEMENT
Download a presentation which gives an overview of what Commencement is all about, including photos and key information. This document was presented to families during Family Weekend 2012.
VIDEO
Collegiate Video provides Brown graduates a chance to revisit highlights of Commencement weekend, from the eloquence of Baccalaureate to the colorful traditions of the march through the Van Wickle Gates. The Commencement video is approximately 100 minutes long and includes favorite campus landmarks and music. Copies of the Commencement video can be ordered directly from Collegiate Video.
WHEELCHAIR RENTAL
View a listing of local wheelchair rental locations.
YEARBOOKS
Yearbooks will be on sale outside of Sayles Hall over Commencement weekend at the following times:
Friday, May 24, 2013 9AM - 5PM
Saturday, May 25, 2013 9AM - 5PM
Sunday, May 26, 2013 8AM - 3PM
To order yearbooks online, visit http://students.brown.edu/Liber_Brunensis/
Questions? E-mail: liber@brown.edu