October 11, 2016

Dear Parents of the Class of 2020:

It has been a great pleasure getting to know your students ;over the last few weeks as they adjust to life at Brown.  As Dean of the College, I am charged with making sure that they have a rewarding academic experience, taking full advantage of our courses, our advising and support programs, our faculty, and our deans. It’s a wonderful job. I cannot imagine anything more gratifying than helping your students to expand their intellectual horizons and personal ambitions.<

I am writing to you today to talk a bit more about these first months at Brown. This is a remarkable community, but being in a new place can also be unsettling. It could be a matter of adjusting to a new living arrangement, or to a new schedule with more free time and less sleep, or to new kinds of teaching styles and expectations. Whatever the cause, some students begin to experience anxiety and doubt, particularly as we move more fully into fall, and the days turn colder and shorter.

The feelings are normal, of course, but they can get in the way of good work. If you think that your child may be struggling to keep up with classes, please encourage him or her to reach out to the many resources on campus. At Brown we want students to develop a sense of independence and individual responsibility, and that means, above all, learning to ask for help. You can do a lot of good simply by reinforcing this point. Brown has an enviable faculty known for good teaching. Students should not be afraid to approach their professors, either after class or during office hours. They should stay in regular contact with academic advisors. They should also call on their Meiklejohn peer advisors. And they can stop by the second floor of University Hall, to see one of the many deans who can listen, answer questions, and give advice. We are here to help.

Meiklejohns send periodic emails to all first-year students, which alert them to curricular and research opportunities and remind them of important academic dates and deadlines. The best place for you to learn about our advising policies and practice is on our website. We also look forward to speaking with you in person about all these matters during Family Weekend on October 21-23, 2016. We hope to see you there.

One last reminder: Final exams are scheduled long before the beginning of the semester, and thus cannot be changed to accommodate individual travel plans. The last day of scheduled exams this fall is Wednesday, December 21. If you need to purchase plane tickets for the winter holiday, please do so with this date in mind.

Brown is a special place. I hope your daughters and sons will learn here, and learn to love it here, as well.

With all best wishes,

Maud S. Mandel
Dean of the College