Undergraduate Orientation

Parent and Family Welcome

The Parent and Family Welcome is an opportunity for parents and family members of newly admitted students to engage with faculty and senior administrators, experience the excitement of the start of the academic year, and meet each other while their students begin orientation.

Schedule of Events

*denotes events that will be live-streamed, watch by clicking the links on this page.

Wednesday, August 30

5:00 pm   Parent & Family Welcome Reception *

Relax after move-in with other new parents and family members under the tent located on the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle.  The event will begin with a brief speaking program featuring senior administrators. 

Thursday, August 31

9:00 am   Breakfast on the Quad

Start your day with a continental breakfast.  Registration check-in and information tables will be open to assist you and provide additional information.  Representatives from the Brown Bookstore, the Faculty Club, the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Library, and Student Accessibility Services will be on hand to answer questions.

10:00 am   Morning Panel: "Promoting Your Student's Well-Being at Brown" + Opening Remarks*

Senior administrators representing Student Support Services, Residential Life, Health Services, and other Campus Life departments will participate in a panel discussion designed to provide you with information about resources for new students.

11:00 am   Tours, Open Houses and Information Sessions

Gardens & Greens Walking Tour
Career Exploration
Libraries & Legends Walking Tour
Sternlicht Commons/Wellness Center Tour
Ufli Center Open House
Varsity Athletics Session
Welcome to the Lindemann
Sarah Doyle Center Open House
LGBTQ Center Open House
RISD/Brown Dual Degree Round Table
Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life (OCRL) Open House

Noon   Lunch on your own

2:00 pm   Tours, Open Houses, and Information Sessions 

Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) Family Welcome
Climate Solutions@Brown
Career Exploration
Libraries & Legends Walking Tour
Sonic tour of the Sayles Hall 1903 Hutchings-Votey pipe organ

3:00 pm   Afternoon Panel: "Navigating the Transition to College Life" + Closing Remarks*

Join staff from a variety of Campus Life offices to discuss strategies to help your student successfully adjust to campus during their first few months.

4:00 pm   Family Farewell at the Rockefeller Library

Join us for a sweet treat as we say farewell to families at "the Rock".  Rockefeller Library staff will be on hand to help guide you through the stacks and answer questions about Library resources, collections, and facilities.

If circumstances or distance make it impossible for you to accompany your student to Brown, please don’t worry: our faculty, administrators, and students are here to help them acclimate to Brown. Likewise, if you will be bringing your student to campus for a Pre-Orientation program earlier in the week and are unable to stay until Orientation begins, the staff of the various programs will work closely with your student to ensure a successful transition.

Questions?  Email family@brown.edu