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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
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Today@Brown
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An account of the resource
This collection captures the different events announced on Today@Brown, a daily email received by all members of Brown, as screenshots.
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A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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Any textual data included in the document
As you are aware, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to spread across the country and the world. Although there is still great uncertainty about the ultimate extent and severity of the pandemic, we must be prepared for a situation in which the virus becomes very widespread in the United States, including Rhode Island.
I am writing to announce the steps we will take to keep our community safe while making it possible for students to complete the semester. But first, I want to explain why we are taking these actions.
This priority message re-states the contents of an email sent yesterday, as Brown is committed to using all available channels to communicate regarding this public health crisis.
Our first priority is to protect the health of our students and employees. Fortunately, the COVID-19 mortality rate for young adults appears to be quite low. However, there are Brown students and employees who, due to age or underlying health conditions, may be at significant risk if they contract the virus. We must take steps to protect them, as well as other vulnerable members of the local community who interact with Brown students on a regular basis.
A major concern is that Brown simply does not have the facilities or personnel needed to manage the large-scale quarantine or isolation of students that would be necessary if the virus begins to spread through our residential student community. The only way to limit this risk is to dramatically reduce the number of students residing at Brown.
For these reasons, we have made the very difficult decision to move academic instruction for all undergraduate and graduate students to remote learning effective Monday, March 30.
Undergraduate students who live in on-campus residences or Brown-owned properties must vacate their residences as soon as possible and no later than Sunday, March 22, and complete the semester from their homes or at an alternate location away from campus. Exceptions will be made for undergraduate students whose circumstances would prevent them from leaving campus due to international travel restrictions or other extraordinary circumstances.
Classes will be cancelled during the week of March 16 so that faculty have time to prepare to transition courses to remote learning, and students have time to pack and arrange for travel. Reading week will be devoted to making up the missed week of classes, and faculty can plan to teach during that period. These changes do not apply to most students in the Warren Alpert Medical School, which will communicate any changes or restrictions directly to medical students.
It’s important to note that Brown University will remain open, and academic and administrative offices will continue to operate. Unless they are ill or caring for family members, employees will continue their work. The various offices that support students are making plans to offer their services remotely.
A concise list of cancellations and restrictions follows this letter, and a number of communications will be shared with specific groups of Brown community members later today. You’ll see that the University has implemented additional restrictions for events and visitors to campus as we continue to consider health and safety in all that we do.
I am sorry to have to share such heartbreaking news. The best part of Brown is the interactions we have with each other, in classrooms, dormitories and around campus. I especially feel for our seniors whose “senior spring” is being severely disrupted. My hope is that by May, the virus will have abated and we will be able to welcome our seniors and their families back to campus for Commencement and Reunion Weekend. We will keep everyone informed about plans for Commencement and Reunion Weekend in the weeks to come, as we learn more about the spread of the virus.
I’m grateful to everyone on campus working to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19 and to the entire Brown University community for your understanding, resilience and commitment to taking care of each other.
Sincerely,
Christina H. Paxson
President
OPERATIONAL UPDATES, CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS
NOTE: Please see Brown University’s COVID-19 website (https://covid.brown.edu) for updates and further details related to this announcement to be developed over the course of the next few days.
CHANGES IN CLASS SCHEDULE
-- Undergraduate and graduate classes are cancelled for the week of March 16.
-- Undergraduate and graduate classes will resume on Monday, March 30, taught via remote learning.
-- Medical school students will hear directly about any class changes from their deans.
-- Faculty are encouraged to teach through reading week to make up classes missed during the week of March 16.
EVENTS
As an update to previous guidance shared on events and gatherings, effective immediately, all student-organized events, both on campus and beyond, must be cancelled, regardless of the number of attendees. Faculty and staff are encouraged to postpone, cancel or offer virtually any event or gathering considered non-essential. For questions, please email eventscovid@brown.edu.
In addition, in alignment with a decision announced by the Ivy League on March 11, all Brown spring athletics competitions and practices will be cancelled.
All non-essential visitors are discouraged from coming to campus through April 13, at which point this guidance will be re-evaluated. Brown community members should contact travelcovid@brown.edu with questions.
STUDENTS
We know there may be a temptation to use this time to gather with friends, but we are calling on students to consider the health of themselves and others, avoid gatherings and recognize the importance of social distancing to limit the spread of infection.
For undergraduates moving out of residence halls or Brown-owned properties:
Undergraduate students residing in on-campus housing or in Brown-owned properties will receive an email later this morning from reslife@brown.edu. That message will provide students with information about moving out of their residence and registering their date of departure. This message will also include information for students whose circumstances would prevent them from leaving campus (e.g., international travel restrictions and other extraordinary circumstances).
-- Unless students are provided with an exception, students must move out of their residence by 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 22, and students are strongly encouraged to leave earlier if at all possible.
-- Exceptions will be considered for the following circumstances: international students with concerns about being able to return to Brown due to visa issues; international students with concerns about difficulty returning to their home country due to the prevalence of COVID-19; students who do not have an alternate place to go; students for whom departing campus would create a severe financial hardship.
-- Students who want to petition for one of the above exceptions must do as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, March 18, via the online form in the email from reslife@brown.edu.
-- Decisions on exceptions will be made on a rolling basis starting Monday, March 16.
-- Students whose petitions are approved are required to stay on campus at Brown during Spring Break.
-- Students who will be remaining on campus after March 22 should fully pack their belongings for reassignment to a new residence. Moving assistance will be provided.
-- Students will receive a credit on their student accounts for the unused portion of their room and board. The credit will be prorated based on each family’s contribution to the cost of attendance. Graduating seniors will receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of their room and board.
-- Brown’s Office of International Programs has been in contact with all undergraduates enrolled in study abroad programs to provide updated guidance.
For undergraduates living off campus:
While off-campus students in properties not owned by Brown may remain in their residences, our strong preference is for students to depart because Brown will have limited capacity to support off-campus students. Any off-campus students who need to self-isolate will need to do so in their own residences.
Dining:
Between March 16 and March 22, Dining Services will be closing locations as students continue to leave campus. As this occurs, hours and locations will be updated on the Dining website (https://dining.brown.edu). As of March 22, Dining Services will fully transition to the Sharpe Refectory.
For graduate students:
-- All courses for graduate students will be offered remotely beginning on Monday, March 30.
-- Graduate student teaching assistants and teachers will be expected to continue with their work using remote learning.
-- Graduate students may continue to conduct on-campus research, including working in libraries and labs.
For medical students:
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Allan Tunkel, MD, will be in direct contact with students at the Warren Alpert Medical School about any changes to their medical education.
FACULTY
Brown’s faculty will play an essential role in ensuring continuity in teaching and learning, as the University shifts to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester. The following points include guidance and notes on resources for key questions and concerns for faculty:
-- Remote Instruction: Faculty should move all undergraduate and graduate courses, regardless of size, to remote instruction by Monday, March 30. Please be sure to review the new Teaching & Learning pages of Brown’s COVID-19 website (https://covid.brown.edu/teaching-learning) for information and resources to assist with the transition to remote instruction. Faculty should consider that their students may be scattered across multiple time zones with varying access to the internet and technology, and plan to make accommodations as necessary.
-- Research Laboratories: Research laboratories, and other critical functions that support essential research activities, will continue to operate. We encourage you to refer to the research impact information prepared by the Office of the Vice President for Research (available at https://www.brown.edu/research), which provides guidelines related to sponsored projects and human subjects research, among other areas. You should use your best judgment about issues such as requiring graduate students and postdocs to be present in the lab and/or explore strategies through which they can work remotely.
-- Searches: At this time, departments are asked to reschedule or virtualize all non-essential searches to the extent possible. If a search is underway, and some candidates have completed in-person visits, we encourage you to postpone the remainder of visits (rather than conducting them virtually), in the interest of ensuring that all candidates are treated equitably. If you have specific questions about faculty searches, please contact the Office of the Dean of the Faculty (Joel_Revill@brown.edu).
-- Visitors: We are discouraging non-essential visits to campus. This is in line with the University’s event and travel guidance, which will be re-evaluated after April 13. Please contact travelcovid@brown.edu if you have questions.
-- Academic appointments: Academic appointments, including postdocs, that are scheduled to begin between now and July 1 should continue as planned in line with guidance related to new hires. Note that international appointees or those who have traveled to areas affected by COVID-19 should be prepared for the possibility that they will need to self-isolate for 14 days between arriving in the United States and coming to campus.
-- Faculty meetings: We encourage you to postpone or hold virtually any non-essential meetings — department meetings, seminars, scheduled talks, etc. — and to plan thoughtfully any meetings that are essential, considering measures such as social distancing.
-- Governance committees: At this point, major University governance committees (e.g. APC, TPAC, URC, FEC) should continue to meet as planned. We are also working on alternatives to in-person meetings, should circumstances warrant this. Members of these committees will be informed of changes as applicable.
-- Additional Questions: If you have any additional questions or are seeking further guidance, please contact Joel_Revill@brown.edu.
STAFF
Brown has policies and practices in place to promote the well-being and safety of all employees. As an update to guidance issued by University Human Resources on March 3, we are providing information to employees on enhancements to University workplace policies to address the current impact of COVID-19. Accordingly, Brown has implemented a new category of paid leave specific to this event called “Paid Special Leave,” which provides for 10 business days of paid leave.
University policies may continue to be modified as more information becomes available. Employees can direct questions to University Human Resources at universityhr@brown.edu or (401) 863-2141.
At this time, the University remains open for normal administrative operations. Effective immediately and until further notice, the following guidelines and information are being provided to assist employees in regard to the impact of COVID-19:
-- All offices are being encouraged to postpone or hold virtually any non-essential meetings, and to plan thoughtfully any meetings that are essential, considering measures such as social distancing.
-- Managers should prepare and discuss with their employees all possible Alternative Work Arrangements (AWA) based on department operational needs.
-- Employees who are not sick, but who need to quarantine can request an AWA or a Special Leave for up to 10 business days to care for themselves.
-- Employees who are not sick and need to provide care for a dependent or a household member in need of isolation can request an AWA or a Special Leave for up to 10 business days.
-- Employees who are not sick but must provide dependent care due to a school closure may request an AWA or use sick or vacation time.
-- Employees who are sick must remain at home and not report to work, and request a leave of absence.
-- Employees who must remain at home to care for a sick dependent or household member may request an AWA or a leave of absence.
COMMENCEMENT AND SUMMER
One of the biggest questions about campus events, especially for graduating seniors and their families, is whether Commencement and Reunion Weekend will take place as planned from May 22 to 24. We recognize that this is a major celebratory event in the lives of all graduates, and our hope is that the public health risks associated with COVID-19 may be reduced by later this spring.
At this point, we have not decided whether Commencement and Reunion Weekend can proceed in its traditional format and/or at its usual time. The University will continue to explore all possibilities, based on guidance from health officials, and will make it a priority to notify students, alumni, faculty and staff as soon as a decision is made. We expect to provide additional information in the coming weeks.
Similarly, many students, families and visitors have asked about summer programs at Brown — from Pre-College Programs, to courses and research opportunities for current Brown students, to the many events and conferences hosted on campus. At this time, we plan to proceed with these programs, but decisions will be guided by recommendations from public health authorities. We will post updates as decisions are made.
The University’s Core Crisis Team will continue its work in planning for campus operations, and we will continue to share information and address questions and concerns through the University’s comprehensive COVID-19 response website (https://covid.brown.edu) and additional updates to the community as needed.
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Brown Daily Herald
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This collection consists of articles published by the Brown Daily Herald, the undergraduate daily student newspaper, in regards to COVID-19 at Brown.
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A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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A Brown student filed a class-action lawsuit against the University demanding a refund for tuition, fees and/or room and board he claims he was unlawfully charged for because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the University to close its campus and cancel in-person classes.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island April 30, accuses the University of “breach of contract and unjust enrichment,” according to a press release from Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, the law firm representing the student.
Although the University “has not been served,” Vice President for Communications Cass Cliatt wrote in an email to The Herald, “we are aware of the lawsuit.”
“During this time of a global crisis, no aspect of our daily lives (is) what anyone expected. However, what has not changed is the core value of a Brown education,” Cliatt wrote.
The lawsuit follows the University’s decision to ask students to vacate campus in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University committed to issuing credits or refunds for 50 percent of students’ room-and-board fees for the semester adjusted based on the level of parent contribution, The Herald previously reported. With classes continuing remotely, the University chose not to refund tuition.
The lawsuit challenges the University’s “decision-making regarding its refund policy,” according to the complaint. The complaint argues that the University is “denying full refunds or even full prorated refunds to those students that need it most through its flawed room and board refund plan.”
“While students enrolled and paid Defendant for a comprehensive academic experience, Defendant instead offers Plaintiff and the Class Members something far less: a limited online experience presented by Google or Zoom, void of face-to-face faculty and peer interaction, separated from program resources, and barred from facilities vital to study,” the complaint states.
“College students enrolled in classes when the COVID-19 outbreak struck were left with no access to their dorms, to classrooms, campus cafeterias or other facilities they paid to use,” Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, said in the press release. “We believe there’s absolutely no reason why they should continue to be stuck holding the bill for tens of thousands of dollars, only to be kicked off campus.”
The firm is also representing students in similar lawsuits against Boston University and Vanderbilt University. At press time, Columbia and Cornell were the only other Ivy League institutions involved in similar lawsuits.
The plaintiff, the first and only class member at press time, is a Rhode Island resident who attends Brown full-time, according to the complaint.
The University “continues to charge for tuition, fees and room and board as if nothing has changed, continuing to reap the financial benefit of millions of dollars from students,” the complaint reads, “despite students’ complete inability to continue school as normal, occupy campus buildings and dormitories or avail themselves of school programs and events.”
The plaintiff is not the first to complain about the University’s refunding policy. The recently formed coalition Students for Equitable Pandemic Response has demanded a full 50 percent refund of room and board for all students, regardless of parental contribution.
The University charged Brown students, “in whole or in part,” $28,556 in tuition for the spring 2020 semester, according to the lawsuit.
The student wants a jury trial and seeks “damages in the amount of unrefunded tuition, fees and/or room and board,” as well as other relief and damages provided under the law.
Along with Hagens Berman, local Providence firm McIntyre Tate LLP is representing the University student.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Brown student files class-action lawsuit against University for tuition, fee refunds
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Olivia George
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Brown Daily Herald
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Brown Daily Herald
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
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A name given to the resource
Brown Daily Herald
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This collection consists of articles published by the Brown Daily Herald, the undergraduate daily student newspaper, in regards to COVID-19 at Brown.
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A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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Recently, Brown University announced it will temporarily house those fighting coronavirus on the front lines, namely emergency personnel and healthcare workers. This is a testament to the power the University has to do good in a global crisis. To that end, we would like to remind the institution that the needs of its most vulnerable community members have only intensified since the University transitioned to online learning in March. With respect to health care, employment, academics and room and board, we identify areas in which Brown should do more to minimize the damage of this new reality. It is in this spirit that students have come together under the banner of Brown University Students for an Equitable Pandemic Response (SEPR).
What is a more fitting place to begin during a pandemic than health care? We are grateful that Brown’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) specifically covers COVID-19 testing. UnitedHealthcare, the parent company of SHIP, has eliminated student cost-sharing for treatment, which means no copays, coinsurance and deductibles — but only through May 31. While this is certainly helpful for the next month, unfortunately coronavirus knows no arbitrary cutoff date. Neither should Brown’s care for the health of all students. We thus call on Brown to fully cover the costs of testing, treatment and eventual vaccination for all students on the plan for the duration of the pandemic.
Furthermore, we recognize that the coming summer months will not allow for a normal cycle of health insurance renewals. To that end, we propose that Brown extend SHIP for graduating seniors beyond the August 15 end-of-cycle. The University has given this option to graduating PhD students and Master’s students, clearly demonstrating that an extension policy of this sort is within reason. Taking into account the most uncertain job market that seniors are about to enter, an extension is the ethical thing to do. It is also the safe one. If many alumni have not yet found another stable insurance plan, those unfortunately afflicted may be forced, out of financial necessity, to try to ‘ride out’ the illness. Of course, SEPR understands the reality that Brown cannot oversee graduates’ healthcare indefinitely, but we see this proposal as a fitting measure for an extraordinary moment.
Recognizing that our country embarrassingly links healthcare to employment — with millions losing this lifeline because of mass layoffs — we also suggest ways in which Brown can help mitigate the hardships of its workers. Brown has protected the employment of its full-time staff through June 30. Now, Brown U SEPR is simply calling on our administration to do the same for ALL workers still at Brown, including temporary workers and subcontractors. The subcontracting economy, in which Brown is a participant, can lead to lower wages, less bargaining power and scant employment protections and benefits. These vulnerabilities are clearly magnified by the pandemic. But a mere continuation of employment is not enough. Again, we reiterate the good work Brown has done with respect to its living space for front-line workers across Rhode Island. It is a recognition that essential workers require special accommodations. Continuing on that logic, then, it is incumbent on Brown to provide hazard time and a half pay to workers risking their lives by coming in. Both University and subcontracted workers must receive hazard pay going forward and retroactively for all hours worked from March 12, the day of transition to remote learning. In the long term, SEPR hopes that the pandemic forces Brown to reflect on its participation in the subcontracting economy. In the short term, these steps are how Brown must show it cares for its security guards, maintenance and dining workers and many others who ensure the University runs smoothly.
Another central component of Brown U SEPR’s call to action is for all student workers expecting a paycheck to continue being paid for their scheduled hours through the end of the term. This includes students who have already exceeded their on-campus work expectation in wages earned. Many students rely on University employment for food, housing and other essentials. The University did give $150 for travel expenses to all students on financial aid, but this provision was for one special circumstance. Unlike a sudden flight from Rhode Island, food, housing and supplies are not one-time needs. We fear that now, faced with more than a month of lost wages, student workers are struggling to make ends meet. Considering the value student workers add to campus, pay continuity is a way for Brown to meaningfully express its appreciation.
Beyond the clear needs pertaining to employment and healthcare, we also address the grim reality of learning off-campus. Acknowledging that over 2,600 undergraduate students and 65 faculty have endorsed the call for Universal Pass, we join them in calling on Brown to adopt a universal pass grading system. Brown values undergraduate learning as a formative time for students’ personal growth. In keeping with this mission, we must recognize that COVID-19 has devastated each one of Brown’s 6,752 undergraduates uniquely. Though the semester may be officially coming to a close, it is not too late for an academic policy that brings as much uniformity as possible to a pandemic and economic collapse.
From an email students received regarding room and board fees, Brown’s refund policy multiplies half of a semester’s total fees “by the percent of parent contribution to the standard cost of attendance.” This decision to only factor in parental contribution makes financial aid dollars ineligible for refund. How illogical, since financial aid is meant to cover precisely what parents cannot contribute! Assessing the refund in this manner, then, seems to skew the benefits away from families who need it most. Now, University administrators might respond to these claims by pointing to the Emergency Funds, Curricular & Co-curricular Gap (E-Gap), which allows students to apply for financial support in times of unexpected need. This approach, however, burdens students to request money for each issue that arises. It fails to capture how financial struggle does not tend to allow significant free time. Similar to grading, then, SEPR advocates for a universal solution: an across-the-board refund of 50 percent of the semester’s room and board costs to all students, regardless of parental contribution.
Finally, we must remember that Brown is not in a bubble. According to the University’s website, “the story of Brown is also the story of Providence and Rhode Island.” This quote could reflect a laudable commitment to the community, but in light of Brown’s tax arrangements, we caution the University to tamp down its pride. The University’s exemption from Providence property taxes translates to over $30 million less for the city — especially biting when budgets for the whole state are running thin. By pledging $10 million to mutual aid efforts in Rhode Island, Brown would justify belonging in Rhode Island’s story. To this end, we’ve put together a list of local groups that University donations could help tremendously.
Unlike President Paxon, Brown U SEPR is by no means optimistic about a return to normalcy on campus in the fall. Instead, we are focusing on fundamental human needs that do not depend on a calendar: health, employment, financial well-being. We may lack a blueprint for how to successfully overcome a pandemic, but we will not stay quiet at home.
In Solidarity,
Brown U SEPR
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