Email: May 14, Dean Poloma to Undergraduate Students

Dublin Core

Title

Email: May 14, Dean Poloma to Undergraduate Students

Subject

Global Brown Support and Resources for Summer 2020

Creator

Asabe Poloma

Date

May 14, 2020

Format

PDF

Email Item Type Metadata

Email Body

Dear International Undergraduate Students,

As the spring semester comes to a close, we wanted to write to express our continued commitment to support your health, safety, and personal and educational growth. As a community, we have joined together in virtual forums over the last two months to
sustain connections and make new ones, and we have engaged in ongoing teaching and learning across time zones and geographic boundaries. The impact that the pandemic has had on international students during this period informs all of our considerations.

In response to President Paxson’s message earlier this month regarding scenario planning for the fall, we heard concerns from many of you about potential barriers to returning to campus. We know that international students face challenges with consular closings and travel restrictions, and navigating summer internships and postcompletion employment opportunities has become even more complex. In response, the Global Brown team has been working closely with our professional associations, including NAFSA Association of International Educators and Brown’s Office of Government and Community Relations, to seek to address these challenges.

For the summer, the University is taking steps to provide increased programming for
students to participate in educational opportunities remotely. The new SPRINT awards offer a paid, remote summer experiential and research opportunity, while the
BrownConnect Summer Institute is an immersive, remote educational program that will allow students to engage with and learn from a diverse group of Brown alumni, parents, faculty and staff.

Additionally, Global Brown has offered virtual engagement opportunities for the international student community, ranging from virtual coffee hours and workshops with CAPS, to open conversations with the Office of International Students and Scholar
Services (OISSS) regarding the impact of COVID-19 on travel, visa issuance, employment and work authorization. Last week, OISSS sponsored a well-attended
virtual presentation by an immigration attorney tailored specifically for international students and scholars.

Staff at the Global Brown Center for International Students will remain available as we transition into the summer months, and are always looking for new ways to bring our communities together. You can sign up for the Global Brown Center’s newsletter here or email its Program Director at andrew_heald@brown.edu if you would like to know more.

During these uncertain times, please know that we are here to help and support you. I
encourage you to reach out directly if you need anything. I wish you a successful completion to the spring semester.

Sincerely,

Dean Asabe Poloma on behalf of Global Brown

Subject Line

Global Brown Support and Resources for Summer 2020

To

International Undergraduate Students

From

Asabe Poloma

Comments

Allowed tags: <p>, <a>, <em>, <strong>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>