In case of an emergency, including a medical emergency, call the Brown University Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 401-863-4111, and clearly describe the location and nature of the emergency.

For minor injuries, go to the Brown Emergency Medical Services tent, located between Friedman and Sayles halls, or Health Services, 450 Brook St.

While visitors and guests of Brown are not eligible for care at Health Services — located in the Center for Health and Wellness at 450 Brook St. — staff can provide first aid or an initial assessment of a person and refer out to a local urgent care center or emergency room if necessary.

First Aid Tent

All community members can receive care from Brown EMS at the medical tent between Friedman and Sayles halls. The tent will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Brown EMS can provide hygiene products, sunscreen, tissues, bandages, ice packs, safety pins, sports drinks, water and any first or immediate aid needed for a medical emergency. Please note: EMS staff cannot dispense medications unless providing patient care (and ambulance transportation).

Health Services

While visitors and guests of Brown are not eligible for care at Health Services —located in the Center for Health and Wellness at 450 Brook St. — staff can provide first aid or an initial assessment of a person and refer out to a local urgent care center or emergency room if necessary.

Health Services is open:

• Friday, May 24 | 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26 | 9 a.m. to noon

The Sarah Doyle Center (26 Benevolent St.) lactation space is open to community members and visitors. Please note: The room is only accessible via stairs.

• Friday, May 24 | noon to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25 | 3-5 p.m.

The Warren Alpert Medical School (222 Richmond St.) lactation room is open during Commencement. Those needing access can check in at the information/security desk at the main entrance. The room is accessible by elevator.

• Saturday, May 25 | 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (85 Waterman St.) has a lactation room (Room 228), on the second floor accessible by elevator, available to community members and visitors.

• Friday, May 24 | 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25 | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brown's Department of Public Safety (DPS) coordinates the lost and found desk. If you find an item, bring it to DPS headquarters at 75 Charlesfield Street. Call 401-863-1663 regarding any lost items.

Restrooms are open throughout the weekend in most campus buildings and in portable locations around campus.

A few of the more central locations include trailers around College Green and the following:

• Friedman Hall
• George St (Sunday only)
• Ittleson Quad
• Nelson Fitness Center
• OMAC
• Pembroke Field
• Pizzitola Sports Center
• Sayles Hall
• Salomon Center
• Simmons Quad (by Soldier’s Arch)
• Slater Hall
• South Walk
• Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center

Please note: All campus buildings are closed during Campus Dance on Friday evening; restrooms are available in trailers located around College Green.

Guests are invited to stop by any information table around campus for information about ceremonies, events, locations and more.

College Green Welcome Station hours:

• Saturday, May 25 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ittleson Quad Welcome Station hours:

• Sunday, May 26 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To reduce Brown's environmental footprint, disposable plastic water bottles will not be available during the Commencement ceremonies. Self-serve hydration stations, where you can get a cup of water or fill your own bottle, will be available around campus. Refreshments are available for purchase in the Blue Room in the Campus Center and in the dining tent located on the George Street side of College Green on Sunday.

Water Station Locations:

• Front Green (Saturday only)
• George Street near Rhode Island Hall (Sunday only)
• Ittleson Quad (Sunday only)
• John Carter Brown Library (94 George St.), in front
• Partridge Hall (Sunday only)
• Pembroke Field (Sunday only)
• RISD Lawn (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Sayles Hall, in front
• Simmons Quad

Refreshments are available to purchase at several campus locations around campus, as well as at businesses in the nearby area. If you are looking for a place to eat on campus, the following dining locations will be open:

Faculty Club, 1 Bannister Street

• Friday, May 24 |  4-9 p.m. (bar menu only) 
• Saturday, May 25 | 1-9 p.m. (bar menu only) 
• Saturday, May 26 | 1-7:30 p.m. (bar menu only) 

Blue Room and Campus Market (Campus Center)

• Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Concessions Tent (College Green)

• Sunday, May 26 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food trucks (Pembroke Field, Cushing Street)

• Sunday, May 26 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The free, on-call Brown Access Shuttle is available for guests with disabilities and/or medical conditions. Shuttles are wheelchair-accessible. Call 401-225-9572 to book a ride.

View Shuttle Information

Download the BrownU app for maps and other information on the go.

Download the App

The Procession is only canceled in the case of severe storm conditions. A storm plan will be announced on the brown.edu and Commencement homepages, via the BrownAlert System and by text to student phones.

Learn more about BrownAlert

Many streets around College Green are closed to pedestrian traffic on Sunday for the University Procession. The best way to get to seating on the green to watch the Procession (please avoid watching from the Procession route) and ceremonies is through Soldier's Arch via Thayer Street.

Seating is available for guests of graduates and returning alumni on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats without a family member present is not allowed, and items left behind may be removed.

There is a limited section of accessible seating near the jumbotron for ceremonies held on College Green. Guests may move chairs to accommodate a wheelchair or meet other needs, and ushers are available to assist.

Guests of senior graduates watch the Baccalaureate ceremony from seats on Front Green, because of limited capacity at the First Baptist Church. Only seniors are allowed in the church.

Learn about Baccalaureate

Guests are asked to watch the Procession via livestream from seats on College Green or at one of the alternative viewing locations. Taking photos of the Procession is very difficult because of the large numbers of participants lining the streets and blocking camera views. To help limit crowds and ensure a safe and comfortable celebration for our graduates and alumni, please watch the Procession via livestream, and leave photos to the participants and official University photographers.

View Procession lineup times and more

Guests attending the Master's Ceremony on Saturday should find their seats on College Green prior to the start of the Master's Ceremony. Graduates should arrive at Simmons Quad through Soldiers Arch at 3 p.m.; guests should be seated by 3:30 p.m. Jumbotron screens will broadcast the mini-procession and the ceremony.

Read about Speakers and Honorees

Brown offers several alternative viewing locations, where you can watch a livestream of the Baccalaureate service, Procession and College and University ceremonies. All locations are wheelchair-accessible; all except rooms in Friedman Hall also have assisted listening available.

Saturday, May 25 | Baccalaureate Service

• IBES 015
• Friedman Hall 101
• Friedman Hall 108
• MacMillan 117
• Salomon 101
• Salomon 001

Sunday, May 26 | Procession, College and University Ceremonies

• IBES130
• IBES 015
• MacMillan 115
• Metcalf Friedman
• Nelson Fitness Center
• Salomon 101
• Salomon 001
• Sayles Hall
• Smith-Buonanno 106

The best opportunities for taking posed Commencement photos of your graduate are either at their departmental ceremony on Sunday or at the Van Wickle Gates on Sunday evening or Monday. The gates will remain open until 6 p.m. on Monday for this purpose.

As a reminder: Taking photos of the Procession is very difficult due to large numbers of participants lining the streets and blocking camera views; guests are encouraged to watch the Procession via livestream.

For last-minute regalia items (cap and gown, hood, tam and stole), as well as University-branded gift items and memorabilia, visit the Brown University Bookstore during their extended Commencement and Reunion Weekend hours

• Friday, May 24, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, May 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Brown University Bookstore is located at the corner of Thayer and Angell streets.

Visit the Bookstore