Given the unprecedented current caseload of COVID-19 in Rhode Island and globally, we want to make you aware of multiple options for procuring free tests and high-quality masks. This information is available under COVID-19 > Resources > Tests and Masks and will be updated with additional information as available. Please also consult the latest updates at Healthy Brown and contact Health Services with any medical concerns.
Free Tests 1) Brown University Local Distribution Rapid antigen test kits and KN95 masks will be available to Brown students, faculty and staff for pick-up at Alumnae Hall and One Davol Square. You must have your Brown ID card with you to pick up supplies. Each community member will be given two (2) rapid antigen tests and a pack of ten (10) KN95 masks.
2) U.S. Government Mail Distribution Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests online. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
3) Insurance Reimbursement of Locally-Purchased Tests Starting January 15, most people with a health plan can go online, or to a pharmacy or store to purchase an at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid antigen diagnostic test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at no cost, either through reimbursement or free of charge through their insurance. Maximum reimbursement is 8 tests per month at $12 per test ($24 for a 2-pack).
The SHIP provided by UHCSR allows you to get at-home COVID-19 tests at no upfront cost if purchased at an in-store Walmart Pharmacy or in-store Rite Aid Pharmacy counter with your health insurance member ID card. For tests purchased at any other in-store or online retailer, you must submit a receipt for reimbursement online at uhcsr.com/MyAccount along with the completion of a reimbursement form.
Massachusetts Residents: Testing for COVID-19 is widely available in Massachusetts. Find a testing location near you. You are also eligible to get free PCR tests by mail through a state-sponsored program with Labcorp – visit this website for details.
Free Masks 1) Brown University Local Distribution Rapid antigen test kits and KN95 masks will be available to Brown students, faculty and staff for pick-up at Alumnae Hall and One Davol Square. You must have your Brown ID card with you to pick up supplies. Each community member will be given two (2) rapid antigen tests and a pack of ten (10) KN95 masks.
2) U.S. Government Local Distribution (Coming Soon) The Biden administration will make 400 million N95 masks available to Americans for free starting next week, a White House official told CNN, the latest federal step aimed at reining in the US’ Covid-19 surge. The masks — which are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile — will be made available at a number of local pharmacies and community health centers, the official said, adding that the program will be “fully up and running by early February.” “This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history,” the official said. People looking to pick up the free masks will be limited to three per person, a White House official said.
On Saturday, December 11, 2021 (5:00PM) join the Brown Graduate Student Council (GSC) for the 3nd Annual Distinguished Speaker Series featuring Jonny Sun.
Please RSVP here – bit.ly/gscjonnysun for the zoom link and to submit your questions.
Jonny will be attending virtually but the event will be broadcasted at a venue on a big screen (tentatively LIST 120). You’ll get to ask your questions/thoughts yourself to Jonny on zoom if you consent on the form. You can also ask a moderator to ask your question for you. Hope to see you there as we wrap our Fall semester!”
Jonny Sun is the New York Times and international best-selling author of Goodbye, again and everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too, and the illustrator of Gmorning, Gnight! by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
He is also a screen and TV writer who most recently wrote for the Emmy-nominated sixth season of the Netflix Original Series BoJack Horseman.
His latest book Goodbye, again was published in April 2021 and became an instant New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Indie List, and international best-seller.
As a doctoral candidate at MIT and a creative researcher at the Harvard metaLAB, he studies social media, virtual place, and online community. He received his master’s degree in architecture from Yale and his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Toronto.
His latest art installation, The Laughing Room, was exhibited at MIT in 2018 and at TED in 2019. Previously, his artwork has been exhibited at the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, the Harvard Art Galleries, MIT, the Yale School of Architecture, New Haven ArtSpace, and the University of Toronto. His plays have been performed at the Yale School of Drama, Factory Theater in Toronto, Hart House Theater, and Theater Lab in Toronto.
His work has appeared in The New Yorker and McSweeney’s. He has been profiled on NPR and in The New York Times and was a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers. TIME Magazine named him one of the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet of 2017, and in 2019, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and gave a TED Talk that has been viewed online over 3.5 million times. In 2021, he was named to Adweek’s Creative 100.
The Brown University Graduate Student Council invites all graduate students to the biggest event of the semester: The Mask-erade Ball. If you are interested in attending and would like more details on the event, please click here to RSVP or the link below to access the form:
Online sales have gone live so please read the ticketing section carefully and upon submitting the form the purchasing link will be presented and sent to you via email. The RSVP form and ticket purchasing and will be available 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 until 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 or if we start to approach the capacity limits of the venue at the rate of $𝟑𝟎 for students and $𝟒𝟎 for a guest. After this point, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤-𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 can be purchased at the door 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 at the rate of $𝟑𝟓 for students and $𝟒𝟎 for a guest until we reach the final event capacity limit. So purchase your tickets online before the event to save some $$$!
Please email GSC_VPSocial@brown.edu if you have any questions! Also, if you did not receive the email to the graduate school, please subscribe to the GSNOTICE Listserv for all future announcements.
Dear Fellow Graduate Students, Are you interested in becoming involved in the Graduate Student Council (GSC)? Are you interested in advocating for student issues at the University level? The Graduate Student Council elections will be held at our next general body meeting, Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 7pm. As per our Constitution, any graduate student shall be eligible to run for any of the executive board positions. Although there will be an election for each position, we would particularly like to emphasize that the following positions will be vacated at the end of the term:
If you are interested in running for these or any of the other positions the descriptions can be found below. Please email gsc_president@brown.edu if you are interested and attend our meeting next month.
Together, the collective Graduate Student Council serves the following functions:
Within the graduate community, we:
Serve as a forum for graduate students to express and act upon their concerns.
Organize social events and activities that bring students together.
Facilitate communication among graduate students via our website, wikis, email list-servs and social media channels.
Oversee the only exclusively graduate student social space on campus—the Graduate Student Lounge.
Distribute funding to support graduate student initiatives, group events, and research via a limited number of conference attendance awards.
Select the Commencement Speakers and winner of the Wilson DuBlois Award and Bates Clapp Award for the Graduate School’s annual Commencement Ceremonies.
As the official liaison between graduate students and the University, we:
Represent the graduate community at all levels of the Brown administration, advocating on issues of concern to graduate students.
Appoint graduate student representatives to serve on policy-making committees within the University, across areas from parking enforcement and public safety to the recommendation of the University’s annual budget and the administrative policies of the Graduate School and its Student Handbook (decided by its administrative body, the Graduate Council).
Inform students about developments at the University that affect us.
The PhD Student’s Guide to Personal Finance Webinar Dr. Emily Roberts,October 21st, 2021
Dr. Emily Roberts is a personal finance educator specializing in early-career PhDs. Through her business, Personal Finance for PhDs, she equips graduate students, postdocs, and PhDs with Real Jobs to make the most of their money. She gives seminars at universities and for associations; interviews graduate students and PhDs on her podcast; serves as a money coach; and creates courses and workshops on taxes, investing, and more. Emily holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from Duke University and lives in southern California with her husband and two children.
Attorney Peter J. Cerilli provides legal advice to Brown undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. His services are contracted through the Student Activities Office and funded by the Undergraduate Council of Students, Graduate Student Council, and the Med School.
In light of measures around COVID-19 restricting in person open hours, he will be holding open hours via telephone. Please refer to the link below for the current schedule of his available dates and times for remote consultation.
