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Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program Handbook

Download the handbook as a PDF document.

VII. Financial Information - Tuition, Fees, Financial Aid, Billing

A. Tuition Rates + Requirements

All tuition and financial aid for Dual Degree students will be figured at Brown rates for the duration of the Program, and students enrolled in the Program must pay no fewer than ten semesters of Brown tuition.  If a student leaves the Program and continues at Brown, Brown tuition and financial aid will apply; if a student leaves the Program and continues at RISD, RISD tuition and financial aid will apply.

Associated refunds of tuition/fees will follow the Brown policy/schedule of refunds (see second website below).  Refunds will be based on the withdrawal date versus the first day of class in which the student has enrolled at either institution.

Tuition and fee schedule:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Financial_Services/Bursar/Information/tuition_fee.html

Refunds:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Financial_Services/Bursar/Information/refund_policy.html

Tuition Refund Insurance (students enrolled in the Program have the option through Brown to participate in a private insurance program designed to extend and enhance Brown University’s published refund policy):
http://brown.edu/Administration/Financial_Services/Bursar/Information/tuition_refund_plan.html

B. Fees, Books + Materials

  1. Housing: See section on “Residential Life” for further information about housing during each year of the Dual Degree Program.  Dual Degree students will follow housing procedures for the campus on which they reside.  The regular housing rates for that campus will apply.

    Information on current housing rates at RISD and Brown:
    http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=78
    http://intranet.risd.edu/housing

    Dual Degree students will pay the usual RISD housing deposit, required for participation in the room choice lottery, directly to RISD for any year they participate in RISD’s housing lottery.  The RISD first year housing deposit is waived for Dual Degree students.
  2. Dining: The selection of a meal plan will follow residency requirements.  If residing at RISD, students may participate only in RISD meal plans.  If residing at Brown, students may participate only in Brown meal plans.  If living off-campus, students may choose either school’s off-campus/commuter plan.  50 points from either school’s plan will be available to spend at the other school’s dining locations.

    Year One: RISD Meal Plan required at RISD rates
    Year Two: Brown Meal Plan required at Brown rates
    Years Three-Five: Meal plan follows residency

    • Students must adhere to RISD’s meal plan participation requirements for certain residence hall choices on the RISD campus.
    • Students must live off of both campuses to be eligible for either school’s Off-Campus/Commuter Plan.
    Brown: http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Food_Services/
    RISD: http://www.risd.edu/dining_info.cfm
  3. Health Services and Health Insurance: Students enrolled in the Program will be charged the Brown rates for the health services and health insurance fees (see tuition and fee schedule above).  Students may waive participation in the student health insurance program if they are covered under a parental or private plan that provides comparable coverage.  Student health insurance plan:
    http://www.brown.edu/insurance
  4. Lab and Material Fees: Many RISD courses carry associated lab and/or material and supplies fees.  See the RISD Course Announcement Catalogue for details.  These fees will be charged to the student account bill in aggregate with a generic description each semester.  Specific details supporting the total charge will be maintained by RISD and can be obtained by calling the Office of Student Accounts/Accounts Receivable (401/454-6445).  Students should be aware that RISD projects often entail students purchasing materials and supplies beyond those specifically attached to the course and should plan accordingly.
  5. Bookstore Charges and Accounts: The Brown Bookstore — Students automatically receive a charge account that bills directly to the Brown University student account.
    http://www.shopbrown.com

    The RISD Store and the Metcalf Supply Store – Students may open a charge account at the RISD Store and Metcalf Supply Store.  Charges incurred will be billed directly to the student and will not appear on the Brown student account bill.
    http://www.therisdstore.com
  6. Laptop Program: Students pursuing a major at RISD in a department that participates in the RISD laptop program are required to purchase a laptop through RISD.  The full cost of the laptop will be billed to the student account on a five-semester payment plan.
    http://intranet.risd.edu/departments/folders.asp?type=pdf&department=Office_of
    _Information_Technology&folder=Laptop_Program&page_title=Laptop_Program
  7. Other Fees: The student activity fee, fees for international programs, late course or pre-registration fees, and re-enrollment fees will be charged at Brown rates (see above tuition and fee schedule).  Graduation fees are charged by RISD and will be applied to the Brown student account.
    http://intranet.risd.edu/departments/default.asp?department=Student_Affairs

C. Financial Aid

Brown University: Office of Financial Aid
8 Fones Alley, Campus Box 1827
Phone: (401) 863-2721
Fax: (401) 863-7575
http://financialaid.brown.edu/

Dual Degree students will be eligible for no more than ten semesters of financial aid consideration under Brown’s financial aid procedures, and eligibility for financial aid will be calculated on the same basis as for other Brown students.  Any petitions for additional terms of financial aid consideration will require the approval of both the Office of the Dean of the College at Brown and the Office of the Provost at RISD, and any such additional financial aid will maximize federal aid, including federal student loans, prior to awarding any institutional scholarships or grants.  Students who need financial assistance must reapply for consideration each year through Brown’s Office of Financial Aid in line with published deadlines.  Assuming that eligibility continues, financial aid is renewable for all five undergraduate years.  Renewal forms and procedures are distributed at the end of the fall semester.

http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=272

  1. Financial Aid Overview and Philosophy: Eligibility for financial aid is based strictly upon financial need, as determined by Brown’s needs analysis formula.
    http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=60
  2. Costs of Education: Costs of education for an academic year are comprised of tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and travel.  Most of these costs are described in sections A and B above.  Additional considerations include:

    1. Books and Supplies: This budget component is equivalent to the allocation determined by Brown, with an additional $500 per academic year added to reflect the greater anticipated supply costs students participating in the Dual Degree Program will incur.  Supply costs in excess of $500 can be covered with additional loan funding upon submission of receipts and documentation to Brown’s Office of Financial Aid.
    2. Excess Fees: Any additional class or lab fees specifically related to coursework may be added to the costs of education and covered with additional University Scholarship funding with adequate documentation.
    3. Computer: The cost of one computer can be added to a student’s budget during the student’s five years of enrollment in the Program and can be covered with additional loan funding.

      1. Students who are ineligible for the RISD laptop program follow the Brown computer purchase policy.
        http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=229
      2. Students who are eligible for the RISD laptop program and have not yet used financial aid to purchase a computer can have the cost of the laptop added to their budget and spread across five semesters to coincide with the five-semester payment plan.
      3. Students who formerly used financial aid to purchase a computer and who are now required to participate in the RISD laptop program may provide documentation of the additional costs for the necessary software and component upgrade to be covered with additional loan funding.
  3. Types of Financial Aid/Scholarships: The types and sources of financial aid granted to eligible students follow Brown awarding policies and procedures.  Students will be eligible to receive endowed scholarships from Brown, including the Sidney Frank and National Scholarships.  Endowed scholarships are already factored into the financial aid package and do not represent additional funding. Students will not be eligible for Merit Scholarships from RISD.  For more information on types of financial aid and scholarships see:
    http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=77#types
    http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=66#endowed
  4. Campus Employment Award: Most financial aid awards contain an academic year work component, referred to as campus employment.  This award carries an expectation that, in most cases, students will work during the academic year to earn funds to help meet the indirect expenses of the cost of attendance (i.e. books, supplies, and personal expenses).  Students are able to earn campus employment funds at either Brown or RISD and receive semi-month-ly paychecks depending on the hours worked.  The campus employment portion of the award will not show as a credit on the billing statement from the University.

    Students may research and apply for campus employment via the web.

    Brown: http://brown.edu/studentemployment
    RISD: http://intranet.risd.edu/workstudy

    Students who are unable or choose not to work may have the option of converting the campus employment award to loan.  Contact the Office of Financial Aid at Brown for additional information.
  5. Financial Aid for Study Abroad Programs: Brown's tuition and financial aid policies will apply during any study-abroad program participation.
    http://www.brown.edu/Administration/OIP/costs/index.html
    http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=33
  6. Graduation Awards: Students will be eligible for RISD graduation awards.

D. Billing

Brown University will be responsible for the billing and collection of the Program tuition and fees.  All processes and policies relating to billing, payment and collection will proceed in accordance with existing Brown practice and can be found on the Bursar’s Office website:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Financial_Services/Bursar/