Commencement

Parking for Commencement Weekend

General Parking Guidance

Although the University makes additional parking spaces available on campus for guests over Commencement and Reunion Weekend, you should be prepared to walk a distance from your parking area, so consider wearing comfortable shoes and provide plenty of time to arrive for events. You may want to consider using public transportation or arranging a ride share instead of driving to campus.

Brown Lots and Street Parking

You may leave your car in any of the University lots or garages at any time from Friday at 5 p.m. through the end of the weekend. The largest parking area on campus is the Power Street Garage at the corner of Power and Thayer streets (both lower and upper levels), #68 on the parking map. The top-level entrance is on Power Street; the bottom-level entrance is on the corner of Williams and Brook streets. The Power Street garage is about a 10-minute walk to College Green.

Additional parking is available from Friday evening through Sunday evening at:

  • The Wheeler School, 216 Hope St. — enter between Angell St. and Stimson Ave.; 9 minutes walking distance to College Green (flat)
  • Hope High School, 324 Hope St. — 13-18 minutes walking distance to College Green (flat)
  • Lot 222 — 280 Richmond Street garage — all three Richmond Street lots are a short walk to the shuttle pickup up at 222 Richmond St.
  • Lot 105 — Richmond Street, across from the medical school
  • Lot 30 — corners of Richmond and Elm streets

Parking Tips

  • Carry comfortable shoes for walking to and from your vehicle.
  • Remember to lock your vehicle, whether it is on the street or in a lot, and do not leave items, such as gifts for graduates or luggage, exposed.
  • Even though hourly parking restrictions are waived for Commencement and Reunion Weekend, do observe the city’s parking laws and emergency no parking signs. Any car parked in a temporary emergency no parking tow zone, in marked handicapped spaces without a placard, in violation of a fire hydrant, blocking driveways or obstructing Brown police or Providence police sawhorses will be towed at the owner’s expense.
  • Parking is prohibited on George Street from Prospect Street to Brown Street, on Brown Street from George Street to Benevolent Street, and on Waterman Street from Prospect Street to Thayer Street. Also, there is no parking on Providence city streets from 2-5 a.m.

Printable Campus Map

Parking Shuttle

Shuttles will be available to transport guests from the Jewelry District neighborhood, southwest of Downtown Providence where 222 Richmond Garage is located, to the main campus during Commencement and Reunion Weekend.  

Shuttle Operating Hours

  • Friday, May 24: 7 p.m. to midnight
  • Saturday, May 25: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 26: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shuttles will operate on a continual loop during operating hours. Download the BrownU app to view the shuttle's location in real time.

Shuttle Stops

Jewelry District Route (Warren Alpert Medical School; two shuttles)

  • 222 Richmond Garage (picks up at medical school door)
  • College Green (George and Brown streets, across from JCB Library)
  • OMAC (Hope Street)

College Hill Route

  • College Green (George and Brown streets, across from JCB Library)
  • Brook Street Lot 44 (School of Engineering)
  • Wheeler School Lot (Hope Street)
  • OMAC (Hope Street)
  • Hope High School (Sunday only)
  • Power Street Garage (Power Street entrance)

RISD Route (Friday only, 6-10 p.m.; one shuttle)

  • College Green (George and Brown streets, across from JCB Library)
  • 20 Washington St.

RISD/First Baptist Church Route (Sunday only, 1-6 p.m.; one shuttle)

  • College Green (George and Brown streets, across from JCB Library)
  • Market Square/RISD Auditorium (North Main Street)
  • First Baptist Church/Washington Place (North Main Street)

Accessible Shuttle and Parking

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides a wheelchair-accessible shuttle for people with disabilities or medical conditions to locations throughout the campus. 

Rides should be scheduled in advance if possible. Please note: wait times may be longer than usual during the University Ceremony (Sunday afternoon). To reach the SAS shuttle dispatcher, call 401-225-9572.

During Commencement and Reunion Weekend, the shuttle operates:

  • Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
  • Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visit the Accessibility page for more information about the Access Shuttle and for information about handicapped parking and Drop Off Passes, which allow individuals to drop guests off near College Green on Sunday.

Learn more about accessibility accommodations