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Boston University offers a multicultural,
multiethnic, multiracial, multifaceted campus community and has always maintained an equal-opportunity approach to education—even when most higher education institutions did not. Boston University was the first university in the nation to grant a Ph.D. degree to a woman, the first to award a doctorate in medicine to a Native American, and the first to graduate an African-American psychiatrist. This is the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Luis Ferre Rangel, director of San Juan’s El Nuevo Dia newspaper, and of Barbara Jordan, the first black Congresswoman from the South.
When we talk about diversity at BU, we are talking about all the
different ways that students are unique. And our campus and
the city of Boston allow students to express and explore their
diversity in many ways. Read on for more information.
On-Campus Diversity
Boston University has nearly 400 student organizations, many
of them dedicated to cultural, ethnic, religious, and political
interests. We have Latinos Unidos, UMOJA (Black students' association),
the Hawaii Cultural Association, Arab Students’ Association,
the Korean Students Association, a Hindi a capella group, an
NAACP chapter, a Buddhist Club, the Sikh Association, the Inner
Strength Gospel Choir, the Women's Interfaith Action Group,
the International Student Hospitality Association, the Diversity
in Management Association, Women's Development in Latin America,
and many others. Please see the Student
Activities Office website for a complete listing of campus
organizations.
In addition, the Howard Thurman Center works to enhance the academic success and personal
development of all University students. The Thurman Center
offers programs and resources that encourage African-, Hispanic/Latino-,
Asian-, and Native-American students to develop a sense of
community on campus.
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I am one of the eight student ambassadors for the Howard Thurman Center. I help determine the direction
of the quickly growing Center and plan its events. The Center helps break down barriers between the various cultures at BU, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.
—Roger Chen, College of Engineering |
Among the programs that the Thurman Center offers is Common
Ground, a year-long community-building experience beginning
as a component to University Orientation and continuing throughout
the academic year with receptions, seminars, discussions,
and presentations. Students from all races, religions, and
ethnic groups are welcome to participate.
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There are so many different people
here on campus that it's impossible to not meet someone
of another culture, and most people are open to new
ideas and learning from their peers. This year I was
the student coordinator of the Admissions Student Diversity
Board and I love it. I think an organization like this
is beneficial because we're helping to diversify the
student body and increase the presence of historically
underrepresented groups.
—Stephanie M. Nuñez, College of Arts and Sciences
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Ethnic and Cultural Studies
Boston University offers many majors and minors related to ethnic
and cultural studies. These include African-American studies,
African languages and literatures, bilingual education, Chinese
language and civilization, deaf studies, East Asian studies,
Hispanic language and literatures, Islamic studies, Japanese
language and literature, Judaic studies, modern foreign languages,
Russian and Eastern European studies, and others. Please see
our Programs of Study page for a complete listing.
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I have always been around people from
different walks of life, and coming to Boston University
was no different; it just happened on a larger scale.
Just going about my day allows me to make connections
with individuals from different backgrounds.
- Adrian M. Ho Quee, Boston University Collaborative Degree Program |
Resources for International Students
The needs of international students often differ from those
of students from the United States. Here is a list of some on-campus
and city resources designed to ease the transition to a new
country.
International
Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)—ISSO provides
essential services and support to international students, faculty,
and staff, including compliance with federal regulations and
expertise with immigration and employment issues.
Center
for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP)—Helps
international students learn the English they need to meet their
personal and professional goals.
International
Students Consortium (ISC)—An organization that provides
both international and U.S. students with opportunities to learn
about new cultures and appreciate the diversity of Boston University's
student body. The ISC also helps new international students
adjust to life in America.
Embassies
and Consulates in Boston
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Diversity is the inclusion and acceptance
of students representing a spectrum of beliefs, values,
and traditions. In my experience, students have been eager
to embrace the tremendous opportunity that only a large
school like Boston University can offer: to befriend students
representing unique cultures spanning the globe.
-Feather Moy-Welsh, College of General Studies |
Diversity in Boston
The city of Boston offers a wealth of ethnic restaurants, stores,
and culture, and it's no secret that certain parts of the city
boast cultural enclaves. For example, the North End has a strong
Italian community and the highest concentration of Italian restaurants
in Boston, Chinatown a strong Asian community steeped with Asian
eateries. For more information regarding specific ethnic groups
in Boston, check out Boston
Online's website.
The National
Park Service, which oversees Boston's monuments and historical
sites, also offers cultural information and tours. These include
the Museum
of Afro American History and the Black
Heritage Trail, a 1.6-mile walking tour of 15 pre-Civil
War structures relating to the history of Boston's 19th century
African-American community. For more information, see the Boston
African American section of the National Park Service website.
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The city of Boston is inherently diverse
because it is a national center for education and people
come here from all around the world to live and study.
-Ashley Nichol Linebarger, School of Education |
For more information on diversity at Boston University, please visit the Admissions Student Diversity Board website.
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