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Undergraduate Resources From Freshman Orientation to Commencement, find the information you need.
Graduate ResourcesView key policies and procedures for supporting academic life as a GRS student.
Student LifeA wealth of organizations and activities complement your academic experience.
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Information for New Graduate Students
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences is pleased to welcome the incoming graduate students. We hope the following information will answer many of your questions as you prepare to begin your studies at Boston University in the 2009–2010 Academic Year.
Registration
Registration will take place in your department. Contact your department for specific information on dates of advising and registration.
Some departments allow students to register using WebReg, BU’s web-based registration system. If your department allows you to register online, look over the instructions. You will receive an Advising Code from your department to access WebReg.
For those students whose departments will process registration forms, check with the department staff for more information.
For all students who register for less than 12 credits, you must bring a copy of your registration form to the GRS Records Office for your status to be changed from full-time to the appropriate status. If this change is not made, you will be charged full-time tuition.
General Registration InstructionsImportant Semester Dates (including Last Day to Add/Drop Classes)
Personal Data and Address Update
Students are reminded that, in accordance with the Code of Student Responsibilities (Appendix 15), current addresses must be on file with the University. We ask that you provide this information via the University’s online Student Link at www.bu.edu/studentlink. Please be advised that addresses will not be updated from information provided on the registration form.
The home address currently on file for you is the permanent address provided on your application for admission. Local addresses should be updated once you have located housing in the Boston area. If your name or Social Security number has changed or is incorrect, these can be updated at the Office of the University Registrar at 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Second Floor. This information cannot be changed using the Student Link.
Compliance
Boston University policy requires all students studying on Massachusetts campuses to provide an emergency alert phone number. In addition, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all full-time and many part-time university students to provide proof of having completed a series of immunizations. Check the Student Link to ensure you have met these requirements. Students not in compliance will be unable to register for future semesters.
Student Health Services
Please visit the BU Student Health Services website for important information regarding required medical forms and immunizations.
Student Accounts
An invoice of your student account will be mailed to you. You can view your student account on the StudentLink.
Payment should be submitted to the Student Accounting Services Office, not the Graduate School Office. The payment deadline can be at www.bu.edu/comp/saweb/paymentdeadlines.html.
For more information, access the Student Accounts website.
Medical Insurance
Please visit the Student Accounting Services site regarding Medical Insurance. This site provides important information about the BU Medical Insurance Plan, comparable insurance requirements and waiver of the BU Medical Insurance Plan.
Medical Insurance Waiver
Sports Pass
The Sports Pass will automatically be charged to your student account if you are a full-time Charles River Campus student. The Sports Pass will allow you admission to 18 home men's ice hockey and 18 home women's ice hockey games, as well as 11 home men's basketball and 11 home women's basketball games (a $350 value).
For individualized information regarding your sports pass, or to cancel your sports pass, visit the Student Link. You may deduct the Sports Pass charge from the balance you remit if you list the cancellation on your invoice stub.
Student ID Cards
Once you are registered, you can obtain a student ID from the Terrier Card Office. You must present photo identification, such as license, passport, etc.
Withdrawal from the University
A student who is registered for a semester and decides not to attend must officially take a leave of absence or withdraw. Mere absence from classes does not constitute a withdrawal. A leave of absence should be taken when the student intends to return in a future semester; a withdrawal indicates a decision to permanently leave the University. Charges are canceled in accordance with the published refund schedule, based on the effective date of the withdrawal or leave of absence.
Please visit the following site for more information if you find that you must withdraw from the University: www.bu.edu/reg/registration/wdwlreg.html.
Final Transcript
Please make sure that all your previous degrees are accurately reflected on your record. You can verify this information on your account using the following instructions:
1. From the StudentLink homepage, select the Academics tab.
2. On the Academics page, select “Diploma and Graduation Information.”
3. On this page, all your previous degrees should be listed.If you have submitted your final transcript(s) with the degree conferred or awarded, but do not see this information reflected on your StudentLink account, please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office at 617-353-2696 for more information.
If you have not submitted your final transcript(s) as requested in your admission letter, please bring the transcript(s) to the Graduate School Admissions Office as soon as possible so that we can update your record to reflect all previous degrees conferred. We are located at 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112.
Financial Aid
All Graduate School of Arts and Sciences students are required to complete the settlement process to be officially registered each semester. A student will be charged a late fee if the account is not paid/settled by Wednesday, September 16, 2009. For more information regarding loans, external funding sources and more, please visit the Financial Aid website.
Instructions for Students with Financial Aid Awards
International Students
International students are required to check in with the International Students and Scholars Office after arriving on campus. For information about new student orientation offered by the ISSO, check the following website:
www.bu.edu/isso/news/2009/F09orientation.html.
Computing Resources
Links for computing resources on campus, as well as information on where to obtain support for your personal computer can be found at www.bu.edu/computing.
Computing Service Information
Rapid Transit
Finally, we can just about guarantee you’ll make extensive use of Boston’s rapid transit system (the MBTA, or simply, “the T”) while you are a student at BU.
Boston University is located at several stops along the Boston College branch (B Line) of the Green Line. Information about fares and schedules can be found at: www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway
The MBTA’s Fall Semester Pass Program allows students to pre-pay for their four monthly “T” passes (September 1 – December 31, 2009) and thereby receive approximately 11% off the regular monthly “T” pass prices
Helpful Links
A Campus map can be found at www.bu.edu/maps.
Information about the city of Boston can found at
www.bu.edu/admissions/bu_basics/why_we_love_boston.
The University Resource Center provides students with the services and resources for developing personal and academic skills.
The Office of Rental Property Management leases many different types of apartments located throughout the Boston University Charles River Campus.
Information regarding campus safety can be found at the BU Police Department’s website.
The Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec) offers programs and facilities for numerous forms of physical activity.
If you plan on driving a car to classes or wish to purchase a “T” pass, you should take a look at the Office of Parking Services website.
Boston University houses a number of libraries on campus and you’ll make use of at least one of them during your time here.
The Office of Information Technology provides general-access computing and communications facilities for the entire University community.
The Geddes Language Center provides a wide range of instructional media services to the University community.
The Boston University Mental Health & Counseling Clinic offers a number of counseling services to students.
The University’s bookstore is located within the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on campus.