Program Guidelines

Program and Housing Rules

Boston University Summer Term High School Programs have established rules and regulations that apply to pre-college programs. These rules have been designed for your safety and well-being. We feel that they will also increase your enjoyment of dorm life, and of the Boston area. These rules and regulations are strictly enforced. Students found in violation of program or Boston University rules and regulations will be immediately removed from the dorm and the program regardless of when during the program the infraction incurs. Students removed from the program for a rules violation will have 24 hours to vacate the dorm and make travel arrangements to return home. Program fees will not be refunded if a student is sent home. Please feel free to call the program staff at 617-353-1378 if you have any questions.

Curfew

Our program does have a curfew. All students must be inside their dorm room by 11 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and by midnight on Friday and Saturday for curfew check. Students who are late for curfew may be sent home. There are no exceptions or extensions to the curfew.

Curfew does not mean lights out, however. Once you have been checked in, you are free to visit the other floors of your tower or hang out in the common areas on the 4th floor until 1 am, Sunday through Thursday, and 2 am on Friday and Saturday, when you then have to be in your dorm room with lights out.

Overnight Absence from Campus: (For High School Honors Students Only. This is Not Allowed for Summer Challenge Students).

Occasionally students need to leave campus overnight (family reunions, emergencies, etc.). If a student needs to be away from campus overnight, the Assistant Director must receive notice in writing, signed by a parent/guardian, at least forty-eight hours in advance. This must name the person who will be responsible for the student while off campus, as well as the length of time the student will be gone. We ask that overnight absences be kept to a minimum, as participants are expected to take part in weekend program activities.

Free-Time Guidelines

Students are allowed to leave campus during their free time, however, students are not permitted to leave campus by themselves—they must be accompanied by at least one other student in the program or a program assistant. Students may not leave the city of Boston without the permission of their parents and the Assistant Director. The Assistant Director reserves the right to restrict students’ access to any part of Boston for security or other concerns. When students do leave campus, they need to inform a program assistant of their destination and estimated time of return, no later than curfew. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in removal from the program.

Drugs and Alcohol

No illicit drugs or alcohol are allowed in the dorm or on campus. Students found with illicit drugs or alcohol in their possession will be sent home immediately. Students suspected to be intoxicated and/or under the influence of any illicit substance will be sent home immediately. Students who smell of or are in the presence of alcohol or illicit drugs will be sent home immediately. There are no exceptions. Decisions on incidents involving illicit drugs and alcohol are up to the discretion of the Assistant Director.

Student Conduct

Students may be withdrawn from the Summer High School Programs if, in the program’s judgment, they pose a direct threat to their own health or safety or to that of others, or refuse to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by the University to evaluate their conduct.

A fundamental goal of the Summer Term High School Programs is to foster a community environment based upon mutual respect and openness. Therefore, any form of discrimination, including but not limited to that based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation, constitutes unacceptable behavior.

Guests

Guests must be signed into the residence hall by the person they are visiting. When they are signed in, the guest must give a picture ID to the security assistant at the front entrance. The ID is returned as the guest leaves. Guests must leave the building by curfew. Overnight guests are not allowed. Only same-sex guests are allowed up to a student’s room (this includes family members except on move-in and move-out days).

Send Word Now: Boston University’s Emergency Alert System

Beginning in August 2007, Boston University uses an on-demand alert and response system called Send Word Now. In the event of a campus emergency, Send Word Now’s technology would allow us to contact the entire campus community immediately through a variety of electronic means, including text messaging, e-mail, and voice mail.

To ensure the effectiveness of the Send Word Now system, all students are required to provide an emergency alert phone number.

How to Comply:
When completing the registration form provided in the acceptance packet, please remember to fill out the BU Emergency Alert Contact Phone Number. This is the phone number that the University’s Send Word Now system will use to reach you in case of a University-wide emergency. If you will be living on campus, we recommend that you provide your cell phone number, since there are no landlines in the dorm rooms. If you are commuting, you can use either your cell phone or home number.

Please contact our office at buhssumr@bu.edu or 617-353-1378 if you have any questions, or visit www.bu.edu/emergency/sendwordnow/faq.html.

More Information

More information can be found at http://www.bu.edu/lifebook/. Removal from housing for violations of University rules and regulations will always lead to removal from the program.