Administrative Policies

Four-Year Program (MD)

Applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree from an approved college of arts and sciences or engineering. Occasionally a candidate of unusual ability is accepted after attendance for three academic years in an undergraduate school if he or she has satisfactorily completed the minimum entrance requirement of 90 semester credits. The following courses are required.

English Composition or Literature (1 year)

Humanities (1 year)

General Chemistry (1 year) with Lab

Organic Chemistry (1 year) with Lab

Physics (1 year)

English language proficiency is required, and no special accommodations concerning English as a second language will be made.

A knowledge of quantitation in chemistry is recommended; usually these methods are taught in general chemistry or organic chemistry. A course in calculus is recommended but not required. The biology and chemistry courses must include laboratory exercises. High school courses do not fulfill these requirements. If an applicant has been excused from a required college-level course, another course at the same or higher level must be substituted. Applicants currently enrolled in a professional or graduate school must be in the terminal year of the degree program to be considered for admission to the first-year class.

Applicants are urged to acquire a broad experience in the humanities, behavioral sciences, and social sciences in their college years, but they should follow their own interests whether in the arts or in the sciences. It is not recommended that applicants try to anticipate subjects that will be required in medical school.

Throughout a student's four years at Boston University School of Medicine, beginning with the Introduction to Clinical Medicine and followed by various clerkships, personal transportation will be required. While some of the sites are within the areas served by public transportation, others are not. The student will be responsible for providing his or her own transportation, although cooperative ventures are sometimes possible.

The faculty of Boston University School of Medicine wish all applicants to be aware that they will be expected to participate in the clinical care of patients from all walks of life, with many difficult and life-threatening conditions such as AIDS and Hepatitis B.

Boston University School of Medicine has established an Office of Minority Affairs that has developed programs and resources to attract students to the School from groups insufficiently represented in the physician population in the United States. These resources include financial aid to the extent made possible by the financial resources of the School.

All students must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and should communicate directly with the American College Testing Program, P.O. Box 4056, Iowa City, IA 52243-4056, for information concerning these examinations. Applicants are strongly urged to take the MCAT in the spring of the year of application. Applicants who have not taken the MCAT by the fall of the application year will not be considered. The oldest MCAT scores considered are those three years prior to anticipated date of matriculation.

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Early Decision Plan Some applicants may wish to apply under the Early Decision Plan. This plan is intended for applicants whose credentials are outstanding in every respect. Under this plan, applicants must file applications between June 1 and August 1. Applicants may apply only to Boston University School of Medicine and, if accepted, neither apply to, nor attend, any other medical school. All such applicants will be notified that they are accepted, deferred, or rejected on or before October 1, at which time, if not accepted, they will be free to apply to other schools.

Selection Factors The Committee on Admissions chooses applicants who seem best qualified not only by scholastic record, college recommendations and involvement in college and community activities, but also by less tangible qualities of personality, character, and maturity. A personal interview is an integral part of the admissions process. There is no age restriction.

The Committee on Admissions chooses applicants who seem best qualified not only by scholastic record, college recommendations and involvement in college and community activities, but also by less tangible qualities of personality, character and life experience. A personal interview is an integral part of the admissions process. All interviews are granted at the discretion of the Committee on Admissions.

Boston University School of Medicine received 10,169 completed applications for the 2006 entering class of 179. Since 44 students entered the class from various combined Boston University Liberal Arts Medical School programs, the 10,169 applicants were, in effect, applying for 135 places. Students in the 2006 entering class had the following characteristics: G.P.A. mean = 3.6 and MCATS averaged approximately 10 in each subtest.

Students in Postbaccalaureate or Graduate Programs Many students apply to medical school after postgraduate study or the completion of premedical requirements in a postbaccalaureate program. Students who are enrolled in graduate programs may apply in the terminal year of the graduate program for which they were originally accepted into graduate school. Students matriculating in Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences must complete all graduate requirements before receiving admissions to the Medical School. Students will be required to submit at least one letter from a thesis advisor or an equivalent which has been countersigned by the chairman of the department in which they are concentrating. Students in postbaccalaureate programs are urged to request a letter of recommendation from the Premedical Advisory Committee of the undergraduate college, or, if inappropriate, from the college or university where they are pursuing the postbaccalaureate program. A final transcript or other evidence of completion of degree requirements will be required by August 15. The transcript should be sent to the Admissions Office, Attention: Mrs. Catherine Wilder, Admissions Officer.

Students from Other Countries and U.S. Students at Foreign Medical Schools Students from other countries or American students at foreign schools are not considered eligible for admission to the first-year class unless they have satisfactorily completed at least two years of study in a college of arts and sciences accredited by an American agency.

Degree Requirements Every candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine at Boston University must be at least twenty-one years of age and of good moral character. He or she must have fulfilled all the requirements for admission to the School; give evidence of having been enrolled in an accredited medical school for at least four full academic years, two of which must have been spent in the regular third- and fourth-year courses at Boston University School of Medicine; and have discharged all financial obligations to Boston University.

The degree of Doctor of Medicine is awarded on recommendation of the faculty and may be granted cum laude, magna cum laude, or
summa cum laude in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.

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Guidelines for Students with Disabilities

Boston University School of Medicine has a long history of maintaining high standards while actively supporting and accommodating students with disabilities. The following define the policies and procedures for admission, matriculation, and continuation leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine at BUSM.

Admission The Committee on Admissions chooses applicants who seem best qualified based not only on scholastic record, college recommendations, interview, and involvement in college and community activities, but also on the less tangible qualities of personality, character, and maturity. All students must possess the physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and achieve the level of competence required by the faculty. It is expected that the student will act independently. Students with disabilities applying to medical school will be expected to meet all admission standards, with accommodations if necessary. Graduates of medical schools must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. Boston University takes very seriously its obligation to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Amendments of 1992 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. At the same time, the University and the School of Medicine recognize that prospective candidates must be capable of meeting certain minimum technical standards. Students who have been accepted by the Committee on Admissions are required to sign a document indicating that they understand the technical standards as well as whether they request specific reasonable accommodations to complete the curriculum. Requests for accommodation are evaluated on an individual basis. Technological compensation may be available to assist individuals with a variety of disabilities and may be permitted; but the use of human intermediaries, who may interject their powers of selection and observation in place of the student's, will ordinarily not be permitted.

Technical Standards A candidate for the MD degree must have abilities and skills in the areas of observation; communication; sensory and motor coordination and function; intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and behavioral and social attributes as described below.

Observation Candidates and students must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in experiments in the basic sciences determined essential by the faculty. They must be able to observe a patient accurately both at a distance and close at hand, noting nonverbal as well as verbal signals. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and other sensory modalities.

Communication Candidates and students should be able to speak intelligibly, hear sufficiently, and observe patients closely to elicit and transmit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communication. They must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and with all members of the health care team. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading and writing; students and candidates must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in both oral and written English, as well as possess reading skills at a level sufficient to accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients. They must be capable of completing appropriate medical records, documents, and plans according to protocol, in a complete and timely manner.

Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function Candidates and students are required to possess motor skills sufficient to perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other basic diagnostic procedures. They must be able to execute those motor movements reasonably required to provide basic medical care, such as airway management, placement of catheters, application of pressure to control bleeding, simple obstetrical maneuvers, and the like. Such actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates and students must be able to identify significant findings from history, physical examination, and laboratory data; provide a reasoned explanation for likely diagnoses, prescribed medications, and therapy; and retain information and recall it in an efficient and timely manner. The ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans is essential. Good judgment in patient assessment, diagnostic, and therapeutic planning is essential; students must be able to identify and communicate their knowledge to others when appropriate.

Behavioral and Social Attributes Candidates and students must possess the ability to use their intellectual capacity, exercise good judgment, and promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients under potentially stressful circumstances. They must also be able to develop empathic, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. They must be able to adapt to changing environments and learn in the face of uncertainties inherent in the practice of medicine. Compassion, integrity, ethical standards, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational process.

Pre-Enrollment Disabilities In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Boston University School of Medicine makes no preadmission inquiry regarding disability. In general, students with physical disabilities are identified or self-identify before enrollment. Students who know that they have learning disabilities (including attention deficit disorder) may or may not self-identify before enrollment. If they do not self-identify, they will be expected to fulfill the curricular requirements without the benefit of accommodations. Once identified, students must complete the documentation process in accordance with University standards. Students are then interviewed by the Director of the Boston University School of Medicine Student Support Services, who reviews the diagnosis and the recommended specific accommodations. After review the Director of Student Support Services sends the evaluation to the Clinical Director of Disability Services at the Charles River Campus who makes the final determination as to whether the evaluation follows the DSMIV criteria for the diagnosis and the recommended accommodation(s). If the evaluation is approved, a letter from the Director of Disability Services is sent to the Dean of the School of Medicine for his/her approval and signature. Once the Dean approves and signs this letter it is returned to the Office of Disability Services and a copy is sent to the Director of Student Support Services. The Director of Student Support Services informs the student of the recommended accommodation(s) and encourages the student to speak with the course managers about arrangements for the accommodations. The Director of Student Support Services informs the course managers in writing of the approved accommodations.

Students Who Become Physically Disabled While at Boston University School of Medicine Students who become physically disabled while attending BUSM and who wish to request reasonable accommodations are expected to notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, as well as to seek the assistance of the Director of Student Support Services in requesting accommodation. Approval of the recommended accommodations from the Dean of Boston University School of Medicine is required. The student is referred to the Director of Student Support Services for coordination of the specific accommodations within the curriculum. After review the Director of Student Support Services sends the evaluation to the Director and Clinical Director of Disability Services at the Charles River Campus who make the final determination as to whether the evaluation follows the DSMIV criteria for the diagnosis and the recommended accommodations. If the evaluation is approved, a letter from the Director of Disability Services is sent to the Dean of the School of Medicine for his/her approval and signature. Once the Dean approves and signs this letter it is returned to the Office of Disability Services and a copy is sent to the Director of Student Support Services. The Director of Student Support Services informs the student of the recommended accommodation(s) and encourages the student to speak with the course managers about arrangements for the accommodations. The Director of Student Support Services informs the course managers in writing of the approved accommodations.

Students with Learning Disabilities Identified While at Boston University School of Medicine In general, such students are not identified until they experience academic or behavioral difficulties. Identification may be self-identification or observation by course managers, promotion committee members, the Director of Student Support Services, or the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Students having academic difficulty are often directed to seek a meeting with the Director of Student Support Services, who reviews the nature of the problem, taking into account study-skill strategies, learning styles, and other possible causes for the difficulties. When appropriate, the student is referred for testing and/or counseling. Following testing and documentation of a disability in accordance with University standards, the Director of Student Support Services reviews the diagnosis and the recommended specific accommodations. After review the Director of Student Support Services sends the evaluation to the Clinical Director of Disability Services at the Charles River Campus who makes the final determination as to whether the evaluation follows the DSMIV criteria for the diagnosis and the recommended accommodation(s). If the evaluation is approved, a letter from the Director of Disability Services is sent to the Dean of the School of Medicine for his/her approval and signature. Once the Dean approves and signs this letter it is returned to the Office of Disability Services and a copy is sent to the Director of Student Support Services. The Director of Student Support Services informs the student of the recommended accommodation(s) and encourages the student to speak with the course managers about arrangements for the accommodations. The Director of Student Support Services informs the course managers in writing of the approved accommodations.

All students are required to meet all academic and technical standards, whether or not they have identifiable disabilities and whether or not they request and use accommodations.

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Available Resources Boston University School of Medicine expects all of its students to become highly effective and competent physicians. A wide array of support services is available to all students. Students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to make use of these and other services.

Professional Services The Director of Boston University School of Medicine Student Support Services conducts comprehensive intake interviews to screen basic skills, information processing, and achievement. If a complete diagnostic evaluation, psychiatric referral, or physical examination is warranted, students will be referred to the appropriate community resource person or agency. The Office of Financial Management can help the student make any necessary financial arrangements for payment.

Study Skills The Office of Student Affairs conducts a series of five workshops during the fall term of the first year. The program is made available to all first-year students. Students are introduced to and given the opportunity to practice different study skills.

Learning Resources The Alumni Medical Library of Boston University School of Medicine has numerous software programs installed in easily accessed computers under the guidance of library support staff. Most of the programs are interactive and provide students with tutorials, self-tests, reviews, or supplemental material.

Tutorial Service The Office of Student Affairs sponsors a tutorial service for approved medical students during the first two years. Students must be referred by the Director of Student Support Services to the course manager for approval. The course manager provides the student with the name and phone number of either the tutor coordinator for that course or of a tutor. It is incumbent upon the student to make arrangements for the tutorial sessions.

United States Medical Licensing Exam Although Boston University School of Medicine cannot directly sponsor students or actively participate in petitioning for accommodations from the USMLE, the Director of BUSM Student Support Services assists students in their efforts to gather the appropriate documentation and advises students regarding the petition process. In addition, Boston University School of Medicine has a full series of review sessions open to all Boston University School of Medicine students during the semester immediately before the spring exams.

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Modular Medical Integrated Curriculum (MMEDIC)

The MMEDIC program admits to the School of Medicine, subject to review as described under "Program Requirements," a limited number of qualified students who have completed two years of liberal arts undergraduate study. It offers an integrated curriculum composed of liberal arts and medical school courses, enabling those preselected students to fulfill portions of the requirements of the curriculum at the School of Medicine during the latter two years of study in the College of Arts and Sciences. The MMEDIC program thus introduces preclinical subjects into the undergraduate program.

In order to achieve curricular integration, the MED and CAS faculties offer a series of courses that are designated as modules of instruction. These include biochemistry, computers in medicine, microbiology, psychology/psychiatry, microscopic anatomy, medical ethics, physiology, and others.

Portions of the junior and senior years are spent taking modular courses that not only enable the student to fulfill undergraduate requirements, but also allow for the completion of or preparation for certain requirements ordinarily undertaken in the first or second year of the School of Medicine. In addition to the modular courses, students are expected to complete requirements for their field of concentration and pursue electives in the humanities and social sciences.

Certain modules of instruction may also be open, on a seat-available basis, to qualified students not enrolled in the program and may be credited toward fulfillment of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

MMEDIC is not designed to accelerate the premedical-medical sequence but rather to effect a better educational transition from undergraduate to graduate professional study. Students must be registered in an undergraduate four-year degree program, of which at least three years must be taken at the College of Arts and Sciences or one of the other undergraduate Schools or Colleges at Boston University; the last two years of undergraduate study must be completed in the MMEDIC program at Boston University. Students must also register at the School of Medicine for at least four years for a total of eight years of combined study. Additional information may be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Preprofessional Advising, Room B-2, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.

Eligibility and Admission The program is designed to admit a limited number of students who expect to enter their third year of liberal arts study in September. Acceptances are determined during the preceding spring and summer. Admission into the program, and thereby to the School of Medicine, is based on academic record, letters of recommendation, and involvement in college and community activities, as well as on less tangible qualities of personality, character, and maturity. Applications are evaluated by the Joint Admissions Committee composed of representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine. If deemed eligible, the applicant is contacted for a personal interview with members of the committee.

Program Requirements MMEDIC students must demonstrate their ability to master the modules of instruction and must exhibit a high degree of maturity and emotional stability to be promoted to the medical phase of the program. Four modules of instruction must be completed prior to entry into the School of Medicine, at least two of which must be in biochemistry, physiology, or microscopic anatomy. At the conclusion of each semester, the faculty Committee on Promotions reviews the student's progress. Students are expected to maintain a 3.20 GPA cumulatively and a 3.00 GPA in the sciences for all courses taken after entry into the program to be eligible for promotion to the next curricular year and ultimately to the School of Medicine. Failure to meet the above criteria will result in appropriate action by the Committee, including academic probation, remedial coursework, or dismissal from the program. Students who have not achieved a 3.20 GPA cumulatively and a 3.00 GPA in the sciences for all courses taken after entry into the program are ineligible for promotion to the School of Medicine.

Students must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in the spring of the third year of undergraduate study. It is expected that students will achieve a combined score of at least 28 on the three numerically scored sections of the MCAT. The writing sample component of this exam must also be completed. The results of the exam are considered by the Committee on Promotions when it makes the final decision as to whether to promote students to the medical curriculum. Before entering their first year in the School of Medicine, students in the program must also complete the usual required premedical courses (one year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, English composition or literature, and humanities).

Students may not apply to other medical schools and remain in the program.

A student who for any reason (academic, motivational, or emotional) is found to be ill-suited for the program may be transferred without loss of credit into the liberal arts curriculum. Such students may apply for entry to the School of Medicine or any other medical school by the conventional premedical route. Students may transfer voluntarily out of the program at any point and continue their liberal arts education at Boston University.

MMEDIC is designed to provide a gradual and orderly transition into the curriculum of the School of Medicine and not to be an accelerated program. Students are expected to receive the Bachelor of Arts degree in no fewer than the traditional four curricular years. The Doctor of Medicine degree is awarded in no less than four curricular years from the time of entering the School of Medicine.

A report will be requested from the Office of Judicial Affairs and Student Safety Programs to determine if MMEDIC students have violated University policies. The content of this report will be considered in promotion decisions. In addition, medical students may, in accordance with federal and state law, or institutional policy, be asked to consent to a criminal background check. For students in the MMEDIC Program, this may occur at the time of admittance to the program or promotion to the School of Medicine and/or at other times in the course of the medical school curriculum. The results of this criminal background check will be considered in entrance and promotion decisions.

Early Medical School Selection Program (EMSSP)

Students accepted into the program will remain within their undergraduate colleges through the junior year and must complete the maximum number of required science courses prior to entering the senior year at Boston University. During this senior year, students will retain their degree candidacy at their undergraduate institutions. Students will take MMEDIC courses and participate in individualized programs of study in the senior year which will satisfy undergraduate academic requirements while providing a gradual transition into the medical school curriculum.

The September following the granting of the baccalaureate degree from their undergraduate institutions, students who have performed at the prescribed level will matriculate into the School of Medicine at Boston University and pursue a decompressed medical school curriculum, having already fulfilled requirements for certain medical school courses. Upon completion of the School of Medicine requirements, the degree of Doctor of Medicine will be granted by Boston University.

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In addition to the normal distribution of courses in the humanities and social sciences, applicants are strongly urged to complete the equivalent of one full year of physics (with laboratory) prior to beginning the senior undergraduate year at Boston University. Students are required to spend the senior year in residence in Boston University housing. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) must be taken in April of the undergraduate junior year. The scores obtained will be considered by the promotion committee as one of the important criteria for promotion into Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM). Participants are required to file an AMCAS application in the fall of the senior year.

Applications for the Early Medical School Selection Program may be obtained from the Director, Early Medical School Selection Program, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Room A-407, Boston, MA 02118.

Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program

The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine of Boston University offer a combined curriculum designed to improve the quality of medical education while shortening the overall period of study.

Qualified applicants include students who are completing four full academic years of secondary education and who are currently high school seniors, or students who have completed high school but have not enrolled in any college-level, degree-granting program. Those accepted are admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine, subject to the review described under the "Program Requirements" section of this bulletin.

The first three years are spent in the College of Arts and Sciences, where the student takes premedical sciences and elective courses in the humanities and the natural and social sciences. In addition, the second summer is spent taking a required biology course and elective courses in the humanities and social sciences, so that the undergraduate requirements are completed by the end of the third academic year. Following completion of the required premedical courses in the first two years of study, students may enroll in certain modular medical courses in the third academic year. These courses are equivalent or preparatory to those taken in the first or second year of medical school. Completion of modular courses with equivalency credit will decompress the medical school curriculum. All students are required to complete a minor concentration in a discipline in one of the divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences. Acceleration is made possible by the 12-week summer session. Although the program is accelerated, the student has three summers completely free for pursuing other interests. Students in this program must meet all liberal arts, residence, and course distribution requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

First-year medical studies begin with the fourth year; the amount of time devoted to medical courses is the same as in the present conventional medical program. Students are awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree at the completion of the first year at the School of Medicine and the Doctor of Medicine degree at the completion of the program.

Scholarship Assistance and Loans The full range of financial assistance programs is available to students in this program. Awards are based on financial need and academic achievement. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Assistance.

Acceleration The 12-week summer session is used at the end of the second academic year to achieve an accelerated pattern. Because this program requires only seven semesters of undergraduate work, advanced standing credit may not be used to further decrease the number of courses required for graduation. However, AP exam results may be used to meet nonscience department requirements if approved by the department.

A student who, for any reason (e.g., academic, motivational, or emotional), is found to be ill-suited for the program may be transferred without loss of credit into the liberal arts curriculum. Such students may still aspire to a medical education either at the Boston University School of Medicine or at another medical school, although it must be by the conventional route. Students may transfer voluntarily out of the program at any point without loss of credit and continue their liberal arts education at Boston University.

Seven-year medical students, although admitted to the School of Medicine, are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in August of the second year in the program. It is expected that students will achieve a combined score of at least 28 on the three numerically scored sections of the MCAT. The writing sample component of the exam must also be completed. The results of this exam are considered by the Committee on Promotions when it makes the final decision as to whether to promote a student to the medical curriculum.

Students may not apply to other medical schools and remain in the program.

Promotion Requirements to Enter the School of Medicine: Students must complete all requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program by the end of their spring semester of the third year to be eligible for promotion to the School of Medicine. Students who have not achieved a 3.20 GPA cumulatively and in the sciences by the end of the third year are ineligible for promotion to the medical school.

A report will be requested from the Office of Judicial Affairs and Student Safety Programs to determine if students have violated University policies. The content of this report will be considered in promotion decisions. In addition, medical students may, in accordance with federal and state law, or institutional policy, be asked to consent to a criminal background check. For students in the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program, this may occur at the time of promotion to the School of Medicine and/or at other times in the course of the medical school curriculum. The results of this criminal background check will be considered in promotion decisions.

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Combined MD/PhD Program

The program requires seven years of study leading to both the MD and PhD degrees, depending on the applicability of basic science courses in the School of Medicine curriculum to course requirements of the area in which study for the PhD is undertaken.

Admission Information on eligibility requirements and application procedures is given below.

Eligibility The applicant must meet the requirements for admission to both the School of Medicine as a candidate for the MD degree, and the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences as a candidate for the PhD degree. The minimum entrance requirements and the prerequisite courses for the School of Medicine are the same as those for the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. Applicants for the MD/PhD Degree Program will be required to submit only the results of the Medical College Admission Test and not those of the Graduate Record Examination, which are normally required for admission to the Division. The applicant shall have completed the special prerequisites of the major department of the Division in which he or she is planning to specialize. Applicants must also have carried out research during their undergraduate programs or have research experience.

It is anticipated that most applicants will apply for admission to the program as first-year students, but applications will be accepted from students who are already in residence in the School of Medicine at any time before the beginning of the third year in their program. Students enrolled in the PhD program of the School of Medicine are not eligible for the MD/PhD program.

Two letters of evaluation from members of the academic profession who have personal knowledge of the applicant's qualifications for graduate study and research ability are required by the Division to complete the application. Applicants applying while in residence in the School of Medicine or the Division should obtain application information from the Associate Dean of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences.

Students admitted directly to the MD/PhD program will begin their training with the first year of the regular School of Medicine curriculum. Upon completion of the the second year of the medical school curriculum, students begin their graduate education and research training in the major departments or areas of specialization of their choice within the Division. Students entering the Combined MD/PhD Degree Program from the School of Medicine will follow a sequence designed (in consultation with the appropriate individuals within the School of Medicine and Division) to meet their particular needs and to expedite the completion of the program. In all instances, the graduate curriculum of each student will be developed according to his or her particular needs as worked out in consultation with his or her major advisor and approved by the chairman of the respective department of the Division.

MD/MPH Dual Degree Program

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health

Boston University School of Public Health

Boston University School of Medicine

Combining medical and public health education in preparation for a career of caring for the health of individuals and their communities.

The MD/MPH Dual Degree Program at Boston University School of Medicine Boston University School of Public Health is designed for students who envision a medical career that incorporates public health and medicine. The MD/MPH program prepares physicians for academic careers or for practice in today's health care environment. This flexible program combines traditional MD preparation with a concentration in one of the following areas of public health: health services; environmental health; health law; epidemiology and biostatistics; international health, maternal and child health; or health behavior, health promotion, and disease prevention. In addition, students are encouraged to pursue programs of study and practice placements that allow the exploration of the multifaceted relationships between medicine and population-focused public health disciplines.

Coursework in the dual degree program is generally completed over a period of five years.

For MD-MPH students the 48 credits for the MPH are fulfilled as follows:

1. MD-MPH students earn 12 credits toward the MPH for completing designated courses required for their MD degree; an additional 4 credits are awarded for fulfilling a "practicum" requirement, which involves submission of a report based on clinical rotations in Family Medicine or Geriatrics. The cost for these 16 credits is covered by medical school tuition; there is no additional cost.
2. The other 32 credits toward the MPH degree are as follows:

a. Approximately 16 credits for Core Courses as follows:

• Epidemiology 3 cr
• Biostatistics 3 cr
• Health Services 3 cr
• Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 cr
• Introduction to Health Law 2 cr
• Introduction to Environmental Health 2 cr
• Subtotal 16 cr

b. An additional 16 credits that fulfill the requirements for the area of concentration chosen by the student. The available concentration areas include:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Health Law
• Health Services
• International Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Health Behavior, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The cost for the MPH degree reflects the cost for these additional 32 credit hours in the School of Public Health. Students are advised to meet with personnel of the Medical Center's Office of Student Financial Management to discuss financing options.

All dual degree students must meet with the MD-MPH advisor in the School of Public Health (Dr. Wayne LaMorte) and their medical school advisor at the beginning of their program to develop a plan of study. In addition, students must meet with the MD-MPH advisor at least annually to monitor their progress through the program and to discuss career directions.

Students must earn at least a grade of Pass in all medical school courses and must maintain at least a grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) in courses at the School of Public Health.

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Eligibility Admission to the dual degree program is contingent upon admission to both the School of Medicine (MED) and the School of Public Health (SPH).

Application Students who wish to apply to the MD-MPH dual degree program should apply first to the Boston University School of Medicine and indicate your interest in the MD-MPH program. (Indicating an interest in the MD-MPH program does not affect the likelihood of acceptance into the MD program.) Once you are accepted into the MD program you then file an online application to the Boston University School of Public Health for the combined MD-MPH dual degree program via SOPHAS, the centralized application service for CEPH-accredited schools of public health. The fee for SOPHAS is $95.00 for application to one designated school of public health. U.S. residents who can demonstrate financial need can apply to a fee waiver program which will waive the SOPHAS fee for the first application.

Transcripts
 Applicants are required to submit official transcripts directly to SOPHAS. Copies of transcripts can not be submitted directly to BUSPH.


Standardized Tests
 Applicants must report their MCAT scores via the SOPHAS application. However, if official copies of the MCAT scores reside with your school, you may request that a copy of these scores be sent to BUSPH instead of requesting an official copy being sent to SOPHAS.


Letters of Reference
 Dual degree candidates are required to submit three letters of reference, one of which must speak to their interest in public health. Applicants may request that copies of their letters of reference be sent from the BUSM Office of Admissions directly to SOPHAS, or the applicant may submit three new letters of reference to SOPHAS. Applicants will need to list their recommenders in SOPHAS.


Questions regarding application to the BU School of Public Health or SOPHAS should be directed to Brad Peloquin, Director of Admissions.


The application to the Boston University School of Public Health may be submitted any time after acceptance to BUSM until the end of the first year of medical school. However, interested students are encouraged to apply soon after they are accepted into BUSM. Interested students are encouraged to send questions about the program to Dr. Wayne LaMorte, the director of the MD-MPH program. Once you are accepted into the dual degree program, you should make an appointment to meet with Dr. LaMorte to review program requirements and to map out a schedule of study for the combined programs.


For specific information or questions regarding the MD-MPH program, contact:


Wayne W. LaMorte, MD, PhD, MPH

Director, MD-MPH Program

Boston University Medical Center

715 Albany St., Talbot Building, 

Room 510 East

E-mail: wlamorte@bu.edu

Telephone: 617-638-5073


For further information regarding admission to the School of Public Health contact:


Brad Peloquin

Director of Admissions

Boston University 

School of Public Health

Talbot C202

715 Albany Street

Boston, MA 02118-2531

Telephone: 617-638-4641

Fax: 617-638-5299

E-mail: bdpelo@bu.edu or sphadms@bu.edu
Website:

www.bumc.bu.edu/sph


Office of Admissions

Boston University School of Medicine

80 E. Concord St., L-124

Boston, MA 02118

Telephone: 617-638-4630

Website: www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/


Combined MD/MBA Program


The combined MD/MBA program is conducted under the joint auspices of the School of Medicine (MED) and the Graduate School of Management (GSM). This five-year program is designed specifically for students interested in both medicine and the business aspects of medicine. Students will complete the first three years of the medical school curriculum and then spend their fourth year fully integrated into the MBA program at the School of Management within the Health Sector Management Program. During this fourth year, they will take 36 credit-hours of management courses with an emphasis on health sector issues. Multiple aspects of the sector are addressed, including health care delivery, the life sciences industry, and health information technology. In their fifth year, students will complete their remaining medical courses and 14 management course credits at GSM. The MD degree is awarded by the School of Medicine and the MBA degree in Health Sector Management by the Graduate School of Management.

Eligibility Requirements for the MD/MBA program are the same as for the traditional MD program (course requirements, MCAT) plus the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Application Applicants should express their interest in the MD/MBA program when they apply to medical school. Medical students may apply during thier third year in medical school for fourth-year enrollment at the GSM. Prospective MD/MBA students should be interviewed by the MED advisor, when they apply to the medical school, Dr. Thomas Moore, and by the GSM advisor, Dr. Alan Cohen, when they apply to the Graduate School of Management.

Prospective students must submit the following to the Graduate School of Management:

• MBA application;
• A score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) from within the past 5 years;
• Two letters of recommendations;
• Three essays;
• All post-secondary transcripts and recent medical school transcripts. The applicant may request that copies of transcipts be sent to GSM.

The MBA application may be obtained from Graduate Admissions Office, Boston University School of Management, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-2670 or visit the website. Applicants for both internatinal and domestic students are perferred by April 15.

Degree Requirements To earn both degrees, students must successfully complete the required classroom and clinical coursework for the MD degree and the required coursework for the MBA degree (50 credits). Students must earn the grade of Pass or Honor in all MED courses and must maintain a grade point average of 2.7 (on a scale of 4.0) in MBA courses. A 400-hour field placement is required for the MBA degree, and is taken during the summer between the fourth and fifth years of the combined program.

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ENGMEDIC (Engineering/Medical Integrated Curriculum)

General Information The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and the School of Medicine offer a joint, early selection program for the training of biomedical engineers interested in becoming physicians. Qualified sophomores will be admitted into the joint program, Engineering/Medical Integrated Currriculum (ENGMEDIC), that will integrate some preclinical medical training with undergraduate engineering education. The program leads to a BS in Biomedical Engineering after four years, and the MD after an additional four years at the School of Medicine. The early selection aspects of the program permit a decompression of the first year of medical school and avoid the expensive and stressful process of application to medical school. ENGMEDIC is designed to effect a better educational transition from undergraduate engineering studies to medical education; it is not designed to accelerate engineering or medical training.

Admission Students must be registered at the College of Engineering while pursuing the BS in Biomedical Engineering degree, and at the School of Medicine while pursuing their postbaccalaureate medical education. This requires a total of eight years of combined study for those students without significant AP credits.

Application Additional information may be obtained from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, ERB 401, 44 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215-2407.

Standard Curriculum

Satisfactory completion of the MD degree in four years, two years of preclinical basic science courses, and two years of clinical clerkship and rotations. The student is registered as full time each semester and is charged full tuition.

Alternative Curriculum

A student making satisfactory academic progress may apply, prior to or during the first five weeks of each semester of the first or second year to enter the Alternative Curriculum — i.e., to spread that curricular year over a period of two years, to pursue other interests along with medical studies. The tuition charges will be adjusted. The student will be registered for, and pay for one-half semester’s tuition for each of the four semesters. After the first five weeks of the semester, a student making satisfactory academic progress may apply for the Alternative Curriculum, however, it will be too late to adjust tuition charges for that semester. Charges will be adjusted for future semesters.

All requests for entry to the Alternative Curriculum must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for presentation to the appropriate Promotions Committee for approval. The grounds for approved requests and the action taken will be retained in the minutes of the Promotions Committee and included in a letter written to the student, a copy of which will be filed in the student’s Academic Record.

Performance of students admitted to the Alternative Curriculum may be reviewed by the appropriate Promotions Committee at any of its meetings. Such students are subject to the guidelines governing promotion.

Modified Curriculum

A student making satisfactory academic progress in the third or fourth year may apply for Modified Curriculum status for the purposes of research, internships, clinical experiences, or personal reasons. The curricular year would be extended beyond twelve months. The student will be charged for specific credit hours, and will be registered as full time or part time, depending on the number of credit hours.

All requests for entry to the Modified Curriculum must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for presentation to the appropriate Promotions Committee for approval. The grounds for approved requests and the action taken will be retained in the permanent record of the Promotions Committee and included in the student’s academic record.

Performance of students admitted to the Modified Curriculum may be reviewed by the appropriate Promotions Committee at any of its meetings. Such students are subject to the guidelines governing promotion.

Decelerated Curriculum

Students who encountered academic difficulties for any curricular year may request, or may be required by the Promotions Committee, to enter the Decelerated Curriculum. After the first five weeks of the semester, it will be too late to adjust tuition charges for that semester. During subsequent Decelerated semesters, the student will pay tuition for each semester prorated according to the number of credit hours taken during that semester.

In the first and second curricular years, after the first five weeks of any semester, a student may enter the Decelerated Curriculum. The remaining courses of that curricular year will be spread out over an extended period as determined by the Promotions Committee. A student may enter the Decelerated Curriculum only once, and the Decelerated year may not be repeated.

In the third and fourth curricular years, a student may enter the Decelerated Curriculum for periods of less than one year, up to a total of twelve months.

Repeat Year

Students who have exceeded the limits of Fail or Marginal grades permitted for their curricular year and thus have not met the academic standards required for promotion or graduation may be required by the promotions Committee to repeat all courses with initial Marginal Pass or Fail grades for that curricular year. A student will be allowed to repeat only one of the four curricular years. During the repeat year, the student will be registered as part time or full time depending on the number of credit hours and will pay additional tuition prorated according to the number of repeated credit hours.

Committee on Appeals

The Committee on Appeals, in accordance with the Bylaws of the Boston University School of Medicine, “shall be composed of seven faculty members, none of whom is also a member of any Promotions Committee. Four faculty members shall be appointed by the Dean, and three shall be elected by the student body. Three of the faculty appointed by the Dean and the three elected by the student body must each represent one of the first three curricular years.” The elected faculty will serve three-year terms, up to six consecutive years. The Chair shall be appointed annually by the Dean, and the Registrar shall act as a secretary without vote.

Promotion

Promotions Committees Promotions Committees are appointed from the faculty for the first, second, third, and fourth years. It is their responsibility to determine which students are to be promoted, which students require remedial work, and which students should be required to withdraw or be dismissed from the School. The Appeals Committee is chosen through input of students and the Dean appoints two of the faculty members on the committee. This Subcommittee receives, reviews, and acts upon appeals filed by students.

Rules Governing Promotion:

1. The faculty reserves the right to require the withdrawal of any student at any time when, in the opinion of the faculty, he or she is unfit to continue his or her course.

2. At the present time, the reporting of student evaluation is on a pass/fail basis for the first year, honors/pass/fail for the second year and honors/high pass/pass/fail for the third and fourth years. Departments or course instructors use methods of examining and evaluating students that are most appropriate to their course content. The student’s record contains for each course the appropriate grade designation and, if possible, a detailed written narrative.

3. All medical students must take Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination in June of the second year. Passing Step 1 of the USMLE is a requirement for graduation from the School of Medicine.

4. If the student is unable to achieve a pass in any given course, the Promotion Committee determines the action to be taken.

5. Guidelines concerning promotion to each academic year are available on the OSA website and an outline of the due process of promotions and appeals is sent to each student in the first curricular year. Copies of these documents may be obtained from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs Office.

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Registration

Students are registered for classes by the School of Medicine Registrar.

Every student must register during the official registration period.

A late fee is charged if a student does not register during the official period. In no event may a student register later than one week immediately following the official registration period without the written approval of the Dean or other authorized person of the School.

Residency Programs

Most state examining and licensing boards require a year of residency in an accredited hospital in addition to the regular four-year course. All fourth-year students are urged to participate in the National Residency Matching Program.

Mission Statement

Boston University School of Medicine Educational Mission Statement The Mission of the Doctor of Medicine program at the BUSM is to educate physicians who will have the knowledge, skills, and dedication needed to provide the best care to every patient from all communities in our diverse society, within an ever-changing health care environment.

The Vision Patients, peers, and mentors will recognize the BUSM graduate as an exemplary clinician who maintains the highest standards of professional conduct and who is fully prepared for postgraduate training.

Clinical Arts The graduate will: possess excellent diagnostic skills, a broad foundation of medical knowledge, and the clinical experience needed to deliver effective and efficient medical care; demonstrate excellence in communicating with and educating patients from diverse cultures, races, and ethnicities; work effectively and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams; use information technology effectively to find and evaluate the best clinical evidence to guide patient care; be dedicated to preventing illness and improving the health of the community in which he or she practices while responsive to the family, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual/religious determinants of health and illness;

Professionalism The graduate will: treat all patients in a caring, compassionate, and altruistic manner; adhere to the highest ethical standards of medical practice; possess the attitudes, abilities, and self-knowledge necessary for leading a life-long pattern of learning; support improvements in access to health care for all populations, a reduction in racial and ethnic disparities in health status, and improvements in the social conditions of disadvantaged populations; contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

The Educational Program The medical school will promote these qualities via: establishment of a supportive, respectful, and nurturing educational environment; maintenance of the highest standards of student performance; commitment to achieving and supporting a diverse student body; engagement of students in curricular evaluation; maintenance of a curriculum inclusive of evidence-based educational methods and through leadership in developing, applying, and evaluating innovative methods of medical education.

To achieve a dynamic curriculum responsive to rapid social and biomedical changes, and to insure that student and curricular goals are met and the highest educational standards of excellence are maintained, the School will continuously evaluate its learners, faculty, programs, and its Mission and goals.

Microscopes

In addition to prescribed instruments and textbooks, all students are required to provide themselves with a standard medical microscope equipped with 5x and 10x oculars, four objectives (oil immersion, 4mm, 16mm, and a lower power objective of 25-32mm focal length), a mechanical stage, and a microscope lamp. The microscope should meet the approval of the course instructor. An optional rental program is offered through the Educational Media Center. Virtual microscopy will be available to students in the 2007–2008 year.

Transcripts

Each graduate or former student of the School of Medicine may request, free of charge, an official transcript of his or her academic record, provided that there are no outstanding overdue debts to the University with respect to such person. Official transcripts are confidential records forwarded to the agencies requesting them and not to the alumni. The name and address of the agency should be sent to the Office of the Registrar, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118. Current students may order transcripts online through the “Transcript Preview and Ordering” option on the Student Link; there is a $3 fee, payable by credit card, for each official transcript ordered online. In all other cases, requests for official transcripts must be made in writing, either by letter or by completing a Transcript Request form available at www.bu.edu/reg or at the Office of the University Registrar. Please include the following information: full name, including any former names; signature; Boston University ID number or Social Security number; Schools attended and dates; degrees awarded; and complete addresses of transcript destinations. The fee is $5 for each transcript requested in writing, and payment must accompany the request. Processing time for transcript requests is about two business days. The Registrar’s Office does not accept faxed transcript requests. Transcripts can be sent by DHL for an additional $14 per destination to locations within the continental United States. For other destinations, please contact the Transcript Department for the cost. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained in person at the Registrar’s Office during regular business hours. There is no charge for unofficial transcripts. A valid photo ID is required to obtain unofficial and official transcripts if the request is made in person at the Registrar’s Office. Please note that the Registrar’s Office does not mail unofficial transcripts.

Absence

A student who is absent from school assignments must inform the Registrar promptly of the reason for the absence and its expected duration.

Absence for Religious Reasons

According to Chapter 151C of the General Laws, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day, shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement that may have been missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said students such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to students because of their availing themselves of the provisions of this section.

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Sexual Harassment Policy

Boston University is committed to the principle that no employee, student, or applicant for employment or admission should be subject to sexual harassment. The University strives to provide workplaces and learning environments that promote equal opportunity and are free from illegal discriminatory practices, including sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is a violation of federal and state laws and University policy, as is retaliation against any individual who in good faith files a complaint of sexual harassment or cooperates in the investigation of such a complaint. Upon receipt of a complaint of sexual harassment or retaliation, Boston University will undertake a fair and thorough investigation, with due regard for the rights of all parties. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the confidentiality of the parties during the investigation. After an investigation, any person who is found to have sexually harassed or retaliated against another will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment and, if a student, expulsion from Boston University.

• an individual’s submission to or rejection of the conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of employment or of status in a course, program or activity, or is used as a basis for an employment or academic decision; or,
• the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance, academic performance, or educational experience, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive working, educational or living environment.

Examples of Conduct Which May Constitute Sexual Harassment
It is not possible to list all circumstances that might constitute sexual harassment. In general, sexual harassment encompasses any sexually related conduct which causes others discomfort, embarrassment, or humiliation, and any harassing conduct, sexually related or otherwise, directed toward an individual because of that individual’s sex. Such conduct is subject to this policy whenever it occurs in a context related to the employment or academic environments, or if it is imposed upon an individual by virtue of an employment or academic relationship.

A determination of whether conduct constitutes sexual harassment is dependent upon the totality of the circumstances, including the pervasiveness or severity of the conduct.

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination lists the following as examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment:

• Unwelcome sexual advances—whether they involve physical touching or not;
• Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life; comment on an individual’s body; comment about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;
• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures or cartoons;
• Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, or suggestive or insulting comments;
• Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; and
• Discussion of one’s sexual activities.

In order to constitute sexual harassment, conduct must be unwelcome. Conduct is unwelcome when the person being harassed does not solicit or invite it and regards it as undesirable or offensive. The fact that a person may accept the conduct does not mean that he or she welcomes it.

As a university, Boston University, its employees and students also must be aware of the need for freedom of inquiry and openness of discussion in its educational and research programs, and must strive to create and maintain an atmosphere of intellectual seriousness and mutual tolerance in which these essential features of academic life can thrive. No university can or should guarantee that every idea expressed in its classrooms or laboratories will be inoffensive to all; pursued seriously, education and scholarship necessarily entail raising questions about received opinions and conventional interpretations. Boston University does guarantee, however, that credible accusations of inappropriate sexual remarks or actions will be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and fairly.

Complaints

If you have questions or concerns about sexual harassment, or if you wish to file a complaint of sexual harassment, you are strongly encouraged to contact immediately the appropriate office listed below:

Faculty, staff or applicants for employment: Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, 25 Buick Street, 617-353-9286. Medical campus employees and applicants may also contact the Medical Campus Office of Human Resources, 560 Harrison Avenue, Room 401, 617-638-4610.

Students: Contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, 617-353-4126, or the Office of Equal Opportunity, 25 Buick Street, 617-353-9286. Students living in campus residences may also contact their local hall or area office.

Applicants for admission: Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, 25 Buick Street, 617-353-9286.

Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement: Specific provisions of the agreement may provide additional options for addressing a sexual harassment complaint.

Some of the Schools and Colleges at Boston University have also established their own procedures for handling issues of sexual harassment. Faculty, students and staff who are members of academic units may contact the office of their dean to determine whether to use these complaint procedures.

Nothing in this policy is intended to limit the authority of Boston University to take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual who violates University rules or policies, whether or not the conduct constitutes sexual harassment under law or University policy.

State and Federal Agencies

In addition to the above, you may file a formal complaint with the government agencies listed below:

Faculty, staff, applicants for employment, or students:
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburton Place, Room 601
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
617-727-3990

Faculty, staff or applicants for employment:
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
John F. Kennedy Building
475 Government Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
617-565-3200

Students, applicants for admission, faculty, staff, or applicants for employment:

Office for Civil Rights
U. S. Department of Education
33 Arch Street, Suite 900
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
617-289-0111

Administrative Policies Relating to Federal Guidelines

Veterans Information In cooperation with the Veterans Administration, the University participates in numerous veterans benefits programs, including educational assistance, rehabilitation, deferred payment, and tutorial programs.

Any student who is eligible for veterans benefits or would like more information about VA rules and veterans programs should contact the Boston University Office of the University Registrar, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-3678.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ensures confidentiality of student educational records and restricts disclosure to or access by third parties, except as authorized by law. Parents of dependent students, as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, are accorded full access by the University to their dependents’ educational records, with certain exceptions, and they may receive copies of their dependents’ grade reports each semester from the Office of the University Registrar. The University assumes that its undergraduate students are financially dependent unless a parent or the student informs the University Access Officer in the Office of the University Registrar that the student is financially independent. Students may provide this notification to the Access Officer via the Financially Independent Student form, a copy of which may be secured from the Office of the University Registrar.

Students have the right to inspect their educational records, with certain exceptions. If they believe these records are inaccurate, they may request an amendment and, if denied, have the right to a hearing and to place a letter of disagreement in their file if the outcome of that hearing is negative. Students are eligible under the Act to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Family Policy and Regulations Office, Federal Office Building Number 6, Room 3021, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202, if they believe Boston University failed to comply with the requirements of the Act.

The University’s policies and procedures for implementation of this Act are enumerated in the Notification of Student Rights Regarding Educational Records, copies of which are available to students at the Office of the University Registrar, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02215.

The University does not release personally identifiable information contained in student educational records except as authorized by law. Boston University has designated certain types of personally identifiable information as “directory information.” These include the student’s name; local or residence hall address, e-mail address; and primary phone number; College of registration; degree program and major and minor; dates of attendance; part- or full-time status; degrees, honors, and awards received; and hometown for press releases. Students may restrict release of this information if they wish, and this data will not be released by the University except as authorized by law.

The Student Activities Office, (775 Commonwealth Avenue, Fourth Floor) and the Athletics Department (285 Babcock Street) may release or publish personally identifiable information on students who participate in officially recognized activities and sports. If students wish to restrict release and/or publication of this information, they should contact the Student Activities Office and the Athletics Department directly.

Students are informed of their rights under this law by the University Registrar. The parents of incoming freshmen and transfer students each year are informed of their rights under this law, and how to exercise them, by the President.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Boston University prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, or veteran status. This policy extends to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities, including admissions, financial assistance, employment, housing, athletics, and educational programs. Boston University recognizes that nondiscrimination does not ensure that equal opportunity is a reality. The University therefore will continue to take affirmative action to promote equal opportunity for all students, applicants, and employees. Inquiries regarding the application of this policy should be addressed to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, 25 Buick Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-4477.

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Disability Accommodation Boston University provides reasonable accommodations to eligible individuals with disabilities in conformance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Requests for disability accommodations must be made in a timely fashion to the Office of Disability Services, 19 Deerfield Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-3658 (Voice/TTY). Students seeking accommodations must submit appropriate medical documentation and comply with the policies and procedures of the Office of Disability Services.

Complaint Procedures in Cases of Alleged Unlawful Discrimination or Harassment

Boston University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation or other unlawful basis. The goal of the procedures outlined below is to ensure that non-discrimination is a reality at Boston University and that no person in the University community is subjected to such unlawful conduct. All members of the University community can assist in the furtherance of this goal by ensuring that complaints of discrimination are promptly directed to the departments or individuals who have been designated to receive them, in accordance with these procedures.

Any employee, student or applicant for employment or admission, who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of unlawful discrimination may make a complaint. Unlawful discrimination includes sexual harassment as well as harassment based on an individual’s membership in any other legally protected category. Boston University will conduct a fair and impartial investigation of all such complaints, with due regard for the rights of all parties. Retaliation against any individual who has made a complaint of discrimination, or who has cooperated in the investigation of such a complaint, is unlawful and in violation of Boston University policy. The purpose of these procedures is to ensure that all complaints of discrimination are thoroughly and fairly investigated by authorized University officials who have the necessary expertise.

Any complaint of discrimination should be referred to one of the Schools, departments, or individuals who are responsible for receiving or investigating such complaints. Any employee who receives a complaint but who is not specifically designated to formally handle such a complaint is responsible for directing the complainant or otherwise referring the complaint to the appropriate individual. All complaints, either verbal or written, must be referred to the appropriate office, as set forth below.

Initiating a Complaint
The process outlined in this section applies to all complaints of discrimination, except those brought by students on the basis of disability. Students who wish to file a complaint alleging discrimination based on disability should file with the Office of Disability Services, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the last section of this document.

An employee, student or applicant for employment or admission who believes that unlawful discrimination has occurred may initiate a complaint either by meeting with the appropriate individual in one of the offices listed below, or by submitting a written complaint to that individual or office. The information provided in the complaint should be as specific as possible regarding the circumstances that precipitated the complaint. The complaint should include the dates and places of the incidents at issue, the individuals involved, the names of any witnesses, any efforts to resolve the matter informally and their results, and any other pertinent information.

Offices in Which a Complaint of Discrimination may be Initiated

There are a variety of offices available to receive complaints from students, faculty, and staff who believe they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination.

Complaints by Students Students may initiate a complaint by speaking to the designated individual in the Dean’s Office of the student’s School or College, by speaking to a representative in the Office of the Dean of Students, or by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Complaints by Members of the Faculty or Staff Faculty or Staff may initiate a complaint by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity, or by contacting the Office of Human Resources. Employees in academic units may also initiate a complaint with the designated individual in the Dean’s Office. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement may have additional options under that agreement for addressing complaints.

Complaints from applicants for employment or admission, visitors, or other non-affiliated individuals may be initiated in the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Complaints from students, faculty or staff at off-site locations Any individual at an off-site location, such as Tyngsboro, Washington, D.C., overseas programs, etc., may bring a complaint to any of the above offices as appropriate, or to the on-site Director of the program.

The address and phone number for each of these offices is listed at the end of this document. Names of the designated individuals in the Dean’s Offices of the Schools and Colleges may be obtained from the Dean’s Office or the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Investigation and Resolution of Complaints
The individuals and offices available to receive complaints, noted above, were selected to give all members of the University community the opportunity to initiate a complaint in a place in which they will feel comfortable doing so. These individuals and offices have the responsibility, after speaking with the complainant and/or reviewing a written complaint, to ensure that the complaint is directed to the proper office or individual for investigation.

The University has designated specific offices and individuals to investigate complaints of unlawful discrimination. Depending upon whether the individual accused of engaging in discrimination is a student, a member of the faculty, or a member of the staff, the investigation will be conducted by the designated office or individual with the appropriate expertise and jurisdiction to do so. The offices and individuals responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination are set forth below. In any particular case, the Provost or the Executive Vice President may designate which office or individual will investigate a complaint. The University will ensure that no person who is the subject of a complaint will be assigned to investigate that complaint. The Office of Equal Opportunity, if it is not conducting the investigation, and/or the Office of the General Counsel will provide advice or assistance to the investigation process.


The investigation may involve meeting with the parties, interviewing witnesses, requesting written statements from the parties, informing the person whose actions are the subject of the complaint of the allegations and/or providing to that person a copy of the complainant’s statement, and/or making any other appropriate inquiries. Before any adverse determination is made, the individual whose actions are the subject of the complaint will be informed as to the nature of the complaint, and will have the opportunity to respond.

The investigation should be completed promptly so that a decision can be rendered within 45 days of receipt of the complaint. If this is not possible, the complainant will be informed of the status of the investigation within 45 days.

A confidential record of all complaints, including their disposition, will be maintained by the investigating unit. The Office of Equal Opportunity will be informed of, and maintain a confidential record of, the nature of all complaints of discrimination investigated by other units, the names of complaining parties and respondents, and the final disposition of all complaints.

Complaints Against Students 
 The person who receives a complaint against a student will generally refer the matter for investigation to the Office of the Dean of Students, though if a School or College has an established internal process for investigation of complaints it receives against its students, the Dean of that School or College will decide if the complaint will be investigated in accordance with that process or by the Office of the Dean of Students. The investigating office will take any action that might be appropriate based on the results of the investigation, consistent with the applicable provisions in the Code of Student Responsibilities or the disciplinary procedures of the School or College.

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Complaints Against Faculty Members The person who receives a complaint against a member of the faculty will refer the matter to the Director of Equal Opportunity, who will inform the Dean of the faculty member’s School or College. If the School or College has an established internal process for investigation of complaints against faculty, the Dean of that School or College will decide if the complaint will be investigated in accordance with that process or by the Director of Equal Opportunity in consultation with the Dean or the Dean’s designee. If the complaint also involves academic matters such as grades, curriculum, etc., the investigator will ensure that those matters are addressed by the appropriate officials within the School or College. The Dean of the School or College will be informed of the findings of the investigation and will determine whether further action is appropriate. Any action involving faculty will be consistent with the procedures outlined in the Faculty Handbook.

Complaints Against Staff Members The person who receives a complaint against a member of the staff will refer the matter for investigation to the Director of Equal Opportunity, who will inform the appropriate Dean or administrative head and the Office of Human Resources. The complaint will generally be investigated by the Director of Equal Opportunity. The Director of Equal Opportunity (or other designated investigator) will provide findings, in writing, to the Dean or administrative head, who will determine what action, if any, is appropriate. Action involving staff will be consistent with any applicable collective bargaining agreement and University policies.

Confidentiality Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all parties during the investigation, consistent with and subject to the University’s need to investigate the complaint and/or implement decisions made in order to resolve the complaint. It must be understood that in order to permit the University to carry out its obligation to investigate all complaints fairly, and to ensure that non-discrimination is a reality within the University community, no representative of the University is authorized to promise complete confidentiality to any person who possesses information relevant to the investigation of a complaint, including the complainant.

Any individual who requests confidentiality before disclosing a complaint must be informed that because any apparent violation of Boston University Policy must be addressed, complete confidentiality may not be possible. An individual who insists on confidentiality as a condition of disclosing a complaint may be advised of the opportunity to consult with one of the University’s medical or mental health professionals, with whom such matters may be discussed in confidence. However, consulting with these professionals does not constitute the initiation of a complaint. Medical and mental health professionals are not representatives of the University for this purpose and are not authorized to investigate or respond to complaints of discrimination.

An individual whose action(s) are the subject of a complaint may appeal adverse action taken as a result of the complaint. Students disciplined under the Code of Student Responsibilities should follow the appeal procedures outlined in that document. Faculty members should follow the procedures in the Faculty Handbook. Other employees should follow the grievance procedures outlined in the Personnel Policy Manual, or their collective bargaining agreement, whichever is appropriate.

These procedures shall constitute the grievance procedure mandated by the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and, for employees, the grievance procedure mandated by the regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The procedure for student grievances under Section 504 is set forth in the Student Grievance Procedure In Cases of Alleged Disability Discrimination. The University's Director of Equal Opportunity, 25 Buick Street, 2nd Floor, tel. 617-353-9286, is the designated coordinator for complaints arising under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Director of Disability Services, tel. 617-353-3658, is the designated compliance officer for complaints arising under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Questions about the University's Complaint Procedures in Cases of Alleged Unlawful Discrimination or Harassment may be addressed to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Exceptions to these procedures may be granted by the President, Provost, Executive Vice President, Medical Campus Provost, or the General Counsel.

Offices where complaints may be initiated:

Office of Equal Opportunity
25 Buick St., Boston, MA 02215
617-353-9286

Office of the Dean in the individual's
School or College

Office of the Dean of Students
775 Commonwealth Ave.,
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-4126

Office of Human Resources,
Charles River Campus
Employee Relations Representatives
25 Buick St., Boston, MA 02215
617-353-4044

Office of Human Resources,
Medical Campus
Director of Personnel
Location: 560 Harrison Ave.,
Boston, MA
Mailing Address: 715 Albany St., 560,
Boston, MA 02118
617-638-461

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Student Grievance Procedure in Cases of Alleged Disability Discrimination

Boston University prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of physical or mental disability. This policy extends to all rights, privileges, programs and activities, including housing, employment, admissions, financial assistance, educational and athletic programs. It is also the policy of Boston University to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities unless such accommodations would impose an undue burden or fundamental alteration to the program in question. The purpose of these procedures is to ensure that all complaints of discrimination based on disability are thoroughly and fairly investigated by the authorized units of the University. Boston University will conduct a fair and impartial investigation of all allegations of discrimination, with due regard for the rights of all parties. Retaliation against any individual who has filed a complaint of discrimination, or who has cooperated in the investigation of such a complaint, is unlawful and in violation of Boston University policy.

When a student believes that he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of disability, he or she may file, in writing a formal grievance with the Director of the Office of Disability Services, who is the University's compliance officer for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The statement should be as specific as possible regarding the actions(s) or inaction(s) that precipitated the grievance: date, place, persons involved, efforts made to settle the matter informally, and the remedy sought.

If a student with a grievance alleging disability discrimination is also employed by the University, and the grievance arises out of the student's employment, the grievance may be filed under the University's Complaint Procedures in Cases of Alleged Unlawful Discrimination or Harassment. If the Director of Disability Services receives a grievance which appears to allege disability discrimination arising out of a student's employment, the grievance may be referred to the appropriate office to be handled under the policy applicable to employees.

Where the grievance arises out of a decision made by the Office of Disability Services regarding a student's eligibility for academic or other accommodations, the grievance will be forwarded for investigation to the Provost. Grievances otherwise involving academic matters, for example, cases in which grades are disputed, will also be forwarded to the Provost, who will determine which office(s) should conduct the investigation. Otherwise, the Director of Disability Services shall investigate the matters set forth in the written grievance. In conducting this investigation, the investigator may forward a copy of the grievance statement to the persons whose actions (or inactions) are the subject of the grievance, and may request a written response from appropriate individuals in the University. The investigator may also choose to interview witnesses, to meet with concerned parties, to receive oral or written statements, and to make other appropriate inquiries.

After completing the investigation, the investigator will forward a copy of a report and recommendation to the appropriate University official. If the complaint arises out of an academic unit, the report will be forwarded to the dean of the appropriate School or College, unless he is the subject of the grievance. In such cases, the report will be sent to the Provost. If the complaint arises from a nonacademic unit, the report will be forwarded to the administrative head of the unit, unless he is the subject of the grievance. In such cases, the report will be forwarded to the Dean of Students, who will forward it to the appropriate officer of the University.

Within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the grievance, the Provost, dean, or administrative head will render a decision on the merits of the student's complaint. If resolution is not possible within forty-five (45) days, the Provost, dean, or administrative head shall inform the student of the status of the investigation.

Copies of the decision by the Provost, dean, or administrative head will be sent to the student, the Provost (when not issued by him), and the Director of Disability Services. A copy may also be sent to the department and/or the persons whose actions (or inactions) are the subject of the grievance, as appropriate.

In the event that the student is not satisfied with the resolution of the grievance, an appeal may be made. The appeal should be filed with the Office of Disability Services, who will direct the appeal and all appropriate records to the appropriate office of the University for review and disposition.

Copies of the decision will be maintained in the Office of the Provost and the Office of Disability Services.

These procedures shall constitute the grievance procedure mandated by regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Questions about the University's Student Grievance Procedures in Cases of Alleged Disability Discrimination should be addressed to the Office of Disability Services.

Exceptions to these procedures may be granted by the President, University Provost, Executive Vice President, Medical Campus Provost, or the General Counsel.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

17 September 2007
Boston University
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