Boston University is dedicated to providing an unmatched climate for growth. Most of this development takes place in the classrooms, the libraries, and the laboratories, but Boston University is equally committed to supporting a complete environment for academic, physical, social, and spiritual learning. A few of these centers of activity are described below.

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Metropolitan College Facilities

Metropolitan College students have access to the same facilities, including laboratories and library buildings, available to full-time day students. Metropolitan College classes are held throughout the Charles River Campus, but principally in the College of Communication, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Theology, and the College of General Studies buildings. The Hospitality Administration Program at Boston University maintains a $1.3 million culinary center. State-of-the-art equipment and well-designed work stations qualify the center as one of the finest individual training facilities in the country. The center houses a food science demonstration kitchen, a food preparation classroom, a food storeroom, faculty offices, and a student locker area.

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Recreation

Facilities and Programs

The Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance offers a broad spectrum of programs, classes, and facilities to interested students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Physical Education credit-courses, non-credit instruction, and Summer Term Recreation provide structured experiences in more than 100 activities in aquatics, climbing wall, court sports, dance, emergency medical response, fitness and weight training, group exercise, individual sports, martial arts, outdoor sports, rowing, sailing, skating, tennis, and yoga. The department also offers Family Recreation Programs and Summer Day Camps for children.

Through collaboration with the College of Fine Arts, the department offers a dance minor that is available to students enrolled in the College of Fine Arts, the School of Education, Sargent College, and the School of Management.

Intramural sports, club sports, special events, and open recreation provide opportunities involving different levels of participation and commitment. Students are encouraged to pursue fitness activities in formats that meet their interests, abilities, and schedules.

Boston University has recently opened one of the most advanced and comprehensive fitness facilities in the nation. The Fitness and Recreation Center is a 270,000-square-foot facility that provides world-class amenities and service to the entire Boston University community. The facility features an aquatics center with competition and recreation pools, a two-story cardiovascular fitness and weight training center, an indoor 1/8 mile elevated jogging track, a 35' high rock climbing wall, a dance theater, seven multipurpose courts of gymnasia, racquetball and squash courts, access to individualized fitness and nutrition counseling with full-service sports medicine and rehabilitation services provided by trained professionals, a juice bar and lounge, seven multipurpose rooms for classes in dance, yoga, fencing, cardio fitness, and much, much more. The facility is used for credit and non-credit programming, Intramural and Club Sports, and recreational use. This state-of-the-art facility also serves as a venue for educational and community events, summer camps, conferences, workshops, and alumni functions.

Numerous other facilities offer opportunities for informal recreation. Sailing and kayaking docks are located on the Charles River. Rowing takes place out of the DeWolfe Boathouse on the Charles River. The Track and Tennis Center features an indoor track and indoor tennis courts. Walter Brown Arena hosts skating classes and programs. For open recreation hours at any of the facilities, call the Recreation Hotline at 617-353-4141.

For more information about the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, stop by the Fitness and Recreation Center at 915 Commonwealth Avenue, call 617-353-2748, e-mail fitrec@bu.edu, or visit Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

Sargent Center

Sargent Center for Outdoor Education is a University facility located in the beautiful Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire, 90 minutes from the main campus. The center covers 700 acres of forest and fields, including 60-acre Halfmoon Pond with floating glacial bog, and 22 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and ski touring. Facilities include two lodges (with dining), comfortable, rustic, winterized cabins, and year-round recreational opportunities. Sargent Center offers orientation, team-building, and leadership development programs for students, faculty, and staff on a year-round basis. The facility is also available for retreats, conferences, and summer session courses. For information, contact Sargent Center at 603-525-3311 or e-mail: scoeinfo@busc.mv.com.

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Student Union

George Sherman Union

The Boston University George Sherman Union (GSU), located at the center of campus, is headquarters for student programs and services. Located on the Lower Level is The Howard Thurman Center for intercultural programming and its lounge, the Orientation and Off-Campus Services Office, and the Terrier Card Office. Also located here is BUCentral, the University’s late-night programming venue. Each weekend night, and most nights during the week, events are scheduled here, which are open to the entire University Community.

The GSU offers a variety of other services including a U.S. Post Office, several study lounges for group and quiet study,
e-mail terminals, two banks, several dining areas, and the Union Information Center. The University Reservations Office is located on the second floor. The office helps to secure space on campus for all non-academic programs.

The Educational Resource Center, located on the fourth floor, coordinates peer tutoring, workshops, language groups, and the writing center.

The University Community Service Center is also located on the fourth floor. Students are able to get information on all of the Service programs at the University and sign up for Alternative Spring Break programs.

For further information regarding these and other George Sherman Union events, visit 775 Commonwealth Avenue, or phone GSU Information at 617-353-5498.

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Boston University Music Organizations (BUMO)

It is the mission of Boston University Music Organizations to offer quality opportunities to all students of the University to continue in the endeavor of making music, regardless of major or concentration of study. BUMO groups include the Athletic Bands (Marching Band and Pep Band), Large Concert Ensembles (Concert Band, All-Campus Orchestra, and Symphonic Chorus), and Jazz Bands (Big Band, Jazz Combo, and Vocal Jazz). For information concerning participation in any BUMO ensemble, please visit Boston University Music Organizations or contact the BUMO office at 617-353-3358.

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Religion

Boston University recognizes that spiritual development is as vital to its community as academic, cultural, physical, and social development. The University actively sponsors a wide variety of programs and options to help facilitate that development. A few of these programs are outlined below. For a more comprehensive list of religious programs and denominations served on campus, please consult the Lifebook.

Marsh Chapel, in the heart of the Charles River Campus, 735 Commonwealth Avenue, offers programs of Christian worship, Bible study, pastoral counseling, music, and educational and outreach programs. An all-University service of worship is held each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. and is broadcast over WBUR-FM (90.9). Catholic masses are held at Marsh Chapel every Sunday when school is in session at 12:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m.

Marsh Chapel is generally open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Chapel office is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays. The Dean of the Chapel, Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, and other campus ministers in the Marsh program are available daily. The Catholic Chaplain is Father Paul Helfrich. Feel free to contact them or obtain further information by calling Marsh Chapel at 617-353-3560 email chapel@bu.edu, or visit the Marsh Chapel.

The Florence and Chafetz Hillel House, BU Hillel’s brand new building located at 213 Bay State Road, is the center for Jewish life at Boston University. Students, faculty, and staff are involved in the cultural, religious, educational, and social activities sponsored by Hillel throughout the year. Hillel’s new state-of-the-art building, with beautiful views of the Charles River, is a 34,000-square-foot home that includes wireless internet connections, a homemade ice cream and coffee bar, an art gallery, TV lounges and study areas, three chapels, a game room, a large dining room, a library, and student offices.

Hillel is one of the largest student organizations on campus and has over 25 different interest groups, including the Holocaust Education Committee, Boston University Students for Israel, community service groups, a graduate student group, a theatre group and an a cappella group, a Latin American Jewish student group, an Israeli student group, sports groups, and more. Students plan and organize activities, including social events such as boat cruises, parties, dances, trips, movies, and more. All activities are open to everyone.

Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Shabbat services are held every Friday night, as well as Shabbat morning services and a daily minyan. All Jewish holidays are celebrated during the course of the year. A wide variety of programs relating to Israel and contemporary moral issues take place weekly. Various mini-courses such as Jewish Thought, Basic Judaism, and Jewish Medical Ethics are taught throughout the year. In addition, counseling by the rabbi and the director of student activities is available.

Boston University maintains an award-winning kosher dining facility at Hillel, with lunch and dinner served Monday through Friday, and lunch on Saturday. For further information about kosher dining, call 617-353-2947.

For further information about Hillel, call 617-353-7200 or visit Hillel House.

The Catholic Center, at Newman House, 211 Bay State Road, is the office of Roman Catholic campus ministry for the Boston University community. Sunday liturgies are celebrated in Marsh Chapel at 12:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. Daily liturgies are celebrated in the Catholic Center Chapel ordinarily at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesdays–Fridays. (For mass times, when classes are not in session, please check with the Catholic Center.) Many and varied spiritual, social, and service activities, as well as sacramental preparation programs are offered throughout the academic year for both undergraduate and graduate students.The Catholic University Chaplain is Fr. Paul Helfrich. For further information call 617-353-3632, e-mail catholic@bu.edu, or visit the Catholic Center.

Other Protestant Campus Ministries

Individuals to contact and their phone numbers include: the Multidenominational Protestant Ministry, Dean, Rev. Dr. Robert C. Neville, 617-353-3560; Associate Dean, Rev. Sakena Young-Scaggs, 617-353-3560; Associate Dean Rev. James Olson, 617-353-3560; the Episcopal Ministry, the Rev. Margaret Schwarzer, 617-277-5523; and the Lutheran Ministry, the Rev. Joanne Engquist, 617-876-3256. A number of Evangelical churches are also affiliated with the campus ministries. For general information or guidance relating to these or other religious groups at Boston University, call 617-353-3560.

Christian Orthodox Campus Ministry

For information, please contact Orthodox Chaplain, Fr. Patrick Tishel at 617-787-7625.

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