General

Attendance

Courses

Grades

Personal

Probation and Academic Suspension

Traditions


Code of Academic and Professional Conduct

Statement of Understanding

General

Applying for Graduation
Students must apply for graduation from the School of Education according to the following deadlines:
February 1 for May
June 1 for September
November 1 for January

Tentative September graduates who wish to have their names listed in the May Commencement program prior to their graduation or to march in Commencement prior to receiving their degrees must submit applications before March 1. Students may pick up the necessary material at the School of Education's Office of Graduation and Licensure.
Graduation requirements


Declaring or Choosing a Concentration
Students must declare a concentration before registering for their junior year. To declare or to change an already declared concentration, students must complete a Program Change form, obtainable from their School or College.


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; 617-353-3621.

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, ando`telephone 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, 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 Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, 25 Buick Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-4477

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.

Grievance Procedures in Cases of Alleged Discrimination
University policy and federal law prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, or disability.

When a student has reason to believe that his or her rights have been denied by reason of discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, or disability, he or she may file in writing a formal grievance with the Provost. The Provost's Office is located at One Sherborn Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, telephone 617-353-2230. The Provost is the University's designated compliance officer for matters arising under Title VI and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act. The grievance statement should be as specific as possible regarding the action(s) that precipitated the grievance: date, place, and people involved; efforts made to settle the matter informally; and the remedy sought.

The Provost shall forward a copy of the grievance statement to the appropriate individuals within one week of receipt of the statement. If a complaint raises an academic question, the grievance statement will be forwarded to the dean of the appropriate School or College, unless he or she is the subject of the grievance. In such cases, the Provost will investigate the complaint. If the complaint arises from a nonacademic unit, the grievance statement will be forwarded to the administrative head of the unit, unless he or she is the subject of the grievance. In such cases, the Provost will investigate the complaint. If a student's grievance alleges discrimination on the basis of disability, the Director of the Office of Disability Services, who is the University's Compliance Officer for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, will also be provided with a copy of the grievance and will be involved in resolution of the grievance as appropriate.

The Provost, dean, or administrative head shall investigate the matters set forth in the written grievance. In conducting this investigation, the Provost, dean, or administrative head 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 to the grievance from appropriate individuals in the University. The Provost, dean, or administrative head may also choose to interview witnesses, meet with concerned parties, to receive oral or written presentations, and to make other appropriate independent inquiry. Within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the grievance, the Provost, dean, or administrative head will make a decision as to the merits of the student's grievance, and the appropriate resolution of the situation. If resolution is not possible within forty-five (45) days, the Provost, dean, or administrative head shall inform the student of the reasons for delay.

Copies of the decision by the Provost, dean, or administrative head will be sent to the student, the Provost (when not issued by him), the Director of Disability Services where appropriate, and the University President. A copy may also be sent to the department and/or the persons whose actions (or inactions) are 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 to the Provost (unless the Provost has already decided the case) and, from there, to the President.

Complaints of discrimination which have not been resolved through the grievance procedure may be directed to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region I, J. W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse Building, Room 701, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, telephone 617-223-9662.

Student Retention Information
Statistics for the student retention rate at Boston University are available on request from Analytical Services, 25 Buick Street, in accordance with the Education Amendments of 1976, Section 493A.

Graduation Requirements
To obtain a bachelor's degree, most students must have completed a minimum of 128 credits and 32 courses. As a guide for completing the four-year undergraduate program, students should keep in mind that sophomore status usually is attained by satisfactorily completing 32 credits of coursework; junior status, 64 credits; senior status, 96 credits. The number may vary depending on the College of enrollment.

The individual Schools and Colleges of the University have specific academic requirements and standards for determining satisfactory completion of a program of study (e.g., grades, concentrations, divisional studies).

To graduate, students must apply to their School or College by the deadline stipulated by the School or College.


Licensure
Many professions for which students prepare in the School of Education require licensure by the state, commonwealth, or district in which students wish to practice. Faculty advisors are prepared to assist students seeking licensure. Appropriate course selection to meet these licensure standards, and any additional Massachusetts Board of Education requirements, must, however, remain the responsibility of the student. For each program offered leading to a specific level of licensure in Massachusetts, a specific sequence of courses is required. A description of each sequence and information about requirements are available in the office of the appropriate department chairman.

Students completing a Massachusetts-approved teacher licensure program may also be eligible for licensure in other states through reciprocal agreements with individual states and networks.

It is imperative that a student discuss his or her plans with an advisor at the initial conference and throughout the course of his or her academic program. The collection of documents required to meet licensure requirements is the responsibility of the applicant.