{"id":21261,"date":"2024-02-21T16:11:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T21:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/?p=21261"},"modified":"2025-04-03T12:08:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T16:08:51","slug":"blog-10-bu-accomplishments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/2024\/02\/21\/blog-10-bu-accomplishments\/","title":{"rendered":"A decade of progress: 10 BU accomplishments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Year after year, Boston University continues to reach new heights in academic achievement<\/a>, make groundbreaking strides in medical device advancement<\/a>, and unlock new discoveries in climate research<\/a>. BU stands at the forefront of education, research and community\u2014preparing the next generation of thinkers and leaders to create value for the world each day. With this constant stream of innovations and learning, it can be hard to keep track of all the progress Terriers have made and how alumni have helped transform the University. To mark the 10th anniversary of Giving Day, let\u2019s take a step back to see how far we\u2019ve come, and check out 10 awesome things BU has accomplished in the past 10 years!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As home to over 37,000 students from all walks of life, BU is committed to supporting every Terrier throughout their college years and beyond. To do this, the University has opened and revitalized a number of resource centers around campus that focus on giving students the best experience possible.<\/p>\n

The Newbury Center, founded in 2021<\/a>, focuses on first-generation students and provides programming that ensures they have the same resources as continuing-generation students. The Howard Thurman Center reopened in its renovated space in 2020<\/a> as a hub for cultural events and community. The Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center celebrated 10 years of support in 2022<\/a>, the BUild Lab and Innovate@BU opened in 2018<\/a>, Student Wellbeing opened in 2021<\/a>, followed by the LGBTQIA+ Resource Center in 2024<\/a>. In addition, there are many more resource centers that support students with career help, tutoring, and international support on campus. Each resource center offers students a chance to gain insight, learn skills, find community, and make the most out of their years at BU.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The BU Hub, unveiled in fall 2018<\/a>, demonstrates BU\u2019s commitment to providing students with a world-class general education program. No matter their major, the Hub equips students with skills essential to a dynamic and interconnected world. Terriers are encouraged to explore different topics while fulfilling their requirements, and can get credit for courses in any of BU\u2019s 10 undergraduate schools, or while studying abroad. Now offering over one thousand courses, the Hub creates a unique pathway for every student, preparing them for their future careers and lives with a wide breadth of personalized learning.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Named for Boston philanthropists and former Red Sox owners Tom and Jean Yawkey, the Yawkey Foundation partnered with BU in 2014 to fund an endowment that supports BU students pursuing nonprofit internships<\/a>. The donation also brought the esteemed Yawkey name to BU\u2019s Center for Student Services, out of which the Center for Career Development runs the internship program.<\/p>\n

As one of the only colleges that offer a paid nonprofit internship program, the Yawkey Program<\/a> distinguishes BU by supporting over 100 sophomores and juniors pursuing internships at service organizations that might otherwise be unable to compensate their interns. The fund allows students to engage in valuable and previously less accessible opportunities. Participants can apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations and develop a lifelong interest in community-service and activism.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Whether on a field, court, track, or rink, student athletes work hard all year long to achieve and maintain excellence in and outside of their respective sports. In the past 10 years, BU teams have been league champions on 38 occasions<\/a>, and made 37 appearances at NCAA national tournaments. Ten former Terriers have been drafted into the NHL in the past decade, continuing a legacy of excellence at one of the best hockey schools in the country. And to support the in-game success of the athletes, BU has renovated athletic facilities<\/a> around campus, including upgrades to the Case Center, Nickerson Field, and the DeWolfe Boathouse.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As one of the most prestigious research universities in North America, BU\u2019s research crosses disciplines<\/a>, breaks through barriers, and transforms fields of study. From uncovering ancient missing evolutionary links to leading the conversation around emerging topics like AI and climate change, Terriers are pushing the boundaries of what\u2019s possible, and shaping the future for the better.<\/p>\n

With over $4.4 billion in research expenditures in the past 10 years, BU faculty have tackled research projects in healthcare, sustainability, neuroscience, social justice, and more. BU has led major research breakthroughs, studying racial disparities in health through the long-running Black Women\u2019s Health Study<\/a>, developing a bionic pancreas<\/a>, running the UNITE Brain Bank<\/a>, and championing new biomanufacturing techniques<\/a>. Students are also encouraged to get involved through the University-sponsored Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)<\/a>, which gives them a chance to gain hands-on research experience by connecting them with funded, faculty-mentored research opportunities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Driven by exemplary teaching, cutting-edge research, and interdisciplinary thinking, the BU community is consistently recognized for its outstanding work. For example, this year alum Drew Weismann<\/a> (CAMED\u201987, GRS\u201987, Hon.\u201923) won the 2023 Nobel Prize in medicine. Students also regularly receive grants for their project proposals<\/a> and faculty are honored with prestigious research awards<\/a>. In addition, alumni are frequently featured on the Time<\/a><\/em> 100 list, as well as the Forbes<\/em> 30 under 30<\/a> and 50 over 50 lists<\/a>. The complete list of Terrier accolades<\/a> is already long enough to stretch up and down Comm Ave., and will only continue to grow with each passing semester.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In 2021, BU began the implementation phase of its University-wide Strategic Plan. The 2030 Strategic Plan<\/a> lays the groundwork for the University\u2019s decisions, investments, and activities for the next decade as BU continues to cement itself as one of the nation\u2019s leading private research institutions. Consisting of five pillars, the plan allows BU to set lofty goals and will guide actions that will turn those goals into reality.<\/p>\n

The plan is centered around creating a lively academic experience, conducting valuable research, increasing DEI progress, promoting individual and university-wide community, and expanding BU\u2019s global engagement. The plan captures what BU stands for and where it intends to go in the next decade.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BU\u2019s dedication to student development, pioneering research, and providing world-class programs was proven by the University climbing over 20 places<\/a> in the US News & World Report rankings in recent years. US News also ranks BU among the most innovative universities, with notable engineering, study abroad, and business programs. The factors considered in the rankings involve undergraduate graduation rates, faculty and resources, and alumni giving<\/a>, which have all seen incredible growth at BU in the past 10 years, and the University shows no sign of slowing down.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BU\u2019s campus is already an iconic part of the Boston landscape\u2014and in the last 10 years, our favorite stretch of Comm. Ave has evolved into a centerpiece of education, growth, and discovery. Countless renovation projects have been completed, updating everything from building lobbies to fish and frog laboratories<\/a>. Residences in 610 Beacon St.<\/a> (formerly Myles Standish Hall) received a complete remodeling, classrooms<\/a> were updated with new technology, buildings were expanded left and right, and many more projects are in the works.<\/p>\n

And just last year, the brand new Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences<\/a> opened, serving as a showpiece of sustainable design. The 19-story glass tower soars over central campus and can be easily spotted from anywhere in the city. The University\u2019s most environmentally sustainable building ever\u2014and the largest green building in Boston\u2014embodies BU\u2019s sky-high hopes for the future. Home to programs including the CAS math and computer science departments, BU Spark!, and the Rafik B. Hariri Institute, the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences lives its promise every day to environmentally-friendly development and cross-disciplinary learning and exploration.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Held each year since 2014 (except for a quick pause during the pandemic), Giving Day<\/a> offers an opportunity for BU\u2019s global community to come together and celebrate what they care about at BU. In 2023, Giving Day raised over $3.8 million for clubs, sports, colleges, campus life, and everything in between. Students, parents, friends, faculty, and alumni share their support, with every dollar going to worthy causes on campus. Now on the 10th year of Giving Day<\/strong>, you can show your support by motivating your friends, family, and classmates to support the cause that makes you #ProudToBU.<\/p>\n

Become a Giving Day ambassador<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From new buildings to transformative research\u2014see how far BU has come in the past 10 years. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20583,"featured_media":21262,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13,4,5],"tags":[868,867],"featured_img":"\/alumni\/files\/2024\/02\/giving-day-background-2-800x600.png","agg_excerpt":"From new buildings to transformative research\u2014see how far BU has come in the past 10 years.","agg_title":"A decade of progress: 10 BU accomplishments","media_icon":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21261"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20583"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21261"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25362,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21261\/revisions\/25362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}