Every parent whose child heads off to college for the first time knows well the feeling of pushing that new student out of the nest and letting them fly. For parents of students studying internationally, that’s an especially long way to fly! There are logistics to coordinate, a new culture to navigate, and inevitably, homesickness to alleviate.

Although this is the start of a brand-new adventure for hundreds of new students coming from abroad, Boston University has been collaborating internationally since the late 1800s. Now a lot has changed in the last 200 years, but a few things have remained the same: Boston University’s students, faculty, and staff share a commitment to openness. There are lots of people dotted across BU’s famous mile-long campus dedicated to helping international students find their way in a new place.

And many of them are here for you, too, parents.

“We are delighted to be welcoming new and continuing students to campus this fall and look forward to meeting with them at welcome events around campus,” says Jeanne Kelley, managing director of BU’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). 

Boston University Global Programs, the umbrella under which ISSO, Study Abroad, and the Center for English Language & Orientation Programs sit, contains a treasure trove of information and resources for students and their parents. Staff at ISSO have tons of information about important reminders for students, public transportation, money and banking, things to do in Boston, and much, much more. By familiarizing yourself with those resources, you’ll be way ahead of the game.

In addition, we understand that fast-moving federal immigration-related changes in the United States can be difficult to keep up with. Staff in ISSO, and BU more broadly, are tracking these changes and what they mean for you and your student. Rest assured, whatever changes come, BU is on it. 

For ISSO staff, the mission is to advocate for international exchange and promote the academic, professional, and personal growth of BU’s diverse community of international students, faculty, and staff. ISSO provides professional expertise on immigration and employment and helps ensure student, scholar, and institutional compliance with federal regulations. ISSO staff are available to guide students and scholars through the often complicated requirements for foreign nationals studying and working in the United States.

“We want to reassure parents that ISSO has a team of experts in student visa regulations and advisors assigned to their students to educate, guide, and assist international students in maintaining their student visa status,” Kelley says. 

Maybe the single biggest thing you can do as a parent to help your student, she says, is to remind them to keep an eye on their BU email. Important reminders and deadlines, as well as helpful information about fun events and ways to connect at BU, will all be communicated through their BU email. To start, a whole host of start-of-semester reminders as well as ISSO’s fall workshop schedule are sent out via email.

Still, we know you have questions. Here are some answers.

Boston is a big place. Will my student be safe on campus?

No matter where you go in the world, crime is unavoidable. However, BU has lots of resources in place to help keep its students, faculty, and staff safe. 

The Boston University Police Department (BUPD) is a full-time professional law enforcement agency that provides a wide variety of public services, including alarms, emergency medical assistance, and investigating suspicious circumstances, as well as responding to, and investigating, criminal matters.

BUPD patrols all three campuses (Charles River, Fenway, and Medical campuses) 24 hours a day, spanning an area that includes over 132 acres of University-owned property and surrounding streets. Emergency response time is generally under three minutes to any location on campus. Boston University has 50 state-trained and deputized police officers.

Boston University Emergency Management also runs the BU Alert notification system to communicate about weather closures, utility outages, emergencies, or situations requiring the response or attention of the University community. This system, whose notifications are available by text, phone, email, and the Everbridge mobile app, provides guidance and information so that everyone can make decisions for their own safety. (The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.)

Students must enter and confirm their BU Alert Phone Number in the MyBU Student Portal. Relatives with a US phone number can also sign up to receive alerts by texting the code BUALERT to 888777. Enrolling in BU Alert means parents will be notified directly by text of significant emergencies affecting the Boston University community. 

I want to keep track of my student’s grades or health information. How do I do that?

In the United States, federal laws govern what kind of information colleges and universities can and cannot give out, even to parents. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s education records. In compliance with FERPA, Boston University does not disclose personally identifiable information contained in student education records, except as authorized by law.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of all protected health information within each of the University’s clinics that are subject to HIPAA. That means most student health records—including health insurance information, as well as records from the following University healthcare providers—are private, even from that student’s parents:

• The Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University
• Boston University Rehabilitation Services (including the BU Physical Therapy Center and BU Center for Neurorehabilitation)
• Sargent Choice Nutrition Center
• Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Patient Treatment Centers
• BU Dental Health Center

Your student can choose to share their health information with you directly, but without your student’s express written permission, the University cannot.

Can I stay connected and informed about other things happening at BU?

Yes! Consider joining BU Parent & Family Programs, a network of communications, events, and resources hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students.

You can also visit your student—and see the BU campus during what is arguably its most beautiful season, fall—at Boston University’s Family & Friends Weekend, happening this year from Friday, October 17, through Sunday, October 19. 

What about healthcare? Does my student need health insurance?

Yes. 

Healthcare in the United States may be quite a bit different from that of your home country. Medical treatment in the Boston area is very good, but American healthcare can be expensive—there is no socialized or national healthcare system in the country. Health insurance can be confusing, but BU’s Student Health Services has a great guide for understanding key terms. 

The good news: all Boston University students are automatically enrolled each year in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), administered by Aetna Student Health. Your student will be charged for the basic medical insurance plan on his or her tuition bill.

This health insurance does not cover dental health. Students can choose to add a separate dental healthcare insurance plan. 

Your student can also waive the BU SHIP coverage if they already have medical insurance from another source that meets comparable coverage requirements and is underwritten in the United States. For the fall semester, students must fill out a waiver form on the MyBU portal by September 20.

Finally, there are both federal and state regulations related to insurance mandates that your student will need to be aware of, and comply with, during their stay in the United States—including requirements specific to students in Massachusetts, residents of Massachusetts, and J-1 exchange visitors. Many resources are available to help students understand these requirements, but ultimately it is their responsibility to make sure they have the proper coverage to meet any requirements that apply to them.

My student sounds homesick! What can I do?

This is totally understandable—and totally normal! Being away from home, maybe for the first time, is a big adjustment, and especially if your student is also adjusting to a new culture. After the excitement of the first few weeks at BU wears off, and your student finds themself in a new normal routine, it’s typical to feel a little homesick, and maybe a little frustrated with navigating a place where nothing is quite what you’re used to, says Sheila Hernandez, BU Global Programs assistant director of international student initiatives. 

“My best advice for students is just to stay involved,” Hernandez says. “Find the clubs or organizations that interest you and go to those events. Find something in your classes that you really love. Create a routine that reminds you of home—maybe you keep watching a specific TV series that you really loved. It’s really important to stay connected to the person you were before you came to BU. Yes, this place is different, but you’ll find so many things to love here—and you’ll grow in the process.” 

BU has more than 450 student organizations and a host of specific cultural affinity groups. 

The Global Programs Office has plenty of events, programs, and other services available throughout the year to help make that transition feel a little easier. BU’s Student Health Services is also available to provide mental health support, if your student wants it. 

While there’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal, BU Dining Services offers a pretty great second: you can submit your student’s favorite recipe and we’ll feature it in our dining room!And of course, it’s always a treat to get a care package or a letter from home. Your student can find his or her mailing address in the MyHousing portal. Digital gift cards—maybe to a nearby coffee shop such as Dunkin’ or Starbucks—or a gift of Convenience Points (which work like cash across on-campus food locations) are also always a good bet.