If you are a Teaching Assistant, you are expected to fulfill the duties of the position remotely through the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Please find helpful resources below to navigate this transition.

Remote Teaching Preparedness Trainings

The Center for Teaching & Learning has provided guidance in their First Thoughts on Remote Teaching

If you are a Research Assistant, please note that guidance on the University’s COVID-19 website (Questions and Answers, Impact on Staff and Faculty) states that all employees may work from home if their supervisor agrees that their work can be done remotely; this guidance also applies to graduate work-study students. Please reach out to your supervisor for further guidance.  

University Funded Travel

Due to the world wide spread of coronavirus, BU has suspended all domestic and international travel by faculty, staff, and students this is supported by funds administered by the University. For further information about travel restrictions and updates, please visit BU’s Office of Global Programs.

If you had scheduled a research trip or conference presentation funded by your department that is now canceled, please reach out to your department for reimbursement of any incurred expenses and/or change fees in the case of a need to reschedule travel.

Emergency Funding

If you are a current GRS student and you are experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19, you can submit an Emergency Funding Request.

Qualifying graduate students may be eligible for federal aid due to the pandemic as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). In addition to submitting an emergency funding request, you must complete a FAFSA form in order for the University to determine your eligibility for this aid.  Students who have not completed either a 19/20 or 20/21 FAFSA should complete the 20/21 FAFSA.  The deadline to request funding is May 8^th.

GRS students who are not eligible for federal funds may still request funding by completing the emergency request form.  The GRS Financial Aid Office will review your case and determine whether funding is available to help.

For more information regarding the CARES Act and the University’s use of the funding, please refer to the article in BU Today.

While we strive to continue to provide you virtual resources for your coursework and research, we also want to support your overall well-being during this extremely challenging time. Here are some resources to take care of you.

Virtual Resources for Well-being

Headspace App for Mindfulness & Meditation

Behavioral Medicine’s Counseling & Support Groups

Sexual Assault Response & Prevention’s (SARP) Crisis Counseling

BU School of Public Health’s Calendar of Community Yoga & Meditation

Wellness & Prevention Services Support for Students in Recovery from Substance Use

Coffee & Conversation with the Howard Thurman Center

Group meetings & appointments with Chaplains through Marsh Chapel

Meditation, Shabbat services, and appointments with Rabbis at BU Hillel

Student Health Services’ Telehealth Medical Services and resources specific to COVID-19

FitRec’s Guide to Keep Moving Wherever You Are

Sargent Choice Nutrition Center’s Nutrition Counseling & Workshops

Resources for preserving mental health in times of social distancing from the American Psychological Association

Boston University is committed to continuing to provide you resources to ensure your academic success during this evolving climate.

Spring 2020 Grading

Provost Morrison announced on March 27th that all BU students will be able to choose a Credit/No Credit option in lieu of letter grades. Associate Dean Barman announced the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences specific policy on March 30th.

The CR-NC tool will be open beginning on May 13, 2020. The CR-NC grading tool will be available for graduating students until May 19, 2020 and will be available for continuing students until June 30, 2020. Please visit the Registrar’s website for more information about using this tool.

The Registrar’s office has also created a form to designate courses as Credit-No Credit in Spring 2020. Please find this form here.

Degree Completion Delays

If issues resulting from COVID-19 (such as illness, travel restrictions, and/or BU policy) affects your capacity to make substantive degree progress this semester and you are concerned about the implications on the maximum length of time to degree,  please reach out to your program’s DGS and to GRS (grs@bu.edu).

Students who face issues using online platforms to complete their work should contact the Office of Disability & Access Services. 

Virtual Resources for Academic Well-being

Educational Resource Center’s Peer-tutoring, writing assistance, & more

Center for Career Development Appointments, Workshops & Resources

Services and Support for International Students, International Students & Scholars Office

BU Zoom Website

Learning Remotely Resources

Working & Teaching Remotely via BU TechWeb

CAS IT Remote Teaching Resources

General inquires regarding technology can be sent to cashelp@bu.edu

President Brown recently notified the campus community that, given public safety concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston University’s commencement events will be postponed until late August or early Fall. More information will be provided in the coming months.

Following University policy, all thesis defenses must be held remotely through the end of the Spring 2020 term. Please collaborate with your defense committee to find an appropriate solution.

All final approval pages for theses should be submitted electronically as a PDF to grsrec@bu.edu. Digital signatures are acceptable using tools such as Adobe Reader.