Student Life

BU Today Event Calendar
FitRec
Community Service Center
Howard Thurman Center
FitRec
Intramural Sports
BU Residence Life
BU Residence Hall Associations
BU Sustainability
Student jobs
Terrier Central/SAO Organization Website

Health + Wellness

Body-Scan Meditation with MIEA
BU Wellbeing Resources
BU Student Health Services Guide
BU’s Outreach and Prevention Office
Club Sports
Facilitator Guide with mindfulness activities
FitRec and Online videos and guides
Five Senses for Grounding with New Leaf Foundation
Headspace App
Intramural Sports
Managing Anxious Thoughts with Headspace
Mindfulness Programs from BU Wellbeing
Physical Education classes at Fit Rec
Prescription for less stress
Progressive Muscle Relaxation with Insight Timer
Reset with Headspace
Release Stress & Anxious Thoughts with Headspace
Self-Care Self-Assessment
Sexual Misconduct Resources
Sexual Assault Prevention Resource Guide
Wellness Goals Handout

Academics + Time Management

 24-Hour-Timegrid Have students create a 24-Hour-Timegrid (either on paper, via the fillable Word Doc or in their electronic calendars) that records time for sleep, meals, classes, work, study time, and free time. Have them pair share what is working for them and what is not. Have students create 1-2 SMART goals to improve how they are spending their time based on their assessment.
Academic Calendar
CAS Resource Guides by Academic Division
Educational Resource Center (ERC)
ERC Resource Guide
Study Cycle Activity: First, ask students to discuss which components of the Study Cycle they have used in the past and which components tend to fall by the wayside. Next, have students ensure their 24 Hour Time Grid addresses each step in the Study Cycle. Emphasize the Review and Assess stages.
Weekly Study Plan: Ask students to bring one (or all) of the syllabi from their academic courses to class. Have them record when there are exams, big deadlines, etc in the calendar of their choice. Then encourage them to discuss how they could use Reverse Planning and Weekly Study Plan to break down one of their writing projects or prep for a cumulative exam into manageable chunks. The Semester At a Glance calendar by the ERC can be a helpful tool as well.
UROP: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

BU’s Diversity and Inclusion Neighborhood guide
Buzzfeed Neighborhood Quiz
Curated Guide to Boston
Cultural Guide to Boston: A great resource that includes locations to get natural hair styled, find food from all ethnicities, seek LGBTQ community, etc
Joyraft: Website and app that shows you free things to do in Boston Every. Single. Day.
WBUR’s Field Guide to Boston (learn what it means to be “storrowed”; discover the magic of “Allston Christmas”). Sign up for their Boston newsletter here

1 Second Everyday: A fun app that stitches the moments of your life into a single continuous chronological movie. Based on their submissions or your own from class.
FY101 vetted icebreakers and engagement tools
Jeopardy Labs: Make your own jeopardy game for some in-class fun and learning.
Joyraft: Website and app that shows you free things to do in Boston Every. Single. Day.
Kahoot!: Create your own multiple-choice quizzes to use in class.
Padlet: This is a virtual tool for everyone to share words or images on the same screen. You can make a “board” and ask students a question such as “How are you feeling about midterms?” “How are things going with your roommate?”, etc and they can respond via images/gifs/words and then share out. Great for in person or virtual classes.
Photo A Day Assignment: An adaptable tech-savvy assignment that encourages students to be more aware and appreciative of their new environment.
Poll Everywhere: A free website that allows for real-time polling/surveys.
Wordle: Creates a visual collage of words. Can copy and paste text or upload documents

Center for Career Development (CCD)

Looking to add meaningful career content to your FY101 class? The Center for Career Development is excited to offer a range of engaging workshops that can be delivered during your class by our professional staff or trained Career Ambassadors. Topics may include: Intro to Career Development, Resume/CVs, Internship Search, Networking & Elevator Pitches, and more!

You can view our full list of offerings and submit a request using this quick form: Request a Career Workshop. The CCD kindly requests a minimum of 3 weeks’ notice. We’re excited to connect with your students and help them start their career journeys with confidence!

CDS (Jenga Building) Sustainability Tour

Book a tour of BU’s newest building which is also the largest fossil free building in Boston to date! The CDS building is LEED certified platinum, the highest award in sustainable building. Tour includes behind the scenes of the mechanical spaces, a look at the green garden roofs and access to the 17th floor (as available).

Dining and Sustainability

Dining and sustainability team up to provide an engaging dive into zero waste and food waste at Boston University. What is the university doing to address modern waste challenges? How can students be a part of this movement? Offerings depend on class time and weather but may include any of the following elements: presentation and discussion, activity or game, live demonstration.

Educational Resource Center (ERC)

Consider having staff from the ERC visit your class or you can visit them at the Yawkey Center for Student Services to become more familiar with their space. Book a 30-40 min workshop. To book a workshop with the ERC, contact Bob Maxwell maxwellr@bu.edu Assistant Director for Academic Support at the ERC. 

• Manage your Time and Productivity:  Managing our time effectively is a cornerstone of success. Learn key principles of time management, compare the advantages of different types of time management systems, and explore specific tools to help you consistently plan your time and execute that plan. Discover strategies to help you maximize your focus to get the most out of your work time.
• Study Smarter: Learning effectively is an acquired skill. Tap into the expertise of cognitive science to learn research-backed study methods that will help you learn the material deeply and retain it longer without taking extra time.
• Reading for Information: Effectively reading for information calls for a strategy that is distinct from non-academic reading. Learn techniques to read more proactively and to remember what you’ve read. Digital reading is also addressed.
• Conquer Procrastination and Spark Motivation: Procrastination is a common occurrence, but it can keep us from achieving our goals and has a negative effect on our physical and mental health. Learn why people procrastinate and gain some practical strategies to counter it.

Exploring Experiential Learning

In this workshop, EL Ambassadors will introduce students to experiential learning, which is the process of learning by doing. Together, we’ll provide an overview of experiential learning opportunities available to students at BU, such as: leadership; mentored research; student employment; and study abroad/away. EL Ambassadors will also provide tips for students to maximize their engagement in these types of opportunities. Time: 30-50 mins. Great for half or full class session. 

The CAS EL Connector requests a minimum of 3 weeks’ notice. Ambassadors will come to your class and bring EL merch for your students! To request a workshop with the Connector, fill out this form.

Housing Selection at BU Workshop 

Design your own based on your own research/with the help of your Peer Mentor or invite a guest from BU Housing or Res Life to class to describe the process.

Introduction to Innovation & Innovate@BU

At the end of this workshop, students will be able to: experience the difference between traditional Innovation and Design Thinking Innovation, tell real student innovation stories, and describe some of the offerings from Innovate@BU. 

To book a workshop with Innovate@BU, e-mail Siobhan Dullea: sdullea@bu.edu at least two weeks in advance.

Mindfulness Workshop

This 1-hour activity-based workshop is an introduction to mindfulness meditation. You will learn the basics of mindfulness, explore how to use mindfulness to support your wellbeing and your goals, and try different activities that you can  incorporate mindfulness into your life.

Available for groups of 10 or more students, in person or via zoom. Request here.

Mindful Movement Yoga

This 45-minute practice combines breathing with gentle, self-paced movement to encourage calmness and increase resilience. This class incorporates trauma-responsive principles and practices.

Available for groups of 10 or more students, in person or via zoom. Request here.

Paws & Reset

Drop-in, pet a pup, and give yourself permission to pause. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or need a furry friend? Take a mindful break with SHS’ therapy dogs. Spending time with therapy dogs has been shown to lower stress, boost mood, and promote a sense of calm and connection. Whether you’re dealing with academic pressure or just need a comforting moment in your day, Paws & Reset drop-in events are a simple, judgment-free way to take care of your mental health. View website here.

Interested in connecting with our pups? Visit our calendar for upcoming events.

Study Abroad Workshop

BU Study Abroad is one of the most unique and advantageous opportunities that students can participate in during their undergraduate career. Study Abroad has so much to offer and is covered by most financial aid for the fall and spring semesters! We’d love to come talk to your students about the basics of the study abroad process at BU, the benefits, and how to make it work for them academically and financially.

If you’d like us to present to your class, reach out to Yessenia Valencia, yvale@bu.edu and Sue Robinson, sdrobins@bu.edu, with as much advance notice as possible to schedule a visit (a minimum of three weeks is preferred). Request for BU Abroad to come to your class or go visit them in their office (888 Comm Ave) so your students know how to find them in the future.

Upperclassmen Panel

Put together a panel of upperclassmen with diverse experiences and identities to talk about their BU journeys. Ask your Peer Mentor to help coordinate student panelists. This can be especially helpful for our Transfer Students. 

Wellbeing Workshop

Schedule a workshop hosted by the BU Wellbeing. Some options include: “Life Management: Redefining Work Life Balance” and “Busting Imposter Syndrome”. Requests must be made a month in advance. You can also request Sleep Kits or Stress Kits.

You’ve Reached Your Limit of Free Articles: BU Libraries Workshop

BU Libraries add value to your college experience in more ways than you may imagine! Beyond providing access to books, articles, and other research resources, we can help you develop critical thinking skills, understand the new access to information you have as a college student, and provide a welcoming space for the Terrier community. Learn how BU Libraries support students in academic life and social wellbeing, and how to connect to the resources you will need to navigate BU’s vibrant academic experience.

Contact Kristina Bush, kambush@bu.edu, Library Experience Manager and Former FY101 Instructor, to schedule.