What’s New In Compliance at Boston University
Boston University continually makes efforts to stay up-to-date on compliance requirements, which involves monitoring and updating policies and procedures or issuing new ones, enhancing resources and guidance for the University community (including tools, systems, and training), and issuing communications to keep the community apprised of any important compliance developments. This website highlights some of the most recent University-wide compliance updates* from around the University.
Timely Campus Resources, Guidance, and Campus Messages
International Resources
- BU Support Pathways – a resource hub designed to support, inform, and guide Boston University’s global community.
- Resource Guide: Everything BU International Students and Faculty Need to Know Right Now, BU Today, April 7, 2025
- What the New Federal Actions Mean for You
- Understanding Federal Immigration Policy – A Boston University FAQ, Safety Security & Preparedness
- Supporting Boston University’s International Community—Q&A with President Melissa Gilliam and Willis Wang, Head of Global Operations, BU Today Article, June 11, 2025
AI – Artificial Intelligence
- Generative AI Guidelines for BU Faculty & Staff
Generative AI (GenAI) tools are now widely available, and students, faculty, and staff are using them for a range of academic and administrative activities. In response, AIDA leadership has outlined the following institutional guidance for faculty and staff to promote responsible and effective use of GenAI in teaching, research, and academic operations.
- Generative AI Guidelines for Classroom Use
With students having easy access to generative AI (GenAI) tools, BU faculty must proactively guide appropriate and ethical use in coursework. Without such guidance, students may use these tools for help with studying and on homework assignments in ways that unintentionally violate academic integrity standards. It is therefore important for faculty to review what constitutes allowable versus misuse of GenAI in their course.
- TerrierGPT TechWeb Resource Information and Best Practices
Research Update
Updated Policies
2025
Code of Student Responsibilities, updated July 1, 2025
Updates modernized the code and updated violations (including doxing or unauthorized recording) to align with current student needs and evolving campus challenges; also enhanced procedural transparency, introduced an alternate restorative justice option for certain violations, and rebranded the Office of Judicial Affairs as the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR).
Background Check Policy, updated June 16, 2025
Revised Suspension or Termination for Cause Policy (Faculty Handbook), updated April 15, 2025
Provides examples of conduct that may be considered “gross neglect of duty or other applicable cause” to suspend or terminate a faculty member; also harmonizes with the University’s new Fitness for Duty Policy.
President’s Statement of Commitment to Ethical Conduct – February 2025
2024
Boston University Events and Demonstrations Policy, updated December 10, 2024
Identity and Access Management Policy, updated April 28, 2024
Network Security Monitoring Policy, updated April 24, 2024
Access to Electronic Information Policy, updated April 24, 2024
Data Access Management Policy, updated April 24, 2024
Minimum Security Standards, updated April 24, 2024
BUHR Compensation Guide for Non-Represented Staff – Published April 2024
Postdoctoral Scholars Policy, updated April 16, 2024
Academic Conduct Code, updated January 1, 2024 – applies to all students except the School of Law students and MD students at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, who should refer to their academic conduct codes.
New and Enhanced Campus Website Resources
Boston University’s Safety, Security, and Preparedness department (SSP) comprises the University’s Emergency Management Department, Police Department, and Public Safety Department. They have recently launched a new website https://www.bu.edu/safety that provides many resources to help foster a safer BU Community, which includes information related to many compliance topics.
The newly launched Privacy at Boston University Website at https://www.bu.edu/privacy provides resources resources for maintaining privacy in an educational environment while still enabling and fostering research, academic success, and information sharing. The site includes quick links to the University’s relevant Policies, guidance documents, and offices who can assist with privacy questions and concerns.
Training
SAFE is an on-demand informational video and training to inform the BU community about the comprehensive support provided by the Boston University Police Department (BUPD) in the event of an active threat. It also aims to empower the community with tips and resources to keep themselves and each other prepared and as safe as possible. These videos are intended to augment our already extensive planning and training around active threats. They describe our public safety response and the way we will quickly provide communication to our community.
Boston University is committed to ensuring that all members of our community are afforded a respectful environment in which to work, study, and live, and where sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination is not tolerated. To this end, since 2018, the University has required that all employees, including all newly onboarded employees, complete an online Learning Module on the prevention of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination. Most recently, all employees were required to complete a comprehensive training module in the fall of 2024. For more information on this training obligation, refer to the Compliance Services informational webpage.
Research Compliance News and Updates
Refer to the Office of Research webpage on Research Compliance News.
*Please note that this list of Compliance Updates is not comprehensive, and that compliance news, updates and improvements are happening around the University on a continual basis and may not be reflected on this website. If there are Compliance updates you would like to add and highlight on this webpage, please email them to the Compliance Services Office at Comply@bu.edu.
