Department Resources for Undergraduates

Course Concerns

As a department, we highly value open and honest communication. If students have concerns they wish to share with the department leadership, they are encouraged to reach out to their course instructor, their academic advisor, or to the DUS, who will then share it with the department chair if need be. Students may approach any one of these three individuals depending on the situation at hand and their level of comfort, and they will receive feedback or an update about their reported concern.

Exam Accommodations

If you are in need of exam accommodations, please make every effort to inform your instructor as early as possible. Due to space limitations, make-up and extra time exams taken in the History Department building at 226 Bay State Road will need to be scheduled in advance. These space limitations may mean that you will take the exam outside of the regularly scheduled class meeting time or that you will take the exam in the same room as several other students unless you are specifically in need of a solo test environment.

Please see Disability & Access Services’ website for more information on requesting accommodations.

University Resources

Life as an undergraduate student can be challenging. The faculty members of the Department of History are committed to making your experience at BU a stimulating intellectual and positive social experience. The mental health and emotional well-being of our students is important to us. If you are feeling stressed by the demands of college or overwhelmed by the social isolation that sometimes accompanies intellectual life, remember that there is no shame in seeking help. We all experience similar challenges in life. Students experiencing difficulties should know that they can come to the Director of Undergraduate Studies with any problems or questions at any time. You should also feel free to take advantage of the resources on campus, listed below, that are devoted to supporting students.

Similarly, we strive at BU and in the History Department to treat everyone with fairness and dignity. Our faculty do not tolerate sexual harassment, racial discrimination, or any other form of prejudice. If you have been subjected to objectionable behavior, we strongly encourage you to alert the Director of Undergraduate Studies and contact the support services listed below, which are all confidential.

  • The Behavioral Medicine staff at Boston University Health Services consist of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and clinicians who offer a wide array of counseling resources to promote mental health and well-being.
  • The Office of the Ombuds at BU is an independent, impartial and confidential problem-solving resource open to all students. The Ombuds can be a very useful and supportive outlet for discussing conflicts that may arise in academic, professional or personal settings. All conversations remain completely confidential and are advisory in nature.
  • No student should tolerate sexual harassment. The Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (SARP) provides assistance to all BU students who have experienced or are experiencing sexual assault or misconduct.
  • If you want to learn more about your rights under Title IX or speak to a Title IX Coordinator, go to CAS’s Title IX page here.