As a student, you may face a variety of challenges that impact your academic success, your mental health, and your well being. In order to help students support and improve different aspects of their health, BU has created a website called Wellbeing. Wellbeing lists many resources, events, and programs within the BU community that both undergraduate and graduate students can utilize. Additionally, this non-comprehensive guide is meant to highlight some of the most commonly utilized resources by our community at BU. Remember that getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do – for yourself, for those you care about, and for those who care about you.
Connecting with your Peers
Getting to know and working with your peers can be an effective way to improve your engagement with your courses and our department. In addition to your classroom interactions, an important way to do this is to get involved in student-run groups or to sign up for peer mentoring programs.
- There are several student-run groups that organize a variety of events, such as professional development and social events.
- Mathematics and Statistics Peer Mentoring: The Mathematics and Statistics Undergraduate Peer Mentor Program pairs first-year majors with sophomores, juniors, or seniors with shared academic and extracurricular interests. Mentees meet with their mentors at least once a semester to check in and to foster a greater sense of community in the department. For more information, or to become a mentee or mentor, please contact our Undergraduate Program Administrator.
- Directed Reading Program (DRP): The BU DRP is a program that pairs undergraduates with graduate student mentors to work together on an independent reading project in mathematics, applied mathematics, or statistics. The goal is to engage undergraduates who are curious and motivated to learn beyond what they may find in their coursework, in a way where their interests drive their learning experience. The DRP serves as a bridge between undergraduate and graduate students in our department and helps to foster a sense of community among all of our students.
Help with Mathematics and Statistics Courses
Our Department and BU have a variety of resources for helping students with their academics. For first steps, we often recommend students go to their professors’ and teaching fellows’ office hours, which are noted in the course syllabus. Many students seek additional help from the following resources.
- Tutoring Room in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics: The tutoring room is staffed by graduate students and provides drop-in help for students enrolled in any of our courses. Different tutors have different backgrounds and areas of expertise, so we recommend that students consult the Tutoring Room schedule to find a time when a tutor with an appropriate background (eg mathematics or statistics, particularly if help is being sought for an upper level course) will be available.
- Peer tutoring at the Educational Resource Center (ERC): The ERC Peer Tutoring program provides BU students an opportunity to meet with a fellow student and ask questions related to their course material. Peer Tutors are BU students just like you, and understand how intimidating certain courses can be. They are here to guide, encourage, and support you in your learning process. All tutors are undergraduates who excelled in their course and are recommended by BU faculty. These services are free to all BU students. If you are interested in this resource, we recommend that you arrange for such services early in the semester, as availability often becomes more limited as final exams approach.
Tutoring Room Schedule
The tutoring room schedule indicates when the tutoring room is staffed and by which graduate student tutors. There you can find drop-in help for any of our courses. Different tutors have different backgrounds and areas of expertise, so we recommend that students consult the tutoring room schedule to find a time when a tutor with an appropriate background (eg mathematics or statistics, particularly if help is being sought for an upper level course) will be available.
Disability and Access Services
Disability and Access Services provides services and support to ensure that students are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at Boston University. This includes arranging academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
University Wellness Resources
Many things can negatively impact your daily life, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, problems with eating and/or sleeping, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. We all experience stressful and difficult events as a normal part of life. If you are seeking guidance, resources, or support for your mental health and well being, there are many avenues to pursue at Boston University, no matter what kind of support you are seeking.
- Behavioral Medicine: Behavioral Medicine offers a range of mental health services to our students. They specialize in assessment and diagnosis; brief treatment, including therapy and psychiatry for a variety of mental health issues; and referral to community resources for longer-term care.
- Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center (SARP): SARP provides professional, rapid, confidential, and free-of-charge advocacy and assistance to BU students who have experienced a traumatic incident, including immediate crisis response. Their particular focus is sexual trauma and rape; they also assist survivors of physical assault, interpersonal violence, and other crimes. SARP is a confidential resource. Their Crisis Response line is available 24/7/365 at 617-353-SARP (7277).
- Student Health Services (SHS): Student Health Services provides a range of health and wellness services to BU students, including Gender Affirming Care for transgender and non-binary students.
- Wellbeing Project: Resources for Wellbeing from the Office of the Provost, including resources for emotional, social, physical, environmental, intellectual, financial, and spiritual wellbeing, and resources for mindfulness and meditation.
- Student Conflict Resolution Program: A place for students who want to deepen their self-awareness, explore how to have challenging conversations, and build conflict resolution skills.
- Diversity and Inclusion Resources from CAS: Part of creating an empowering and accessible learning environment, this site provides the resources for students from a wide range of backgrounds to find support, information, and community.
Discrimination and Harassment
Discrimination and Harassment in any form pertaining to characteristics such as gender, race, sexuality, background, or any other characteristic protected by law are not tolerated at BU. These resources offer support and protection to our community.
- Sexual Misconduct and Title IX: Every member of our community has a role in preventing, recognizing, and addressing prohibited conduct. All community members are encouraged to report incidents of sexual misconduct by completing an incident report form. Employees not designated as confidential resources are expected to report prohibited conduct to the University’s Title IX coordinator by submitting an incident report form. Please remember that the only way we can make meaningful steps toward ending discrimination and harassment is to report it. The Equal Opportunity Office responds and manages all reports against employees. The Dean of Students Office, through its Office of Judicial Affairs, responds and manages all reports against students. You can learn more about the University’s reporting options, the effects of each, resources available on or off campus, rights of the parties, and the processes through the Equal Opportunities Office.
- Office of the Ombuds: An independent, impartial, informal problem-solving resource serving faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River and Medical Campus. The Office maintains strict confidentiality, and provides a safe place for you to have off-the-record conversations on issues related to life, work, or study at Boston University. Talking to the Ombuds can be a good first step if you have a concern and you don’t know where to turn for help.
The Newbury Center
The Newbury Center was created to foster success of first-generation students at BU. The Center offers programming and services to help ensure first-generation students a sense of belonging. Options are available for both Undergraduate and Graduate students.
The Howard Thurman Center
The Howard Thurman Center fosters crucial thought and encourages new conversations and connections. The Howard Thurman Center offers many programs, events, and experiences to all students.