Actions Taken by the University Council During the Spring 2026 Semester
From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
The Boston University Council held three meetings during the spring 2026 semester on March 24, April 21, and May 12. At these meetings, the council voted to approve revisions and proposals related to the following policies, also available on the University Council website (Kerberos log-in required):
- Academic Conduct Code: Simplifies violation categories, clarifies procedures and timelines, addresses the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, strengthens procedural fairness, and outlines available student support resources.
- BU Overload Policy: Clarifies standard full-time enrollment for each term.
- Attendance Policy: Clarifies attendance expectations and reinforces student responsibility for academic impacts of course absences.
- Undergraduate Final Examinations Policy: Updates scheduling and administration practices to ensure consistency across academic units and removes outdated inclement weather provisions.
- Student Bereavement Policy: Updates procedures to reflect current practice and support student needs.
- Pass/Fail Policy: Expands access to pass/fail options while clarifying limits (up to 8 total units, with no more than one course per term).
- Intra-University Transfers Policy: Updates logistical information in the appendix.
- Institutional Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Graduation Policy: Reaffirms minimum graduation requirements for all undergraduate students.
- Academic Term Progression Policy: Outlines a University-wide system for academic level classification (first-year through senior) based on term progression rather than unit accumulation.
- Concurrent Enrollment Policy: Clarifies that, except under cooperative arrangement (e.g., Boston Area Consortia, study abroad), full-time undergraduate students must take their courses at Boston University when they are enrolled at BU during the fall and spring semesters.
- Copyright Policy in the Faculty Handbook: Removes the Faculty Handbook’s copyright policy and references a new university-wide policy that explains copyright infringement and offers guidance on the use of copyrighted materials.
President Gilliam has concurred with these actions, which officially brings them into effect.
The council also approved the following degree and certificate programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology: Biodiversity, Conservation, and Global Change Biology Specialization (CAS)
- Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies: Classical Languages Specialization (CAS)
- Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies: Ancient and Modern Greek Specialization (CAS)
- Doctor of Education in Music Education (CFA)*
- Master of Science in Pharmacology (GMS)
- Master of Science in Cybercrime Investigation and Intelligence (MET)*
- Master of Science in Learning Design & Technology (Wheelock)*
- Graduate Certificate in Literacy in Deaf Education (Wheelock)*
We are grateful to the members of the University Council for their thoughtful and diligent work throughout the past semester.
*These programs will be online or offer an online component.