New Policies for Visiting Faculty & Research Scholars and Visiting Students

On March 17, the University Council approved a new policy for Visiting Faculty & Research Scholars, and on June 16 a related policy for Visiting Students. These policies take effect fall 2020, and will be applied to all new appointments starting on or after Tuesday, September 1.

Outlined below are a number of changes to the process for making visitor appointments for faculty and research scholars and visiting students. Please review these changes carefully prior to the start of the fall semester.

Visiting Faculty & Research Scholars

Please see the policy for full details and information required for each appointment request, including:

• Criteria for Appointment: The individual must have an advanced degree or recognized expertise in their field and a source of financial support, including health insurance, from outside BU.
• Duration of Appointment: Appointments are usually made for up to one year and may be renewed for a second year. An extension must be approved by the dean’s office and the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research, and should be granted only for extraordinary and compelling reasons.
• Appointment Procedures:
  • The inviting BU department, program, or center should submit a recommendation to the appropriate chair or dean. The chair or dean will then review all requirements and issue an appropriate appointment letter.
  • We now require a set of three forms for these appointments, and provide a recommendation form, an appointment form, and an acknowledgement form on the policy webpage. Copies of all three forms need to be submitted to the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research at visiting@bu.edu.
  • For requests we’ve already processed with appointments effective Tuesday, September 1 or later, your school or college’s Faculty Actions will be reaching out to get supplemental documentation as needed.

Visiting Students

Please see the policy for full details and information required for each appointment request, including:

• Criteria for Appointment: The student must be enrolled at an institution outside of Boston University and must have a source of support, including health insurance, from outside BU.
• Duration of Appointment: Appointments are generally for a semester or less.
• Appointment Procedures:
  • The host academic unit must ensure that the student complies with BU’s policies and that the presence of the visitor does not adversely affect research participation of BU faculty or students.
  • The inviting BU department, program, or center must submit a letter of recommendation to the appropriate dean or department chair, who will review and issue an invitation letter if appropriate. Templates for all forms are provided within the policy.
  • Copies of all relevant forms must be submitted to the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs and the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research at visiting@bu.edu.
• Exceptions: Students enrolled in institutions outside BU who accompany a faculty member recruited to BU from that institution are not considered a visiting student by the terms of this policy.

In addition to the procedures outlined above, additional procedures may be required in accordance with the Policy Regarding Campus Visitors during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Thank you for your time and attention to these new policies, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.