Instructor Resources.
Recent Announcements
SPH Policies
Attendance and Participation Policies
As a result of a series of conversations regarding attendance policies and class participation grades with Governing Council, program directors, faculty and staff, the Education Committee approved the following guidelines:
- If faculty have a specific attendance policy, its purpose and process for implementation should be clearly articulated to students in the syllabus. In the event that a student needs to miss a class session, they are expected to communicate with faculty, teaching assistants, and peers (e.g., if teams were to work together during that class session) to let them know, and to make up any missed work within existing structures of the course. Students should not be pressed for specific reasons or documentation for absences. That said, if a student misses two or more sessions in a 14-week course (prorated accordingly), then the instructor or a teaching assistant should reach out to ensure that the student has the support they need to engage in the course.
- If faculty assess class participation, its purpose and process of assessment should be clearly articulated. There should be a specific rubric for grading participation in the course that is either included in the syllabus or made available to the students upon request. Faculty should also expand the ways in which students can engage/participate in the course to ensure inclusivity (e.g., viewing a recording of the class session and completing an assessment).
As always, we will also continue to support all students to ensure equitable access to educational and co-curricular activities, and students needing specific accommodations may secure those accommodations through the Office of Disability and Access Services.
Academic Policies
The policies listed represent variations or additional stipulations affecting certain general University policies. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations of the University and their school or college of enrollment.
Registration and Attendance
Student Conduct
Course, Grade, and Degree Policies
Student Records
Recording Class Sessions
All courses, except those specifically designed for online learning and designated with the “OL” suffix, are residential courses. Faculty should record and post residential class sessions or make recordings available upon request as a valuable tool for learning. AV equipment is available in classrooms to record class sessions using Zoom, and some of the larger classrooms are outfitted with recording software, in which case, audio or video recordings can be requested in advance.Faculty can use their discretion to determine if some content is not appropriate for recording (e.g., a class discussion on a sensitive topic). Students needing to miss a class session due to illness or a conflict (e.g., attending a conference) may review the class recording in addition to making up missed work.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy
This policy establishes the minimum standards required across all BUSPH programs related to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in teaching and learning, and delegates authority to instructors to define course-specific rules. The goal of the policy is to ensure clarity, fairness, and integrity in academic work.
This policy will be regularly reviewed and revised to reflect emerging technologies and evolving standards, ensuring responsible use.
Minimum Standards
- Transparency: If AI tools are used in any stage of work (e.g., brainstorming, editing, coding, data analysis), students must clearly acknowledge their use, including which tool was used and how.
- Responsibility and accountability: Students remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted work, regardless of whether AI contributed. Note that any use of AI that produces discriminatory findings (e.g., biased, unfair, or inequitable treatment of any group), whether intentional or not, will be subject to review and evaluated against BUSPH Expectations of Ourselves at Our Best (outlined in every BUSPH syllabus).
- Privacy: Students must not input confidential, sensitive, or personally identifiable information into AI platforms.
- Prohibited uses unacceptable in all BUSPH courses
- Submitting AI-generated text, analysis, code, or images without attribution (plagiarism).
- Using AI to create or manipulate data or research findings.
Course-Level Policies
While these BUSPH-wide rules apply universally, individual instructors have the authority to set specific AI policies for their courses and assignments. Faculty may:
- Prohibit all AI use.
- Allow unrestricted AI use (with clear requirements on transparency).
- Allow limited AI use with clear conditions (e.g., for editing or brainstorming only, with attribution).
Faculty must state their AI policy explicitly in the syllabus and clarify expectations for each assignment.
Ethical Guidance
Students should approach AI tools with the same standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism expected in all academic work. AI should be used to support learning and creativity, not to replace critical thinking, misrepresent authorship, or compromise ethical standards.
SPH Resources
Technology Support
BUMC IT – Educational Technology offers consulting, support, and training to all Boston University Medical Campus faculty, staff and students in their exploration, evaluation and use of technology tools and strategies for teaching and learning. Browse their comprehensive online resources, review classroom audio-visual guides, or sign up for an upcoming training session to learn more.
Generative AI in the Classroom
University Teaching Resources
Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
The BU Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning helps instructors explore resources and workshops to help integrate different pedagogical practices into their teaching. Their workshops offer instructors an opportunity to learn practical, research-based teaching strategies, to reflect on their own classroom practice, and to connect with peer instructors across the University. Faculty may also consult with Institute staff for further individualized help on topics such as facilitating classroom discussions, crafting a teaching statement, and designing a syllabus.