Health & Wellness

Boston University Student Health Services (SHS) is your first stop on campus for your physical and mental health. SHS is open Monday through Friday and primarily located at 881 Commonwealth Avenue. Visiting summer students may be charged a $25 fee per visit. There may be additional charges for medical supplies or immunizations. Blood work is billed directly to your insurance, so please bring your insurance information.

In a life-threatening emergency, call the BU Police Department at 617-353-2121 if you are on campus, or call 911 if you are off campus.

SHS Primary Care (PC) provides care for urgent medical issues, including respiratory symptoms, injuries, sexual health concerns, and more. For non-urgent or routine care, SHS can help refer you to a community healthcare provider covered by your insurance. If you have an urgent medical concern outside our business hours, please call 617-353-3575 to speak with an on-call provider or visit the nearest urgent care or emergency department.

SHS Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, licensed mental health clinicians, and licensed clinical social workers who support the wide range of mental health concerns that arise in our student community. For longer-term care, CAPS can facilitate referrals to experienced community clinicians. Appointments are available by calling 617-353-3569. CAPS also provides 24/7 on-call support for mental health emergencies.

Any student who experiences a crisis, including sexual assault, should first call the SHS Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention (SARP) at 617-353-7277 to speak with a counselor.

Boston University is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to all opportunities the University has to offer. Disability & Access Services (DAS) works to provide services and support to ensure that students are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at BU. In keeping with this objective, students are expected and encouraged to utilize the resources of DAS to the degree they determine necessary. Although a significant degree of independence is expected of students, Disability & Access Services is available to assist, should the need arise. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact DAS to discuss support services and accommodations they may need, including assistive technology, classroom modifications, and exam accommodations. Students are additionally encouraged to start the process early and meet with DAS remotely if necessary to ensure that accommodations are set up in time for the start of their program. Accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual’s diagnosis and documented needs. Disability & Access Services is also available to consult with University stakeholders regarding architectural, programmatic, digital, or communication access. Disability & Access Services may be reached at 617-353-3658, by email at access@bu.edu, or at bu.edu/disability. You can also visit DAS in person at 25 Buick Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02215.

Please note that DAS is not able to diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions. They are only able to provide services after a disability has been diagnosed and documentation has been provided.

BU’s Fitness & Recreation Center (FitRec) is the place to go for a wide range of summer wellness and recreation opportunities, including outdoor activities such as sailing and kayaking, aquatics classes for all ages, fitness offerings designed for everyone, and much more. With approximately 270,000 square feet of space, FitRec features an 18,000-square-foot weight and cardio room, two separate swimming pools, two multi-use gymnasiums with seven courts, an elevated 1/7 mile jogging track, racquetball and squash courts, and a 30-foot climbing wall. There is even a lazy river—a relaxing way to escape the heat on a summer afternoon. FitRec privileges also extend to sailing on the Charles River, as well as indoor and outdoor tennis courts. FitRec is located at 915 Commonwealth Avenue. BU students and those enrolled in summer programs at BU are eligible for a FitRec membership; students participating in Summer Term Pre-College programs must be at least 16 years of age to purchase a membership for FitRec. Beginning in the spring, a complete list of summer programming is available at bu.edu/fitrec.