The University Service Center (“USC”) is a great place to visit or call when you have a problem or concern and aren’t sure where to go. Staff can get you pointed in the right direction, or—if your concern is complex, multilayered, or involves multiple offices—help you figure out the best way to address the situation. Think of us like Apple Maps—we offer you directions, guides to the best resources, and give you a good sense of where things are.
How we help
We are your quick connection to existing BU resources.
“Who do I consult for help with X?” Some questions and tasks really do have a “home” in a single BU office, so if you want a dining plan adjustment or need to discuss your financial aid award, the Terrier Card Office and BU Financial Assistance have you covered. You don’t have to memorize all the offices and services, though–
tell us what you need to do and we’ll help you identify the correct office.
Complex problem resolution is our specialty.
USC staff are trained in the policies and procedures that impact undergraduate students, and we specialize in helping you fit the various puzzle pieces together for your big picture. There are situations where you won’t know where to start, or how to choose among multiple offices. USC was created for exactly this reason–we can listen to your situation, and connect you to the best resource(s), perhaps as part of a 2 or 3 step process for resolution. Here’s an example:
- You had mono last month and missed quite a bit of class, enough so your course grades were impacted. You’re still not feeling 100%, balancing work, school, and sleep is tricky, and now your doctor says your recovery is being delayed due to insufficient rest. Should you drop one class? Maybe two? Should you take a leave of absence? How might these different options impact your health, your academic standing, your tuition bill, financial aid award, and on-campus housing? Who can help you figure out the different options and evaluate them?
Our staff will listen to your unique situation, and help you gather information and use existing resources to evaluate options and best next steps. (If you’ve already started with another office, no worries at all. Our colleague faculty and staff can loop us in, so we can all work together effectively). Use the “Contact Us” menu to access our helpful staff in the way that is most convenient for you.
We want feedback about your BU experience.
We send out occasional surveys ourselves, and participate in University level efforts to keep our fingers on the pulse of the BU undergraduate experience. At the same time, you don’t have to wait–when you have feedback big or small, or need a sounding board to talk things through,
contact us. We are here to listen.
Leaves of Absence experts. (We help with permanent withdrawals, too.)
Non-MET undergraduates must investigate and arrange leaves of absence through the USC. Leaves can be planned in advance to permit travel, an internship, work, or family reasons, or can be needed unexpectedly mid-semester due to a medical emergency. Whatever the reason, USC staff are here to help you understand your options and the related implications, and to adjust your records. We can also assist with re-enrollment planning, and can coordinate withdrawals for students who’ve decided to transfer. To get started with any of these things, use the
Leave of Absence or
Contact Us menus on this page.
Proactive problem solvers.
We want your experience at BU to proceed as smoothly as possible. We regularly reach out, whenever we notice something that might prove tricky, or complicate your experience. Our goal is to prevent a minor issue from becoming unwieldy over time, i.e.:
- compliance holds that prevent registration,
- incomplete grades or missing paperwork that might hold up renewal of financial aid,
- an unpaid student account due to unsigned loan paperwork.
If you see our phone number or email address on the other end of a communication device, connect with us. We’re friendly and easy to talk to, and most importantly we are here to help you.
