Information for Parents & Guardians
The 2024 High School Programs were a great success. Please check back on December 15 for details about next summer’s program and to submit an application. Sign up for an email reminder.
For some of you, this is the first time that your child will be away from home for a significant period. In this section, we hope to give you an idea of what to expect in the areas that matter most to you. If you have any questions that we have not answered here, please contact us.
Health Services
Boston University Student Health Services is available for urgent care issues by appointment during business hours Monday through Friday. Students must be accompanied by a program assistant when accessing services. There is a fee for each visit, charged to a student’s account. Your student will need to provide insurance information if they receive blood work and immunizations will be billed to your student’s account.
In the case of an emergency or the need for medical care on weekends or weekdays after closing hours, students will be taken to a urgent care facility or local hospital emergency room, accompanied by a program assistant.
Before the program begins, please inform us of any medical issues or concerns so that we can provide your student with the best care possible.
In alignment with Boston University COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly recommend that all Summer Term pre-college students remain up to date with all CDC COVID-19 vaccination recommendations. All students must abide by University-wide health and safety policies.
Housing and Dining
Housing is provided in a BU residence hall for High School Summer Programs participants. There are typically two students per room, although some students may also be in singles or triples. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss housing arrangements, as our office is committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all of our students.
Our dining halls offer a variety of food options and can accommodate a range of diets. Different meal plans are available for both High School Honors and Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) residential students (14- or 19-meals a week). Students who like to sleep through breakfast or plan to eat off-campus every once in a while should choose a 14-meal plan. Students who plan to eat every meal in the dining hall should choose a 19-meal plan. Commuting students can buy Convenience Points to purchase food at on-campus dining locations or meals to eat with their friends in the dining hall.
Summer Challenge students are required to live on campus, and the total charge for this program includes 19 meals each week. Note that this information does not apply to Summer Challenge Online.
The room and board for Academic Immersion and Summer Preview residential students includes 19 meals for the week. Lunch for Academic Immersion and Summer Preview commuter students is provided by one of our dining halls on campus. Please note that Summer Preview residential students must be at least 14 years old by the start of the program.
Our residence halls are not air-conditioned and dorm rooms can get hot, so we recommend that students bring a fan with them or buy one when they arrive on campus.
Safety & Supervision
Residence halls are staffed with security guards 24 hours per day, seven days a week. In addition, carefully selected program assistants live on each floor with the students and accompany them on all program activities. There is a curfew: 11 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 12 am Friday through Saturday. Most planned activities are mandatory. However, students are allowed to leave campus during free time as long as they have at least one other program participant with them and inform a program assistant of their plans. (Exception: Summer Preview students may not leave campus without a program assistant.)
BU hall directors and resident assistant staff also live in the residence hall with the students. Additionally, BU maintains a full-time professional police department with over 40 police officers available to assist in the event of an emergency.
Program Residential Staff
Our program residential staff—comprised of program assistants, two senior program assistants, and three postgraduate student life coordinators—is always on hand to help our high school students. Program assistants are BU undergraduates and some are even alumni of BU’s Summer Term High School Programs. Our residential staff has a thorough knowledge of BU and the city of Boston. Program assistants get to know the high school students well, acting as chaperones for all program activities and guiding them through this process. They are highly visible and a great resource for the students.
Academic Credit
Students in the High School Honors program receive up to eight Boston University credits for the courses they take. Most other colleges and universities will accept these credits for courses in which students have earned a grade of C or higher, but you need to confirm this with the school(s) the student may attend. Students who matriculate at BU will have these courses count toward their overall GPA. The grades received in these courses are permanent and cannot be removed from a student’s record.
Academic Immersion (AIM), Research in Science & Engineering (RISE), Summer Challenge, and Summer Preview students do not receive academic credit. These students are provided certificates of completion. RISE Practicum, Summer Challenge, Academic Immersion, and Summer Preview students will also receive written evaluations from their instructors following the conclusion of the program.
Attendance
Because our programs are short and intensive, students are required to attend every class. Students who miss classes for any reason may be asked to leave the program.
No refund or reduction in the total charge will be made if you arrive to the program late, leave the program early, or are dismissed from the program due to a violation of the program guidelines.
Planned Activities
The High School Programs staff plan a variety of mandatory and optional activities. This is to ensure that we develop a supportive and inclusive student community within the programs and expose students to all that Boston University and Boston have to offer. A schedule of activities is emailed to students and parents or guardians approximately two weeks before the start of each program.
Free Time Guidelines
Students are allowed to leave campus during their free time. However, students are not permitted to leave campus by themselves—they must be accompanied by at least one other student in the program or by a program assistant. Summer Preview students must be with a program assistant if traveling off campus. Students may not leave the city of Boston without the permission of their parents and our program. Our program reserves the right to restrict students’ access to any part of Boston for security or other concerns. When students do leave campus, they need to inform their program assistant of their destination and time of return. Students must return before any scheduled activity and before curfew. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disciplinary action and possible removal from the program.
If a student must miss a program activity because of a special circumstance, the student’s parent or guardian must submit an electronic leave request form. A standardized test is not considered a special circumstance, and no student will be permitted to miss a mandatory program activity in order to take a standardized test. This request must be received at least one week before the program begins. The parent or guardian will need to provide a description of the special circumstance, the date and time the student will be away from the planned activity, and the contact information for the person the student will be leaving campus with. Requests made once the program begins will not be considered. A student is authorized to leave only after the Summer Term High School Programs office sends the student’s parent or guardian approval via email.
Remember: Students are not allowed to miss any class time. There are no overnight absences for Summer Challenge, Summer Preview, and Academic Immersion students. If the Summer Term High School Programs office authorizes a student to miss a planned activity, the student must return before curfew.
Family Visits
If a parent or guardian is in town and would like to spend time with a student or if the student would like to visit relatives or family friends within city limits, that visit must be scheduled during the student’s free time when there are no activities planned. The student must return to the dorm before curfew. The parent or guardian must submit an electronic leave request form. This request must be received at least 48 hours before the student is planning to leave campus and no later than 5 pm on Friday. The parent or guardian will need to provide details about the visit, such as the time that the student will be picked up and dropped off at campus and the mobile phone number of the relative or family friend the student will be with. A student is authorized to leave only after our office sends the student’s parent or guardian approval via email.
Overnight Absence From Campus*
*Only for High School Honors and Research in Science & Engineering students. Overnight absences are not allowed for Summer Challenge, Summer Preview, or Academic Immersion students.
Due to the six-week duration of the High School Honors and Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) programs, students occasionally need to leave campus overnight (for family events, emergencies, etc.). If a student needs to be away from campus overnight, the student’s parent or guardian must submit an electronic leave request form. This request must be received at least 48 hours before the student is planning to leave and no later than 5 pm on Friday. The parent or guardian will need to provide a description of the special circumstance, the date and time the student will be away, and the contact information for the person the student will be leaving campus with. We ask that overnight absences be kept to a minimum as participants are expected to take part in weekend program activities. A student is authorized to leave only after the Summer Term office sends the student’s parent or guardian approval via email. Students are not permitted to miss any classes, labs, workshops, or mandatory activities as a result of an overnight absence.
Drugs and Alcohol
No illicit drugs or alcohol are allowed in the dorm or on campus, and they may not be consumed during the duration of the program. Students found in possession of, under the influence of, in the presence of, and/or suspected of consuming these prohibited items will be removed from the program immediately and may receive additional program and University sanctions. There are no exceptions. If the program finds evidence that students were engaged in these prohibited activities during the program, the program and University may also apply sanctions after the program has ended. Decisions on incidents involving illicit drugs and alcohol are at the discretion of the Boston University Summer Term High School Programs staff.
Bicycle Use
Biking in Boston poses significant risks, and we do not recommend that students in our programs use bicycles while at BU. To ensure student safety, riding a bike without a helmet is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
Student Conduct
Boston University reserves the right to remove a student from the program if, in the determination of University medical or program staff, a student’s continued enrollment would create a significant risk to the health and safety of the student or others, or if the student refuses to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by the University to evaluate the student’s conduct. Students are prohibited from engaging in conduct, on or off campus, which poses a threat to the health or safety of persons or property or interferes with the rights or well-being of others.
In addition, program participants are prohibited from engaging in conduct that violates 1) program policies; 2) any provision of the Code of Student Responsibilities; 3) the Boston University Acceptable Use of Computing Services Policy; 4) the Residence License Agreement; 5) any rule/regulation of the University; or 6) any other applicable law.
If a residential student is dismissed from a Summer Term High School Program for any reason, they must leave campus within 24 hours at the parent/guardian’s expense. There are no exceptions.
Tolerance of others:
A fundamental goal of Summer Term High School Programs is to foster a community environment based upon mutual respect and openness. Therefore, any form of discrimination, including but not limited to discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status, constitutes unacceptable behavior.
Respecting the rights of other students presupposes that in the close and diverse society of Boston University (BU), student expression of opinion will be respectful of others and will be exercised in good taste and decency. Bigotry, hatred, and intolerance have no place in the BU community. In displaying or distributing expressions of opinion, students are expected to show respect for the aesthetic, social, moral, and religious feelings of others upon whom their views may be imposed. Students are entitled to expect that those with whom they interact will demonstrate tolerance for diversity and respect for privacy.
Disability & Access Services
Boston University is committed to supporting the academic, social, and cultural integration of individuals with disabilities. Our mission is to foster academic excellence, personal responsibility, and leadership growth in students with disabilities. Individuals are encouraged to contact Disability & Access Services to discuss support services and accommodations they may need, including auxiliary aids like sign-language interpreters, exam accommodation, notetaking services, text in alternative format, and assistive technology. 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 individuals and groups 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 in person at 25 Buick Street, Suite 300.
Application and Program Fee Policies
Application fees are nonrefundable, as are any applicable tuition deposits. No refund or reduction in the total charge, tuition, or service fees will be made for a student who arrives to the program late, leaves the program early, or is dismissed from the program due to a violation of the program guidelines.
Wiring Money
If a student needs spending money, wiring services are available. We recommend using MoneyGram or Western Union.
The nearest MoneyGram service location is on campus:
CVS
900 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-232-2100
The nearest Western Union service location is off campus:
7-Eleven #33615
532 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
617-267-5158
