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For additional information regarding your orientation session, including obtaining a parking pass, check-in locations for parents and students upon arrival to campus, and tentative schedules, please go to: http://www.bu.edu/orientation/ Be sure to continually check your Boston University email, as that will now be the main form of communication between you and the University. If you have any questions or need to make changes to either your registration or a guest's registration, or your University Orientation preferences, please contact the Orientation department by email at oocs@bu.edu, or by telephone at 617-353-3555. Keep in mind that in the event you would like to request a refund, all refund requests must be made 10 business days (Monday-Friday) in advance of your session date. No refunds will be given if the request is not made 10 business days in advance of the Wednesday of your registered session. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you! Go Terriers! Boston University Orientation 775 Commonwealth Avenue, B-01 Boston, MA 02215 (T) 617-353-3555 (F) 617-353-5254 Hours of Operation Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Boston University Parent and Family Orientation, Summer 2023 Sessions 1-5
This summer you will engage with and learn about Boston University via our in-person Parent & Family Orientation sessions.
Date and time
Location
Tsai Performance Center & other locations on campus
685 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215Refund Policy
About this event
BU Families,
Congratulations to your student and welcome to the Boston University family! This summer you will engage with and learn about Boston University via our in-person Parent & Family Orientation program. First, you will have the opportunity to partake in one of five, live Orientation Sessions, to learn about academics, life on campus, and belonging at BU.
Please do not miss these opportunities to learn about and to engage with your student's (and your) new BU community. Perhaps, one of the most important takeaways from the Parent & Family Orientation experience is that Boston University is a large institution that is comprised of small, close-knit communities, held together by an amazing group of individuals, who are dedicated to your student.
We look forward to welcoming you to our BU family throughout your Orientation experience. Please register via this Eventbrite page. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact Parent & Family Programs at 617-358-1187 or by email at parents@bu.edu.
Session Dates, Times & Participating Schools
Session 1: Wednesday, June 7, 10 am – 6:30 pm ET
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding Student Orientation Session 1, which is open to students in the following schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, Computing & Data Sciences, College of Engineering, College of General Studies, Questrom School of Business, and Sargent College.
Session 2: Wednesday, June 14, 10 am – 6:30 pm ET
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding Student Orientation Session 2, which is open to students in the following schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, Computing & Data Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Questrom School of Business, and Sargent College.
Session 3: Wednesday, June 21, 10 am – 6:30 pm ET
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding Student Orientation Session 3, which is open to students in the following schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, Computing & Data Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Questrom School of Business, Sargent College, and Wheelock College.
Session 4: Wednesday, June 28, 10 am – 6:30 pm ET
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding Student Orientation Session 4, which is open to students in the following schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, Computing & Data Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Questrom School of Business, Sargent College, and Wheelock College. Parents should also plan to attend this session if their student is transferring to BU from another institution.
Orientation for Parents of FYSOP Attendees: Tuesday, August 29, 10 am - 6:30 pm ET
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding First Year Student Outreach Project (FYSOP), which is open to students entering any school. Parents should also plan to attend this session if their student is transferring to BU from another institution and participating in FYSOP.
Session 5: Thursday, August 31, 10 am – 6:30 pm ET (International/West Coast US Priority)
Guardians should attend this session if their student is registered for the corresponding Student Orientation Session 5, which is open to students in the following schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, Computing & Data Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, Questrom School of Business, Sargent College, Wheelock College, and the School of Hospitality & Administration (transfers only). Parents should also plan to attend this session if their student is transferring to BU from another institution.
There will also be a Student Orientation as well as Parent & Family Orientation offered in January 2024 if your student is starting their BU experience with the spring semester. College of General Studies students may participate in either a summer or a spring Orientation session.
Parent & Family Orientation Schedule*
9-10 am Check-in and Complimentary Coffee at the Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue
10 am Welcome
10:15 am Living at BU
Learn about living on campus from our panel of experts including representatives from Residence Life, Housing, Dining Services, and Residence Life.
10:45 am Health & Wellness
Meet the BU administrators who are dedicated to keeping your student healthy. Presenters will include staff members from Student Health Services (SHS), Disability & Access Services (DAS) and the Fitness & Recreation Center (FitRec).
11:30 am Complimentary Coffee Break
11:45 am Finding Your Way
Experience the multitude of ways in which your student will thrive at Boston University. You’ll learn about the Student Activities Office (SAO), Outreach & Engagement, the Community Service Center (CSC) as well as the athletic programs at BU.
12:45 pm Complimentary Lunch
2 pm Student Success & Academic Advising
Learn about the transition from high school to college academics, the importance of academic advising as it is related to student success and prepare to support your student from afar. You will also learn about the Educational Resource Center (ERC).
2:45 pm Student Services
Meet BU administrators from the Office of Financial Assistance, the Student Employment Office (SEO), the Center for Career Development, and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at BU.
3:30 pm Community Safety
Meet members of the BU Police Department as well as Judicial Affairs to better understand how they work together to keep the entire BU community safe.
4 pm Closing Remarks
4:30 pm Complimentary Cocktail Reception at the Student Village 2 (StuVi2), 33 Harry Agganis Way, 26th Floor
This part of the programming is optional.
6:30 pm Reception ends
*Schedule subject to change / Advanced registration is required / All times are ET
On-Campus Accommodations
We hope you will stay on-campus during Parent & Family Orientation and experience student life first-hand—in the Student Village 2 (StuVi2)—the most ideally located and affordable accommodations in Boston. StuVi2 is located at 33 Harry Agganis Way. Please note the following details when considering your plans:
- This residence is a modern, air-conditioned, high-rise building with private bedrooms and bathrooms within the suite (please see room types below for details).
- At least one person per family must participate in Parent & Family Orientation in order to qualify for campus housing.
- On-campus accommodations are only available for Parent & Family Orientation sessions 1-4. Overnight accommodations are not available for Session 5.
- Bed and bath linens are provided.
- The main nights of stay are Wednesdays for Parent & Family Orientation Sessions 1-4. However, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays are available as optional "add-ons".
- Free guest Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk security, and staff assistance is available.
- Convenient, free parking is available throughout your stay.
- If you need to cancel your reservation, please contact Events & Conferences at confreg@bu.edu or 617-353-2238 by the Wednesday prior to your session.
- Check in begins at 3 pm at the ground floor lobby of 33 Harry Agganis Way. You will just need to provide your first and last name, you do not need your Eventbrite ticket that you receive when registering for accommodations.
- Check out is by 11 am.
The following room types are available:
Single Bedroom - $73.50/night: Family members attending on their own (only one parent attending) will be assigned to a private bedroom (single bed for 1 person) in a suite shared with other adult Orientation attendees of the same gender.
Family of 2 - $147.00/night: Families of two (a couple or a parent and a sibling) will either be assigned to their own suite or share a suite with another family of two. In this latter situation, each family of two will have a private bedroom with 2 single beds (1 person per bed) and their own bathroom.
Family of 3 or more - $172.50/night: Families of three to five will be assigned to their own suite. Each bedroom within the suite has a single bed for 1 person.
IMPORTANT: Incoming students are not allowed to stay with parents/families staying in 33 Harry Agganis Way at any point during their visit. Students are required to stay with other students during University Orientation. Students must purchase their own extra-night stays during the Orientation registration process. We appreciate your help with this in giving your students the best University Orientation experience possible.
Reservations for On-Campus Accommodations
Please click on the corresponding link below to make your reservations for on-campus accommodations available for session 1-4.
Off-Campus Hotels
If you would prefer to stay at a hotel off-campus, please visit the following webpage for a list of hotels that are convenient to campus. Some of these hotels may offer BU discounts so please mention your affiliation.
Organized by
Parents Program
Parent & Family Programs is a great resource for your family. We are here to help your family navigate the University so if you’re not sure where to turn, start by contacting Parent & Family Programs at parents@bu.edu or 617-358-1187. We will also keep you well informed as to the everyday happenings on campus so please be sure to visit our website, and follow us on Facebook page, and Instagram.