Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.58
Liaison Stephen Ellis
Submission Date April 26, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Boston University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Dennis Carlberg
Associate Vice President for Sustainability
BU Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs to support underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs sponsored by the institution to support underrepresented groups:

The Howard Thurman Center provides individual and group mentoring, peer support, and community building through specific programs and relationships with the Director, Assistant Director, professional and student staff and volunteers. The Center also hosts Welcome Receptions for under-represented groups at the beginning of the semester and supports other schools and departments mentoring and training programs.

The Howard Thurman Center assists in the development, planning, and implementation of projects designed to build common ground within BU’s diverse student body. Projects include a Book Club and Tea Club, a cultural mentorship program, the Culture Shock Blog, TEDxBU, and the Council for Global Citizenship.

The Cultural Mentorship Program is dedicated to creating a rich and meaningful experience for incoming African American, Latino and Native American first-year students. Based on the Howard Thurman philosophy of common ground, first-year students are paired with returning students who share similar cultural, academic, and social interests.

The Boston University Women’s MBA Association is a student-run organization that provides career guidance and support to women currently in the MBA program by providing access to professional women leaders, educating members about topics related to work-life balance, career advancement, and networking, and uniting men and women in addressing women-related issues in the workplace.

Cohort Q is a student-run club for LGBT students that connects and supports LGBT students within the School of Management.

The University is committed to providing equal and integrated access for individuals with disabilities to all the academic, social, cultural, and recreational programs it offers. Disability Services provides services and support to ensure that students are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at Boston University.


The website URL where more information about the support programs for underrepresented groups is available:
Does the institution have a discrimination response policy and/or team (or the equivalent) to respond to and support those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response policy, program and/or team:

Boston University has an Equal Opportunity Policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of membership in a protected class (e.g., race, color, age, sex, disability, etc.) and retaliation for bringing forward a complaint of discrimination. We also have a Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Policy prohibiting sexual harassment and retaliation for bringing forward a complaint of sexual misconduct. Boston University has two offices that investigate complaints of discrimination. In cases where the named accused is an employee, the Equal Opportunity Office investigates. In cases where a student is accused, the Office of Judicial Affairs investigates. Depending upon the circumstances, other offices might respond to incidents of bias, for example, the Dean of Students Office, the Boston University Police Department, Human Resources, and the Deans Offices in the schools and colleges are among those that might have a role in responding to an incident. Support is offered to victims by a number of offices, including but not limited to the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center (which supports student victims of any kind of trauma or crisis), Behavioral Medicine, the Faculty/Staff Assistance Office, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Residence Life for resident students, the Equal Opportunity Office.


The website URL where more information about the institution’s discrimination response policy, program and/or team is available:
Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
Yes

Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender neutral bathrooms on campus?:
No

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Special needs of transgender and transitioning students are met based on an individual's need.


Special needs of transgender and transitioning students are met based on an individual's need.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.