The Boston College community is here to support students expecting a child. We hold the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of a woman, the child, and those who care about them, in a strong network of support. You are not alone.
If you or your partner is expecting a child, BC has many resources to assist you in continuing and completing your degree.
Kate Daly of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, and Rick Rossi of Campus Ministry are pregnancy support advocates and are available for safe, non-judgmental conversations and assistance throughout. All conversations can be kept private.
As a Jesuit Catholic university that supports life, Boston College is committed to your well-being as well as the child’s. We are here for you.
Partners & friends:
If a friend is pregnant, we are here to support you as well. Those journeying with someone they care for during a pregnancy have an important role and can often have mixed feelings or are unsure how to care for their loved one. We encourage you to contact any of our pregnancy support advocates to talk through your questions and concerns. You may also find resources mentioned below helpful to you as well.
Boston College is a Jesuit Catholic institution. Consistent with its Catholic heritage, it is committed to a mission that supports all life at all times. As such, we compassionately and proactively support our pregnant and parenting students on campus.
Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation…Every Christian community, with a renewed sense of responsibility, must continue to write this history through various kinds of pastoral and social activity. To this end, appropriate and effective programmes of support for new life must be implemented, with special closeness to mothers who, even without the help of the father, are not afraid to bring their child into the world and to raise it. [8]
Pope John Paul II
Evangelium vitae, 1995
University Health Services provides free pregnancy tests on a walk-in basis. Health Services is located at 2150 Commonwealth Ave. Residence Hall. You may also wish to make an appointment to see Yolanda Hobin, one of the Nurse Practitioners who provide women’s health evaluations. To do so, call 617-552-2225.
If you are in fact pregnant, Health Services can also help arrange referrals with off-campus physicians, provide nutritional guidance, and answer any health-related questions you may have about your pregnancy.
During pregnancy: It is important to us that all Boston College students feel fully welcome and part of this community. Pregnant students can remain in their residence hall throughout their pregnancy. Residential Life staff will assist you in making this new reality as comfortable as possible in every way.
After giving birth: The residence hall structure is not equipped to provide housing to students caring for a child, and so the Office of Residential Life is committed to working with students to explore suitable housing options near BC.
Jessica Graf is available to meet before or after you meet with a pregnancy support advocate.
Jessica Graf, Assistant Director
617-552-3060 | jessica.graf@bc.edu
Expecting a child does not mean you have to give up on pursuing your degree. You are welcome to remain a student at Boston College throughout your pregnancy and while parenting. The pregnancy support advocates can help you think through the questions and concerns you may want to address with your academic dean based on the particulars of your pregnancy.
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Tom Mogan, Interim Associate Dean, Senior Class
617-552-2800 | mogant@bc.edu
Jeffrey Lamoureux, Associate Dean & Director of Pre-Health Program
617-552-2800 | jeffrey.lamoureux@bc.edu
Treseanne Ainsworth, Associate Dean, Sophomore Class
617-552-8485 | treseanne.ainsworth.1@bc.edu
Joseph Desciak, Freshman Class and Director, Academic Advising Center
617-552-9259 | joseph.desciak@bc.edu
Carroll School of Management
Erica Graf, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program
617-552-0462 | erica.graf@bc.edu
Connell School of Nursing
Anya Villatoro, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Programs
617-552-3277 | anya.villatoro@bc.edu
MaryBeth Crowley, Graduate Programs and Admissions Specialist
617-552-2079 | marybeth.crowley@bc.edu
Lynch School of Education
Julia Whitcavitch-Devoy, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Services
617 552-4200 | julia.whitcavich@bc.edu
School of Social Work
Teresa Touhey Schirmer, Associate Dean, Student Experience
617-552-4762 | teresa.schirmer@bc.edu
Woods College of Advancing Studies
Graduate students should contact their Program Directors and undergraduate students should contact their academic advisors. If they do not know who that person is, they can call the Woods College (617-552-3900) for information regarding the appropriate person to contact.
Some pregnant students may wish to explore a temporary leave of absence as a useful option in order to complete their degree. Taking a pregnancy leave of absence is entirely up to the student, and your academic dean can talk through that process as well.
Should you choose to take a leave of absence, your tuition, room, and board charges may be adjusted, depending on the date of your withdrawal. Your Financial Aid Associate can explain to you any possible impact to your financial aid package and help you understand the process. Finally, Student Services will confirm that your academic and financial arrangements have been properly recorded – and will ensure the confidentiality of all of your records.
Bryan Jones, University Registrar
617-552-4943 | bryan.jones.2@bc.edu
Mary S. McGranahan, Director of Financial Aid
617-552-3325 | mary.mcgranahan@bc.edu
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Rick Rossi is a licensed clinical social worker and a campus minister, offering confidential, clinical support to any students in need.
Rick Rossi, Campus Minister
617-552-6592 | rick.rossi@bc.edu
McElroy 227
University Counseling Services
University Counseling Services is able to assist you in managing emotional and relational impacts on your life as a student and parent. You can make an appointment with University Counseling Services by calling 617-552-3310.
Dr. Craig Burns, Director
craig.burns@bc.edu
Gasson 001
Campus Ministry
All Campus Ministers are available to speak with BC students in privacy about any issues and will offer caring, compassionate support.
McElroy 233
617-552-3475
Boston College is committed to providing support for mothers returning to work and will strive to provide adequate, functional space to meet a nursing mother's needs on a timely basis. The Office for Institutional Diversity offers lactation support information.
The Women's Center has a small selection of books on parenting available. You are welcome to stop by the Women's Center, located in Maloney 441 to look through our resources or talk with a staff member.
Katie Dalton, Director
617-552-6919 | kathryn.dalton@bc.edu
After the baby is born, childcare will need to be arranged during class time. Kate Daly and Rick Rossi, pregnancy support advocates can help you consider your options.