Incoming Students – Fall 2022
New Student Information
We look forward to you joining our community!
This page includes all of the information you need to get started as a student at the STM. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Admissions Office at stmadm@bc.edu. Please read all of the information included below and take note of important dates and deadlines.
Please also make sure to check Boston College's Reopening Website for more important fall information.
STM Orientation (mandatory)
Fall 2022 New Student Orientation will meet on Friday, August 26th, check in at 8:00 a.m., at the Yawkey Center, Murray Room on the Chestnut Hill Campus. Parking on main campus will be impacted by move-in and construction so students may want to park behind Simboli Hall (9 Lake st, Brighton) in front of the Theology and Ministry Library (117 Lake st, Brighton), then walk across the street to Yawkey on main campus for the morning session. No parking passes needed. Students should order parking permits in advance though, and plan to pick them up at Lyons Hall that afternoon when they get their Eagle ID cards.
During this orientation session, you'll hear from STM faculty and administrators about STM academic programs, spiritual and liturgical formation, and community life.
Meetings with faculty program directors will be held in Simboli Hall immediately following New Student Orientation. All students beginning a new degree program are required to attend the appropriate session with your program director, even if you are not new to the STM.
You have been assigned an advisor. By Friday, August 19, your faculty advisor will reach out to you to set up an advising appointment between Monday, August 22 and Wednesday, August 24 to discuss fall course selection. Registration for all new students will open up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 25, 2022. You may register yourself online or walk into the Service Center in Simboli Hall for help with registration. International students will receive help at the International Student Reception, which begins at 9 a.m. in Simboli Hall room 100 on Thursday, August 25.
STM Opening Liturgy/Luncheon
Thursday, September 1 @ 12:15 p.m. at Saint Ignatius Church/ STM, Brighton Campus—Simboli Hall Lobby
The Theology and Ministry Library Orientation will start afterwards from 2-3 p.m. at the STM on Brighton Campus— Simboli Hall Room 135
Boston College Credentials
Your BC credentials (Agora portal username, Eagle ID number) are important pieces of personal information used at Boston College. Your credentials were assigned to you in your Slate application portal. These confidential credentials are your keys to many electronic services at the University, including class registration and email through the Agora Portal. You will also be able to access information such as course grades and accounts payable. If you need help accessing your account, please contact the Help Center (617-552-HELP).
BC Email
Using your BC credentials (found on the right hand column of your application status page, where you accessed your admission letter), log into portal.bc.edu and navigate to Common Services > Address/Alias Settings
Two email addresses will be listed. Both go to the same email inbox. Some people prefer to share the firstname.lastname@bc.edu format, but either one will get to you. Use username@bc.edu whenever you login to Google Workspace.
Set up your Secondary Password
BC Google Workspace requires a separate password called Secondary Password; this is different from your Agora Portal password, and it is only used for Google Workspace.
Log into portal.bc.edu and navigate to Account and Personal Info > Change Secondary Password
Follow the listed guidelines to create your Secondary Password.
Check your BC email
Go to www.gmail.com
Log in with your Google Workspace credentials:
- BCusername@bc.edu (not the first.last format)
- Your new Secondary Password
IMPORTANT: Google will prompt you to set up 2-Step Verification. Don’t delay setting it up. You have 7 days after logging into your Gmail account to set up 2-Step Verification. If you don’t set it up within 7 days, you will be locked out of your account, and need to contact the BC ITS Help Center for assistance (617) 552-HELP (4357).
BC Licensed Zoom Account
Boston College supplies every registered student with a licensed Zoom account. Please be sure to activate this account and use it to access courses and meetings held with BC faculty and staff. Using your BC Zoom account ensures that proper security measures are in place. To activate your BC Zoom account, please follow the instructions found at this link: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/offices/its/support/communication-collaboration/video-conferencing.html
STM Facebook Group
Connect with STM students and staff in the BC STM Online Community to ask questions about living in Boston, finding roommates, as well as finding out other helpful information about the STM, BC, and Boston.
BC Eagle-One ID Card
To obtain an Eagle-One (ID) Card, download the application (PDF), include your picture and mail it to the Boston College Office of Student Services, Lyons Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. The $50 fee will be applied to your student account. All new students are required to have and will be charged for an ID card.
Immunization Requirements
Massachusetts State Law requires all registered full-time, part-time, and part-time visa-carrying students to show proof of required immunizations by completing the Immunization Form. All information must be submitted 30 days prior to the start of classes. Failure to do so will result in a $85 administrative fee and you won't be able to register for courses the next semester. If you are unable to document your immunizations, University Health Services can provide this service for a fee. Please contact University Health Services at (617) 552-3225 if you have any questions. The pre-entrance forms and requirements are available online.
Covid Vaccine
Boston College will require all new graduate/professional students who plan to participate in activities on campus during the 2022-2023 fall semester be fully vaccinated and have their first booster (within six months of eligibility following the second dose of the original vaccination series) against COVID-19, and upload proof to University Health Services by August 15. Those students who will not be eligible for their first booster by August 15 should contact UHS to discuss the timetable for their booster (six months after last dose).
University Health Services and Human Resources will continue to assist international students and faculty who may have difficulty in meeting this vaccination requirement.
At this time and in planning for the 2022-2023 fall semester, the University strongly recommends that current and returning students, faculty, and staff obtain their successive boosters according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local Departments of Public Health guidance. Those with University-granted vaccination/booster exemptions will be required to follow masking and regular testing as outlined by UHS and Human Resources.
As a reminder, individuals are considered fully vaccinated (original series) two weeks after their second Moderna/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination or two weeks after a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination, and deemed booster-eligible after four months of initial Moderna/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination and two months after a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination.
For COVID-19 testing or vaccination/booster questions, students should contact University Health Services at covidtesting@bc.edu. New students seeking to request an exemption must fill out the COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Request Form, which can be found here. The deadline for submission is July 1, 2022.
Students should upload COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards (initial vaccination series and all subsequent boosters) to the Agora Health Services Portal following the steps below:
Go to Agora Portal - Other Services - Health Services
Select the IMMUNIZATION ICON on the Agora Health Services portal. Choose via the drop down menu the COVID vaccination booster icon, and record the vaccination booster date. Click SUBMIT to save;
Take a picture of the vaccination card or document and save it on your computer or phone to upload into the Portal (https://services.bc.edu), found under OTHER SERVICES;
Choose the UPLOAD ICON and upload the picture under the COVID vaccination booster in the drop-down menu (Note: the drop-down menu is below the list of "documents available to upload"). Click SELECT FILE, choose the file that you are uploading, and hit the UPLOAD button
Medical Insurance Coverage
All students enrolled in a degree program, regardless of credit hours, and non-degree students enrolled at least 7 credits will be automatically enrolled and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan. Students who plan to enroll In BC’s comprehensive health insurance plan, UnitedHealth Care, will be enrolled after registering for classes. Insurance coverage is effective August 7, 2022 through August 6, 2023. The cost is $1,637 for the fall semester and $2,121 for the spring semester. Students who are enrolled in a health plan that is comparable to the Student Blue Plan may waive the BC coverage through their Agora Portal. To provide proof of comparable coverage, a student will need to have information about his or her current health insurance plan readily available. Incomplete waivers will not be processed. Waivers must be completed every year. All waivers must be submitted through the Agora Portal by September 23, 2022. Students who do not complete a waiver prior to the deadline will automatically be enrolled in and charged the student-only premium for the Student UnitedHealth Care plan. Please note that international students are not eligible to waive the BC’s Student Health Insurance Plan. If you are insured through (1) your own or a parent/guardian/spouse’s health insurance plan offered through a U.S. employer or (2) a government sponsored program, (for example Government of Kuwait/UAE or Government of Saudi Arabia), you may be eligible for a waiver.
Eagle or Dining Bucks
Eagle or Dining Bucks can be used for purchases everywhere the Eagle-One Card is accepted, including on-campus restaurants, many vending and snack machines, contracted food delivery services, Boston College bookstores, residence hall laundry facilities, and off-campus vendors like City Convenience. To add money to Eagle or Dining Bucks, log on to your Agora Portal account. Your credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) will be charged for the amount you wish to add.
Update Your Contact Information
U.S. Veterans
Are you a veteran? If you would like your veteran status noted on the University Information System, please contact Linda Malenfant at malenfan@bc.edu.
Financial Literacy — Successful Start Program
STM Classes begin on Monday, August 29, 2022.
Boston College Academic Calendar
Registration Deadlines
Students may continue to register and drop/add courses through Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Thus, you may make changes to your registration through the middle of the second week of classes.
Undergraduate Transcripts
Students who are completing their undergraduate degrees at the end of the current academic year must have your undergraduate institution send an original transcript, indicating the successful completion of the baccalaureate degree, to the STM before registering for classes for your second semester of study. Students will not be able to register until the transcript is received.
Canvas Course Pages
Canvas is the learning management system of Boston College. Teachers use this to post resources for classes, including the syllabus, assignments, readings, discussion groups, etc. Any fully online asynchronous class is conducted exclusively on Canvas. You must log in to Canvas using your BC username and password, so be sure to activate your BC credentials as soon as possible. Canvas can be accessed in two ways: 1) Through the Agora Portal; 2) www.bc.edu/lms.
Professional Ethics in Ministry Workshop
Professional Ethics in Ministry Workshop is a two-part workshop required for all new STM degree and certificate students. For students enrolled in programs with a contextual education or supervised ministry requirement, a student will not be allowed to enroll in such a course unless they have taken the workshop. Part I of the workshop will involve both asynchronous pre-work and meet on campus or via Zoom on the following dates (choose one):
TMCE703801, Fri Sept 23, 1-3 pm or
TMCE703802, Fri Sept 30, 1-3 pm
Part II will also involve both asynchronous pre-work and meet on campus or via Zoom on the following dates (choose one):
TMPS709601: Fri., February 17, 1-3 pm
or
TMPS709602: Fri., Feb 24, 1-3 pm
Please register for one section in the fall when you are registering for your fall courses. If you cannot make either date due to a course conflict, please contact Dr. Jen Bader at baderje@bc.edu. Information on whether the synchronous meetings will take place in Simboli Hall or via Zoom will be forthcoming.
Students who begin their studies at the STM in the spring should take Part II during their first semester, and then take Part 1 the following fall.
Academic Integrity Tutorial
All new STM degree and certificate students are required to complete the online academic integrity tutorial in their first semester of study. This tutorial will introduce you to the academic culture here at STM and serve as an invitation to enter the scholarly conversation as well as a guide to distinguishing your own voice from those of others. More information about this will be given at orientation and by email.
Student Mentor
In the beginning of the fall semester, you will have the opportunity to be paired with a current STM student for one-on-one guidance and practical help during your transition to Boston and the STM. For more questions, please email Barb Quinn, RSCJ at barbara.quinn.3@bc.edu
Academic Advising Student Resource Guide
Academic advising is integral to the life and mission of the STM. Advisors support and guide students as they clarify their academic goals, and situate those goals in the context of the aspirations that brought them to the STM. In this way, advising is an aspect of the cura personalis that is at the heart of the school’s Jesuit and Catholic ethos. Through their connection with students, advisors offer a venue to raise concerns outside of the classroom, a sounding-board for ideas about possible academic choices, and a resource to help students as they negotiate the details of degree programs and explore opportunities that are accessible through the STM.
The STM Academic Advising Student Resource Guide contains links to all the information students need to create a successful advising relationship with their advisors at the STM, including tips and tools on how to prepare for your first meeting, links to forms and resources and to course schedules and degree requirements. Be sure to visit this page prior to your first meeting with your academic advisor.
STM Courses and Degree Requirements
The STM course and degree requirements sheet for each semester are posted online. This sheet will assist you in making sure the courses you select fulfill a requirement or elective for your particular degree.
Course Schedules and Course Descriptions for the STM and other BC Graduate schools
You can find course schedules and course descriptions through your Agora Portal. Once you sign into your Agora Portal, under “My Services” Click on “Eagle Apps Course Information and Schedule”.
Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI)
The BTI Catalog is available on the BTI website. Information regarding cross-registration can be found on the BTI portal. However, new students are generally encouraged to begin their studies with courses through the School of Theology and Ministry and the BC Theology Department and should also be aware that most of the BTI schools follow a different academic calendar than Boston College.
Spiritual Formation for Ministry
Enrollment in Spiritual Formation for Ministry is required for M.A.T.M. students. Students who study during the academic year should enroll during the first full academic year of study (one credit). You should register for the one-credit Spiritual Formation for Ministry course, TMPS7080, in the Fall 2022 semester. Several course sections are available on varied days and times. These groups meet with a facilitator six times per semester, September-May. As a part of this one-credit course, students are required to complete a personalized Spiritual Formation Plan (SFP) during their program of study at Boston College. More information will be given about the SFP at the New Student Orientation.
TMST7081 Writing and Research for Theology and Ministry
International students with little or no background in writing graduate-level papers in the U.S. education system and/or students for whom English is a second language, the Admissions Committee may decide to recommend or require TMST7081 Writing and Research for Theology and Ministry as a condition of admission into a master’s or certificate program. TMST7081 is taken in addition to the credit hours required for the degree, and the cost is covered at the student’s tuition remission rate.
Financial Aid Information
Boston College Payment Plan (BCPP)
Online Billing and Payment Information
Verify or authorize your Third-Party Payer through My Bill
Health/Infirmary Fees
All students who pay the Campus Health fees are eligible to be seen in the Health Services Primary Care Center. The fee is $586 for coverage from September to June, or you may pay a per-visit fee of $105-$115. This should NOT be confused with the BC Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan.
International Wire Payments
Boston College has partnered with Flywire and Western Union to offer an innovative and streamlined way to make international tuition payments. Our goal is to save international students and their families money that would otherwise be lost on bank fees and unfavorable foreign exchange rates. With these two agencies, you are offered excellent foreign exchange rates, allowing you to pay in your home currency (in most cases) and save a significant amount of money, as compared to traditional banks. In addition, the posting of the payment into your Boston College account will be faster, and you will be notified via email when it is received. Visit www.flywire.com/pay/bc or https://student.globalpay.wu.com/geo-buyer/bc#!/ to begin the payment process.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are billed upon registration for classes. Payment is due mid July. If you are receiving a scholarship, it will not be reflected in your account until you register for classes. You may wait to pay your bill until your scholarship is reflected on your account. Please note: there may be late fees if your bill is not resolved by the deadline, and, in severe cases, students whose accounts are not resolved by the due date may be withdrawn from the University. Questions regarding billing and payment should be directed to the Office of Student Services, Lyons Hall, at 617-552-3300 or 800-294-0294.
Loan Certification
The National Student Clearinghouse will process deferment forms for fall 2022. In accordance with federal regulations. If your lender requires paper certification of your loan status, please mail the signed form to the Office of Student Services or stop by Lyons Hall. Your deferment form will be forwarded to the National Student Clearinghouse. If the enrollment certification does not require an official school seal or signature, you may process the certification online through your Agora Portal account.
Housing
The BC Office of Residential Life offers assistance to graduate students, who are seeking housing in the local area. Visit the Off-Campus Housing webpage for helpful information about the local housing market, apartment listings, roommate finder, and housing fair announcements.
Students are also encouraged to join the STM Facebook Group to connect with other current and incoming students. Students interested in community living have a number of options for the summer and academic year.
The Newman House Newman House Student Community is an informal community of graduate students rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The Newman House serves as a space of friendship, academic and spiritual encouragement, and mutual learning.
The Assumptionist Center The mission of the Assumptionist Center is to provide housing and hospitality for laymen studying graduate theology. Students can engage in the community as much or as little as they want. Mass, morning prayer, and evening prayer happen daily, and numerous other events occur throughout the semester. Contact Brother Blair Nuyda at: info@assumption.us
MBTA
For anyone planning on regularly using public transit, semester-long MBTA passes at an 11% discount. Fall 2022 passes are available for purchase beginning June 13, 2022. The deadline to purchase a pass is August 10, 2022.
BC Shuttle
For students living near campus, BC operates several free shuttle services.
Parking Permits
If you are interested in a BC campus parking permit, read the Student Parking Permit Instructions on the Transportation website. You may order your parking permit by logging into your Agora Portal account and selecting "Parking Permits and Citations" under the "My Services" tab. Once ordered, you may pick up your parking permit in the Office of Student Services in Lyons Hall during normal office hours.