Who is my advisor and how can I get in contact with him/her?

The majority of students are assigned an advisor during the 2-day First Year Experience (FYE) orientation. Students who still have not met their advisor once classes are in session can find this information in the Student Portal under "my grades."
The greater part of full-time faculty and staff serve as advisors at the college. All advisors are equipped to work with students on developing successful strategies for college. If students have specific questions regarding their major and/or career path, their advisor may refer them to the Department Chair or the Director of Career Services.

How can I change my major?

Students interested in changing their major should meet with their advisor before making a final decision. Usually, only a few courses may be applied to a different major, other than general education classes. Requirements for other majors are very different and may affect the student’s planned graduation date. Once a final decision has been made, the student should meet with the Registrar (617-588-1344, 1st Floor Kendall Building) to officially change his/her major at the college.

Where can I find information about ordering my textbooks?

BFIT students order their textbooks through an online website. Textbooks can be shipped either to the college or a home address. Textbookx.com accepts all major credit cards and book vouchers. Students with a credit on their current account should check with the Student Accounts Office (617-588-1349, 1st Floor Kendall Building) to see if they are eligible for a book voucher. If students have concerns about purchasing textbooks, they should meet with their advisor during the first week of classes. Click here to order textbooks.

I want to take a course at another college and transfer the credit. How do I get approval?

There are times when a student chooses to take/make up a course at another college and transfer the credit to BFIT. The student must get approval to do so by the appropriate Department Chair or Registrar prior to registering for that course.  A grade of a “C” or better is required in order for the credits to transfer, and the student must bring an official transcript of this grade to the Registrar. Note: The grade will not be reflected in the student’s GPA.

What happens if I fail a class?

If a student fails a course, the “F” will remain on the student’s permanent transcript. He/she must repeat that course in order to meet the graduation requirement. Once the class is completed, the new grade will replace the “F” in the GPA calculation. The student should meet with his/her advisor to determine when that course can be repeated.

If students fail a course in their major, they should be aware it may take them out of sequence and prevent graduating on time. The course may be a pre-requisite for the next semester, and therefore the student will not be able to continue on schedule.

If a student fails a general education course such as a math, English, or an elective course, he/she may be able to repeat this course in the summer term.

What constitutes a credit hour?

Federal regulation defines a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutional established equivalence that  reasonably approximates not less than: (1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or (2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. 

I’m not sure how many courses I have left to complete before I graduate, how can I get a degree audit?

Students will be able to access their degree audit at the end of their first year on the student portal, their advisor, or Registrar. The degree audit will help the student determine how many courses are left to complete his/her program.

I have one more semester before I graduate. How do I know if I have met the college requirements?

A student should refer to their degree audit and transcript while meeting with his/her advisor to determine graduation eligibility. A student must obtain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 2.00 or better in order to graduate. Students who have no more than two requirements left to graduate may participate in the annual graduation ceremony provided they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. (Refer to the student handbook for more details). Questions regarding graduation status should be directed to the Registrar.

Who do I contact if I want to transfer to another college after BFIT?

Students should discuss their future educational goals with their advisor as early as their first semester. Students are also strongly encouraged to meet with the Director of Career Services when it comes to college transfer questions and options. Finally, during the student’s last semester at BFIT, he/she should attend the College Transfer Fair held in the spring semester. Contact the Director of Career Services at kdiaz@bfit.edu or at 617-588-1347 for more information.

How do I find a part-time job while I am in college?

Many students work part-time while they are in college. Students should discuss their part-time job experience and plans with their advisor. Advisors do not encourage students to work more than 20 hours per week while a full-time student. Some students may be eligible for a part-time work-study job on or off campus and should check with the Director of Financial Aid (617-588-1358, 1st Floor Kendall Building) to determine eligibility.

For advice on searching for part-time jobs and having a resume reviewed, students should contact the Office of Career Services or email kdiaz@bfit.edu.