FAQ

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 like math or English. 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, 2nd Floor, Kendall Building) to officially change his/her major at the college

Any student considering dropping or withdrawing from a course must meet with their advisor to discuss their concerns. A student may withdraw from a course through the eighth (8th) week of class and receive a grade of W (for “withdrawal”) on their official transcript. If the student withdraws after the 8th week, a grade of WF (withdraw failing) will be applied. In the seven-week sessions, a withdrawal after the fourth week will result in a WF grade.

Many students work part-time while they are in college. Students should discuss their part-time job experience and plans with their advisor. Advisors encourage students to work no more than 20 hours per 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 part-time jobs and having a resume reviewed, students should contact the Office of Career Services and Industry Partnerships.  

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 (CGPA) of 2.0 or better 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 “Satisfactory Academic Progress” in the student handbook for more details.) Questions regarding graduation status should be directed to the Registrar.

There are times when a student chooses to take or make up a course at another college and transfer the credit back to BFIT. First, 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 student must bring an official transcript of this grade to the Registrar. Note: While the credits transfer, the grade will not be reflected in the student’s BFIT GPA.

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

SOS stands for Support Our Students. The SOS system is a key element in the communication that supports strong advising. It is an internal web-based early warning system designed to alert advisors immediately when there are concerns about a student’s progress in a particular class. For example, if a student misses several assignments or classes, the instructor sends a message through the SOS system. SOS creates an electronic file on the student and routes the message to the student’s advisor. This allows both the instructor and the advisor to support and, when necessary, redirect the student.

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 math, English, or an elective course, he/she may be able to repeat this course in the summer term.

Students should discuss their short and long term career goals with their advisor as early as their first semester. Students are also strongly encouraged to meet with Career Services when it comes to workplace readiness. As part of the services provided, students will be required to attend Career Seminars hosted by the Office of Career Services and Industry Partnerships to ensure workplace readiness. Then, the student will be prepared to attend the Career Fair held in the spring semester of his/her last year. Be sure to contact the Office of Career Services and Industry Partnerships for more information.

BFIT students order their textbooks through an online website. Textbooks can be shipped either to the college or a home address. The website, http://bfit.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.

Student should discuss their future educational goals with their advisor as early as their first semester. Students are also strongly encouraged to meet with 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 Office of Career Services and Industry Partnerships for more information.

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 Office of Career Services and Industry Partnerships.