ACADEMICS RESOURCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Throughout the university, faculty and staff in a number of different offices provide students with support and advising services designed to help them get the most out of their academic experience at UMass Boston, and to plan for their future. Some services are campus-wide; others are located within each of the five colleges; some serve all UMass Boston students, while others focus on students with particular needs. The descriptions that follow are a guide to advising, support, and enrichment at UMass Boston.

University Advising Center

The University Advising Center provides university students with the information and help they need to realize their academic and career goals. Centrally located in the Campus Center (1100 Street), the Advising Center provides the following services:

New Student Orientation

A comprehensive orientation program introduces incoming students to the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Management, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences; informs the student of each college’s academic requirements and regulations; and assists each student in registering for a first-year program designed to maximize academic success. Working with mathematics and English faculty, staff members at the Advising Center give diagnostic tests to each new student in order to assure placement into appropriate mathematics and writing classes. Workshops help students plan a course load appropriate for their family and employment obligations. Emphasis is given to the cultural and social diversity of UMass Boston students and staff, as well as to the opportunities for academic exploration. New student orientation begins the exploring process that will continue throughout the student’s career at the university.

Academic Advising

Undeclared majors are assigned professional staff advisors who explain the general education and particular curricula of the different colleges and assist in planning semester course schedules. All undeclared majors/concentrators are required to meet with their advisors before they register for courses, and are encouraged to come in throughout the semester to discuss problems and concerns. When a student declares a major or concentration, s/he is assigned a faculty advisor in that major. The University Advising Center staff is also still available to assist with questions about course requirements and college regulations.

Premedical Advising

Students interested in medicine and other health care fields meet regularly with the Center’s premedical advisor, and work with the university’s Premedical Committee of advisors and faculty. They receive advice on planning for careers in the field, and on preparing for graduate-level study.

Study Abroad and International Exchange

UMass Boston students who wish to study outside the United States, whether for a summer or winter session, an academic semester, or an entire academic year, have a wide range of options available. Students may choose from over seventy programs offered through the University of Massachusetts; as well as short-term programs offered through the University’s Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education and other educational institutions; or, with prior approval, direct enrollment in foreign universities.
UMass Boston has exchange programs in the United Kingdom (Oxford), France (Paris), Germany, Spain, and Canada. Study Abroad programs available through the University of Massachusetts include offerings in Bulgaria, China, Colombia, England, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan, as well as other countries.

UMass Boston is a member of the New England Board of Higher Education Exchange Program, which offers students enrollment at universities in Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Other international programs available through UMass Boston’s Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education include those in Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, and Vietnam.

Generally students may enroll in study abroad programs beginning in their sophomore year. GPA requirements vary but usually range from 2.5 to 3.0. Course offerings are in English, but most programs do require some proficiency in the language of the host country. Interested students should allow one full year to plan properly. Such planning includes getting information about the program and completing the application process, obtaining the required approval for credit transfer, and making the necessary financial arrangements. Credits earned through study abroad are transferable toward a UMass Boston degree. In most cases only credits earned, not grades awarded, are noted on a student’s transcript.
For further information on international exchange programs, contact the program coordinator at the University Advising Center.

International Student Services

The Office of International Student Services, housed in the University Advising Center, provides services to international (non-immigrant) students. The office assists them with INS-related concerns and questions regarding the I-20, the DS 2019, visa status, and other issues. In addition, the office oversees

• orientation for new international students, and
• a conference each semester for international and exchange students.

The Office of International Student Services seeks to assist and support all international students during their stay at UMass Boston with academic concerns and issues of immigration status.

Further Information

To find out more about any of the University Advising Center programs described here, call 617.287.5500.

Advising in the Colleges

Staff and faculty members at each of the university’s colleges provide academic advising that focuses specifically on the needs of majors or concentrators within the college. Most students, once they have declared a major, receive academic advising through these college-based services.

In the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Mathematics, students are advised by faculty in their major departments. Students choosing an individual major receive academic advising through their sponsoring faculty advisor.

In the College of Management, departmental faculty provide academic advising for students enrolled in any of the College’s concentrations.

Academic advising in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, for the Nursing Department and the Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, is provided by faculty and staff through the Office of the Director of Student Affairs (617.287.7500).

In the College of Public and Community Service, orientation and advising are coordinated by the Office of Student Services (617.287.7120).

Career Services

Career Services staff provide information for students and alumni about career opportunities, and facilitate contacts with prospective employers. Individual counseling and group seminars in career planning alert students to the many and varied career opportunities available and to the requirements of prospective employers as well as to the changing nature of employment opportunities. Seminars are offered to assist with résumé writing, interviewing techniques, and the job search. On-campus events such as job fairs and guest speakers are regularly scheduled.

An active on-campus interview program is arranged each year so that students may meet employers and discuss current openings. Through the Résumé Referral Program, student résumés are forwarded to employers who have appropriate job openings. Career Services offers job-seeking students and alumni password access to MonsterTrak, a web-based on-line job listing service. A Career Resource Library houses information on employment and salary statistics, as well as specific information on businesses, non-profit organizations, school systems, and government agencies. A bank of computers is available to allow students on-line access to employment information and job opportunities. An option in the Career Resource Library, called PinPoint, is an on-line method of assessing interest and personality as related to work options and career choices.

Career Services also provides information on a variety of graduate study programs. Materials on many fields are available, as well as application forms for graduate and professional school admission tests. The staff provides special advising for students interested in the law and in management.

Internship Services

Access to internship opportunities is an important priority of the office. Assistance is offered to all qualified students in locating internships directly related to their field of study.  Internships offer a variety of benefits: the combination of relevant practical learning with valuable work experience; greater career awareness; personal and professional growth; resume enhancement; and the possibility of obtaining full-time employment after graduation.

Internships can be part-time (12-20 hours per week) or full-time, and are available for varying durations (i.e., a semester, a summer, a six-month period).  Students may work in internships that are paid or unpaid, and may also be able to receive academic credit for their internship.  For-credit internships must be coordinated with the academic departments.

National Student Exchange and University of Massachusetts Exchange Programs

The National Student Exchange Program offers UMass Boston students the opportunity to study at one of over 170 participating colleges and universities in over 40 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, at a cost comparable to what they currently pay to attend UMass Boston.  While on exchange, students can develop an increased awareness of academic, cultural, ethnic, and geographic diversity within the United States.

The University of Massachusetts Exchange Program is designed to allow matriculated students from one undergraduate University of Massachusetts campus who meet all eligibility requirements to attend another undergraduate university campus full-time for a period of not more than two semesters.  The program provides access to the variety and richness of the academic offerings of the participating campuses.

For more information about Career Services and its programs, interested students should contact the office of Career Services located in the Campus Center (1100 Street).

Office of Academic Support Programs

The Office of Academic Support Programs (location: CC 1300 Street, 617.287.6550) offers a comprehensive range of services designed to enable students to succeed in their studies. The focus of these programs is course work and tutorials, but students are also invited to seek assistance through this office with any problems that impinge on their academic careers. Among the programs offered by this office are

• the following academic courses: Critical Reading and Writing courses (CRW), First-Year Seminars (SEM), intensive course work in English for students whose native language is not English (ESL) and Math Skills courses (MATHSK).
• the Reading, Writing, and Strategies Study Center, which provides tutorials in analytic language development for undergraduates in all levels of courses, with special attention given to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills addressed in general education courses.
• the Subject Tutoring Program, which offers individual and/or group tutoring to students enrolled in 100- and 200-level courses in the humanities, languages, mathematics, and the natural and social sciences.
• the Math Resource Center, which offers tutoring for mathematics and computer science courses.
• the English as a Second Language Center, which provides students whose native language is not English with intensive course work in listening and speaking, and reading and writing for academic purposes. The Center staff and faculty also advise students and monitor their progress.
• the Graduate Writing Center, which provides one-to-one conferences and group workshops in scholarly writing and the research related to that process for students enrolled in graduate courses.
• the Directions for Student Potential Program, which provides a pre-matriculation summer program for a selected group of students who lack the traditional credentials for admission to college, but who show promise of succeeding in a university environment with additional preparation. It offers intensive courses in college-level reading, writing, mathematics, English as a Second Language (ESL), and study skills. Students who successfully complete the program are admitted to the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Science and Mathematics in the fall.
• The Learning Resource Center/Language Lab, primarily serving students enrolled in three-credit language courses, which require a language lab for the fourth credit hour. Other students who pay a lab fee may use the equipment of the language lab to access multimedia course materials placed on reserve by instructors.

For a more complete description of the Office of Academic Support Programs and its course offerings, see the section of this publication called “Enriching the UMass Boston Experience.”

Office of Pre-Collegiate and Educational Support Programs

The Office of Pre-Collegiate and Educational Support Programs offers a wide array of student support services to both enrolled and pre-freshman students through eleven programs or centers: the Student Support Services Program, the Lillian Semper Ross Center for Disability Services, the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, the Upward Bound Program, the Veterans Upward Bound Program, the Math Science Upward Bound Program, Project REACH, the Urban Scholars Program, the Admission Guaranteed Program, the GEAR UP Program, and the Health Careers Opportunity Program. The services provided by these eleven programs are cooperative and complementary and are designed to assist non-traditional students in their pursuit of higher education.

These programs also provide a variety of paid and volunteer internship opportunities. Information about the programs and about internship opportunities is available from the Office of Pre-collegiate and Educational Support Programs at 617.287.5840, or from the program offices.

Student Support Services Program

The federally-funded Student Support Services Program provides advising, counseling and educational support services to 500 UMass Boston undergraduates with academic need who are first-generation college attending, economically disadvantaged and/or have disabilities. First year students, along with upper-class peer tutor/mentors, participate in Foundations, an 8-week program to improve academic survival skills. Continuing students attend workshops designed to enhance their decision-making skills and to help them prepare for the world of work or graduate school. Throughout their academic careers at the university, students work closely with their assigned advisors to identify needs, and to develop and attain educational, professional and personal goals. Scholarship support is provided to first- and second-year students who have unmet financial need. In addition, intensive support is provided for students who are interested in majoring in a math or science field but need additional skill development in these areas. All services are currently provided in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Further information about the program is available from the Student Support Services office on the second floor of the Campus Center (2100 Street), 617.287.5820.

The Lillian Semper Ross Center for Disability Services

The Ross Center coordinates services and accommodations for UMass Boston students with documented disabilities, in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The mission of the Center is to provide students with equity and excellence in education, maximizing each student’s educational potential while helping him or her develop and maintain independence. The Ross Center provides accommodations in four major areas: testing, note taking, alternative formats, and sign language interpreting. The Center also works closely with the Adaptive Computer Lab and provides information and referrals to other services as appropriate.

The Ross Center is located on the second floor of the Campus Center (2100 Street). The telephone number is 617.287.7430.

Ronald E McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

The Ronald E McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a federally-funded program offering preparation for doctoral study to low-income individuals who are first-generation college students, and to students from groups under-represented in graduate education. Participants in the McNair Program spend at least a year engaged in research under the direction of research faculty in the math and science departments.
Supportive services and financial aid encourage participants to complete the undergraduate degree and pursue graduate study. Graduates have enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs ranging from linguistics to chemistry to computer science at institutions including Brandeis University, Columbia University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, John Hopkins University, Boston University, Duke University, Penn State, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of California Berkeley, the City University of New York, UMass Boston, and others. For more information call 617.287.5780 or visit the program office.

Upward Bound Program

The Upward Bound Program provides 100 low-income, first-generation high school students with the skills and motivation to enter and successfully complete post-secondary education. This federally funded program offers high school students an array of academic, counseling, and support services that are designed to supplement high school education and are tailored to address specific student needs. Program juniors and seniors may audit university courses, gaining first-hand college experience and potential credit. The Program provides its services in a twice-weekly after-school program throughout the academic year and an intensive six-week residential session during the summer. Eligible participants are low-income and/or first generation college students who demonstrate interest in and potential for post-secondary education. They must also be residents of Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, or South Boston and/or attend the Dorchester Education Complex, Burke, Madison Park, the High Schools at South Boston, or West Roxbury High School. Students selected for participation attend year-round through high school completion. Upward Bound’s telephone number is 617.287.5845.

Veterans Upward Bound Program

The Veterans Upward Bound Program provides a unique opportunity for men and women military veterans to acquire the academic skills required to enter into college or to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma. The curriculum includes courses in Composition, Literature, Math, Laboratory Science, Computer Skills, Social Sciences, and Study Skills. The program also offers career and education counseling as well as social service referrals. After successful completion of the program, students applying to the University receive special admissions consideration.

Veterans Upward Bound forges an important link between the university and the veterans who live in the communities it serves. Those who matriculate as UMass Boston students continue to have access to the program’s support systems throughout their academic careers at the university. For more information about participating in Veterans Upward Bound contact 617.287.5870 or visit the program office.

Math Science Upward Bound Program

The university operates the Math Science Upward Bound Program in conjunction with the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of low-income and first-generation college students majoring in mathematics, the sciences, and computer science at the undergraduate level and, eventually, to increase the number who go on to advanced study in these fields.

The program’s rigorous six-week, residential academic program each summer focuses on promising students who attend either the John D O’Bryant High School of Math and Science or Lawrence High School, or who live in Boston or Lawrence. In addition to the accelerated program at Nobles, students visit the UMass Boston campus and participate in lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences conducted by members of our science faculty. During the academic year, program participants receive additional support through school visits; supplemental instruction at Nobles; and cultural, educational and career related trips and visits. For more information call 617.287.5840 or 781.320.7246.

Project REACH

Project REACH identifies disadvantaged young people with disabilities who have the potential for education at the post-secondary level and encourages them to continue and graduate from secondary school and enroll in programs at the post-secondary level. High school and post-secondary dropouts are also encouraged and assisted in returning to school. Initially funded in 1985, Project REACH was the first Talent Search Program in the nation to serve low-income, urban youth with disabilities. The Project remains a national model for the successful inclusion of youth with disabilities in TRIO programs.

Participants must have a disability or receive special education services from the Boston Public Schools, be between the ages of 11 and 27 and have completed the fifth grade. Two thirds of the participants must also be low-income persons who are also potential first generation college students. Project REACH is funded to serve 600 students each year from Jeremiah Burke, Dorchester Education Complex, Madison Park, West Roxbury, and Horace Mann, and the McCormack, Gavin, New Boston Pilot, and Horace Mann Middle Schools.

The majority of services are provided on site at the target schools within a classroom setting. Students and parents are also encouraged to make appointments at the campus office after school or during school vacation. Project REACH also provides a six-week academic summer program for middle school students. The goal of the summer program is to provide students with a supportive, enjoyable, and academically challenging summer experience. The curriculum is project-based and incorporates the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. For more information, call 617.287.7390.

Urban Scholars Program

The purpose of the Urban Scholars Program is to provide gifted and academically talented students with the skills and motivation necessary for achievement at the highest level of their potential and to prepare these students for a successful college experience. The program also works collaboratively with the partner schools to enhance their capacity to develop the talent potential of all students. Urban Scholars serves students attending the Jeremiah E Burke, the High Schools at South Boston, and Dorchester Education Complex, and the Cleveland, Gavin, Lewenberg, McCormack, Rogers, and Wilson Middle Schools.

The program offers students an early exposure to the university environment. The Urban Scholars core curriculum is designed to provide practice in applying basic skills and to develop higher level skills such as analysis, critical thinking, problem solving and other skills necessary for advanced learning. The core curriculum also strives to develop active and independent learning behaviors and the ability to teach oneself. All students must complete specific core requirements in order to graduate from the program. Program activities include university and program-provided classes, tutorials, supervised study, college and career advising, and cultural enrichment. For more information call 617.287.5830 or visit the program office.

Admission Guaranteed Program

Initiated in 1989 by the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Admission Guaranteed Program assures admission to the University for students enrolled at Dorchester Education Complex, Jeremiah E. Burke, and the High Schools at South Boston who take courses in required subject areas and meet specific program criteria. Recruitment for the program is focused primarily on ninth graders. An important goal of the program is to help students see college as a viable option for their futures. Program services include tutoring, career advising, after-school classes, college awareness workshops, and cultural enrichment activities. The program furthers UMass Boston’s urban mission and its commitment to serve the urban community. For more information, call 617.287.5830 or visit the program office.

The GEAR UP Program

GEAR UP is a partnership involving UMass Boston; the Gavin Middle School; the Burke, Dorchester Education Complex, and the High Schools at South Boston; and Thompson’s Island Outward Bound. The program’s goal is to significantly improve the performance of all Gavin students and to significantly increase the number of students who successfully pursue post-secondary education. Beginning in the sixth grade and continuing through high school graduation, GEAR UP provides a set of comprehensive services: mentoring, tutoring, counseling, college visits, after-school and summer academic offerings; as well as a variety of enrichment programs. The program also informs students and their parents about college options and financial aid; and builds strong partnerships with families, helping enable them to support high academic achievement and to plan for post-secondary education. Finally, GEAR UP offers professional development for partner school staff, focused on aligning curriculum and instruction with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. For more information, please call 617.287.5842 or visit the program office.

The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)

The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) prepares economically and educationally disadvantaged students for careers in the health field. The program works with middle and high school students to increase the number of economically and educationally disadvantaged students participating in these programs who successfully pursue careers in the health professions. Funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, the program is a collaboration between UMass Boston, Tufts University, the Tufts University School of Medicine, and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. The goal is to create a “pipeline” that starts at Boston middle and high schools, continues through the undergraduate programs at Tufts University and culminates in the public health and medical programs at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Through a variety of career awareness activities, students gain greater exposure to the wide range of health professions and the education and training required to pursue the careers of their choice. Activities include career symposia, guest speakers, job shadow days and various career preparatory workshops.

For additional information about HCOP, please call 617.287.5834 or visit the program office.