Academic Regulations - Undergraduate
Requirements and Standards
Sections below designated by asterisks* do not apply to the College of Public and Community Service. For further information about CPCS regulations and procedures, please consult the CPCS Red Book, available from the CPCS dean’s office.
Graduation Requirements*
To graduate, a student must (a) meet the requirements of a major department or professional program; (b) fulfill the general education requirements of his or her college, school, or professional program; (c) meet the University-wide diversity curriculum requirement; (d) maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative average; and (e) successfully complete at least 120 credit hours (123 for nursing majors). This total must include a minimum of 30 residency credits at the University. For students admitted to the University prior to the fall of 1979, this total must include 45 residency credits.
Note on the diversity requirement: UMass Boston has asked its four undergraduate colleges to institute, as part of their curriculum, course offerings which would assure that all University students understand the richness and complexity of diversity in our society. A specific description of the course work meeting the diversity requirement can be found in the University’s undergraduate catalog.
Departmental and University Honors*
A student may graduate with honors in his or her major field by meeting the requirements of a departmental honors committee, which usually involve successful completion of an honors thesis or seminar or attainment of a 3.5 average in the field. Admission to honors work is governed by the departmental honors committee although a cumulative average of 3.0 is required of honors students in all departments. Students may count up to six hours of honors work toward graduation, whether or not it meets departmental standards for honors.
Each college names students to its Dean’s List based on semester grade point average. This distinction is entered on the student’s transcript and acknowledged by a congratulatory card or letter. The colleges also elect students to membership in various national honor societies, and hold annual Honors Convocations at which outstanding student achievement is recognized.
The University bestows three separate honors designations for scholastic excellence reflected in the cumulative average:
Summa cum laude 3.75 or above
Magna cum laude 3.50 to 3.74 inclusive
Cum laude 3.30 to 3.49 inclusive
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. No administrative control of attendance is exercised except as hereinafter provided. In case of illness, students should explain their absence directly to their instructors. Grades shall not be reduced because of absences due to illness when students have met their instructors’ requirements for making up back work. Students should report illnesses to the University Health Service, which will verify dates of absence if requested by faculty members. Please note that individual colleges and programs may have additional regulations and restrictions regarding class attendance.
Course Load for Full-Time Students*
Full-time freshmen and sophomores normally carry four courses for 12 credit hours; full-time juniors and seniors normally carry five courses for 15 credit hours. A junior or senior science major may carry a course load of 18 credits. A student with a cumulative average of at least 3.0 overall (or at least 3.5 in the most recently completed semester) may take one extra course in excess of 18 credit hours with the permission of his or her advisor. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must obtain such permission from the Assistant Dean.
Administrative Procedures
Transfer Records*
The cumulative average of a transfer student at a former school is not carried over to the University. The student begins to achieve a new cumulative average upon enrollment.
A transfer student cannot be dismissed for poor grades in the first semester at the University but, for all subsequent semesters, the student must attain the cumulative average necessary for good standing in the class to which he or she was assigned (see the "Academic Standing" section on page 000).
Registration
Registration Policy: New students and continuing students who are in good academic and financial standing with the University may register. A student who wishes to obtain a degree from the University must be formally admitted to a program. Applications and information may be obtained at the Admissions Office, or by calling the Enrollment Information Service at 617.287.6000. TTY/TDD for the hearing impaired is 617.287.6010.
E-mail is bos.admis@umassp.edu.
A matriculated student who has not been continuously enrolled must file an application for readmission with the Office of the Registrar.
Registration Procedures: All currently enrolled students in good academic and financial standing are expected to register, using the Touch Tone Registration System, during a registration period near the end of each semester, for the following semester. Complete information about dates, procedures, billing, advising schedules, and locations is available at the Office of the Registrar during the registration period. Bills are mailed to students who register.
Registration During the “Add/Drop Period”: New, readmitted, or non-degree students may register during the Add/Drop Period at the beginning of the semester for which they are registering.
Late Registration Policy: All continuing degree-seeking and certificate students must register during the Registration Period; all new, readmitted, or non-degree students must be registered by the end of the Add/Drop Period. Otherwise these students will be assessed late registration fees of $50.00.
Course Changes
Students may add, drop, or substitute courses without notation of change on their records during the Add/Drop Period---usually five days at the beginning of each semester. Students are academically as well as financially liable for all courses not officially dropped during the Add/Drop Period. To add/drop, a student should n drop all courses using the Touch-Tone Registration System
- use the Touch-Tone Registration System to add most courses (refer to the Schedule of Courses Book.)
- pick up an Add Form in the Registrar’s Office to add specific courses (refer to the Schedule of Courses Booklet.)
Course Withdrawal Option
After the Add/Drop Period, and within the published course withdrawal date, a student may withdraw from individual courses using the Touch Tone Registration System. The grade of “W,” given for withdrawn courses, will remain on the student’s record but will not be calculated in the cumulative quality point average. To withdraw from a course a student must call the Touch Tone Registration System after the end of the Add/Drop period and before the published course withdrawal deadline. Instructions and deadlines are listed on the Course Pass/Fail & Course Withdrawal Worksheet in the Schedule of Courses book, available each semester from the Registrar’s Office.
Please note:
- A course withdrawal selection cannot be cancelled after the deadline.
- No refund is issued for course withdrawals.
- Failure to attend class does not constitute an automatic withdrawal.
- If the course a student wishes to withdraw from is a College of Advancing and Professional Studies course, the student must contact the College of Advancing and Professional Studies directly at 617.287.7900 or visit the office in room 203 on the second floor of Wheatley Hall.
Any student who does not complete the requirements for a course, who does not secure approval for a grade of “Inc” (Incomplete) in the course, and who does not withdraw from the course by following the withdrawal procedure described above, will receive a grade of “F” in that course at the end of the semester unless the instructor has submitted the grade of “NA” for the student during the third week of classes.
Change of Major*
A student who has declared a major field and wishes to change it must obtain a “Change of Major” form from the college dean’s advising staff. The student must then consult with, and obtain the written approval of, the chairpersons of the former and new major departments, and return the completed form to the Registrar’s Office.
Final Examination Schedule Changes
A student may have a final examination re-scheduled if he or she has two examinations scheduled at the same time or three examinations scheduled on the same day. The student should request such a change from the instructors involved.
Grading
Letter Grades, Numerical Equivalents, and Cumulative Averages*
The University uses a system of letter grades which are equivalent to numerical “quality points” according to the following list:
| Letter Quality | Grade Point Equivalent |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.70 minimum passing |
| F | 0.00 fail |
| Inc | Incomplete |
| P | Passing, under Pass/Fail |
| Option | (see below) |
| Y | Interim grade in a declared year-long course |
| W | Withdrawn |
| N/A | Non-Attending |
The quality points for each grade are multiplied by the number of credits for the course, and the totals for all courses added to arrive at the student’s cumulative quality point figure. The cumulative quality point figure is divided by the number of cumulative credit hours.
The Pass/Fail Option*
While working towards an undergraduate degree, a student may select one, but no more than one, course each semester, up to a maximum of eight, to be taken on a pass/fail basis. (Mandatory pass/fail courses are not counted toward this limit.) The grade of “P” will be given for a successfully completed Pass/Fail course; it will be included in credit toward graduation, but not in the cumulative grade point average. The grade of “F” will count as a failure. To enroll in a course on a pass/fail basis, a student must call the Touch Tone Registration System after the end of the Add/Drop period and before the published pass/fail deadline. Instructions and deadlines are listed on the Course Pass/Fail & Course Withdrawal Worksheet in the course schedule book, available each semester from the Registrar’s Office. Please note that 1) a pass/fail selection cannot be cancelled after the published pass/fail deadline; 2) students should carefully check their college and major, department, or professional program requirements with respect to pass/fail courses before exercising the pass/fail option; and 3) if the selected course a student wishes to enroll in on a pass/fail basis is offered through the College of Advancing and Professional Studies, the student must contact the College of Advancing and Professional Studies directly at 617.287.7900, or visit the office: room 03 on the second floor of Wheatley Hall.
The Not-Attending (NA) Grade
The Not-Attending (NA) grade signifies that although a student registers for a course and appears on the class roster, the student never attended the class. The NA grade is not a substitute for dropping a course, since a student is still responsible for all tuition and fee charges for courses designated NA on his/her record. The NA grade has no effect on the student’s cumulative grade point average, nor on a student’s financial aid award package. Note: VA benefits may be affected. For more information contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at 617.287.5875.
The NA grade designation may be replaced on a student’s record by a “W” (withdrawal) provided that the student submits a withdrawal card before the withdrawal deadline (see above section, Course Changes).
The Incomplete (Inc) Grade*
A student receiving the grade of Incomplete is allowed one full year in which to complete the course. The new grade must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the grading deadline for that semester, i.e., by the end of the next fall semester for fall incompletes; by the end of the next spring semester for spring incompletes. The grade for any course not completed by this deadline will be converted to the grade of “F”, and the student will not be allowed to complete the course.
Failed Courses*
A failed course required for a degree must be repeated. If it is repeated and passed, the original failure will not be computed in the cumulative average, although it will remain on the student’s record.
Repeated Courses*
A student may repeat any course, regardless of the grade received, but there may be only one such repetition. If a student repeats a course, both grades will appear on the student’s transcript, but only the second grade will be computed in the student’s cumulative average. Each UMass Boston undergraduate may choose to repeat a total of four courses, one time each. An exception: A course offered in sequence with others cannot be repeated out of sequence. For example, if you have completed Spanish 101 and 102, you cannot repeat Spanish 101.
Regulations Governing Academic Standing
Good Standing*
Each degree-seeking student must meet the following minimum retention standards:
| Sum of UMass Boston and Transfer Credits | Required Minimum Cumulative Average |
|---|---|
| 1-15 | 1.50 |
| 16-30 | 1.65 |
| 31-45 | 1.75 |
| 46-59 | 1.90 |
| 60 and above | 2.00 |
A student is in good standing if he or she maintains a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher.
Academic Warning
A student whose cumulative average falls between 2.0 and the required minimum will receive a warning, printed in an obvious place on the grade report. A description of retention standards will be included with the grade report.
Probation
At the end of the first semester in which a student does not meet the required minimum cumulative average, he or she will be placed on probation. A letter will be sent with the grade report informing the student of his or her probationary status and strongly urging consultation with the student’s advisor to review the forthcoming semester’s program. While on academic probation, a student shall not be eligible to hold office in any recognized student organization, to represent the University in any sense on or off campus, or to participate in any intercollegiate athletic teams.
Suspension
The student who does not meet the required minimum cumulative average for the second semester will be suspended for one semester. The student may apply for readmission through the appropriate authority. The readmitting body may set conditions on the student’s schedule and shall set standards for retention. A student who has achieved a semester average of at least 2.0 for the semester immediately preceding suspension may appeal for an additional probationary period. The appeal authority may set conditions for granting the appeal. If the student does not meet the conditions, suspension will automatically follow.
Dismissal
A student who, subsequent to suspension and readmission, does not meet the retention standards set by the readmitting body shall be dismissed. A student who has been dismissed may appeal for readmission after one year.
A student who is suspended or dismissed may not enroll as a non-degree student and may not take classes from the College of Advancing and Professional Studies.
Any student who is not mailed a notice of suspension or dismissal before the beginning of a semester will be allowed to complete that semester.
Note: these minimum retention standards may be subject to more restrictive collegiate or program policy. They do not apply where the cumulative grade point average is not tabulated.
Voluntary Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from the University before the last day of classes of a semester, although the effective date of withdrawal is that on which all forms are completed, signed and returned to the Registrar’s Office. Students withdrawing receive a “W” for each course in which they are enrolled. Failure to complete a withdrawal form will result in the recording of the grade of “F” for all courses at the end of the term. To withdraw from the University, a student must do the following:
- consult with a member of the Dean’s or Program Director’s advising staff, who will provide and sign a withdrawal form;
- receive clearance from any University office in which financial charges have been accrued. These offices may be the library, the Health Service Office, the Bursar’s Office, the Office of theVice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of Financial Aid Services, the book store, and the science laboratories.
Readmission to the University*
Students who leave the University in good standing may resume their studies by obtaining a readmission form from the Office of the Registrar, completing it, and returning it to that Office, with a readmission fee of $25.00 in a check or money order made payable to the University of Massachusetts Boston. They will be notified in writing of their readmission status.
Students who have been dismissed from the University and wish to resume their education should pick up and complete a readmission form from the Office of the Registrar, write a letter of appeal addressed to the Standards and Credits Committee of their college or program and make an appointment for an interview with a member of the advising staff of their college or program.
All previous course work at the University remains part of the permanent record for students who have been readmitted, and the cumulative average includes all prior grades, regardless of how much time elapsed between enrollments.
Deadlines for Receipt of Readmission Forms
Students wishing to re-enter the University in the fall semester must have their readmission forms received by June 1, and in the spring semester by November 1. After these dates, readmission will be permitted only upon the availability of space.
Leave of Absence
Degree-seeking (matriculated) students intending to complete a degree at UMass Boston may take a leave of absence from the University for one or more semesters. They may request such a leave at any point during a semester before the last day of classes. Students taking a leave of absence receive a “W” for each course in which they are enrolled. Please note: Students resuming their studies after a leave of absence must apply for readmission using the procedures described above.
Certificate Students
Certificate students are subject to the same regulations on academic standing as matriculated students.
Non-degree students*
Non-degree students are subject to the following minimum retention standards:
| Sum of UMass Boston Credits |
Minimum Required Cumulative Average |
|---|---|
| 1-11 | 1.75 |
| 12 and above | 2.00 |
A non-degree student who does not meet these retention standards shall be dismissed. Non-degree students wishing to appeal a dismissal must do so through the Registrar’s Office.
