Glossary

A B C D E F G H I L M N P R S T U W

A

Academic Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal: Steps in a process over two or more semesters that starts with a student’s failure to maintain the required minimum cumulative average. Procedures for undergraduate and graduate students differ. Please refer to the “Academic Regulations” section of this handbook.

Accreditation: The process of accreditation, carried out periodically, certifies that UMass Boston is “qualified” to grant graduate and undergraduate degrees to its students. UMass Boston is accredited by an independent organization called the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Administrative Withdrawal: Involuntary withdrawal of a student from the University for non-academic reasons. The most common forms of administrative withdrawal are for non-payment of a student’s tuition bill or for failure to turn in to the University Health Service (as required by state law) a health history form.

Add-Drop Period: The period of time at the beginning of a semester (usually the first week) in which students may add courses to or drop courses from their schedule. Students do not pay for courses dropped from their schedules without penalty during the add-drop period.

B

Bursar: The office responsible for the billing and collection of students' tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters. (Summer school tuition and fee bills are collected by the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education). web site: http://www.umb.edu/students/bursar/

C

CAGS: Stands for Certificate of Advanced Graduate Standing This is the certificate awarded by programs at the post-master’s level of graduate study.

Capstone: A graduate program requirement taking the form of a thesis, final project, internship, practicum, or final examination, and synthesizing a student’s academic work in the program.

Catwalk: The second-floor level enclosed passage connecting all campus buildings. The Healey Library is entered from the Catwalk.

Certificate Program, Undergraduate: Specialized program that offers students significant exposure to specialized career-oriented skills. The student is awarded a certificate, and completion of the program is recorded on the student’s transcript.

Certificate Program, Graduate: a program of 12 or more credits at either the post-baccalaureate or the post-master’s level. UMass Boston currently offers thirteen graduate certificate programs.

Chancellor: The chief executive officer of UMass Boston. Each of the five members of the UMass system (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, Worcester) has its own Chancellor.

Class Standing: Denotes freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student status. (The term is sometimes taken to mean a student’s rank in class. UMass Boston does not track class rank.)

CLEP: College Level Placement Examination CLEP tests are used by some departments to award graduation credits to students based on their prior knowledge or learning. The student, however, must attain a passing score. The tests are given in the University Advising Center.

Convocation: 1. A day set aside in the fall semester (usually in September or early October) to officially celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. 2. A ceremony held by each of the colleges and the Office of Graduate Studies and Research before graduation to recognize the accomplishments of their outstanding graduates.

CO-OP (also known as Cooperative Education): a 6-month full-time paid position related to a student’s major or career interests. For further information on the University’s Cooperative Education program, contact the University Advising Center.

Core/Distribution Requirements, Undergraduate: General education requirements which stipulate that students must take a certain number of courses distributed over six or seven specific areas. All colleges have distribution requirements. Students are urged to contact their advisors for a full explanation of their college’s distribution requirements.

Corequisite: A course which must be taken at the same time as another course.

Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education (CCDE): The University'sdivision offering courses on Saturdays and off campus in the evenings. This division also administers summer school and a winter intersession program. CCDE credit-bearing courses are regular UMass Boston courses and can be applied toward graduation.

Course Withdrawal: Formal withdrawal from a course after the Add-Drop Period. A student must initiate this action with the appropriate Registrar’s Office by the course withdrawal deadline, either in person or through the phone registration system. Once a student withdraws from a course a “W” will appear on the student’s transcript next to the course. Students are obligated to pay for courses from which they withdraw.

Credit Hour: The value of work assigned to any given course, usually measured in the number of hours of class meeting time per week (e.g. three credits equals three hours of class per week).

Cross Registration, Undergraduate: A program designed to allow full-time students to enroll for their fifth or sixth course at one of four area public institutions: Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, Mass Bay Community College, and the Mass College of Art. Course fees and tuition are waived for these courses.

Curriculum: “All the courses of study offered by an educational institution” (American Heritage Dictionary). This term may also refer to the courses related to a particular field of study.

D

Dean’s List, Undergraduate: An acknowledgment that a student has achieved a certain minimum grade point average in any given semester. Dean’s List achievement is noted on a student’s transcript. Each college has its own standard.

Diversity Requirement, Undergraduate: In order to graduate, all undergraduate students are required to take courses that address human diversity as a major theme. Each college offers courses that meet this requirement. Consult with your academic advisor about meeting the diversity requirement.

E

ESL: Acronym for English as a Second Language The University offers several courses in English language for students whose first language is not English. The University also offers an ESL graduate program that prepares students to teach individuals whose first language is not English.

Elective: Refers to courses a student takes that are not required to fulfill either core or major degree requirements. All students must take electives in order to graduate.

Extended Day: Refers to courses offered on campus after 4pm weekdays.

F

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid This is the application used by UMass Boston students to apply for financial aid. Other forms may also be required.

G

GenEd: Short for “General Education.” A University-wide program, administered by each college. The general education program offers courses to help undergraduates learn the principal approaches to knowledge; master verbal and quantitative reasoning; develop habits of logical thought and critical analysis; and understand and respect diversity.

Good Standing: Status achieved by maintaining a cumulative grade point average above a certain level (undergraduate and graduate requirements differ). Students must be in good standing in order to continue studying towards their degrees; to proceed to an internship, practicum or capstone; or to initiate the dissertation process.

GPA: Grade Point Average: The measure used to determine a student’s overall academic performance. It is calculated by dividing the quality points (grade equivalents) for courses completed by the total number of credits completed.

Graduate Assistant: The University offers qualified graduate students a limited number of assistantships in teaching or research. An assistantship is both a means for providing financial assistance to students and, more importantly, a mechanism for providing research and/or teaching opportunities for the graduate assistant.

Graduate Course Numbers: Courses numbered 500 and above are generally considered graduate offerings. The master’s level of course work is indicated by course numbers 600-699 and the doctoral level by course numbers 700-899.

H

Honors Program, Undergraduate: The Honors Program provides academically talented undergraduates with special opportunities to work closely with faculty in an enriching and stimulating special curriculum. The program is open to incoming freshmen, transfer students and all others enrolled in CAS, CM, and CNHS. For more information, call 7-5520.

I

Incomplete Grade: The grade given for a course when a portion of the semester’s work cannot be completed due to circumstances outside a student’s control. A student must take the initiative to obtain permission from the instructor to receive this grade, and must complete the course within one year.

Internship: A semester-long work experience related to a student’s major or career interest. An internship usually carries academic credit and is generally unpaid. For further information on internship placements, contact the University Advising Center, your CPCS advisor, or your graduate program director.'

L

LL: Acronym for “lower level” which is the basement parking level at the University. It is also the bottom floor of the Healey Library.

Lower Division: Courses at the 100- and 200-level are generally considered lower division undergraduate courses. These courses tend to be introductory or to provide a less in-depth examination of a particular topic.

M

Mass Media: UMass Boston’s student-run newspaper.

Matriculate: To be formally accepted for admission into a graduate or undergraduate program at the University.

N

Non-degree-seeking Student: (Also “non-matriculated” or “special” student): Someone taking classes who has not formally been admitted to the University. Such a student may apply (with permission) up to 16 undergraduate credits or up to 6 graduate credits toward a future degree.

P

PIN: Acronym for “Personal Identification Number.” PINs are used by students to access the Touch-Tone Telephone Registration system. A unique PIN is issued to each student.

Placement Examination: Tests in English or mathematics which are generally given during new student orientation to determine appropriate course placements for students in these subjects. Sometimes called “Diagnostic Test” or “Diagnostic Exam.”

Plagiarism: “The act of stealing or using the ideas or writings of another as one’s own.” And just so we’re not accused of it, we acknowledge that this definition was quoted from the American Heritage Dictionary.

Plaza: The open area bordered by the Quinn Administration building, the Science Center, the Healey Library and the Clark Athletic Center. On a warm spring or autumn day it’s a great place to hang out.

Prerequisite: A course which must be taken prior to enrolling in another course. Prerequisites are most common in mathematics and the sciences.

President: The chief executive officer of the University of Massachusetts. Chancellors at each of the five members of the UMass system (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, Worcester) report to the president of the University.

Prior Approval Form: If you wish to take courses at another institution
and transfer them to UMass Boston, you must complete this form before enrolling at the other institution.

Program Fee: Matriculation at the graduate level requires continuous enrollment. Students who are not registered for classes, independent study, thesis or dissertation credits, must maintain continuous enrollment by completing a program fee form, having it approved by their graduate program directors, and paying the program fee.

Program of Study, Undergraduate: Specialized program that offers students significant exposure to a special field of study within a department, or an area of interdisciplinary study. Completion of the program is recorded on a student’s transcript.

Provost: The chief academic officer of the campus. The Provost is also the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

R

Reading Period: The period of time between the end of classes and the beginning of final exams which allows students to prepare for their exams or finish major papers.

Readmission: Coming back to register for courses at the University after not attending classes for a semester or more. Students in this situation may obtain information about readmission to the University by contacting the Registrar’s Office (or, for graduate students, the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Graduate Registrar).

S

Schedule Book: A book produced each term by the Registrar’s Office listing the courses (and their course numbers, schedule numbers, times and room assignments) that will be taught the following semester. This book is used by students for course registration.

Section: Courses that have large enrollments may be divided into “sections.” Each course section is then identified by a separate schedule number.

Special Student: See “Non-degree-seeking Student.”

Statute of Limitations for Graduate Study: Policy governing the period of time allowed from initial matriculation to the completion of graduate degree requirements. Please consult individual graduate program directors for the limitation established by each degree program.

Student Life: The University office whose purpose is to enhance a student’s University experience outside the classroom. The Student Government Association, the Graduate Student Assembly, student centers and student organizations all work closely with the Student Life office. This office also monitors the expenditure of Student Activity fee monies. Want to be involved in campus life? Visit the Student Life Office on the fourth floor of Wheatley Hall.

T

Transcript: A student’s official academic history. The transcript lists all courses in which a student has enrolled at UMass Boston. Grades and cumulative GPA are also a part of this record. (CPCS students’ transcripts list all competencies registered for, their completion, and date of completion.)

U

UL: An acronym for “upper level” which designates the upper parking garage as well as floors of the Quinn Administration Building and the Healey Library.

Upper Division: Courses at the 300- and 400-level are generally considered upper division undergraduate courses. These courses are more difficult and usually provide in-depth focus on a more narrow topic than lower division courses.

W

Withdrawal: (also see “Course Withdrawal”): This term usually denotes total separation from the University, which may be initiated voluntarily by the student or may be imposed upon the student by the University (for non-payment of money owed to the University or for disciplinary reasons). Students who wish to withdraw voluntarily from the University have until the last day of classes to do so.

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