Registration Information for Fall 2008*

* This information pertains ONLY to on-campus graduate students in University courses. Students in Online and off-site programs (such as off-campus MBA programs, Public Health Practice, and off-campus Education programs) should contact Continuing and Professional Education for registration procedures.

• Registration for the fall semester will begin April 7, 2008.

• Classes begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. 

• Registration for the fall 2008 semester ends Monday, September 15, 2008 at 5 PM.

Early registration is strongly recommended so that financial aid and/or stipend checks can be processed in a timely manner. Registration takes place on the Internet using the University's SPIRE student information system ( https://spire.umass.edu/ ). All students must register each semester until the degree/certificate is awarded (see Continuous Enrollment/Program Fee).

Health Insurance for students who register for less than 5 credits (or who pay the continuous enrollment fee) is not automatic. You will need to contact Health Services at 577-5192 for coverage information.

Holds on your record:

Check your Personal Portfolio on Spire to determine if there are any holds on your record that will prevent your registration. You must contact the office indicated on Spire to remove the hold prior to attempting to register. All holds must be resolved in time to register by the deadline.

New students:

• If you have not already done so, you must notify the Graduate Admissions Office that you intend to enroll prior to registering for any courses.
• You will receive emails from OIT that include your Net ID and password for entry into the SPIRE system. Students who do not have valid email addresses will receive an ID mailer. If you have not received an email or a letter within two weeks after confirming admission with the Graduate Admissions Office or in time to register by the deadline, please contact the OIT Help Desk at (413) 545-9400 for assistance.
• All graduate students must register for credits for their first semester. If you do not enroll by the deadline, September 15, 2008, your admission will be voided.

Continuous Enrollment/Program Fee, Class Number 73852 :  If you are not registering for any courses or credits for the fall semester, you must enroll for the Continuous Enrollment course, also known as the Program Fee. An incomplete course from a previous semester does not maintain your enrollment. First semester students are not eligible for Continuous Enrollment. You can find this Continuous Enrollment course in the Schedule of Classes under GRADSCH 999 or use class number 73852 for fall 2008. The cost for Continuous Enrollment/Program Fee is $275.00 for which you will receive a bill from the Bursar's Office. Submitting $275.00 to the Bursar's Office does not constitute enrollment by the deadline. If you need to pay this fee by credit card, please visit or call the Graduate Records Office (413-545-0024) by September 15, 2008. 

Penalty for late registration:  If you do not register by the September 15, 2008 deadline, you will be withdrawn from your graduate program. If you wish to enroll after the deadline, you will be required to obtain readmission authorization from your Graduate Program Director and will be required to pay the Readmission Fee of $125.00 in addition to any course fees or retroactive Continuous Enrollment/Program Fees. Readmission under this condition is subject to graduate program approval and is not guaranteed.

Graduation:

• If you expect to graduate at the end of the Spring 2008 semester, you must complete all degree requirements and submit your thesis/dissertation and a Degree Eligibility Form to the Office of Degree Requirements by April 30, 2008. 

SPIRE problems:  If you encounter any problems with registering on SPIRE, you must contact the Graduate Records Office for registration problems or the Office of Information Technologies for technical problems as soon as possible. All registration problems must be resolved no later than September 15, 2008. 

Course Offerings:  Use SPIRE to access course information.

• Choose the Course Guides/Search Schedule of Classes button for instructor and meeting time information.
• Choose the Course Guides/Search Course Catalog button for course descriptions.
• A printable version of the class schedule can be found at http://www.umass.edu/registrar/registration/index.htm . This website should be used for course information only, as some of the registration information may refer specifically to undergraduate students.

Student Billing : Tuition and Fee bills will be sent to the mailing address on SPIRE. Please verify that your mailing address is correct and make any changes by September 15, 2008 so that your bill will be sent to the correct address. These bills will be due on or about the week of October 13, 2008.