Terms you may encounter:

NRE – College of Natural Resources and the Environment

QPA - Quality Point Average. An average arrived at by multiplying the grade received by
the number of course credit(s) then dividing by the total number of credits. This is
the way your GPA (Grade Point Average) is described on your transcript.

CUM - Cummulative average.

Units – Credits

Term - Semester

RAC – Registration Access Code. A number assigned to some students at registration time.
If assigned, this number is needed to use the SPIRE system.

R1 – Tier One (Basic Math Skills) University Math requirement

R2 – Tier Two (Analytical Reasoning) University Math Requirement

GEN ED – General Education. The core curriculum required by the University for every
student.

Add/Drop – The period at the beginning of each semester (ends on the 14th day of the
semester) when you can change your course schedule without any
implications.

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Application required for the Financial
Aid Office, 255 Whitmore.

IPO – International Program Office. In charge of the international exchange program.
Located in 467 Hills South.

Commonwealth College – The Honors college at the University. Located in 508 Goodell.

Academic Dean – Handles general academic advising and information regarding
academic matters such as registration, add/drop procedures. repeat
options, withdrawals, academic discipline, referral information.
Dean Goodwin and Dean Baker are your academic deans.

Prior Approval Form – A necessary form to complete if you want to study at another
school and have those courses transfer back to the University.

SIS – Student Information System. Includes SPIRE and a host of other packages and
programs used to manage student records, financial aid, student accounts, housing
assignments, and course and schedule information at the University of Massachusetts.

SPIRE – The web site for the new student information system. It is used by students,
instructors, and authorized academic staff. http://spire.umass.edu

Amherst Campus ID – EMPLID. Everyone in the SIS has an 8-digit ID number. This
number has been randomly assigned to you. It has no association
with your social security number or any other identifier. All new
students will have this 8-digit Amherst Campus ID printed on their
Ucard. Your Amherst Campus ID is your SPIRE logon ID.