UMass Amherst: Residential Academic Programs

QUESTIONS:

ANSWERS:

1. What is a RAP?
A RAP is a community of students with similar academic interests or majors who:

live together in a residence hall and
have a few classes in common , some of which are taught in the residential area .

RAPS are designed to help first-year students make a smooth transition to UMass. Joining a RAP enables students to:

Be part of a small community on a large campus
Connect easily with classmates for study groups and class projects
Receive support and assistance with academic decisions

2. What are the benefits of joining a RAP?
Students report that when they live and study together they do better academically, form lasting friendships, and have more satisfying college experience!

At UMass, RAPs have the following benefits:

Ease of Registration: Each RAP includes specific courses for students to enroll in. This provides students with between 4-10 credits. Students then choose additional classes on Main Campus to complete their course load (full load is 12-15 credits).
A Smooth Transition: You can build a solid foundation on which to begin your academic and social exploration of the university, by enrolling in common classes with students in your RAP, attending classes within your residential area, and exploring learning opportunities outside the classroom through themed activities in your hall.
A Supportive Community: You can learn how to form study groups and work cooperatively with peers who share similar interests, and get extra assistance from Peer Mentors—undergraduate students who live in your halls and are trained to provide academic support
Additional Academic Opportunities: You can choose a RAP that offers added features, such as a first-year seminar or reserved seats in popular lecture classes. Refer to the descriptions of specific RAPs to learn more about the programs that offer these features.

3. Which RAP can I join?
Most RAPs are open to all 1 st -year students. Some RAPs are restricted to students who are admitted to UMass in specific majors, or as undeclared students. Additional RAPs are available to certain students based on an invitation or application process. Refer to the RAP index to see the criteria for each RAP. Link to index

4. Am I required to join a RAP?
NO — participation in a RAP is completely voluntary, but all entering first-year students are encouraged to explore the RAP opportunities and read comments from previous students who have participated in a RAP.

5. Can I join more than one RAP?
NO —you can only join ONE RAP. Participation in a RAP is a “package deal” which includes specific courses and a designated residence hall. If you are attracted to more than one program, carefully review all elements of the packages to determine which RAP is the best fit for you.

Joining a RAP does not exclude you from being able to participate in other academic and non-academic opportunities at the University. You are encouraged to explore different ways to get involved academically and socially at UMass.

6. Why are there so many choices?
RAP recognizes that UMass students come from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of interests. RAP offers a variety of options so that students have opportunities to choose a program that best fits with their academic interests and on-campus living preferences.

When considering which RAP is the best match for you:

Read the descriptions of the different RAPs to get a sense of what is offered. Think about your own interests and goals— e.g.: What did you enjoy studying in high school? What types of majors are you interested in learning more about?
Look carefully at the additional features that accompany different RAPs. For example, do you like the idea of a first-year seminar and the opportunity to work closely faculty or with an academic advisor? Do you want to connect with a group of students around a common interest or are you just interested in having a few small classes in the residential area?
Once you have selected a RAP that interests you, check out where the RAPs are located, as many of the programs are offered in different residential areas, presenting you with several options about where to live.

7. Why are Focus RAPs the best choice for students who enter the university without a declared major? (Focus Enterprise for students with an interest in business and Focus Connections for all other students.)
Focus RAPs have the special feature of the OASIS First-Year Seminar which is a 1-credit class that meets once per week. Throughout the semester, students in OASIS work closely with an academic advisor to explore how their personality, interests, and abilities match with possible majors and careers. In addition, students learn to improve academic success strategies (i.e. study skills and time management) and navigate the people and offices on the UMass campus.

8. Where are RAPs located?
RAPs are available in four different residential areas on campus—Central , Northeast, Orchard Hill, and Southwest. Most are located in Residential First-Year Experience halls. The different residential areas at UMass have unique characteristics, which you can read more about on the UMass Housing and Residence Life website.

9. Who else lives in the residence halls where the RAPs are located?
This varies depending on the hall. Most halls accommodate a variety RAPS. These halls also accommodate first-year students who wish to live in the hall but are not affiliated with a particular RAP. Your hall will also be occupied by residential life staff (e.g., Resident Assistants -RAs), and Peer Mentors— undergraduates who are trained to provide academic support to incoming students.

10. Will my roommate be another student in the same RAP?
It depends upon the program you join:

YES , students enrolled in the following RAPs are required to be roommates with others in their program:

All Commonwealth College Honors RAPs
All Isenberg School of Management Fellows
BioTAP
Celestial Observations RAP
Computer Science Majors RAP
Engineering Majors RAP
English TAP
Ernst & Young Partners in Education (PiE) RAP
Global Opportunities RAP
Nursing Majors RAP
Performing & Visual Arts Majors RAP
Physical Sciences RAP
Psychology Majors RAP
Sustainable Environment RAP

MAYBE , Students who join the following RAPs may request to room with another student in the same RAP or a student in a different RAP in the same residence hall. If the student does not request a roommate he/she will likely be assigned a roommate from the same RAP.

Please know that although you are not required to room with another student in your RAP, the rooms for RAP students are clustered together in the residence halls. If you room with a student from a different RAP, you may not live on the corridor with the other students in your RAP.

Arts & Humanities RAP
Careers in Education RAP
Communication Majors RAP
Culture & Society RAP
Focus Enterprise RAP
Focus Connections RAP
Health Sciences RAP
Political Science Majors RAP
Politics Today RAP
Public Health & Wellness RAP
Social Justice RAP
Writing & Literature RAP

Students who request a roommate of someone who did not join a RAP may be granted that request IF there is space in the residence hall.

11. How many students participate in RAPs?
More than 40% of incoming students join RAPS. For the fall 2008 semester, approximately 1,800 students will be joining RAPs.

12. How many students are in each RAP?
RAPs vary in size. Some RAPs have as few as 24 students, whereas others can accommodate up to 100 students or more. In the late spring, the specific number of spaces for each program will be posted on the program webpage.

13. Will I meet students who are not part of my RAP?
YES. While a RAP is intended to foster a sense of community among its participating students, it is not designed to isolate you from other students at the university. In fact, there are many opportunities to connect with other students at UMass—including students who live in your residence hall but are not affiliated with your RAP, as well as students in your classes on the main campus. You are encouraged to explore different ways to get involved academically and socially at UMass—talk with your RA or a Peer Mentor to find out about the many opportunities that UMass offers!

14. Will ALL of my classes be in the residential area where I am living?
NO . Please refer to the details of the specific programs to determine where your RAP classes will meet. Courses affiliated with your RAP may be in the hall where you live, or they may be in another building within the same residential area. Some classes may meet on the main campus. Also, the courses you enroll in as part of your RAP only fulfill a portion of your required credits for the semester. During New Students Orientation in the summer, you will be working with your academic advisor to enroll in additional courses which will meet on the main campus.

15. Can I join a RAP in the spring?
NO . You can only join a RAP in the fall semester of your freshman year. You continue to live in the same room for the entire academic year.

16. Do I have to wait until summer orientation ( NSO ) to sign up for a RAP?
NO . In fact, you can hold a spot in a RAP as early as May 15 th . Please carefully read the section on How to Join a RAP for procedures and deadlines.

17. Create you own question.
If you have a question we did not answer, please Contact our program offices

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