Goal: Ensure an excellent, accessible, and inclusive education for all students.
Rationale: Through optimal support and resources, effective pedagogies, and well-informed curricula, all our students can successfully formulate and achieve their goals and graduate prepared to pursue fulfilling lives as they contribute to the common good and a sustainable future.
Objectives and Strategies
1. Provide a transformative education through high-quality instruction and an excellent and evolving curriculum
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Improve instructional excellence through faculty support and recognition for curricular innovation |
| Strategy 2 | Expand and deepen curricular opportunities through hands on/experiential learning and high-impact practices (HIPs) |
Metrics
Master's and doctoral student perception of how their program experience prepared them to achieve the student learning objectives
(2024 composite measures, Scale: 1-4)
Percent of graduating seniors who reported participation in at least one high-impact practice
(2025)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking Among 225 Top National Public Universities
(2026 undergraduate)
Graduating senior satisfaction with career preparation and guidance in major
(2025 average, Scale: 1=Very Dissatisfied, 2=Somewhat Dissatisfied, 3=Somewhat Satisfied, 4=Very Satisfied)
Master's student perception of career-related information and guidance in program
(2024 average, Scale: 1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good, 4=Very Good, 5=Excellent)
Undergraduate student experience with academic major
(2025 composite measure, Scale: 1-4)
Graduating senior perception of how their UMass Amherst experience contributed to their knowledge/analytical, personal/interpersonal, and communication development
(2025 student learning objective composite measures, Scale: 1-4)
2. Provide holistic support throughout the student journey to foster success
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Strengthen and expand holistic student supports and student success initiatives through deepening collaboration and partnership |
| Strategy 2 | Improve rates of completion and retention |
| Strategy 3 | Bolster enrollment management to meet 21st Century needs |
Metrics
4-year graduation rate
(F2021 Cohort)
6-year graduation rate
(F2019 Cohort)
First-year retention rate
(F2024 Cohort)
Graduating senior satisfaction with academic experience
(2025 average, Scale: 1=Very Dissatisfied, 2=Somewhat Dissatisfied, 3=Somewhat Satisfied, 4=Very Satisfied)
Master's and doctoral student perceptions of academic experience
(2024 average, Scale: 1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good, 4=Very Good, 5=Excellent)
Graduating senior satisfaction with the quality and availability of academic advisors in their major
(2025 composite measure, Scale: 1-4)
Master's and doctoral student perceptions on advising and guidance in program
(2024 average, Scale: 1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good, 4=Very Good, 5=Excellent)
Undergraduate and graduate student average sense of belonging and inclusion: "I feel I belong at UMass"
(2021 Scale: 1=To No Extent, 2=To Some Extent, 3=To Great Extent)
Time to degree for transfer, master's, and doctoral students
(2025)
View all strategic plan goals and objectives
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