Please use the below information to find answers and information for some of the most frequently asked questions that the University Registrar’s Office receives. If you need any additional assistance, please contact our office.
Please use the below information to find answers and information for some of the most frequently asked questions that the University Registrar’s Office receives. If you need any additional assistance, please contact our office.
Academic levels for undergraduate students are separated into four different categories and are determined by a student's cumulative credit amount: Freshman (0-26 credits), Sophomores (27-56 credits), Juniors (57-86 credits), Seniors (87 or more credits).
You can find your advisor's name and contact information in your SPIRE. Click on the Academics tile and it should bring you to the Advisor & Academic Summary page under the General Academic Info section.
Please review the non-degree student specific FAQs on our Non-Degree Enrollment Information page. If you still have questions after reviewing the FAQs on our website, please call us at 413.545.3653 or email us at @email.
If you are seeking enrollment to a class that is already full, requires department or instructor consent, or for which you do not meet the requisites, you will need to get further instructions from the academic department. Most departments are available throughout registration, and their contact information will be available on the department's website. Department websites can be found on the UMass Amherst A to Z Website list.
If you have a hold on your record/account in SPIRE, this could prevent registration. To view a hold in your SPIRE account, please select the Holds option in the Tasks & Help tile. If you have any holds that block enrollment, contact the office which has placed them to clear them before your registration is delayed. If you have an advising hold, contact your department.
To add a course after the add/drop deadline or to late withdraw from a course after the withdrawal deadline, you need to petition the academic dean of your primary major. Please visit our comprehensive list of majors and academic dean offices if you need help with finding yours.
Unofficial transcripts are available through SPIRE for students who attended UMass Amherst anytime during or after Spring 2002. Please log in to SPIRE, click on the Academics tile, and choose the Transcript Request option under the General Academic Info section. Under 'Unofficial Transcript', click on 'View Unofficial Transcript'. Please visit our Transcripts page for more information.
Official transcripts can be ordered directly through SPIRE or from Parchment depending on delivery mode. Please visit our Transcripts page for more information.
For technical issues directly related to Parchment, the University Registrar's Office is unable to assist. You will need to contact Parchment directly for assistance. They have a contact form you can fill out or you can call their Customer Support line at 847.716.3005. You can also contact Parchment through their live chat feature as well.
It's possible that you ordered your official transcript before grades had been officially posted or before your degree had been officially conferred. It is always recommended to review your unofficial transcript before ordering your official transcript to make sure that everything you need is there. Please visit our Transcripts page for more information.
It is an advising tool to show you your progress through your degree program. More information on the ARR is available on our Academic Requirements Report page.
You can change your Graduation date in SPIRE. Click on the Academics tile and expand the Graduation heading in the left-hand menu bar. Select the 'Expected Graduation Term' option and follow the on-screen instructions. Please contact @email if you have any questions.
Senior Year in Absentia is for students who have earned 87 or more credits at UMass Amherst. This allows for students to complete their remaining degree requirements through transfer credit, CLEP exams or online via University+ course offerings. The prior approval form for Senior Year in Absentia has more information regarding the terms and conditions of the Senior Year in Absentia option. Please contact @email if you have more questions.
The degree clearance process will start after grades have been officially posted. It will take approximately six weeks to clear all students for graduation. Diplomas are ordered weekly as degrees are posted to students’ records and you will receive an email once your diploma has been mailed. Please allow 4-6 weeks for both the diploma to be mailed and the CeDiploma to be available to download after you receive the email.
You can change your diploma mailing address in SPIRE. Click on the Academics tile and expand the Graduation heading in the left-hand menu bar. Select the ‘Diploma Preferences’ option and follow the on-screen instructions. (Please do not update your permanent or mailing address for your diploma)
Only your primary major will be printed on your diploma. Secondary majors, minors and concentrations will be available on your official transcript.
You can order an undergraduate replacement diploma by following the instructions on our Undergraduate Replacement Diplomas page. For Graduate Replacement Diplomas - please contact the Graduate School.
Please review the information on our Withdrawing from the University page.
Students who are transferring out of UMass Amherst and to another institution may be required to complete a Transfer Report or a Dean Certification. These can be obtained through the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office. Please visit the Dean of Students Office website for more information.
An enrollment verification will show a student's academic information and enrollment status for a given term. Students may need an enrollment verification to prove to loan companies or scholarship agencies they go to school at UMass Amherst and are enrolled full-time. Enrollment verifications can be requested directly through SPIRE. Please visit our Enrollment and Degree Verification page for more information.
You can submit a re-enrollment application for an upcoming term. Please visit our Re-Enrollment Information page for more information.
For Evening Exam Conflicts, please submit an Evening Exam Conflict form in SPIRE (Manage Classes tile > Class & Finals Schedule > Evening Exam Conflict).
For Final Exam Conflicts, please submit a Final Exam Conflict form in SPIRE (Manage Classes tile > Class & Finals Schedule > Final Exam Conflict).
You can find more information about the exam conflict process on our Exam Information page.
Students can visit the Personal Information section of the Profile tile to see what information they have access to update on their own, like phone and email information and address information. Some information cannot be changed by the student, like legal name changes or SSN updates. Please review the information on our website on how to request updates to your record in SPIRE.
Please visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website for more information.
Course descriptions are available in SPIRE for most courses that were offered during or after the Spring 2003 semester. If you no longer have access to SPIRE, you can access the course offerings as a guest using this link. If you are unable to find the course descriptions you need, please contact our office for assistance ([email protected]; 413.545.0555, option 1).
The University Registrar’s Office does not have access to class materials, like course syllabi. You will need to contact the department directly for this information. Departments will have their contact information on their website. Department websites can be found on the UMass Amherst A to Z Website list.