Academic Regulations > Graduate School Academic Regulations > Enrollment Policies

Unless otherwise noted a course may be taken more than once but may be offered only once toward degree requirements. All enrollments and all grades will appear on the transcript and will count in the cumulative grade point average.

The following letter grades can be given to graduate students in graduate-level courses: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, F.

These grades carry the following numerical equivalents for purposes of computing cumulative averages:

A = 4.000

A- = 3.700

B+ = 3.300

B = 3.000

B- = 2.700

C+ = 2.300

C = 2.000

F = 0

Graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses may receive grades of C-, D+ and D (C- = 1.700, D+ = 1.300, D = 1.000).

The grade of Satisfactory (SAT) may be assigned as an alternative to a letter grade. The grade of 'SAT' is equivalent to 'Passing for Graduate Credit', which requires an underlying letter grade of C or higher.  Students should check with their instructor at the beginning of the semester regarding the instructor's policy about pass/fail grades. A minimum of one-half of the total required credits for a master's degree must be on a letter-graded basis. Any portion of the remaining credits may be graded Satisfactory subject to prior approval by the student's department/program. The decision as to which courses may be taken on a pass/fail basis (graded SAT) rests with the department rather than with the individual student.

Students who are unable to complete course requirements within the allotted time may request a grade of Incomplete from the instructor of the course. Normally, incomplete grades are warranted only if a student is passing the course at the time of the request. Instructors who turn in a grade of "INC" are required to leave a written record of the following information with the departmental office of the academic department under which the course is offered: (1) the percentage of work completed, (2) the grade earned by the student on the completed work, (3) a description of the work that remains to be completed, (4) a description of the method by which the student is to complete the unfinished work, and (5) the date by which the work is to be completed. In the case of an independent study where the entire grade is determined by one paper or project, the instructor should leave with the department information pertaining to the paper or project, which will complete the course.

When the grade of Incomplete (INC) is assigned, the student must contact the instructor to determine what must be done to complete the course and the date by which the work is to be completed. A student can obtain credit for an "incomplete" only by finishing the work of the course before the end of one calendar year from the time of enrollment in that course. At the end of that period, if a grade is not submitted an IF (Incomplete Failure) will be recorded. The initiative in arranging for the removal of an "incomplete" rests with the student. This regulation does not apply to thesis and dissertation credits but does apply to terminal project credits.

In the courses which a student is offering to satisfy degree requirements, a minimum standard for satisfactory work is a 3.000 average.

A student who in any two semesters, consecutive or otherwise, has semester averages of below 2.800 is subject to academic dismissal upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Director and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

A student must make satisfactory and reasonable progress toward completion of a degree program within the Statute of Limitations for that degree. A student who is not making satisfactory or reasonable progress is subject to academic dismissal.

(Thesis 699 and Dissertation 899) The required number of thesis and dissertation credits varies by program. They range up to a maximum of 10 for master's theses and from a minimum of 10 to 18 for doctoral dissertations. No student is exempt from this requirement; normal tuition rates will apply. These credits will be graded IP (In Progress) until the thesis or dissertation has been accepted by the Graduate School at which time these credits will be converted to SAT (Satisfactory).

An undergraduate student in the senior year at any of the Five College institutions, including the University, who will earn during that year more credits than are needed for the bachelor's degree may register concurrently for graduate credits at the University of Massachusetts after securing the permission of the graduate course instructor. The student registers for these credits in the normal registration process. The Graduate School will accept a maximum of six credits earned via this method, provided that (1) the student is accepted into a Master's program, (2) the student's graduate program director recommends the transfer, and (3) the undergraduate registrar certifies that the courses were over and above those needed by the student for the Bachelor's degree. Acceptance of such courses follows transfer guidelines in force at the time of petition.  Approved Accelerated Master's Programs allow transfer of a larger number of credits.

The Graduate School defines full time as enrollment in nine or more credits; part time as eight or fewer credits; and for loan deferments, half time as six or more credits. Audited courses do not count toward enrollment status. Working on incomplete courses from prior semesters cannot count toward enrollment status. Master's and doctoral candidates working on research for a required thesis or dissertation may be considered full-time or half-time, regardless of the number of thesis or dissertation credits for which they register, provided the major department certifies that they are working full time on research.  Master's and doctoral candidates legally employed for at least 40 hours a week at a University-approved co-operative education experience (Co-op) may be considered full time students regardless of the number of credits in which they are enrolled, provided the major department certifies the work experience is directly related and integral to the curriculum of the student's academic program.

A graduate student in a full-time degree program may register for up to 16 credits during the fall and spring semesters and 9 credits during the summer semester. Graduate students in part-time degree programs may register for up to 9 credits each fall, spring, and summer semester. Any student who wishes to register for more than the maximum credit load must secure permission from the graduate program director in the major department and the approval of the Graduate Dean.

Degree-seeking graduate students are required to maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until their degree has been awarded.  This requirement is fulfilled by registering for course/thesis/dissertation credits or by enrolling for and paying the Continuous Enrollment (Program) Fee. Failure to be properly enrolled for the fall and spring semesters will result in a student's withdrawal after the last day to add or drop classes.

The Statute of Limitations (SOL) is the period within which all degree requirements must be completed. Doctoral students are required to achieve candidacy within six years from acceptance and complete their program within five years of achieving candidacy. Candidacy is recommended by the academic department upon satisfactory completion of coursework and passing the qualifying examination. Master's students have four calendar years from acceptance into the program (or five years for the M.F.A. and part-time off-campus programs) to earn the degree. Dual master's degrees are given five years unless otherwise noted in the program description.

1. To add, drop, or change a course, students must use the online student information system, SPIRE.

2. Up to and including the 14th calendar day of the semester, degree-seeking graduate students may add, drop or change courses without penalty; that is, no entry will be made on the student’s permanent record. No courses may be added after this date.  Non-degree graduate students may add a course or drop a course with no record through the 7th calendar day of the semester.

3. Courses dropped after period (b), but within eight calendar weeks from the beginning of a semester will be recorded with a grade of DR (Drop) on the student's transcript.

4. During periods (b) and (c) a student may withdraw from the university without academic penalty. Grades of DR will be noted on the record. After eight weeks, grades of WF (Withdraw Failing) or WP (Withdraw Passing) will be entered unless special permission is obtained from the Dean of the Graduate School. No student may withdraw from courses after final examinations begin.

Chapter 151C of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended states:

"Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in an examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section."

A personal leave of absence may be granted for up to one year at a time.  A leave of absence is requested when the student, because of unexpected circumstances, is not able to actively pursue his or her graduate program of study. Graduate students who request a leave of absence must petition their Graduate Program Director who, in turn, provides justification for the request to the Graduate Dean. If the Dean grants a leave of absence, the student's statute of limitations is extended appropriately. Graduate students on leave of absence must maintain continuous enrollment by paying the Continuous Enrollment Fee every semester during their leave.

When a student's health or mental health problem interferes significantly with their academic work, the student may receive a health leave of absence or withdrawal from the University for up to one year at a time, upon recommendation by the appropriate physician or therapist of the University Health Services. During the period of a health leave of absence the student must maintain their status by paying the Continuous Enrollment Fee. Accordingly, the Graduate School will adjust the student's statute of limitations for the duration of the leave of absence. Normally, the leave of absence/withdrawal will result from the student's voluntary efforts. In exceptional circumstances, involving life threatening behaviors, a student may be asked to leave the University involuntarily until serious life-threatening circumstances have been controlled.

1. Voluntary health leave/withdrawal: A voluntary health leave of absence/withdrawal may be requested by any student with a serious health problem who, in the opinion of the attending physician/therapist, cannot pursue their academic work. All such leaves/withdrawals will be reviewed and approved by the Director of University Health Services. A form is provided by University Health Services for this purpose. The form specifies the start and end date of the medical leave, and it indicates whether medical clearance is required before the student can return from the leave. The completed form is submitted to the Graduate Dean, who approves the leave and notes on the student's record whether medical clearance is required at the end of the leave. In the case that medical clearance is required to return from the leave, a student must present evidence that the health problem no longer precludes successful completion of academic work. The student will be examined by the Medical Director or Mental Health Director, or designee who must approve the request to return from the leave/withdrawal.

2. Involuntary health leave/withdrawal: An involuntary leave of absence/withdrawal for health reasons may be recommended by a physician or therapist on the staff of the University Health Services. An involuntary health withdrawal must involve a strong likelihood of: serious risk of physical harm to the student themselves, manifested by evidence of threats of suicide or attempts at suicide or other serious bodily harm; serious risk of physical harm to other persons in the community, including evidence of homicidal or other violent behavior; or a reasonable risk of physical impairment or injury to the person themselves because of impaired judgment that would not allow the person to live independently or protect themselves in the community or not allow the person to perform the essential functions of an educational program without requiring substantial modification of the program. All recommendations for an involuntary health leave/withdrawal must be approved by either the Medical Director or the Mental Health Director. The reasons for the recommendation must be documented. Once documented and approved, the terms of the health leave/withdrawal become effective immediately and the student may be required to leave campus immediately, even though they will be able to subsequently appeal the decision.

A student who has been given an involuntary health leave of absence/withdrawal has ten business days to appeal the decision. All appeals must be in writing to the Director, University Health Services, stating the reason for the appeal and the desired resolution. The Director of the University Health Services and the Dean of the Graduate School will convene a three-member Appeals Panel composed of two licensed medical and/or mental health care providers from outside the University, and the Dean of the Graduate School or their designee. The Appeals Panel will consider the case within five business days of the request for the appeal. At the time of the hearing, the student will have the opportunity to contest the decision and will be permitted to have an adviser present. The decision of the Appeals Panel is final.

In order to remove the conditions of the involuntary health leave/withdrawal, a student must present evidence that the health problem no longer precludes successful completion of academic work and safe attendance at the university. The student will also be examined by the Medical Director or Mental Health Director, or designee who must approve the request to return from the leave/withdrawal.

Any of the following conditions may warrant administrative withdrawal:

1. Failure to comply with administrative requirements; specifically,

   1. Failure by a student to satisfy an overdue financial obligation to the university, consisting of tuition, loans, board, room fees, library charges, or other student charges, including student activities, health services, Child Care and other such fees as may be established from time to time, or other University obligations.

   2. Failure to comply with prior conditions on admission to the university imposed by the Graduate School in compliance with university policies.

   3. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment.

2. Forgery, fraud, or falsification of information on any official University form or document, such as the admissions application, a grade report, recommendations, transcripts, etc.

1. If administratively withdrawn, a student's record will indicate the withdrawn date and the reason for administrative withdrawal.  The student shall cease to be enrolled and shall not be allowed to complete the current semester or to register for future semesters.  If a student has already pre-registered at the time of withdrawal, all course enrollments will be canceled.

2. The student shall return their identification card and any and all property belonging to the university currently in their possession.

3. The student shall receive no further material or notification from the Registrar concerning University affairs.

1. An appropriate administrative official may recommend to the Registrar that a student be administratively withdrawn from the University.

2. The administrative official shall make their recommendation in writing, detailing their compliance with the following requirements:

   1. The recommendation must be based on one of the grounds set forth in Section 1.

   2. The facts upon which the recommendation is based must be ascertained and stated precisely and accurately.

   3. An attempt to resolve the matter must have been made by the administrative official by issuing the student a written notice of the proposed recommendation for withdrawal and the reasons therefore, such matter not having been successfully resolved within fourteen calendar days of the mailing of said notice.

   4. If the matter has not been successfully resolved, the administrative unit shall issue a certified letter to the student setting forth the recommendation for withdrawal and the reasons therefore.

3. If the Graduate School is satisfied that the conditions specified in item b of this section have been satisfied, the Graduate School shall administratively withdraw the student from the University no sooner than the fifteenth calendar day following the mailing of the notice provided for in said paragraph.

Any student who has been administratively withdrawn may at any time during the semester in which the withdrawal was made make arrangements with the Graduate School for the resolution of the matter. Upon such a resolution satisfactory to the Graduate School, the Graduate Dean shall forthwith reinstate the student to active enrollment status.