Graduate Bulletin - UMass Amherst

Enrollment

9. Maximum Credit Load

A graduate student may register for up to 16 credits during the fall and spring semesters and nine credits during the Summer Session. Any student who wishes to register for more than the maximum credit load must secure written permission from the graduate program director in the major department and the Graduate Dean’s approval.

10. Continuous Enrollment

Graduate students are required to maintain continuous enrollment each semester by registering for course/thesis/disseration credits or by paying the Continuous Enrollment (Program) Fee. Failure to be properly enrolled will result in a student’s withdrawal at the end of the Late Registration Period.

11. Full/Half/Part-Time Student Credits

The Graduate School defines full time as nine or more credits, part time as eight or fewer credits, and for loan deferments, half time as six or more credits. Master’s and doctoral candidates may be considered full-time or half-time students 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.

12. Statute of Limitations

Doctoral students are required to 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 three calendar years from acceptance into the program (or four years for the M.F.A. and off-campus programs in engineering, labor studies, music education, and management) to earn the degree. Part-time students may be granted an additional year upon petition to their Graduate Program Director.

13. Absences for Religious Reasons

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.”

14. Administrative Withdrawal

A student may be administratively withdrawn from the university if, after due notice, the student fails to satisfy an overdue financial obligation to, or to comply with certain administrative requirements of, the campus of the University of Massachusetts at which the student is registered.

Section 1. Conditions Warranting Administrative Withdrawal

Any of the following conditions may warrant administrative withdrawal:

(a) 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 orientation, student activities, health services (child care), and other such fees as may be established from time to time.

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

(b) Forgery, fraud, or falsification of information on any official university form or document, such as Bursar’s Clearance Card, grade report, recommendations, transcripts, etc.

Section 2. Effects of Administrative Withdrawal

(a) If administratively withdrawn, a student shall cease to be enrolled and shall not be allowed to complete the current semester or to register for future semesters.

(b) The student shall return his/her identification card and any and all property belonging to the university currently in his or her possession.

Section 3. Reinstatement

Any student who has been administratively withdrawn may at any time during the semester in which the withdrawal was made make arrangements with the Registrar for the resolution of the matter. Upon such a resolution satisfactory to the Registrar, the Registrar shall forthwith reinstate the student to active enrollment status. Any student who has attempted to resolve the matter but has failed to satisfy the Registrar may petition for reinstatement by mailing or delivering to the Administrative Withdrawal Committee a written statement describing the actions he/she has taken to resolve the matter and the reasons why the student believes himself or herself entitled to reinstatement. The Committee at its discretion may decide the matter on the written petition of the student and such answer as the Registrar may submit, or may schedule a hearing on the matter at the earliest practicable date. If the Committee decides in favor of reinstatement, the Registrar shall cause the student to be reinstated forthwith upon receipt of the decision. The determination of whether a reinstated student shall receive credit for the period for which he/she was withdrawn shall be made by the instructor for each course involved.

Section 4. Administrative Withdrawal Review Committee

The Administrative Withdrawal Review Committee shall be appointed each year by the Chancellor. The Registrar shall not be a member of said Committee except that he/she shall sit in place of a regular member in any case wherein said regular member is the administrative official recommending withdrawal. The Committee shall be empowered to make decisions concerning administrative withdrawal as provided above.