Other Admission Policies and Programs

Readmission

A student or applicant who falls into one of these categories must reapply:

1. An applicant who has previously been admitted to the university but did not enroll on the entrance date stated in the acceptance letter;

2. A graduate student at this university who was accepted for one degree program and wishes to apply for another program or degree; and

3. A degree candidate who has not continuously enrolled in courses or paid the Program Fee (see Continuous Enrollment), must reapply and pay all associated fees.

Special Admissions

The special admission procedures have been designed for the rare applicant who lacks an undergraduate degree but who considers himself or herself as having the appropriate qualifications for applying to a graduate program of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. These would be very special circumstances that are unlikely to appear repeatedly in applicants to any graduate program of the university; therefore, standard criteria cannot be established and each case has to be considered on its merit. This procedure is not intended as substitution for any current university program that addresses degree equivalencies from other institutions, or that evaluates prior life experiences which could lead to an undergraduate degree.

Admission of Faculty and Staff Members to Graduate Study

Members of the university faculty at the rank of assistant professor or higher who wish to retrain or redirect their professional interests may, under special circumstances, earn a graduate degree from the university. The Dean of the Graduate School may permit eligible faculty to become degree candidates subsequent to a favorable recommendation from both the appropriate academic dean and department head, assurance that no conflict of interest will occur, and that the university's best interests will be served. The degree may not be earned in the department in which the candidate is a faculty member. However, faculty members of any rank may enroll as non-degree students in any university courses.

Full-time university employees who enroll in one or more courses are eligible for full tuition waivers, including a waiver of the general fee. For employees on at least a half-time basis but less than full-time, no more than seven tuition-free credits may be approved for any one semester. Employees working less than one-half time are not eligible for a tuition waiver.

New England Regional Student Program

The New England Regional Student Program (RSP), one of the basic programs administered by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), was established in 1957. The RSP enables a resident of New England to attend the University of Massachusetts and pay the resident Massachusetts tuition rate plus a 75 percent surcharge for those graduate programs which are not available at any of the student's home-state public institutions. The RSP Graduate Catalogue is available online at www.nebhe.org.

At the graduate level only, some programs not listed as open on the NEBHE website and others not listed at all, may also be available through the RSP. For example, some highly specialized graduate programs and options under a general subject area may not be listed. If one of these specialized programs or options is not available at a home-state public institution, the student should contact the Graduate Dean at his/her state university, as negotiation is possible in some cases.

Non-degree graduate students are not eligible for the reduced rate under the RSP.

New England Land-Grant Universities Student Exchange Program

In order to provide undergraduate and graduate students at the New England Land-Grant Universities with expanded access to unique programs and faculty expertise, the institutions have agreed to encourage short-term student exchanges. Students with special academic interests may take advantage of the talent and resources available at the state universities of the region, without becoming a degree candidate at another institution. Contact the office of the Graduate Registrar for more information.

State Authorization for Distance Education Programs

Regulations for Out-of-State Online Students
The United States Department of Education (USDOE)  published regulations in the Federal Register (Chapter 34, § 600.9(c)) that require all institutions of higher education to seek authorization in every state (and territory) in which they operate, physically or virtually, in order to maintain eligibility for federal financial aid. In compliance with the USDOE State Authorization Regulations in Section 600.9 of the Oct. 29, 2010, final program integrity rule, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is currently making a "good faith effort" in pursuing state authorization from all states and territories within the U.S.

Prospective Online students residing in Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas
Due to these higher education regulation changes and the complexity of rules and regulations of some states, the University of Massachusetts Amherst,  is currently unable to accept new applications for admissions to our distance education programs from students residing in Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas. We regret this restriction as it is our goal to offer a quality education to students everywhere and we intend to promote reciprocal agreements between all states’ agencies and UMass in the future.

Student Complaint Process
Students have the right to file a complaint against an institution when state authorization requirements for approval are not followed or regarding the loss of tuition and fees as a result of unfair business practices. Institutions must provide both current and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints through the institution and/or with the appropriate state agency or accrediting body for handling complaints. The University of Massachusetts Amherst aims to resolve all student complaints in a fair and expedient manner. Students wishing to file a formal complaint must first seek resolution through the UMass grievance process (pg. 38). If a complaint cannot be resolved internally, students may also file a complaint with the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education or with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), our accrediting body.