Graduate Student Fall Orientation Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Academic | Financial | Online | Student Life | Graduate Assistantships
Academic
1. Where is the Office of Graduate Studies and what are its hours?
A: The Office of Graduate Studies is located on the second floor of the campus center, suite 2100. Hours of operation are 8:30 am -- 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Contact the office by phone at 617-287-5700 or by fax at 617-287-5699 or visit the Graduate Studies website at http://www.umb.edu/academics/graduate/
2. If I am expected to do a thesis or dissertation, how do I learn about the requirements?
A: Requirements for a thesis or dissertation vary by program. To find out the requirements specific to your program contact the committee chair. The University has a standard format that a thesis or dissertation must follow. It is recommended that you follow that formatting from the beginning rather than re-formatting your paper at the end. The formatting standards can be found here.
3. How many credits are required to be considered a full-time student?
A: To be considered full-time, a student must be enrolled in classes totaling nine (9) or more credits per semester. Anything less than nine (9) credits is considered part time. Doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation research may be considered full-time students provided their graduate program certifies that they are working at a full time status. Students seeking financial aid should obtain detailed information about full-time and part-time requirements from the Office of Financial Aid Services.
4. How do I find out what is offered through the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education?
A: The Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education (CCDE) offers online, off campus, weekend and evening courses in various programs and certificates. All courses are credited by the University of Massachusetts Boston and are transferable. For more information on courses, registration, programs, and certificates please visit http://ccde.umb.edu/
5. If I am a non-degree student, how do I register, and what are the regulations and requirements as a non-degree student?
A: Non-degree, or non-matriculated students, can get information here. Please note that only six (6) credits taken as a non-degree student can be transferred into a University of Massachusetts Boston graduate program.
6. To whom do I speak regarding the required courses, electives, waivers or transfer credits in my program?
A: The graduate program director is the best resource for information regarding your academic program requirements. A complete list of graduate programs and directors is available here.
7. Where do I find assistance in the event of readmitting after leave of absence, incomplete grades, and the statue of limitations in completing my program?
A: Your graduate program director is the best resource for information on academic rules and regulations and particularly how they apply to you. Please visit the graduate academic regulations for more information.
8. Where do I get information about student rights, university guidelines and other policies at the University of Massachusetts Boston?
A: University policies can be found in the Graduate Bulletin in the graduate academic regulations.
9. Where do I find access to registrar forms for graduate program change, student withdrawal, leave of absence request, statue of limitation extension, and readmission?
A: A complete list of downloadable forms, including the aforementioned, can be found here.
10. When is the deadline to declare graduation upon completing the program?
A: Students should be aware that if they declare late, it could result in postponing their graduation to a future date. Deadlines for graduation declaration, along with degree applications are available here.
Financial
1. Where do I go if I have questions about financial aid?
A: Information on financial aid can be found on the Financial Aid Services website here.
2. Who do I contact with questions concerning my bill/tuition and fees?
A: Billing information is accessible through your student WISER account or by contacting the bursar here.
3. How do I learn about graduate assistantships, work on campus, and work study jobs?
A: Assistantships within your academic program are awarded by the graduate program director, whom you should contact for further information. For a complete list of graduate programs and directors please see http://www.umb.edu/academics/graduate/graduate_programs.html For graduate assistantships outside your program, please visit the Human Resources website and search for open assistantships here.
Please note: All On Campus and Off Campus (Federal Work Study) positions are listed on the UMass Boston Career Services Online webpage. To view Off Campus local employment positions please use the Part-Time Job Database.
For more information pertaining to graduate assistantships please see the section below or click GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS.
4.Where can I find out about services and financial aid for veterans, including GI Bill and benefits?
A: Assistance and advising is available to veterans through the William Joiner Center's Veterans Affair Office. To learn more visit their website.
Online
1. How do I sign up for access to a free student email account?
A: For help activating a new email account, forwarding email, changing a forgotten password, or logging in to the student email system please go here.
2. What is WISER?
A: WISER is the web-based, self service system used by the students, faculty and staff at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Students can access information regarding their account and use online features to update and maintain their personal, academic and financial information. For more about WISER visit click here.
3. How do I access UMASS online for online courses and Blackboard Vista for retrieving class material?
A: Blackboard Vista is an online learning tool used by students and faculty to assist with academic courses. Blackboard allows you to have discussions with your professor and peers, submit papers, and check or post your assignments. To access UMASS online and Blackboard Vista-- click here.
4. How do I register for classes, add/drop a course, view grades, or request transcripts?
A: Matriculated students can use the WISER system to view or update academic information on classes, grades, audits, and transcripts. visit website
5. How do I access library services such as student computer labs and printing?
A: Student computer labs are located on the Upper level and 3rd floor of Healey library. Printing is available in the computer labs as well. Make sure to know your student email address and password, as it is needed to verify print jobs. To learn about other services offered by the Healey library and for online resources see website.
6. How do I access the University Academic Calendar?
A: The University Academic Calendar can be found here.
Student Life
1. Where do I go for a student ID and valid ID sticker which gives me free access to the JFK Library, Museum of Fine Arts, Beacon Fitness Club, etc?
A: To acquire a student ID you must go to the I.D. Office located in the Student Activities & Leadership Office, Room 3401 on the 3rd floor of the campus center. You must present a valid picture ID or three (3) printed proofs of address to receive a student ID. To obtain a library bar code sticker on your ID, which allows you to use library resources, please visit the front desk in Healey Library. For more information regarding student IDs go here.
2. What about housing? Can I live on campus?
A: The University of Massachusetts Boston does not have dormitories or residence halls. There are a number of near campus living options available at the Harbor Point and Peninsula Apartments as well as rentals and room-shares in the area. Please visit website.
3. Where do I find transportation and parking services information for commuting to UMASS Boston?
A: Please go to their website to find out more about parking and transportation.
4. How do I learn about or become involved in extracurricular activities, student clubs, student life resources, etc?
A: The Office of Student Life provides opportunities for student growth and development, which complement the traditional academic mission in the classroom. These include student government, student leadership programs, student clubs and student Arts and Events. visit website
The Graduate Student Assembly is the graduate students' governance body and serves as the voice of graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Boston campus. The Graduate Student Assembly is dedicated to enhancing the academic and professional development of graduate students. This includes support for graduate research and skill development through the Recognized Professional Associations, Spayne Master's Thesis/Project Grant, Bollinger Doctoral Thesis Grant and Professional Development Grants. For more information see website.
5. Where do I go for printing, faxing, binding, poster, and banner services?
A: Some of these services are offered to graduate students through the Graduate Research Center located on the 5th floor of Healey library. For other print and/or copy services see website.
6. I'm feeling overwhelmed and in over my head. What services are available to me?
A: Graduate school can feel overwhelming sometimes, but there are a number of counseling resources available to you. The Counseling Center is available to you if you feel that you need assistance. The center provides a range of services to help with managing time and improving academic performance, responding to traumatic events, dealing with challenges associated with various social/cultural factors, and identifying and managing self-destructive behavioral patterns, including eating disorders and problems with alcohol and drug abuse. see website.
Graduate Assistantships
1. What is a Graduate Assistantship and what does it include?
Definitions Teaching Assistant I – A graduate student employed on a salaried basis who is primarily assigned to instructional support activities.
Teaching Assistant II (TA II) – A graduate student employed on a salaried basis that is the instructor of record for a lecture section of a course and has independent responsibility for its teaching and grading. –
Research Assistant (RA) – A graduate student who is employed on a salaried basis to perform work primarily related to academic research or other similar work. – Administrative Assistant (AA) – A graduate student who is employed on a salaried basis to perform work of an administrative or technical nature.
Under the terms of the GEO contract, a full-time assistantship is defined as 18 hours a week, however all students, including international students are permitted to work 20 hours a week on campus, while classes are in session.
Eligibility
Graduate assistantships may be awarded to matriculated doctoral, CAGS and master’s students who are in good academic standing, as defined in the Graduate Bulletin (e.g., GPA of 3.0 or higher). Graduate certificate students are not eligible to receive assistantships. There is no credit minima required to hold an assistantship and those students on program fee status are eligible for assistantships. International students must hold an F1 visa in order to be eligible to be employed as a graduate assistant.
Salary
The hours/week, corresponding FTE and salary figures for UMB graduate Assistants are shown below. Note that there is a slightly higher rate for Teaching Assistant II’s. Also shown in the far right column is the corresponding University contribution to the assistant’s health insurance billing if applicable.
Full year = 38 weeks/19 pay periods |
||||||
|
|
Hours/week |
FTE |
Biweekly salary |
Total Stipend |
University Health Ins. Pmnt |
T.A. I, R.A. A.A. |
|
|
|
|
|
AY09-10 |
|
Full Assistantship |
18 |
1.00 |
$729.63 |
$13,863.00 |
$1,152.00 |
|
3/4 Assistantship |
13.5 |
0.75 |
$547.22 |
$10,397.25 |
$864.00 |
|
1/2 Assistantship |
9 |
0.50 |
$364.82 |
$6,931.50 |
$576.00 |
|
1/4 Assistantship |
4.5 |
0.25 |
$182.41 |
$3,465.75 |
$288.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T.A. II |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full Assistantship |
1.00 |
1.00 |
$791.37 |
$15,036.00 |
$288.00 |
|
1/2 Assistantship |
0.50 |
0.50 |
$395.68 |
$7,518.00 |
$576.00 |
Waivers
a) All Graduate Assistantships, regardless of FTE or funding source come with a 100% waiver of tuition for classes offered during the academic year. Fees or tuition charges for courses offered by CCDE are typically not waived.
b) Assistantships funded by Academic Affairs (Graduate Studies) will receive a waiver of their Educational Operations Fee (EOF) in proportion to their assistantship FTE. For example a .75 FTE will receive a 75% waiver of their EOF billing. The hiring unit’s representative should be able to identify the given assistant’s funding source.
c) Those assistantships funded by sources other than Graduate Studies will provide a waiver of the assistant’s EOF at a minimum of 33% with a maximum of 100% of the EOF waived. The postings for these assistantships must include the percentage that will be waived.
Health Insurance
a) Assistantships funded by Academic Affairs (Graduate Studies) will, where applicable, receive a credit to their health insurance proportional to their assistantship FTE to a maximum credit of $1,152.00. Those students employed as Administrative Assistants and funded by sources other than Graduate Studies will receive a parallel benefit.
b) Research assistantships funded by grants or contracts typically provide health insurance support up to 100% of the total insurance cost.
2. How do I get a Graduate Assistantship?
A: First, make sure that your GPD (graduate program director) knows that you want an assistantship since the GPD awards the assistantships in your program. For assistantships outside your program, you should visit the Human Resources website and search for open assistantships - see website
3. Where can I find the pre-employment paperwork?
A: You can find copies of the pre-employment paperwork (click to download), but you must come in to the Graduate Studies Office to complete and turn in the forms.
4. As an international student, are there additional requirements for employment?
A: Yes, international students doing a complete course of study and holding the F-1 Visa are only allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. International students must complete the Non Resident Alien Form and complete the Windstar interview process in the Human Resources Office.
5. What is the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO)?
A: The GEO is the Graduate Employee Organization at UMass Boston, the graduate employees’ union - see website
Have we answered your question? If not, please feel free to email your question to graduate.studies@umb.edu or call the Office of Graduate Studies at 617-287-5700.