As the spring semester seems to be flying by our very eyes, everyone should be watching their grades and the academic calendar closely, one for progress and the other for approaching deadlines. Should you be struggling with the first, the University of Massachusetts Boston provides academic support programs that are available to use for your own benefit.
As expressed on UMass Boston’s website under “Academic Support Programs,” “Academic Support Programs offers a variety of tutoring and tutorial formats to support students in their undergraduate and graduate coursework,” and includes a student tutoring program; a reading, writing, and study strategies center; a graduate writing center; and many different workshops. Additionally, “Academic Support Programs faculty and staff collaborate with departments across the University to strengthen undergraduate and graduate experiences. Tutors from both our undergraduate and graduate writing centers facilitate in-class workshops at faculty invitation and with faculty collaboration.” Academic Support Programs can be found in the Campus Center, 1-1300, and can be contacted through phone, (617) 287-6556, and email, [email protected].
Besides academic support, students should be taking note of deadlines approaching on our academic calendar meetings with their academic advisor, as an advising meeting is required to remove a hold on your Wiser account. Summer and Fall 2019 registration begins on April 1, and if you want to be able to plan your classes on time, the hold must be lifted before this date. So, it is best that students get this hold removed as soon as possible, so you can get the classes you really like before they get filled. I personally remember the frustration I experienced in registering for classes later than normal last semester and not being able to take all the classes I had been wanting to take in this semester.
Students are assigned an advisor in the beginning of the school year; however if you and your advisor have not been in contact through email, then you can call (617) 287-5500 to either schedule an appointment or learn about their frequent walk-in advising hours or you can check on UMass Boston’s website under “Advising.”
Moreover, after getting in contact with Academic Support Programs and trying to improve in a class with these academic resources, students have until April 19 to make a class a pass/fail or withdraw from a class. It’s best to evaluate with your advisor which route would be best for you, your GPA, your audit, etc.
In closing, students should be making an effort to use UMass Boston’s academic support resources, such as the Academic Support Programs, if needed, and should also be taking note of the deadlines approaching on our academic calendar. Being aware of your academics, the resources available to you, and required deadlines will provide a smoother rest of the semester, lessen unnecessary stress, and provide you with the foundation to finish the year off right.