DefinitionsofGeneralUMassTerms
Add/Drop The period at the beginning of each semester (ends on the 14th day of the semester) when you can change your course schedule without any implications. Commonwealth College The Honors college at the University. CUM: Cumulative Grade Point Average This calculates a student's GPA earned over a student's total academic history. FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Application required for the Financial Aid Office, 255 Whitmore. FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act This is a federal law protecting the confidentiality of student records. In compliance with FERPA, the University of Massachusetts Amherst must have a student's expressed written permission in order to release information from her/his records to any third party, including parents, spouse, or employer. Five College: The Five colleges are the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith. Students can take classes at all five campuses. GPA: Grade Point Average An average arrived at by multiplying the grade received by the number of course credit(s) then dividing by the total number of credits assessed on a semesterly basis. Gen Ed General Education requirements, the core curriculum required by the University for every student. Moodle: This is an online communication tool for professors and students to communicate. There are often lectures, quizzes, and assignments posted on Moodle. If a student’s class is using Moodle they should be checking it regularly. (This will be replacing Spark) OIT Office of Information Technologies. OIT offers many services such as free anti‐spy ware, computer assistance, software help, and discounts on products. Students that are having trouble accessing any UMass network or trouble with their computer should contact OIT. Prior Approval Form A necessary form to complete if you want to study at another school and have those courses transfer back to the University. Spark This is an online communication tool for professors and students to communicate. There are often lectures, quizzes, and assignments posted on Spark. If a student’s class is using Spark they should be checking it regularly. (This will be replaced by Moodle soon) SPIRE The web site for the student information system, used by students, instructors, and authorized academic staff. Log on to Spire using the Campus ID number located on the Ucard. Spire ID All students are randomly assigned an 8‐digit Campus ID number—also your SPIRE logon ID—which is printed on the Ucard. It has no association with your social security number or any other identifier. Learning Commons Located on the lower level of the Du Bois Library, this is a place where students have access to computers, technology, studies spaces, and other library resources. This is also where many tutoring sessions happen. PVTA Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority. This is the local bus system for the Five Colleges and community. UMail This is the campus email of UMass. It can be logged on campus or remotely. Each student is assigned an email when they are enrolled.  Undergrads end with @student.umass.edu  Post Grads end with @department.umass.edu  Staff end with @department.umass.edu UDrive Each student receives access to an online hard drive through the UMass browser. Each student is allowed 1GB of storage. This is a good way to back up files, store files, and share files with people throughout campus. UCard Student identification card with their ID number and library number. This card is used for many things such as housing, dining, bus, printing etc. This card (or another form of identification) should be brought to a test when taken with DS.