UMass Boston

Pathway Program - Parent FAQs

Congratulations! You're the proud parent of a college-bound student. The Pathway Program is designed for students who, although not meeting the university's direct admissions standards right now, are more than capable of successfully earning a degree. The Pathways Program is designed to support your student in their first semester here at UMass Boston and to help smooth their transition from high school to our university.

We recognize that a program like this may be unfamiliar. This FAQ is designed to cover some questions that frequently arise from parents whose students have been referred to the Pathway Program.

My child has been referred, what are the next steps?

In order to secure their place in the program, your student will need to log into their Beacon Gateway portal, confirm their participation in the program, and then submit a $250 New Student Enrollment Deposit. We also strongly encourage students and parents/guardians to participate in spring programming events, including online Pathway Information Sessions and/or Admitted Students Day programs. Students will be emailed detailed event and registration information. 

Billing

For questions pertaining to financial aid or billing, UMass Boston's One Stop has "live chat" Mon-Fri during business hours.

Access to WISER

  • WISER is our Student Information System and the way that students access billing, grades, and more.
  • Students will gain access to WISER once they have submitted their New Student Enrollment Deposit and claimed their UMass Boston accounts.
  • Students will need to grant access to parents or guardians.

University Health Services

What is FERPA and why is it important?

FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law that protects the confidentiality of student records. At UMass Boston, most student information is confidential and cannot be made public to anyone (including parents) without the student’s consent. Students can grant designated access to WISER (UMass Boston’s Student Information System) to enable parents/guardians access to otherwise protected information. 

How do HIPAA and FERPA relate for college students?

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act), just as with FERPA, means no one can discuss your student’s physical or mental health with you once they have turned 18 and this includes University Health Services.

My child needs academic accommodations or adjustments. Who should I connect with?

We recommend your student connect with the Ross Center for Disability Services.

What does my child have to do to be prepared to ensure they have what they need to start?

Make sure your student has access to any books and materials required for their courses before classes begin.  The UMB Bookstore can help you with this and, if budget is a concern, faculty will generally be able to advise you and your student about cost effective alternatives if possible.  Buying or renting textbooks rather than having them supplied may be new to you, but not having the materials they need to succeed is one of the quickest ways new students fail. When and doubt, the student should email their instructor from their UMass Boston email with any questions.

What is a piece of advice to best encourage my child throughout the semester?

Class Attendance it vital for success.  Students must be in class when it meets.  Since there are relatively few contact hours for each course, missing one or two is like missing a week or two of class in high school.

How does my child working while taking a full course load ensure they will succeed?

Some UMass Boston students work as well as attend classes. It’s important to note that students will spend an average of 30 hours per week on their work in addition to attending classes. If you and your student are planning for work exceeding 20 hours/week, speak with the instructor of your University Success course about how best to manage the situation. There are workshops offered and information covered in your courses to assist with this throughout the semester.

What does study time look like for the upcoming semester?

As mentioned, you can anticipate up to 30 hours of studying, class work, assignments etc. weekly for most of the semester. Since college students are expected to spend a lot of hours outside of classes reading, reviewing, and working on assignments, that means they are not ‘free’ just because they are not in class.