Academic Year (AY) 2025-2026
Review policy changes from AY 2025-2026.
Faculty Senate Call for Comment #9
A proposal to update the university-level policy on academic calendars was presented to Faculty Senate for Initial Discussion on Monday March 2, 2026.
Overview of the Policy Proposal
This proposal establishes a standing framework for determining the University’s academic calendar. Rather than generating the fall and spring calendars annually, the academic calendar for each year will be selected from a set of pre-approved calendars adopted as an appendix to this policy.
Selection will be determined by (1) the weekday on which September 1 falls and (2) whether the academic year includes February 29. The proposal does not modify the existing definition of the semester length and does not alter the duration of fall or spring terms.
Proposal to Update the Policy on Academic Calendars.
Invitation for Open Comment
The Faculty Senate voted on March 2, 2026 to move the proposal into the 2-month review cycle for university-level policies. During this time, we invite the UML community to review the proposal and provide comment at the upcoming meetings listed below, which are open to the public. You are also welcome to send comments or questions by email to: faculty_senate@uml.edu.
Start Date: Friday March 6, 2026
End Date: Tuesday May 5, 2026
To view the full Proposal to Update the Policy on Academic Calendars and supporting documents, and read the comments, please log into Curriculog, our campus curriculum management system. All faculty, administrators and staff can access Curriculog with their email credentials. If you need assistance, email: curriculog@uml.edu.
The proposal will be on the following Committee and Senate agendas:
1. UPC Meeting
- Date: Monday April 13, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
2. GPAC Meeting
- Date: Wednesday April 22, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
3. Faculty Senate 2025-2026 Meeting #9
- Date: Monday May 4, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: University Crossing 260
The Faculty Senate is committed to transparent governance and effective communication, and we hope this invitation for comment from the campus community will help us meet those goals. Thank you for your attention to this proposed change to this policy.
- Kevin Petersen, Faculty Senate President
- Kerry Patenaude, Associate Director of Faculty Senate Operations and Curriculum Management
Faculty Senate Call for Comment #8
A proposal to update the university-level policy on academic integrity was presented to Faculty Senate for Initial Discussion on Monday February 2, 2026.
Overview of the Policy Proposal
This proposal updates the academic integrity policy to better match current teaching and learning conditions, especially the widespread availability of generative AI tools. The revisions clarify expectations for students and instructors, explicitly address unauthorized AI-assisted work as academic misconduct, and provide concrete examples to reduce ambiguity. The proposal also strengthens consistency and fairness in how cases are documented and handled by standardizing reporting and reinforcing the sanctions and appeal process, including circumstances when violations are discovered after a course ends.
Proposal to Update the Policy on Academic Integrity
Invitation for Open Comment
The Faculty Senate voted on February 2, 2026 to move the proposal into the 2-month review cycle for university-level policies. During this time, we invite the UMass Lowell (UML) community to review the proposal and provide comment at the upcoming meetings listed below, which are open to the public. You are also welcome to send comments or questions by email to: faculty_senate@uml.edu.
Start Date: Friday February 6, 2026
End Date: Tuesday April 7, 2026
To view the full Proposal to Update the Policy on Academic Integrity and supporting documents, and read the comments, please log into Curriculog, our campus curriculum management system. All faculty, administrators and staff can access Curriculog with their email credentials. If you need assistance, email: curriculog@uml.edu.
The proposal will be on the following Committee and Senate agendas:
1. UPC Meeting
- Date: Monday March 16, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by UPC
2. GPAC Meeting
- Date: Monday March 23, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by GPAC, with changes
3. Faculty Senate 2025-2026 Meeting #8
- Date: Monday April 7, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: University Crossing 260
The Faculty Senate is committed to transparent governance and effective communication, and we hope this invitation for comment from the campus community will help us meet those goals. Thank you for your attention to this proposed change to this policy.
- Kevin Petersen, Faculty Senate President
- Kerry Patenaude, Associate Director of Faculty Senate Operations and Curriculum Management
Faculty Senate Call for Comment #7
A proposal to clarify the university-level Graduate Student Transfer Credit policy was presented to Faculty Senate for Initial Discussion on Monday December 1, 2025.
Overview of the Policy Proposal
Proposal to Clarify the Policy on Graduate Student Transfer Credit.
UMass Lowell currently maintains two related policies governing graduate credit applied toward doctoral programs:
- Graduate Student Transfer Credit policy – This applies when individual graduate courses are transferred into a program
- Acceptance of Master’s Degree Toward Doctoral Requirements policy – This applies when a student’s entire earned master’s degree is accepted toward a doctoral program.
Because the Graduate Student Transfer Credit policy is more likely to appear first in online searches for “graduate transfer policy,” and because it contains additional restrictions on timing and eligible institutions, students and graduate coordinators have sometimes been uncertain about which of the two policies applies in specific cases. To reduce this confusion, Graduate Policies and Affairs Committee (GPAC) recommends adding a brief clarifying statement at the beginning of the Transfer Credit policy.
Invitation for Open Comment
The Faculty Senate voted on December 1, 2025 to move the proposal into the 2-month review cycle for university-level policies. During this time, we invite the UMass Lowell community to review the proposal and provide comment at the upcoming meetings listed below, which are open to the public. You are also welcome to send comments or questions by email to: faculty_senate@uml.edu.
- Start Date: Friday December 5, 2025
- End Date: Tuesday March 3, 2026
To view the full Proposal to Clarify the Policy on Graduate Student Transfer Credit and supporting documents, and read the comments, please log into Curriculog, our campus curriculum management system. All faculty, administrators and staff can access Curriculog with their email credentials. If you need assistance, email: curriculog@uml.edu.
The proposal will be on the following Committee and Senate agendas:
1. UPC Meeting
- Date: Monday February 9, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by UPC
2. GPAC Meeting
- Date: Tuesday February 17, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by GPAC
3. Faculty Senate 2025-2026 Meeting #7
- Date: Monday March 2, 2026
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: University Crossing 260
- Outcome: Approved by Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate is committed to transparent governance and effective communication, and we hope this invitation for comment from the campus community will help us meet those goals. Thank you for your attention to this proposed change to this policy.
- Kevin Petersen, Faculty Senate President
- Kerry Patenaude, Associate Director of Faculty Senate Operations and Curriculum Management
Faculty Senate Call for Comment #6
A proposal to change the university-level policy on non-degree graduate student enrollment was presented to Faculty Senate for Initial Discussion on Monday September 8, 2025.
Overview of the Policy Proposal
Proposal to Change UMass Lowell Graduate Non-Degree Policy
This proposal seeks to change the existing UMass Lowell policy on non-degree graduate student enrollment to expand access to graduate-level coursework. Specifically, it recommends:
- Allowing undergraduate students in the latter stages of their academic programs (junior/senior year) to enroll in graduate-level classes with approval.
- Permitting international students to enroll in non-degree graduate courses.
These changes aim to support UMass Lowell’s global engagement strategy and enhance graduate recruitment by offering greater flexibility and academic opportunities to both domestic and international students.
Invitation for Open Comment
The Faculty Senate voted on September 8, 2025 to move the proposal into the 2-month review cycle for university-level policies. During this time, we invite the UML community to review the proposal and provide comment at the upcoming meetings listed below, which are open to the public. You are also welcome to send comments or questions by email to: faculty_senate@uml.edu.
- Start Date: Friday September 12, 2025
- End Date: Tuesday November 4, 2025
To view the full proposal and supporting documents, and read the comments, please log into Curriculog, our campus curriculum management system. All faculty, administrators and staff can access Curriculog with their email credentials. If you need assistance, email: curriculog@uml.edu.
The proposal will be on the following Committee and Senate agendas:
1. UPC Meeting
- Date: Tuesday October 14, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by UPC
2. GPAC Meeting
- Date: Monday October 20, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by GPAC
3. Faculty Senate 2025-2026 Meeting #4
- Date: Monday November 3, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Coburn Hall room 255
- Outcome: Approved by Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate is committed to transparent governance and effective communication, and we hope this invitation for comment from the campus community will help us meet those goals. Thank you for your attention to this proposed change to this policy.
- Kevin Petersen, Faculty Senate President
- Kerry Patenaude, Associate Director of Faculty Senate Operations and Curriculum Management
Faculty Senate Call for Comment #5
A proposal to change the university-level graduate transfer credit policy was presented to Faculty Senate for Initial Discussion on Monday September 8, 2025.
Overview of the Policy Proposal
This proposal requests an amendment to the existing transfer credit policy to allow graduate students to transfer credits from targeted international universities that are vetted and approved through established partnership agreements. Transfer credits from these institutions would require institutional and departmental approval to ensure alignment with program objectives and academic standards.
Invitation for Open Comment
The Faculty Senate voted on September 8, 2025 to move the proposal into the 2-month review cycle for university-level policies. During this time, we invite the UMass Lowell (UML) community to review the proposal and provide comment at the upcoming meetings listed below, which are open to the public. You are also welcome to send comments or questions by email to: faculty_senate@uml.edu.
- Start Date: Friday September 12, 2025
- End Date: Tuesday November 4, 2025
To view the full proposal and supporting documents, and read the comments, please log into Curriculog, our campus curriculum management system. All faculty, administrators and staff can access Curriculog with their email credentials. If you need assistance, email: curriculog@uml.edu.
The proposal will be on the following Committee and Senate agendas:
1. UPC Meeting
- Date: Tuesday October 14, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by UPC
2. GPAC Meeting
- Date: Monday October 20, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Hall room 102
- Outcome: Approved by GPAC
3. Faculty Senate 2025-2026 Meeting #4
- Date: Monday November 3, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- Location: Coburn Hall room 255
- Outcome: Approved by Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate is committed to transparent governance and effective communication, and we hope this invitation for comment from the campus community will help us meet those goals. Thank you for your attention to this proposed change to our transfer credit policy.
- Kevin Petersen, Faculty Senate President
- Kerry Patenaude, Associate Director of Faculty Senate Operations and Curriculum Management
Academic Policy
University-Level Policies
The UMass Lowell (UML) Faculty Senate has instituted a process to ensure a thorough, campus-wide review of all University-level policy proposals. The process is as follows: After introduction at Senate, the policy is available for comment by all College Curriculum Committees for one week, followed by one week for comment by college deans. It will appear on the agenda for the Undergraduate Policy Committee (UPC), then the Graduate Policies and Affairs Committee (GPAC), and finally, return to Senate for a vote by members. A proposal, an invitation for open comment, and important dates will be announced as a "Call for Comment" campus-wide. Approved policy changes will go into effect on a specified date at the beginning of the following semester.
The 2-Month Approval Cycle for University-Level Policies
- The Originator creates the proposal in Curriculog.
- Faculty Senate Operations adds the proposal to the next Faculty Senate meeting for Initial Discussion.
- The Originator formally presents the proposal to Faculty Senate.
- Faculty Senate discusses and votes whether to move the proposal through the full 2-month cycle.
- The Faculty Senate President formally announces the proposal in Today at UMass Lowell (UML) and invites open comment at upcoming committee meetings.
- Faculty Senators bring the proposal to their Departments for review and discussion.
- College Curriculum Committees will review the proposal and make the needs of Colleges and Departments known by submitting comments directly to the proposal in Curriculog.
- College Deans will review the proposal and comments and submit impact statements directly to the proposal in Curriculog.
- Undergraduate Policy Committee will review the proposal and all comments and discuss with present interested parties at the next UPC meeting.
- Graduate Policy and Affairs Committee will review the proposal and discuss with present interested parties at the following GPAC meeting.
- Faculty Senate will review the final proposal and discuss with present interested parties at the following Faculty Senate meeting.
- Pending Faculty Senate approval, administrators will complete the “UML System Update” steps to add the policy to the catalog, with a specified effective date occurring at the beginning of the following semester.
Faculty Senate Calls for Comment
Each Faculty Senate Call for Comment is announced via UML Today Announcements, typically on the Friday after the senate meeting during which the "Initial Discussion" was conducted. Details for each Call for Comment are posted below. As the committees and Faculty Senate vote on the proposals, their decisions will be added to the relevant section below. Approved policy changes will go into effect at the beginning of the next academic semester at the earliest.