Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admissions



Office of Admissions

Wellesley Hills Campus / Room 106 / 781-239-2500
Framingham Campus / Front Desk / 508-270-4059

General College Admission Requirements

MassBay maintains an open-door admissions policy as defined by the regulations of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, offering those who express a desire to pursue a college education the opportunity to enroll.

Students who have earned a high school diploma, a General Education Development Credential (GED), or an associate degree or higher degree, are eligible for admission to MassBay.

Applicants are expected to perform college level work and conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for college students. In cases where placement tests or other indicators suggest the contrary, the College reserves the right to deny admission. All associate degree or certificate-seeking students are required to complete an application to MassBay and must be assessed in their reading, writing, and mathematics skills. MassBay offers placement testing throughout the year in multiple locations. Please refer to www.massbay.edu/placementtesting for more information and to schedule a placement test.

Admissions Application Instructions

Please review the admission requirements for your program of study. Some programs, such as Automotive Technology and several Allied Health programs, including Nursing are restricted. A restricted program has certain requirements that must be completed before you will be considered for admission.

Visit us at www.massbay.edu and complete your free online application.

If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet, you may complete and submit a paper application. Please submit your completed application to:

MassBay Community College
Office of Admissions
50 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-5307

Along with your application, please submit proof of high-school graduation or equivalency. The Office of Admissions will accept one of the following documents: an official final high school transcript, a copy of your high school diploma, a copy of a GED certificate, or an official college transcript indicating an associate degree or higher degree. If you are not applying to a Nursing or Allied Health program, you may self-certify your education credentials if you received a high school diploma or college degree from a school accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), or if you received your GED from Massachusetts or another New England state. Home-schooled students should consult the Home School Policy in this Catalog.

Students who have international documents must have these documents translated into English and evaluated to U.S. standards through a certified credentials agency. For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 781-239-2500.

If you have earned a college degree or college credits from other accredited colleges please forward your  official transcript(s) to the Office of the Registrar on the Wellesley Hills or the Framingham campus to be evaluated for transfer credit.

Once accepted into a program of study, you will be expected to follow the curriculum and course requirements in place at the time of your admission. If you are continuously enrolled (i.e., with no interruption of an academic program longer than four semesters), you will be expected to fulfill the requirements for the specific program of study listed in the Catalog that was current at the time of your admission to MassBay. If you are not continuously enrolled, you are expected to meet the requirements current at the time of your readmission to MassBay. If you change your major, you are expected to follow the program requirements in effect at the time your Change of Major form is filed and processed.

Open Houses and Information Sessions

MassBay hosts fall and spring Open House events. In addition, MassBay offers general information sessions, Nursing and Allied Health information sessions on the Framingham Campus, and Automotive Technology information sessions at the Ashland Technology Center on a regular basis.

Anyone interested in enrolling at MassBay is encouraged to attend an appropriate event to learn more about the programs and what MassBay has to offer. To review the calendar of information sessions and to make a reservation, please visit the MassBay website at www.massbay.edu/.

Campus Tours

Campus tours can be scheduled by contacting the Office of Admissions at 781-239-2500.

Fast Facts: How to Sign up for Classes

For new students applying for a degree program:

  • Complete an application for admission.
  • Forward final high school transcript, copy of high school diploma, or GED certificate.
  • Submit official college transcripts (if applicable).
  • Apply for financial aid if necessary (Note: FAFSA deadlines are May 1st, and November 1st - dates may be subject to change).
  • Take placement tests.
  • Select the Orientation/Registration process that works best for you.
  • Make payments or arrange for payment plan.

For currently enrolled students:

  • Contact your advisor to schedule an appointment.
  • Meet with your advisor and select your courses.
  • Register for classes online via Bay Navigator.
  • Make payments or arrange for payment plan.

For visiting students:

  • Take placement tests.
  • Search online listings and select courses.
  • Register for classes.
  • Make payments or arrange for payment plan.

Placement testing:
To register for placement testing, contact the Academic Achievement Center at 781-239-2620 or register online at www.massbay.edu/placementtesting.

Fast Facts: The Registration Process

Here are some points to remember to make your registration process smoother:

  • A full-time course load is 12 or more credits. However, it is necessary to complete more than 12 credits per semester in order to finish a degree program in the recommended time. Students may register for a maximum of 20 credits with an advisor’s signature. To register for courses that total more than 20 credits in a semester, the signature of the program’s dean is required.
  • Registration in math or English courses requires placement exam results unless the student has been waived from the placement test by the Advising Center.
  • Students will not be allowed to register if they have an outstanding financial obligation with the College.
  • Students may not register for a course that has a prerequisite unless they have either completed the prerequisite or are currently enrolled in it at MassBay. If the prerequisite was completed at another school, students must submit proof of completion to the Advising Center.
  • Students accepted to a restricted program, such as many of the health sciences programs or automotive technology programs, must obtain their program advisor’s signature to register for any courses.
  • To obtain information on the semester schedule and class meeting times and places, please visit our website, www.massbay.edu/courses.

Learn more about MassBay by attending an information session.

Information Sessions are held throughout the year, so there is always one that fits your schedule.

To RSVP visit: www.massbay.edu/rsvp

Writing Test Waiver

Students may be granted a waiver from the writing test requirement if they have successfully completed a college-level freshman composition course with a grade of “C-” or better. The course must have been taken at an accredited U.S. college or university and be equivalent to the MassBay course Freshman English I. Students may also be exempt if they have completed a higher-level course (equivalent to Freshman English II) with a grade of “C-” or better. Students who completed the equivalent of Freshman English I with a passing grade below “C-” at another institution will not be required to take the placement test but must successfully complete Freshman English I. The College does not accept credits for transfer from courses with a grade below “C-.”

Math Test Waiver

Math test waivers are available to students who can provide proof of completion, with a grade of “C-” or better, of an appropriate college-level mathematics course taken at an accredited college or university.

High school graduates within the last three years whose high school GPA is a 2.70 or higher are exempt from the initial placement exam and will be placed directly into the lowest college-level math course appropriate for their chosen pathway of study.

Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR)

Orientation will provide you with the tools you need to succeed at MassBay. No matter what your goal is at MassBay, we strongly recommend that all new students attend an Orientation as part of the enrollment process. When you attend an Orientation, you are taking an important step in your academic journey. Starting off on the right track is the best way to ensure success as a MassBay student. We have four different options:

On Campus Orientation

Recommended for first time college students and/or students who are planning to complete an Associate Degree Program at MassBay.

At the On Campus Orientation you will:

  • Explore your academic, career, and transfer goals with MassBay Academic Advisors and faculty.
  • Meet and socialize with fellow NEW MassBay students as well as current MassBay students, faculty, and staff.
  • Plan your first semester schedule, register for courses, and get your MassBay student ID
  • Learn hands-on about MassBay’s technology, including your email, student account, and classroom tools. You will obtain your username and password and activate all of your online MassBay accounts.
  • Learn about the extracurricular and leadership opportunities available to you.
  • Be introduced to a wide range of support services and resources.
On Campus Express Orientation

This is an abbreviated version of Option 1.

At the On Campus Express Orientation you will:

  • Plan your first semester schedule and register for courses
  • Learn hands-on about MassBay’s technology, including your email, student account, and classroom tools.
  • You will obtain your username and password and activate all of your online MassBay accounts.
  • Be introduced to a wide range of support services and resources
Online Orientation

Recommended for students who are planning to complete a certificate program, or taking prerequisite courses, or taking online only courses or non-credit courses.

Please keep in mind that you may still need to visit campus to meet with an Academic Advisor and register for your courses.

At the Online Orientation you will:

  • Printed your schedule for the first semester.
  • Become familiar with MassBay’s technology, including your email, student account, and classroom tools.
  • Learn about the extracurricular and leadership opportunities available to you.
  • Be introduced to a wide range of support services and resources.
Visit the Advising Center for Class Registration

Recommended for students who are a non-degree seeking student or are completing prerequisite courses for credit at another institution.

When you Visit the Advising Center you will:

  • Review the courses selected.
  • Plan your first semester schedule and register for courses.

** After you register for classes, be sure to contact the help desk to have your MassBay online accounts activated.

Visit www.massbay.edu/soar or email SOAR@massbay.edu or by calling 781-239-2721.