UMass Boston

Admission For DACA and Undocumented

The University of Massachusetts Boston is the most diverse university in New England and offers a welcoming college community. We encourage Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students to apply for admission to the university.

Merit Scholarships

First year Undocumented and DACA students are automatically considered for merit scholarship aid at the time of admission. Please review our scholarship aid for incoming first year students.

Undocumented and DACA students are also encouraged to apply for continuing students’ merit-based scholarships at the University of Massachusetts Boston to help finance their education. In order to be matched and apply for scholarships students are encouraged to create a profile on Academic Works. Please review Scholarship criteria and apply through Academic Works at the start of each academic year for consideration for our many competitive continuing student scholarships.

Student Immigrant Movement

The Student Immigrant Movement is a MA-based statewide immigrant youth-led organization. They organize youth, ages 13-30, and provide political education, leadership training,  guidance, mentorship, and safe healing spaces.

United We Dream

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. The  nonpartisan network is made up of over 100,000 immigrant youth and allies and 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states. They organize and advocate for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status through federal legislation.

The Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement

The Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement provides public education to inform immigrants about City services, information, and referral to community services, as well as information in conducting outreach to immigrant groups.

Complete list of services in Boston for immigrants

The Greater Boston Legal Services

The Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low-income people in Boston and thirty-one additional cities and towns.

The Irish Immigrant International Center

The Irish Immigrant International Center's Immigrant  Legal Services program offers comprehensive, professional, and confidential services for non-citizens, regardless of their legal status or ability to pay. They offer assistance navigating complex U.S. immigration laws.

As the university’s sponsored LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization, the Queer Student Center can assist with trans-related issues. Specifically, the QSC provides a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students on campus, and is a great resource for peer support, advocacy, and help navigating the UMass Boston campus community. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Campus Center (3005), and can be reached at QSC@umb.edu.

The Queer Student Center also works with various institutions within the campus community to support Trans* students. These include: the Counseling Center (mental health services/support), Student Affairs (student-on student harassment / conduct issues), and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Title IX compliance, campus accommodations).

Yes. The policy reads:

"The University of Massachusetts is committed to providing an environment that advances equal opportunity and is free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status or genetic information in employment, admission, and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the university. Accordingly, acts of discrimination or harassment shall not be tolerated. Any member of the university community found to have violated this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action."

Students are encouraged to have an educational conversation with the individual doing the misgendering or using incorrect pronouns but if a conversation has occurred and there is no change in behavior you should contact the Dean of Students Office.

The student can also file a complaint using MAXIENT. This form is to be used for reporting information necessary to initiate an investigation of alleged discrimination, harassment, sexual or gender-harassment, sexual assault, or other sexual violence, stalking or retaliation pursuant to the Discrimination and Harassment Policy and/or the Student Code of Conduct.

If you would like to speak to someone, please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by calling 617.287.4818.

While at present, the University of Massachusetts Boston does not have its own bathroom policy, it abides by and is under the jurisdiction of the City of Boston municipal code, section 12-9.7, which reads, in part:

“… it shall be an unlawful and discriminatory practice to prevent or prohibit the use of restrooms, baths, showers, dressing rooms, or other private accommodations based on the gender identity publicly and exclusively expressed or asserted by the person seeking to use such restrooms, baths, showers, dressing rooms, or other private accommodations.”

Here is a map and list of the single-stall restrooms that are also Gender-inclusive on campus:
Campus Center:
050-2316
050-2317
050-3316
050-3317
050-4316
050-4317
Wheatley Hall:
010-03/000111
010-02/00035
010-01/00026A
Healey Library:
090-UL/000023
090-UL/000024
University Hall:
030-T104
030-T304
030-T403
030-T404
030-T105
030-T203
030-T204
030-T303
Integrated Sciences Complex:
060-2202F
Residential Hall Building East:
156
153

We allow students to self-select their gender and the gender they would like to live with. So that people may live with others they identify as. We also allow for gender inclusive housing meaning students of varying genders can live in the same space if they desire. All of our restrooms are gender inclusive as well with individually locking units including a shower and a toilet. If you would like to speak to someone, please contact Housing and Residential Life by calling 617.287.6011 or by emailing housing@umb.edu.

Working with the Queer Student Center, Intramural Athletics adopted the following policy:

When an activity makes gender designation, individuals may participate in the activity based on their gender identity. If an individual's gender identity does not fit within the binary framework of man/woman or the person is in the process of transitioning to a different gender, participation in a particular gender designated activity will be handled on a case by case basis." 

It is important to ask for pronouns because you cannot assume how someone identifies their gender based on their appearance. Using the wrong pronouns for someone may lead them to feel disrespected, invalidated, and marginalized. FACT SHEET

Primary Name/Legal Name on Record – A primary/legal name is the name that appears on legal documents, an individual’s passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, or U.S. Social Security Card. It will be used by the university for financial aid purposes, bursar’s bills, transcripts and diplomas. This name should be used when completing forms for the university.

Chosen Name – A chosen name is a name an individual wishes to be known by, or identifies by, in the University community that is different from the individual’s official/legal name. Your chosen name may be used in place of your primary name on your BeaconCard, and your university email (by request); as well as on class/grade rosters, and Blackboard. To add/edit a chosen name in WISER navigate to Personal Information->Names->Add a new name

Degree/Diploma Name: The name printed on the diploma will be your primary/legal name as listed in WISER. Any changes to your primary/legal name must be made before the applied date of graduation.

• To update your legal name, submit the request by completing the name/address change form along with the supporting documents.
• Get more information about names

Students: Submit the address/name change form with supporting documentation.
Please note: If you work on campus you will need to follow the rules below for staff in addition to making the changes in Wiser.

Faculty/Staff: contact Human Resources to request your name be changed in HR Direct.

If you’d like your email to match your name change, after it’s been updated with HR, contact the IT Service Desk and request that your email address and display name be changed to match your HR record. For faculty who are known professionally under a different name, contact the IT Service Desk and request your name be changed based on your professional identity. Pending approval from HR, the systems group will make the change.