This Agreement is by and between you and Shorelight, LLC d/b/a UMass Boston International Direct (“UMass Boston International Direct” “we”, “our” or “us”) and is effective as of the date of Acceptance (the “Effective Date”). It governs your application to, and if you are admitted, your enrollment and participation in, UMass Boston International Direct. We reserve the right to change or modify portions of this Agreement at any time. If we do so, we will notify you via email or through other reasonable means of the changes.
Please read this Agreement in its entirety. It includes important information regarding our services as well as policies and rules related to the University of Massachusetts Boston. In particular, we note that you will find the following information covered within the following provisions in this Agreement:
- Application Terms (Section 1)
- Enrollment; Tuition and Fees (Section 2)
- Deposit Refunds (Section 3)
- Tuition Refunds (Section 4)
- Legal (Section 5)
- Accommodations and Services (Section 6)
- Other Policies, Procedures & Requirements (Section 7)
- Miscellaneous (Section 8)
1. APPLICATION TERMS. If you are admitted, you will be placed in the appropriate program track based on your academic and English language credentials submitted with your application. You acknowledge that there are price differences between each program track based on program track length and course of study. Please note that different courses of study may include required English language courses as part of the curriculum. You acknowledge that by submitting your application, you are not guaranteed admission at University of Massachusetts Boston. If you are currently seeking or intend to seek permanent resident status at any point during your anticipated tenure at University of Massachusetts Boston, you must disclose such intent at the time of application and you will not be permitted to apply to UMass Boston International Direct.
2. ENROLLMENT; TUITION AND FEES.
2.1 Once your application has been reviewed, and if you are conditionally accepted to the UMass Boston International Direct, a Conditional Offer Letter from UMass Boston International Direct will be extended to you. Once you have received your post-acceptance letter, you must pay your enrollment deposit (“Deposit”), and meet all other listed conditions, to be eligible for admission. As part of your acceptance, you will receive other important information and documents that contain additional terms and conditions governing your participation in the program. Please familiarize yourself with all documentation provided to you by UMass Boston International Direct.
2.2 Following payment of your Deposit, an invoice (the “Statement of Fees”) will be sent to you which will contain your remaining outstanding balance (the “Outstanding Balance”) and your payment due date. You acknowledge and agree that you will pay to UMass Boston International Direct the Outstanding Balance shown on your Statement of Fees, including any banking or processing fees, by the indicated due date. UMass Boston International Direct has the right to amend its prices from time to time and will provide you with notice of any amended prices via email or through other reasonable means. The following fees will appear on your invoice:
Undergraduate:
- Technology fee
- Student activity fee
- ID card fee
- International student fee
- New student fee
- Curriculum and service fee
- Mass media fee
- Massachusetts Student Public Interest Research Group fee
- UMass Boston Health Insurance
Certain courses and programs, such as courses with a lab component, require additional fees. Such fees may include but are not limited to additional registered course fees, lab fees, and other program-specific fees. You will incur additional tuition and fees for any credit hours you take in excess of UMass Boston’s standard full-time credit load. You must pay any program-specific fees and tuition for excess credit hours directly to the UMass Boston Bursar’s office. UMass Boston will invoice you separately for such fees after the add/drop registration date and UMass Boston payment terms will apply.
2.3 Failure to pay the Outstanding Balance by the due date may lead to penalties, including late fees, inability to gain access to housing, inability to use a meal plan, and a hold on your account that will prevent you from enrolling in classes. If you are unable to enroll in classes due to your failure to pay the Outstanding Balance and any applicable fees, you may violate the terms of your immigration status, and we will be required to report such violation to the SEVIS database. As a result, you may lose your immigration status and be deported from the United States. More information regarding your obligations to maintain proper immigration status is included below.
2.4 You will be required to take an English language assessment test upon arrival to campus. The results of the assessment test are used to place you on the program track that is appropriate for your skill level, and which may be different from what was indicated in your conditional offer letter. If your assessment test score does not meet the criteria for your assigned program track, you will not be able to enroll on that track. As a result, the length of study may be longer than originally anticipated and involve additional costs.
2.5 Once you receive your visa, you are required to maintain proper F-1 visa status. To maintain proper F-1 visa status, you must comply with all applicable federal regulations related to study in the United States, including the pursuit of a full course of study. Please review University of Massachusetts Boston’s policies on student visa status. You will be in danger of losing your immigration status if you fail to maintain the necessary academic standing. We will be required to report any violation by you of your F-1 status to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (“SEVIS”) database maintained by the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). Your personally identifiable information, including course enrollment details and changes, and circumstances of any suspected breach by you of University of Massachusetts Boston’s or UMass Boston International Direct’s policies may be shared with the DHS, University of Massachusetts Boston and accrediting agencies, designated authorities, your parents, and UMass Boston International Direct staff and agents. Please be aware that scheduling and class attendance conflicts that arise from pursuing immigration status changes will not be accommodated and may prevent you from continuing your studies. You may be dismissed from UMass Boston International Direct if you seek or obtain a change in your permanent residency after you begin your program.
2.6 You may be required to purchase a meal plan. Your published move-in date can be found here: (the “Move-In Date”).
2.7 Admission to your deferral term is subject to review by UMass Boston. If your deferment is approved, your deposit will roll-over for one semester only, not including summer (i.e. a Spring deposit will apply for next Fall, but a new deposit is required starting with the following Spring semester). We will not refund your original deposit. After one calendar year, you will be required to re-apply with a new application and deposit.
3. DEPOSIT REFUNDS.
(a) if you have both (i) an admissions offer for a particular semester and (ii) you provide us with written notification and documentation (visa appointment confirmation including DS160 application number, SEVIS fee payment receipt and visa denial letter) confirming your visa was denied prior to the Move-In Date of that same semester (to illustrate, if you receive an admissions offer for the fall semester and, following a visa denial for that fall semester you defer your admission to the spring semester, we will only refund your deposit if you can demonstrate a visa denial for the spring semester); or
(b) if you have obtained a visa but are denied entry upon arrival to the U.S., provided that you have already paid your Outstanding Balance in full (including any housing or other fees), have completed your pre-arrival documentation, and are not denied entry to the U.S. because of your own wrongdoing.
Otherwise, we do not provide Deposit refunds. You must submit your deposit refund request form and supporting documents within sixty (60) days following the Move-In Date. For the avoidance of doubt, we do not provide Deposit refunds for students who (i) transfer their University of Massachusetts Boston-issued I-20 to another institution, or (ii) have provided false or fraudulent documents, have engaged in academic dishonesty or misconduct (including cheating), or who have otherwise committed acts of wrongdoing that make them ineligible for admission to UMass Boston International Direct.
4. TUITION REFUNDS.
4.1 If you cancel your enrollment prior to your Move-In Date, you may request a full refund of tuition and fees paid, minus non-refundable fees, subject to the exclusions stated in the following paragraphs. After the start of the semester you may be eligible for a partial refund calculated according to the table below. Non-refundable fees include, but are not limited to, your Deposit, housing fees, first semester meal plan fees, insurance, and a $500 processing fee.
4.2 All refund requests (other than those for Deposit refunds) must be submitted within sixty (60) days following the date that you either complete or withdraw from your program. All refunds will be issued in United States Dollars, minus bank transfer and processing fees, including any fees incurred for a rejected payment, according to the exchange rate in place at the time of the refund. All refunds will be made to eligible parties within 30 days following receipt of an accurate and completed refund submission and finance approval. All refunds must be processed to the originating bank account that funds were initially paid from.
4.3 In addition to the restrictions described above, no refunds will be given: (i) if you must withdraw due to your actual or anticipated change to permanent resident status (ii) for any housing-related fees, (iii) for any insurance-related fees, and (iv) in cases of dismissal, suspension or expulsion. The cost of a meal plan is not refundable during the semester it is purchased, but you may be eligible to receive a meal plan refund for future semesters depending on the specific circumstances and in our sole discretion.
4.4 In the event that you are granted a valid medical withdrawal tuition refund by University of Massachusetts Boston, which is in conflict with this Agreement, we will honor that refund (minus non-refundable fees).
5. LEGAL.
5.1 WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL UMass Boston International Direct BE LIABLE TO YOU UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER BASED UPON BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY) IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER UMass Boston International Direct HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE, AND THE LIABILITY UMass Boston International Direct FOR ALL DAMAGES OR ALLEGED DAMAGES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, IS LIMITED TO, AND WILL NOT EXCEED THE FULL AMOUNT PAID TO UMass Boston International Direct BY YOU. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE DISCLAIMER OR EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU OR BE ENFORCEABLE WITH RESPECT TO YOU.
5.2 You acknowledge and agree that UMass Boston International Direct or its representatives, affiliates, successors, and related companies may photograph, video or otherwise record you and/or other students. If you do not wish to have your photograph or video taken, you must advise us in writing and state, at the time of the photography or recording, your desire not to participate. Unless you have provided us with notice regarding your desire not to participate, you hereby irrevocably grant UMass Boston International Direct and its assigns, licensees, successors in interest, legal representatives, employees, consultants and agents (collectively, the “Program Entities”) the irrevocable and unrestricted right to copy, publicly display, distribute, modify, create derivative works of and otherwise use your name, image, voice and likeness and any photograph, video or audio recording in which you appear (collectively, the “Images”). You acknowledge and agree that you have no right, title or interest in or to any Images, and that the Program Entities own all right, title and interest in and to all Images. You hereby waive any right to inspect or approve any Images. You hereby waive all rights and release and discharge the Program Entities from and shall neither sue nor bring any proceeding against the Program Entities for, any claim, demand or cause of action based upon, arising from or related to the Program Entities use or exploitation of the Images (or the use of your name, image, voice or likeness in connection therewith), including without limitation, claims for libel or invasion of right to privacy, publicity or personality.
5.3 UMass Boston International Direct will not be liable under this Agreement for its failure or delay in performing any of the obligations imposed by this Agreement to the extent such failure or delay is the result of any event beyond its reasonable control, including: (i) any fire, explosion, unusually severe weather, natural disaster or Act of God; (ii) epidemic, disease or pandemic; any nuclear, biological, chemical, or similar attack; any other public health or safety emergency; any act of terrorism; and any action reasonably taken in response to any of the foregoing; (iii) any act of declared or undeclared ware or of a public enemy, or any riot or insurrection; (iv) damage to machinery or equipment; any disruption in transportation, communications, electric power or other utilities, or other vital infrastructure; or any means of disrupting or damaging internet or other computer networks or facilities; (v) any strike, lockout or other labor dispute or action; (vi) any action taken in response to any of the foregoing events by any civil or military authority; or (vii) any other similar event beyond UMass Boston International Direct’s control.
5.4 The law, including the statutes of limitation, of the state of Massachusetts will govern this Agreement, the interpretation and enforcement of its terms and any claim or cause of action (in law or equity), controversy or dispute arising out of or related to it or its negotiation, execution or performance, whether based on contract, tort, statutory or other law, in each case without giving effect to any conflicts-of-law or other principle requiring the application of the law of any other jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Massachusetts and of the United States of America located in Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Courts”) for any litigation among the parties hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Massachusetts Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Massachusetts Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any inconvenient forum or that there are indispensable parties to such litigation that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Courts.
5.5 We have a legal obligation to comply with U.S. laws and regulations. We may use certain information you provided to us on your application to ensure our compliance with export and other regulations by screening you against lists prepared by federal government agencies, such as those prepared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. You hereby consent to the transfer of your personally identifiable information to third-party screening services that we have retained solely to conduct such screenings.
5.6 In the event that any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, such provision will be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder will continue in effect, to the extent consistent with the intent of the parties as of the Effective Date.
6. ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICES.
6.1 On-campus housing is available for UMass Boston International Direct undergraduate students. Should you select and be assigned an on-campus housing option, you will receive a housing contract and any additional documentation directly from UMass Boston.
6.2 All international undergraduate students are required to be covered by health insurance that meets all United States government, Massachusetts, local, and University of Massachusetts Boston requirements. To that end:
a. You are required to purchase coverage from UMass Boston International Direct-designated health plan, offered through University Health Plans (a licensed insurance producer), as a condition of enrollment.
b. Information about mandatory immunization requirements may be reviewed here, and the mandatory immunization forms may be obtained here. You must have completed immunization documentation prior to class registration in order to enroll in any courses. All immunization forms must be translated into English.
c. You are solely responsible for the payment of any premiums or other costs associated with maintaining health insurance coverage. Be advised that the cost of health insurance is non-refundable.
d. You must be enrolled in UMass Boston International Direct to be eligible for coverage under the UMass Boston International Direct-designated health plan. Your coverage will be terminated if you are dismissed or withdraw from the program.
7. OTHER POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS.
7.1 Please familiarize yourself with the University of Massachusetts Boston’s calendar for holidays and vacations. Classes will not be held on designated school vacations and may be cancelled on public holidays. We do not provide refunds for classes not offered due to planned or unplanned school closures.
7.2 Students are accepted to UMass Boston International Direct with the understanding that they will adhere to the University of Massachusetts Boston Student Code of Conduct which can be found at https://www.umb.edu/editor_uploads/images/life_on_campus/UMass_Boston_Code_of_Conduct_08.02.21.pdf and the University of Massachusetts Boston Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at https://www.umb.edu/academics/academic_integrity, each of which may be amended from time to time. You may be suspended or expelled if you violate any of University of Massachusetts Boston’s policies, rules, or regulations, which may result in the revocation of your immigration, and you will not be allowed to continue in the program if you do not meet the minimum standards set by UMass Boston International Direct. If you are unable to continue due to a suspension or expulsion or because you have failed to meet the minimum standards set by UMass Boston International Direct, you may be offered advice on suitable alternatives, including repeating courses or dismissal from UMass Boston International Direct. These alternative options may involve additional time and costs, including tuition and other fees which may require presenting additional proof of finances.
7.3 You may be suspended or expelled if you violate any of UMass Boston International Direct’s or University of Massachusetts Boston’s policies, rules, or regulations, which may result in the revocation of your immigration status.
7.4 If you are dismissed from UMass Boston International Direct for any reason you may not reapply to UMass Boston International Direct.
8. MISCELLANEOUS.
8.1 University of Massachusetts Boston is a U.S. accredited university. If you wish to live and work in your home country, you may be required by your employer or your home country’s education authority to submit your degree for verification (sometimes called “validation” or “authentication”). It is your responsibility to determine what level of verification is needed and how to obtain it. While we do not guarantee that your University of Massachusetts Boston degree will be verified outside of the United States, degree verification does not impact the validity or value of your degree in the United States. We also do not guarantee that credits earned at University of Massachusetts Boston will be transferrable to systems of higher education outside of the U.S. Whether and how much transfer credit to award you is in the discretion of each foreign institution.
8.2 All internship and externship opportunities, such as CAP Premier, will be awarded by a third-party organization at such organization’s sole discretion.