Course submission deadlines:

• Fall courses: late February
• Winter courses: mid-April
• Spring courses: late September
• Summer courses: mid-November

Course guidelines for winter/summer sessions:

• Student needs: Winter/summer session students are generally matriculated full-time students who need to meet general education and departmental requirements. Winter and summer sessions are very popular times for all credit courses.
• Winter session course schedules: Courses meet for 12.5 hours per week for 3 weeks (either M-F for 2.5 hours a day or M-TH for 3 hours a day). Keep in mind that the winter session is a rigorous academic challenge, with all the requirements of a full-semester course in an intensive 3-week format.
• Summer session course schedules: Courses meet for 7.5 hours per week for 6 weeks (typically M-F 1.5 hours a day or M-TH for approximately 2 hours a day). This schedule is flexible provided contact hours are met and approved by the department.
• Minimum contact hours: A 3-credit course must meet a minimum of 35 to 45 contact hours per session.

Course guidelines for fall/spring semesters:

• Student needs: Fall/spring semester students are generally nontraditional students, including part-time students who are working full time. Course enrollments tend to be much smaller.
• Fall and spring semester course schedules: Courses generally meet one evening a week for 3 hours, with 14 to 15 class meetings. This schedule is flexible provided contact hours are met and approved by the department.
• Minimum contact hours: A 3-credit course must meet a minimum of 35 to 45 contact hours per semester.

Course approval process:

The curriculum for Continuing & Professional Education semester/session courses — including the course’s scheduled day, time, and capacity — must be approved by the university academic department head/chair. Continuing & Professional Education works with the academic departments to finalize a schedule of courses that best responds to student needs.

1. Approximately 5 months before the semester/session begins, each department receives a curriculum proposal form listing the courses that were offered for that session during the previous year. If the department in which you would like to teach has not previously offered a course during this time period, they will not automatically receive the form and must therefore request it from the Academic Programs Office.
2. The department makes changes to the form, including additions, cancellations, schedule or capacity changes and room requests. Room requests must be made when the curriculum proposal form is submitted and noted on the Academic Approval Form. Once the semester begins, rooms will not be changed until after the add/drop period.
3. The department returns the form or calls in changes to the Academic Programs Office, and submits any required paperwork (see Course information forms, below).

Course information forms:

• Green Appointment Form: Required for each instructor, each time he or she teaches. All information and signatures must be completed in order for instructor compensation to be processed.
• Gold Academic Approval Form: Required for courses offering graduate credit (500 and above). Must be signed by the dean of the Graduate School (located in 514 Goodell). All information and signatures must be completed.
• GFAF Assistantship Form: Required for graduate student instructors once a course is confirmed at the 8-student minimum. Note: Graduate students are not generally approved to teach graduate-level courses.
• Resume for non-university faculty: Required for graduate-level credit courses.

Course descriptions:

Our catalog and website list all approved course information on SPIRE, including course number, title, description, credit value, prerequisites, and gen eds. The department must provide a course description if no description is currently listed or if a course is either experimental or a seminar.

Compensation/enrollment guidelines:

Compensation schedules are mailed to each department and are available at the Academic Programs Office.

• A minimum of 12 students is required for faculty and visiting lecturers to receive the minimum pay.
• A minimum of 8 students is required for graduate student instructors.
• A minimum of 15 students is required for HT-MGT and BBA courses.
• A minimum of 10 students is required to offer a School of Education (500 Level and above) course for the minimum pay.

Course cancellations:

Cancellation decisions are made one to two weeks before the first class meeting.

Instructor orientation:

Once you’ve been assigned to teach, you’ll be notified about instructor orientation. Your attendance is greatly appreciated.

Instructor Information Guides:

A guide explaining our policies and services is mailed to each department before the fall/spring semesters and distributed at orientation for winter/summer sessions.

Registration, grades, and transcripts:

The Records and Registration office handles registration, grades and transcripts. Registration information is listed in the catalog and online . Grade rosters and grade and transcript questions should be referred to the Records and Registration office at (413) 545-3653 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information:
Academic Programs Office
Suite 201, 100 Venture Way
Hadley, MA 01035-9430
Phone: (413) 545-2414
Fax: (413) 577-3838

School of Education / School of Nursing / School of Public Health and Health Sciences / College of Engineering:
Irena Bozin-Mirkovic (413-577-0845 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Commonwealth College / College of Humanities and Fine Arts / College of Natural Resources and the Environment / College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics / College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:
Linda Honan (413-545-0826 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Isenberg School of Management:
Bernie Schliemann (413-545-3882 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

On-line course training / Distance Education Coordinator:
Bret Holloway (413-545-5210 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )