The StAAR Center

The StAAR Center values the diverse educational and cultural experiences of every student and promotes access to an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. As a team and as individuals, the StAAR Center fosters students’ educational growth and awareness, self-advocacy and resiliency as it relates to their Tufts academic experience and beyond. Center initiatives engage students, faculty and staff to proactively support the learning needs of the Tufts community.   

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities

The Fletcher School at Tufts provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Disabilities may include but are not limited to sensory, neurodiverse learners, physical, mental and chronic health and temporary disabilities. The StAAR Center coordinates academic, residential, dining, and transportation needs during campus visits, and other accommodations as needed. The StAAR Center is committed to supporting students with disabilities remotely.

Tufts Religious Accommodations

Students who wish to request academic accommodations while observing a religious holiday may do so by working with the Tufts’ Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). The Tufts Religious Accommodations policy specifies what an accommodation is. It is recommended that if a student is seeking accommodation to email oeo@tufts.edu and to cc their professor and student success advisor on that email. Once OEO receives a student request, they will connect with the faculty member for a discussion to assess the reasonableness of the request as well as the available accommodations that the faculty member can provide. Here is a sample accommodation request that can serve as a guide to students.

  • One-to-one academic coaching is available to any GBA student looking for support with time management, creating a study plan, breaking down large projects or papers, managing procrastination and/or accountability. Visit the Tutor Finder to make an appointment with an academic coach.
  • Academic skills workshops are offered to help students adjust to the demands of graduate school. Topics include time management and planning, strategies for reading and note taking, managing procrastination, tackling test preparation and test taking, English conversation practice and more. Check out the StAAR Center website for scheduled workshops and the Graduate Student Programming page for more information about the various resources provided.
  • The Tufts StAAR Center provides graduate level writing tutors that are available to provide online and in-person assistance with strategies for composing and organizing papers and other written documents. Information on the StAAR Center and how to book an appointment is available here.
  • View the Best Practices Guide for Online Learning Success, created specifically for GBA students.
  • You can also send any general inquiry emails to The StAAR Center at staarcenter@tufts.edu.

Language Proficiency Testing

We are excited to announce a new opportunity for students to certify their language proficiency level. Beginning this fall 2022, Fletcher is partnering with Language Testing International (LTI) to provide optional language exams for students who seek a professional, globally recognizable credential certifying their reading and/or speaking ability in a language other than English. LTI offers official language certificates in a number of languages, and students may choose between three different international language proficiency scales on which to be evaluated. LTI’s accreditation process ensures that results are consistent and reliable. The exams offer flexibility, as they are scheduled by the student, as well as robust accessibility features.

Fletcher students who take a language exam with LTI will receive an official certificate verifying their language level according to the chosen proficiency scale, which includes a certificate code that potential employers can use to verify the test results. Those who choose to be evaluated on the ACTFL scale will also have access to a digital “Credly” badge that can be used on LinkedIn and other social media sites.

These exams are optional, but Fletcher will financially support one reading exam and one oral exam per student during their enrollment at the School. All Fletcher students currently enrolled in a degree program as of September 1, 2022 are eligible, including those who have taken language exams prior to this date. The previous process of in-house Fletcher reading and oral exams will no longer be offered. To sign up any time during the academic year, please email Joey.Renzi@tufts.edu before April 1.

A full policy on this new offering, including special considerations for PhD students, is available on the myfletcher language page, where you can also find other language opportunities and resources. For example, if you speak another language and would like to connect with others via WhatsApp and/or be notified of other language opportunities, please fill out the matching form here! 

Please feel free to reach out to Jillian DeStone with any questions

Leave of Absence

At Fletcher we completely understand life happens, and sometimes you may need to put your education on hold to accommodate. As per university policies, students may request a personal leave of absence for up to one year or three terms. If an extension is needed, a new form must be submitted; extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students who do not return to the program by the approved date will be automatically withdrawn from degree candidacy.

If students enroll in classes but decide to request a leave of absence, they should notify their current instructors that they are taking a leave of absence and should withdraw from classes in SIS. If the add/drop period has passed, please send a request to your Student Success Advisor and Registrar to be withdrawn from classes. 

All GBA students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered in academic good standing. Withdrawing from a course, or all courses, will result in a “W” listed on the student’s transcript. Questions about academic good standing must be directed to Student Success and the Office of the Registrar. 

Students who receive financial aid must inform the Office of Student Financial Services of their leave of absence or course withdrawal at 617-627-2000.

Students who require accommodations to meet educational needs due to illness, physical limitation, or learning disability should schedule an appointment with the Office of Accessibility Services at 617-627-4539. 

To request a Leave of Absence please email us at gba@tufts.edu