General Information

Web site address: www.merrimack.edu

Office Hours. Most administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the summer, administrative offices are closed on Fridays.

Campus Visits. Prospective students are encouraged to visit Merrimack College at their convenience, preferably while school is in session, in order to get a realistic impression of the campus. Student-guided tours are available, and should be scheduled by calling the Office of Admission at (978) 837-5100 (please choose option 2).

Non-Discrimination. Merrimack College is firmly committed to the practice of equal opportunity. Every student is entitled to an environment free of discrimination, which erodes dignity and morale. The College prohibits discrimination of any kind. Discrimination constitutes a serious infraction of College policy as well as a violation of state and federal law. Any member of the Merrimack College community who discriminates against, excludes, degrades or otherwise devalues another on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, or other lawfully protected categories will be disciplined accordingly, up to and including dismissal.

It is the policy of Merrimack College to administer all decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, or other lawfully protected categories.

Provisions of this catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the College. The College reserves the right to change any provision or requirement at any time within the student’s term of residence.

Educational Records. In accordance with the Family Educational Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, Merrimack College has adopted detailed policies concerning release of information in academic records. Students will be permitted to inspect their records upon written request to the Registrar. All students may also examine the college policies on the inspection and release of student records by contacting the Registrar.

In general, the College will not release information from students’ records to agencies outside the College without the prior written consent or request of the student. However, the College may release the following directory information, without the prior consent of the student:

• name, address, telephone number, email address, film, video and electronic images
• date and place of birth
• fields of study, academic level and enrollment status
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams
• dates of attendance
• degrees, honors and awards received
• the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student
• other similar information

Those students who do not desire the release of directory information should notify the Registrar in writing. For more information on FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Within the Merrimack College community, access to student educational records without prior consent of the student is limited to those faculty, administrators and staff who, individually or collectively, are acting in the student’s educational interest, within the limitations of their need to know, as stipulated in the policy. Student authorization is required to permit any further access to records.

Student Status. Merrimack College will consider all students to be dependents of their parents unless both the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Student Life are notified to the contrary within 30 days after registration. This notification should include evidence that the student is in fact financially independent. A certified copy of the parents’ most recent income tax return, other public records, accounting records, etc., are acceptable for this purpose.