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Registration Rates
The following registration rates include the cost of registration, parking for Monday-Wednesday, coffee breaks, breakfasts, and lunches. The Full Program rate also includes the cost of dinner on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Additional dinner tickets for those who wish to bring a guest or for those who select the Commuter Rate are available for $45.00/ticket. Please note that registration does not include the cost of lodging: lodging reservations must be completed and paid for separately from your registration.  

A.     FULL PROGRAM: $395.00
          Includes access to all sessions, parking Monday-Wednesday, breaks, and the following meals:
               Monday: Hot Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.     
               Tuesday: Hot Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
               Wednesday: Continental Breakfast.

B.     COMMUTER RATE: $330.00
          Includes access to all sessions, parking Monday-Wednesday, breaks, and the following meals:
               Monday: Hot Breakfast and Lunch.
               Tuesday: Hot Breakfast and Lunch.
               Wednesday: Continental Breakfast.

Please note: all registrations and payments received after March 3, 2025, will be assessed a $40.00 late fee. Please submit payment or a late fee waiver (see below) by the close of business on March 3, 2025 to avoid being assessed this additional fee.

Payment
Attendees may select to pay by credit/debit card or by check during registration. Credit/debit card payment can be made online through our secure payment gateway by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. To pay by check, complete your online registration and then mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to the address below with a copy of your registration confirmation. If you need an invoice sent to facilitate payment, please register online, select "Yes" when asked if you will need an invoice, and then select the "Mail a Check" payment option. We will then email you an invoice within a few business days; if you do not receive an invoice or forgot to select "Yes" to request on, please email an invoice request to registration@umass.edu. Please note: all payments received after March 3, 2025, will be assessed a $40.00 late fee. If you cannot have payment postmarked on/by this date please contact us at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102 to discuss the possibility of receiving a late fee waiver. Late fee waivers are offered when an attendee can provide documentation by the end of business on March 3 showing payment is in process. Accepted documentation includes a copy of a purchase order or check, or other items that confirm the payment amount and expected date of delivery.  

Mail checks made payable to UMass Conference Services to:
  Conference Services CS25129
  819 Campus Center
  1 Campus Center Way
  University of Massachusetts
  Amherst, MA 01003
Note: payments for Hotel UMass should be made separately and should be sent directly to the hotel for processing. 

Cancellation Policy
Attendees cancelling their registration before the close of business on March 10, 2025, will receive a full refund minus a $60.00 cancellation-processing fee. Cancellations received after this deadline may be granted a pro-rated refund depending on the exact date of cancellation. No refunds will be granted after the close of business on Friday, March 14, 2025. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to UMass Conference Services by email (registration@umass.edu).

Important Updates and Reminders

On-Campus and Area Lodging Reservations
Registration does not include lodging, so reservations and payment for your lodging should be arranged separately. A block of discounted rooms is being held at Hotel UMass, located in the Campus Center, for a rate of $165.00 per room per night (plus applicable fees, currently 6% plus $1.00 per room, per night). This rate will be valid through February 14, 2025, or until space fills, so early reservations are strongly encouraged. To make a reservation, interested attendees should click here to be taken directly to the MMAAA Hotel UMass reservation page. Note reservations are available online only: if you call to complete a reservation you will be directed to book online. Please call Hotel UMass directly at 413-549-6000 to inquire about rooms outside the room block.  Additional lodging options are available here.

Registration Times & Locations
Registration will be available on Sunday, March 16, from 3 - 6PM in the hotel lobby (located on Level 3 of the Campus Center). Note hotel check-in begins at 3PM and early check-in will not be available, so please plan to arrive between 3 - 6PM so you can check into the hotel and stop by the registration desk to pick up your program materials. If you are not arriving on Sunday (or are arriving after registration has closed), registration will be available again on Monday, March 17, from 7:30 - 10:30AM on the 1st floor of the UMass Campus Center, directly outside of the Campus Center Auditorium. Please stop by the registration desk to pick up your registration materials. If you arrive after 10:30AM on Monday, or if you need any assistance throughout the event, please come to the Conference Services Office located in room 819 on the 8th floor of the Campus Center (note: if you arrive just after 10:30AM we recommend checking to see if we are still on the 1st floor before coming up to the 8th floor!). The Conference Services Office will be open each weekday during the program from 8AM to 5PM.

Certification Exam
MMAAA offers a certification program. To sign up, check off the boxes next to Track III Section 9 and Track III Section 10 during registration. You must also click here to download and complete the certification packet. This packet includes the Pre-registration form and Application for Certification form, which must be submitted to Wendy Nightingale no later than Friday, March 7, 2025. 

Class Materials
The course materials for Tracks I, II, and III and IV will be available online. MMAAA requires everyone to print class materials before the start of the conference or bring your laptop/tablet to access the materials. All materials will be available on the Member Section of the MMAAA website. You will need to click on "Member Login" first, and then look for the drop-down menu to access the "Members" section. Note that all course materials are copyrighted and as such are for MMAAA member use only.

Parking in the Campus Center Parking Garage
The Campus Center Parking Garage is now gateless and ticketless! Instead of taking a ticket and paying before you leave, you will need to register your car upon arrival. You will receive further instructions prior to the event. Hotel guests may go directly to the hotel front desk to register your vehicle. The Full Program and Commuter Program rates include garage parking for Monday-Wednesday. We recommend traveling down to park on Level 2 where there is a flat walkway into the Campus Center. When you check in at the conference registration desk you will be provided with a QR code or link in order to register your vehicle. Additional arrival information and parking instructions will be sent via email as the program approaches. Note: there is a Parking Services Office located on the 2nd level of the garage, right at the entrance to the Campus Center. If you experience any difficulty, please stop by the Parking Services Office for assistance! If you have any problems or cannot reach a Parking Services representative, please contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu so we may further assist.

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

All Annual Education Program sessions and meals will be held at the UMass Amherst Campus Center, located at 1 Campus Center Way in Amherst MA 01003. During registration you will sign-up for the session(s) you will attend. Click here to download the Summary Schedule of Training Tracks and Sessions.

Schedule Coming Soon!

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

Location   
The program will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center. The Campus Center and attached Campus Center Parking Garage are located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. Click here for turn-by-turn directions from your location. For travel information, please click the "Getting to Campus" tab above.

Registration will be available on Sunday, March 16, from 3 - 6PM in the hotel lobby, located on the 3rd floor of the Campus Center. Note hotel check-in begins at 3PM on your date of arrival and early check-in will not be available, so please plan to arrive between 3 - 6PM so you can check into the hotel and stop by the registration desk to pick up your program materials. If you are not arriving on Sunday (or are arriving after registration has closed), registration will be available again on Monday from 7:30 - 10:30AM on the 1st floor of the UMass Campus Center, directly outside of the Campus Center Auditorium. Please stop by the registration desk to pick up your registration materials. If you arrive after 10:30AM on Monday, or if you need any assistance throughout the event, please come to the Conference Services Office located in room 819 on the 8th floor of the Campus Center (note: if you arrive just after 10:30AM we recommend checking to see if we are still on the 1st floor before coming up to the 8th floor!). Once you get off the elevator on the 8th floor take a right, follow the sign and you will see our office location on the left.

Parking
Parking is available in the Campus Center Parking Garage. Garage parking for Monday-Wednesday is included in both the Full and Commuter Program rates. For GPS purposes, the garage is located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA, 01003 (click here to obtain directions from your location). Campus Center Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue, across the street from the Mullins Center. After turning onto Campus Center Way stay to the left to go up the hill. You will see the garage entrance on your right. The campus parking garage is now gateless and ticketless! Instead of taking a ticket and paying before you leave you will need register your car upon arrival. Attendees will receive an email prior to the start of the program with further information on how to register your vehicle. You will need to know your license plate information in order to complete the registration. We recommend following the Hotel UMass/Campus Center signs down to park on Level 2, where there is a marked entrance into the Campus Center. Alternatively, you can park on any level and use the Northeast or Southeast Stairwells to gain access to outdoor campus paths that lead down to the Campus Center.

Upon your arrival to the registration desk you will be provided with your program materials. Additional parking and arrival information will also be sent via email as the program approaches.

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

By Car
From the South, via I-91 North
Take Exit 25 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, stay to the right to merge onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass Exit. Stay to the right as you exit to merge onto Massachusetts Avenue. Take a left at the second set of lights onto Commonwealth Avenue. Travel on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach the first set of lights: you will see the Mullins Center, the large sports/entertainment complex, on your left. At the lights take a right onto Campus Center Way, staying to the left to go up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right.

From the North, via I-91 South
Take Exit 36 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left onto Routes U.S. 5/10/116. Follow until you reach the lights and then turn right to stay on 5/10/116. Go one mile and turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for eight miles to the UMass exit. Turn left at the stop sign. Take a left at the second set of lights onto Commonwealth Avenue. Travel on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach the first set of lights: you will see the Mullins Center, the large sports/entertainment complex, on your left. At the lights take a right onto Campus Center Way, staying to the left to go up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right.

From the North, via I-93 South
Follow I-93 to I-495 South. Follow to Route 2 West. Continue on Route 2 to U.S. 202 South. Follow for about 15 miles to the blinking light at the Pelham exit marked “Route 9 and 116 Amherst.” Turn right and follow for seven miles to Amherst center. Turn right onto North Pleasant Street. Stay on North Pleasant Street until you arrive on campus. Stay left to turn onto Massachusetts Avenue. Follow Massachusetts Avenue until the first set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Commonwealth Avenue. Travel on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach the first set of lights: you will see the Mullins Center, the large sports/entertainment complex, on your left. At the lights take a right onto Campus Center Way, staying to the left to go up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right.

From the East or West, via I-90
Travelers have a choice of four routes:

  • Off Exit 63 (Palmer/Ware): Follow Route 32 South to Palmer. Take Route 20 West to Route 181 North into Belchertown. Turn onto Route 9 West to Amherst. Follow Route 9 through the center of Amherst. Take a right onto University Drive. Travel to the end of University Drive and take a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Get into the left lane and take a left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Stay in the right lane and at the first set of lights turn right onto Campus Center Way. Follow signs to the Parking Garage.
  • Off Exit 54 (Ludlow): Follow Route 21 North to U.S. 202 North to Route 9 West to Amherst center. Travel through the center of Amherst. Take a right onto University Drive. Travel to the end of University Drive and take a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Get into the left lane and take a left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Stay in the right lane and at the first set of lights turn right onto Campus Center Way. Follow signs to the Parking Garage.
  • Off Exit 49 (Chicopee): Follow Route 33 North to Route 116 North to Amherst center. Turn left at the light onto Route 9 West. At the bottom of the hill stay in the right lane and take a right onto University Drive. Travel to the end of University Drive and take a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Get into the left lane and take a left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Stay in the right lane and at the first set of lights turn right onto Campus Center Way. Follow signs to the Parking Garage. 
  • Off Exit 45 (West Springfield): I-91 North to Exit 25 to Route 9 East to Amherst. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass exit. Stay to the right as you exit. At the second intersection take a left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Stay in the right lane. At the first set of lights take a right onto Campus Center Way. Follow signs to the Parking Garage.

Click here to get directions from your location!

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hotel UMass
The Amherst area is full of many wonderful lodging options. Space permitting, we recommend attendees stay at Hotel UMass, located right in the Campus Center just an elevator ride away from program activities, meeting rooms, and meals!

Seated in the center of the picturesque UMass Amherst campus, Hotel UMass blends a tranquil countryside escape with the bustling energy of campus life, making it your ideal destination when staying in the area. Just an elevator ride from Campus Center meeting spaces and amenities, including the University Store and several newly renovated dining options, Hotel UMass offers unbeatable convenience for a discounted conference rate of $165.00/room/night (plus applicable fees, currently 6% plus $1.00 per room, per night). Discounted rates are valid through February 14, or until space fills, so early reservations are recommended.

To complete a reservation, interested attendees should click here to be taken directly to the MMAAA Hotel UMass reservation page. Note reservations are available online only: if you call to complete a reservation you will be directed to book online. Please note: The room block has reached capacity, please call Hotel UMass directly at 413-549-6000 to inquire about rooms outside the room block. Additional lodging options are available here and below. 

Note: payment for your stay at Hotel UMass must be made separately from your registration payment. 

Area Lodging
Amherst and the surrounding area is full of many hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. A variety of hotel chains offer their familiar comforts just a short 5 - 10 minute drive from the UMass Campus on Route 9/Russell Street in neighboring Hadley, while charming independent inns and B&Bs dot the area, offering a taste of Pioneer Valley living. Some popular options are below. Click here for a full listing from the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

Amherst

Hadley

Deerfield

Northampton

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

Local Transportation
There are multiple transportation options to get you from campus to amenities and attractions in the surrounding area. Amherst center, with local shops, restaurants, and small convenience stores, is a 15 - 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive from campus. If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located on University Drive and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley, about a 5 - 10 minute trip from campus by car or bus. Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), run regularly between Amherst center and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley, including Hadley, Northampton, Springfield, and Greenfield. If you'd rather take a car, UMass has partnered with Zipcar to bring on-demand car sharing services right to campus. The area is also serviced by a variety of cab companies, including Uber, Lyft, Taxi Express, Tik Tak Taxi (413-256-4500) and Celebrity Cab (413-253-7330). There are also a variety of bicycle rental options around campus, including Hampshire Bicycle Exchange and Laughing Dog Bicycles. 

Dining
Looking to head off-campus for a meal? There are so many wonderful and convenient options! Downtown Amherst, located about a 5 minute drive/20 minute walk from campus, has many unique restaurants, with fare ranging from Thai, Chinese, Italian, American, Indian and more. Some longstanding downtown favorites include Antonio's pizza by the slice, Bueno Y Sano, and Johnny's Tavern. About 5 minutes in the other direction, heading down University Drive, you will find some more popular local spots including The Hangar Pub and Brewery and Ginger Garden. Travel just a bit further (7 - 10 minutes from campus) and you will reach the Route 9/Russell Street area of Hadley, which is replete with familiar chains and fast-food spots including Friendly's, Panera, Chili's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Texas Roadhouse and more. Have a little more time on your hands? Visit downtown Northampton, about a 25 minute drive from campus, and explore the many restaurants and shops that make up this artistic, academic and countercultural hub. Click the links below for some more information on off-campus dining options, and be sure to take a look at the bus services offered by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to help you get where you need to go! 

Shopping
If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located 5 - 10 minutes from campus in downtown Amherst, as well as on University Drive in Amherst and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley. These locations are also serviced by PVTA buses.

  • Downtown Amherst
  • Amherst Shopping Center - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Big Y, Dunkin Donuts, CVS and Wings Over Amherst. Located at 181 University Drive in Amherst, MA.
  • Hampshire Mall - retail/grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, including Target, Trader Joe's, J. C. Penney, Cinemark, Pinz Bowling, LaserBlast, and Planet Fitness Gym. Located at 367 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.
  • Campus Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including TJ Maxx, Super Stop & Shop, Dollar Tree, Liquors 44 and Johnny's Roadside Diner. Located at 440-454 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.
  • Mountain Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Panera Bread and Whole Foods Market. Located at 335 Russell Street in Hadley, MA

Area Attractions

  • Amherst is known for its rural charm and big city appeal. With many restaurants, bars and local shops, visitors love exploring our downtown. Located just a few minutes drive from the campus, it is a convenient and popular destination. 
  • The city of Northampton is a blend of historic, contemporary, intellectual, artsy, athletic and entrepreneurial. With cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, shops, museums, rivers, parks and spas, Northampton is a place to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of budget.
  • The Emily Dickinson Homestead, located right in downtown Amherst, was mentioned frequently in her intensely idiosyncratic and strikingly modern poetry. Devoted Dickinson readers visit the Homestead and The Evergreens, the Italianate home built next door by Emily's brother Austin Dickinson, to walk today where Emily walked and to see what Emily saw.
  • The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located in Amherst, looks to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books, just a short 15-minute drive from campus. Founded by Eric Carle and his wife Barbara, the Museum is for visitors of all ages: children and families, teachers and librarians, scholars, and everyone interested in the art of the picture book.
  • The Yiddish Book Center is a nonprofit organization working to tell the whole Jewish story by rescuing, translating, and disseminating Yiddish books and presenting innovative educational programs that broaden understanding of modern Jewish identity. The Yiddish Book Center is located on the Hampshire College campus, about a 15-minute drive from UMass.
  • The Amherst College Beneski Museum of Natural History, located about 5 minutes from the UMass campus, is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, boasting three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world. 
  • Yankee Candle, located about 15 minutes away in South Deerfield, offers an enchanting mix of shopping and entertainment. You'll find 400,000 candles in over 200 different famous Yankee scents, but there are more than just candles at this flagship Village Store. It's a unique, entertaining world of New England charm, fairy tale fantasies, and hands-on, interactive candle making that's fun for every age.
  • Historic Deerfield is an authentic 18th-century New England village. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings, see Yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades, and explore the world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. 
  • The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a 14,400 square foot facility that includes a 4,000 sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation, about a 20-minute drive from campus in neighboring South Deerfield.
  • Home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history, the Basketball Hall of Fame stirs the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, shooting contests and enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans. 
  • The Springfield Museums grant visitors access to the Springfield Science Museum, George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Springfield History and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and Museum, all under a single admission. The museums are located in the heart of downtown Springfield, about a 40-minute drive from UMass.
  • Six Flags New England is home to many rides and attractions, from pulse-pounding roller coasters to gentler options for the youngest of thrill seekers. With some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, most gut-wrenching rides in the country (including a few record breakers), as well as family rides, kid rides, entertaining shows and the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Six Flags New England has fun for everyone.

    Interested in learning about more things to do in the Pioneer Valley? Click here!

    Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help! 
    Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
    Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

For Program Related Questions:
Visit the MMAAA website or contact Hetal G. Patel at 413-529-1400 Ext.117 or hpatel@easthamptonma.gov. 

For Registration, Payment, and/or General/Campus Related Questions:
Contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.  

To Mail Payment:
Click "Register Now" above to complete your online registration. When prompted for a payment method, select "Mail a Check". Once your registration is completed, mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to the address below. Include the name of the registered attendee on/with the check so we can apply payment to the correct account. Please note: all payments received after March 3, 2025 will be assessed a $40.00 late fee. If you cannot have payment postmarked by this date please contact us at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102 to discuss the possibility of a late fee waiver. 

Conference Services CS25129
819 Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

To Request an Invoice:
First click "Register Now" above and complete a registration through the "Order Confirmation & Payment" page (you will need to indicate your method of payment to complete your registration; select "Mail a Check"). During registration you will see a question asking if you need an invoice sent to facilitate payment: select "Yes". Once your completed registration is received, we will email an invoice to you within a few business days. If you do not select "Yes" to be sent an invoice, or do not receive one within 3 - 5 business days, please email an invoice request to UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu. Please include your name, the name of the event, and, if applicable, the contact details for the individual who should be sent the invoice (if someone other than yourself and/or you need it sent via a method other than email).