Parking
Guests staying in the dormitories will be provided with a complimentary parking pass to Lot 44, the large surface lot located adjacent to the North Residential Complex, at check-in at their dormitory. The Lot 44 parking pass must be filled out completely and displayed on your dashboard at all times throughout the program to avoid potential ticketing and/or towing. The North Apartments are located a 10 minute walk from the Campus Center, where the workshop will be held.

Commuters: Discounted $5/day parking is available for all attendees at the Campus Center Parking Garage. For GPS purposes, the Campus Center Parking Garage is located at 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003. Campus Center Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue, across the street from the Mullins Center. After turning onto Campus Center Way, proceed up the hill to enter the garage. To enter the Campus Center, proceed down to Level 2 of the garage, following signs for the Hotel/Concourse entrance. Attendees who park in the garage must be sure to pick up a parking pass from the workshop staff to receive the discounted $5/day rate. This parking pass will be valid for the duration of the program and must be given to the parking garage attendant each time you exit. The first time you exit you must present the pass and pay the total amount due by cash or card. Upon subsequent exits, the attendant will scan your pass and allow you to exit without requiring any further payment.

Attendees with a state-issued handicapped parking permit may park in any available handicapped parking lot during the workshop. A handicap parking map of campus can be found here: https://parking.umass.edu/images/maps/mapSpecialNeeds.pdf.

Click here to view an interactive parking guide of campus. Click here to view a map highlighting the route to the Campus Center Parking Garage. 

Driving to Campus
From the North: From I-91 South, take exit 25 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From the East: Take Route 2 West to Exit 16 (Belchertown/Amherst). From Route 2 take Route 202 South for about 15 miles to a blinking yellow light at Amherst Road. You will see signs "to Route 9/Route 116". Turn right and follow Amherst Road (which becomes Pelham Road) for 7 miles to Amherst center. Follow signs to UMass.

From the South: From I-91 North, take Exit 19 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left at the traffic lights to merge onto Route 116 North. Take the UMass exit in 1 mile.

From the West: Take Route 2 East to the Greenfield/I-91 exit. Take I-91 South to Exit 25, Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From I-90 (Mass Pike): Take Exit 4 (West Springfield). Follow I-91 North to Exit 19. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North (turn left at traffic lights). The UMass exit is 1 mile up.

Traveling by Plane
If you are traveling to Amherst by plane, the closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (near Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 miles from the UMass campus. Logan Airport in Boston is approximately 90 miles from the UMass campus. Both airports feature car rental agencies and a variety of shuttle services, including Valley Transporter (413-253-1350) and Seemo Shuttle (413-586-1120 or 800-908-2829).

Traveling by Bus
The Amherst area is serviced by Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. Based on the service you select and route availabilities you should take a bus to Amherst UMass if at all possible instead of Amherst Center (Amherst Center is about 1.5 miles from the UMass Campus). Please be sure to review bus schedules and campus maps before your arrival as both the area and the campus can be confusing to navigate if it is your first time here.

Staying on campus is the most convenient and economical way to be close to all the workshop activities. Rooms are available at Hotel UMass, located in the Campus Center, and in the North Apartments, located within a short walk of workshop activities. Details on Summer Conference Housing at the University of Massachusetts can be found below.

Hotel UMass - $130/night*
Discounted rooms are available for workshop attendees at Hotel UMass, located conveniently in the UMass Campus Center, for a rate of $130.00 per night (plus applicable fees). Guests must contact the hotel directly by May 15 to secure their reservation and reference group code MWW15C to receive the discounted rate.

Visit http://www.hotelumass.com/ or call 877-822-2110 to make your reservation.

North Apartments - $59/night
The North Residential Area consists of suite-like, air-conditioned apartments known as the North Apartments or, more simply, North. These air conditioned suites are located within a 10-minute walk of workshop activities held in the Campus Center. Each apartment-style suite consists of four single-occupancy bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a common area and a kitchen. Each lockable bedroom is furnished with a twin bed, desk, chair and dresser. Each guest may select to purchase a linen pack consisting of two flat sheets, a pillow and case, two towels and a thin blanket for use during their stay during the registration process. The kitchen has a full-sized refrigerator, microwave and stove-top oven. If you are interested in preparing some of your meals in the suite, you should bring your own supplies. Silverware, cookware and plates are not provided. Toiletries are not included. To take a virtual tour of the North Apartments courtesy of UMass Residential Life please visit http://www.housing.umass.edu/reshall/roomtours/NorthAptsTour/newindex.html.

There are 4 North Apartment buildings: North A, North B, North C and North D. All four buildings are located less than a minutes walk apart on Eastman Lane in Amherst. Specific building assignments and detailed arrival instructions will be sent to registered and fully paid guests in early June.

Suitemate Requests
Individuals or groups who wish to share the same North Apartment should enter their requested suitemate(s) on the registration page. The UMass Conference Registration staff makes every attempt to accommodate all suitemate requests but there are no guarantees. If no suitemate requests are received, you will be placed in a single-sex suite with other workshop attendees.

Accessibility Needs
Special medical requirements and/or handicap access will be honored on an as-received basis. Due to space limitations, the university cannot guarantee the accommodation of all special requests but will make all attempts to do so. Please be sure to make note of all accessibility needs when you register. You will be contacted in the event that UMass cannot honor your accessibility needs. For specific handicap-access information on dorms, suites or classrooms please contact the UMass Conference Registration staff at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.

Room Keys & Access Cards
At check-in, each guest will be provided with an access card for their assigned dormitory building and a room key for their individual bedroom. Access cards and keys must be returned in their original condition at check-out to the Summer Conference Housing desk clerk located in the dormitory lobby. Guests will be charged $20 for a lost/damaged access card and $30 for a lost/damaged key. Refunds will not be accepted for keys/cards returned after your departure.

The university’s award-winning dining services offers a variety of healthy and flavorful meals. Catering to many dietary restrictions and featuring local, regional and world cuisine served in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious manner, UMass Dining Services is sure to have something to please every palette. See http://www.umassdining.com/ for more information. Participants should select and pay for a meal plan when they register for the conference.

Mentee Meal Plan
All workshop participants are required to purchase the Mentee Meal Plan. The Mentee Meal Plan includes:

• Dinner on Sunday, June 14, in the Campus Center
• Breakfast on Monday, June 15, in the Campus Center
• Lunch on Monday, June 15, in the Campus Center
• Dinner on Monday, June 15, off-campus
• Breakfast on Tuesday, June 16, in the Campus Center
• Lunch on Tuesday, June 16, in the Campus Center

Blue Wall
The newly renovated Blue Wall, located in the Campus Center, will be open during the conference. Featuring 10 different food concepts, including pizza, salads, deli sandwiches, sushi, burgers, burritos and gelato, the Blue Wall is sure to have something to satisfy every palette. The UPub is open to participants 21 and over. Meals purchased at the Blue Wall are not covered by the conference meal plan and are at the participant’s expense.

Dietary Restrictions
Attendees with dietary restrictions or allergies should detail all dietary related needs on the UMass registration form (there will be a clearly labeled box on the online UMass registration page for this purpose). The Registration staff will communicate all needs to the Dining Commons/Catering staff and will contact you in the event that we cannot accommodate your restriction.

Off-Campus Accommodations
Workshop participants may choose to stay off-campus in one of the area’s many hotels. If you choose to stay off-campus, you are responsible for making your own arrangements. Please note that participants staying off-campus must still purchase the Mentee Meal Plan. 

The Amherst area is full of many hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. Many large chains are located a convenient 5 - 10 minute drive from the UMass Campus in neighboring Hadley, including The Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, and Courtyard Marriott all on Route 9/Russell Street. A listing of area lodging options can be found at http://business.amherstarea.com/list/category/lodging-243

Area Attractions
Amherst is known for its rural charm and big city appeal. With many restaurants, bars and local shops, visitors get lost 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.

Yankee Candle, located about 20 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 candlemaking 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. 

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. 

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.

Want to learn about more things to do in the Pioneer Valley? Click here!

Related Links

• UMass Amherst Campus Maps
• UMass Parking Map
• Amherst Area Information
• Northampton Area Information
• Valley Transporter
• Seemo Shuttle
• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority

For housing, meal or payment related questions:
Contact the UMass Registration Office at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.

To mail payment:
Mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to the address below. Be sure to include the name of the registered attendee so we can apply the check to the correct account. Payments received after the close of business on May 29, 2015, will be charged an additional $40 late registration fee.

Conference Services CS15-371
810 Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

To request an invoice:
Contact the UMass Registration Office at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.