Which residence hall will I be in?
The North Residential Area has four buildings - A, B, C, and D. All of the buildings are located next to each other, forming a quad. At this time we do not know which of these four buildings you will be housed in, but an arrival email will be sent out to all registered guests in mid-July with detailed information, including your building assignment. The North Apartments are all located on Eastman Lane in Amherst, MA. Click here to take a look at a campus map (the North Residential Area is located in boxes 1C and 2C).

Who will I share an apartment with? 
Guests will be placed in a suite with other program attendees, with each guest assigned to their own individual bedroom (there are 4 bedrooms per suite). If you provide specific suitemate requests during the online reservation process we will do our best to house you accordingly, with preference being given to early registrants. If you do not request any suitemates you will be housed with other program attendees based on your age and gender. Each bedroom is lockable: although you will share common spaces with you suitemates, only you will have access to your bedroom. 

What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in will be available in the lobby of your assigned building beginning at 1 p.m. on your day of arrival. A Summer Conference Housing staff person will be located at the desk in the lobby of your building around the clock once check-in begins, so if you need to check-in late or need any assistance during your stay please stop by the desk in the lobby. Check-out is by 11 a.m. on your date of departure. Early check-in and late check-out are not available. Remember to return your room key and building access card at check-out to avoid being assessed any additional fees ($50.00 per lost/damaged key; $20.00 per lost/damaged card).

Can I stay a night early or a night late?
The program has reserved apartments in North for the nights of Sunday, July 29, through Tuesday, July 31 (checking-out on Wednesday, August 1). If you wish to stay outside of these dates please contact the Registration Office at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu and we will see if we can extend your stay. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee availability outside of these dates.  

Is linen provided?
No, linens are not provided but can be reserved for $12.00/pack. Guests who purchase a linen pack will have two flat sheets, a blanket, a pillow with case, and two towels in their assigned bedroom upon check-in. Guests who wish to bring their own linens should feel free to do so. Linen packs will not be available for purchase on-site.

What is a Credit Card Authorization Form?
The required credit card authorization form is the same idea as a hotel taking your credit card data at check-in for incidentals, but for security purposes we have you submit this before your arrival (the residence halls don't have a secure space to collect and hold this data). All guests must complete and return a credit card authorization form to the Registration Office by July 23, 2018. The form will be kept securely on file for the duration of your stay and will only be run in the event of any lost/damaged room keys and/or access cards, or in the event of any residence hall damages. Guests will be charged $50.00 for any lost/damaged room key and $20.00 for any lost/damaged access card. Click here to download the Credit Card Authorization Form. Forms can be returned by fax (413-577-8130), mail, or completed by phone (413-577-8102). 

Is Wi-Fi available?
Yes, Wi-Fi login credentials will be available at the desk in the lobby of your assigned building - please ask the Summer Conference Housing desk clerk for the credentials at check-in. 

Where do I park?
Complimentary parking is available in Lot 44, the large lot located adjacent to the North Residential Area (click here to view a parking map of campus, click here to obtain directions from your location). At check-in the desk clerk will provide you with a parking pass for this lot. This parking pass must be filled out and prominently displayed on your dashboard throughout your stay to avoid any potential ticketing and/or towing. 

What should I bring?
We encourage guests to bring anything that will make their stay more comfortable! 

• If you purchase a linen pack, you will be provided with two towels, two flat sheets, a pillow with case, and a blanket. If you do not purchase a linen pack, remember to bring your own linens and towels with you. 
• The apartments are air-conditioned and some guests find them to be a bit cold, so we encourage you to bring a sweater or sweatshirt. 
• There are no additional amenities or appliances in the bedrooms: cots and cribs are not available and bedrooms are not equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, or televisions. Although there is a bureau and wardrobe, there are typically not hangars available - if this is a concern of yours, please feel free to bring your own hangars!
• The shared kitchen has a microwave, stove-top oven and full sized refrigerator/freezer. However, we do not provide dishes, silverware, cutlery, pots, pans or any cookware, so if you plan to cook please bring your own supplies or purchase some upon your arrival. There is a Target, a Walmart, and a variety of grocery and convenience stores located within a 10 minute drive from campus (also accessible by PVTA bus!).
• The living area has a couch and chairs, but the room does not have a television or cable access. 
• Both of the bathrooms have a shower, but guests should be sure to bring all of their own toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a hair dryer. Because the bathrooms are shared with the other suitemates in your apartment, some guests find it useful to bring a portable shower caddy, robe, and/or shower sandals. 
• Please keep in mind these are residence halls occupied by students during the academic year: when the students move out they take their belongings with them, leaving only the furniture and kitchen appliances in the apartments!
  

Location

The program will be held at the UMass Campus Center. For GPS purposes the Campus Center, including Hotel UMass and the attached Campus Center Parking Garage, are located at 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. For guests staying in the North Apartments, the North Residential Area is located on Eastman Lane in Amherst MA, 01003. There are four North buildings (A, B, C and D) and your specific building assignment will be sent via email in June. Click the addresses above to get directions from your location. Click here to take a look at a campus map.

Driving to Campus

From the South, via I-91 North
Take Exit 19 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.
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left to go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right.
For North Apartment guests: Commonwealth Avenue will become Governors Drive. Stay on Governors Drive until you reach the rotary. Take the second exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

From the North, via I-91 South

Take Exit 25 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left onto Routes U.S. 5/10/116. Follow until 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.
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left to go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right.
For North Apartment guests: Commonwealth Avenue will become Governors Drive. Stay on Governors Drive until you reach the traffic circle. Take the second exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

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 (you will need to turn left twice to remain on North Pleasant Street, - follow signs to the UMass Campus).
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: as you enter campus you will come to a set of lights. Stay to the left to turn onto Massachusetts Avenue. Follow Massachusetts Avenue through campus until you come to a set of lights. At the lights take a right onto Commonwealth Avenue. Continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right. 
For North Apartment guests: as you enter campus you will come to a set of lights. Stay in the right line and take a right to stay on North Pleasant Street. Follow North Pleasant to the traffic circle. Take the first exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

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

• Off Exit 8 (Palmer/Ware): Follow Route 32 South to Palmer; take Route 20 West to Route 181 North into Belchertown, and then Route 9 West to Amherst. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 7 (Ludlow): Follow Route 21 North to U.S. 202 North to Route 9 West to Amherst center. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 5 (Chicopee): Follow Route 33 North to Route 116 North to Amherst center. Turn left at the light onto Route 9 West. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 4 (West Springfield): I-91 North to Exit 19 to Route 9 East to Amherst. Follow signs to UMass.

Getting to Campus 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). Those who are attending the post-conference tour may also want to look at “open-jaw” or round trip fares through Providence, Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport (90 miles from Amherst). Rental car, shuttle, and bus services are available.

Getting to Campus 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. 

Location

The program will be held at the UMass Campus Center. For GPS purposes the Campus Center, including Hotel UMass and the attached Campus Center Parking Garage, are located at 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. For guests staying in the North Apartments, the North Residential Area is located on Eastman Lane in Amherst MA, 01003. There are four North buildings (A, B, C and D) and your specific building assignment will be sent via email in June. Click the addresses above to get directions from your location. Click here to take a look at a campus map.

Parking
We have a few different parking options for program attendees.

NORTH GUESTS - LOT 44
Guests staying in North will receive a complimentary parking pass at check-in to Lot 44, the large surface lot adjacent to the North Residential Area. Lot 44 is off of North Residential Drive in Amherst, MA 01003. Guests can pull into the small half circle in front of their assigned North building to check-in, unload, and pick up a parking pass from the Summer Conference Housing desk staff before moving to Lot 44. This parking pass must be filled out completely and prominently displayed on your dashboard at all times during your visit. North is located about a 10 minute walk from the Campus Center, so if you have limited mobility you may want to drive down to the Campus Center for sessions and park in the Campus Center Parking Garage (you can follow the instructions below). Additional details, including exact building assignments, will be sent via email as the program approaches. Click here to obtain directions to Lot 44.

CAMPUS CENTER PARKING GARAGE
Parking will also be available in the Campus Center Parking Garage, located at 1 Campus Center Way in Amherst, MA 01003. The hourly rate is $1.75, but your program organizers may instead provide discounted coupons. IAs you pull into the garage you will take a gate ticket. Prior to leaving for the day, but before you get to your car, take your gate ticket and the discounted parking coupon to one of the garage paystations. Enter your gate ticket and, if provided, scan the parking coupon you received to park at the rate of $6.50 for the day (versus the standard $1.75/hour). You will be able to pay your balance due by card at the paystations located on all levels of the garage, or you may visit the paystation on Level 2 to pay by cash. After submitting payment the paystation will return your now validated gate ticket, which you will then need to show to lift the exit gate as you drive out of the garage. This process will need to be repeated each day you attend the conference.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING 
Attendees with a valid state-issued reserved accessible license plate or placard may park in any marked Handicap Space or any nonrestricted, nonreserved space or lot, at no charge, as long as your plate or placard is clearly displayed at all times during your stay. To locate reserved accessible parking, visit the UMass Parking Map, select the blue parking icon on the right, and click the "Handicapped Parking" option. You may also click here to view a complete campus accessibility map.

Please note: you should not park at UMass without first obtaining a valid permit as detailed above: parking on campus without a valid permit, pass, placard, or license plate will result in ticketing and/or towing. 

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. Retailers include CVS, Big Y, Stop and Shop, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Marshalls, and more. 

Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, run regularly between Amherst center and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley, including 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, Celebrity Cab Company and  Taxi Express.

Please note: your program may arrange for meals so we encourage you to contact your program organizers for additional information! If you have any questions about the dining options below, please don't hesitate to contact us at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.

UMass Dining
You don't have to travel far to find something great to eat - recently named "Best Campus Food in America" by the Princeton Review for the second year in a row, UMass Dining invites you to join our table! Here are UMass we pride ourselves in serving a variety of healthy and flavorful meals featuring local, regional and world cuisine, prepared and served in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious manner. We source locally year-round, serve sustainable seafood, and employ a “small plate, big flavor philosophy,” all in the aim of supporting the New England Food System. We now offer SPE-certified dishes to ensure maximum nutrition and great taste - the first university in the nation to do so!

Our summer guests can find UMass Dining at every corner of campus. With dining commons, retail cafes, food trucks, and more, we welcome you to enjoy all that the UMass Dining experience has to offer.

DINING COMMONS
Come enjoy a meal in one of our Dining Commons! Served all-you-care-to-eat style, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m each day. At each meal you will find a variety of cuisines, often including sushi, pho noodles, create-your-own stir-fry, pizza, dim sum brunch, pasta and salad bars, deli sandwiches, American fare, Halal dining, vegan and vegetarian options, a range of desserts and ice cream, and more. Daily menus will be available as your stay approaches on the UMass Dining website.

Guests can pay for each meal by cash or card right at Dining Commons entrance.
  Breakfast: $8.75  
  Lunch: $11.25 
  Dinner: $14.25    

CAMPUS CENTER EATERIES
The Blue Wall, located in the Campus Center, is one of the most popular and convenient dining options on campus. The Blue Wall has 10 different stations served a-la-carte. Offerings include pizza, salads, wraps, deli sandwiches, sushi, burgers, burritos, gelato, and more, ensuring that the Blue Wall has something to satisfy every craving. Harvest Market, located on the main concourse of the Campus Center, is a full service market serving healthy, sustainable, and delicious fare for our on the go customers. The hot bar often features Indian, Ethiopian, traditional American, and many other world cuisines, and the salad bar is always stocked with in-season ingredients and freshly prepared composed salads. Additional highlights include a Chobani yogurt bar, all natural and organic snacks, local cheeses and deli meats, grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, and a made-to-order juice and smoothie bar. Need a quick pick-me-up or caffeine fix? People's Organic Coffee, located on the main concourse of the Campus Center across from Harvest Market, serves People's Organic Fair Trade coffees, as well as a variety of specialty coffee beverages, organic teas, locally baked pastries, fresh cookies, salads and paninis.

UNIVERSITY CLUB
The University Club and Restaurant, more fondly referred to as The UClub, is the eminent fine dining establishment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Housed in two colonial era New England farmhouses, the University Club and Restaurant offers a contemporary dining experience steeped in historic charm. Long established as a private faculty and alumni club, the University Club offers the public and campus community a full-service restaurant & lounge featuring local beer, wine, and farm-fresh ingredients. Call 413-545-2551 to make your reservation.

FOOD TRUCKS
Our food trucks, Baby Berk and Baby Berk 2, are great options for a quick and convenient meal. Serving freshly prepared food truck fare, including burgers, wasabi steak tacos, grilled cheeses, tater tots and sweet potato fries, you are sure to leave satisfied. Checkout @UMassBabyBerk and @UMassBabyBerk2 on Twitter to find daily schedules and location updates, and look for the trucks around campus during your stay!

Area 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/25 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, Judie's (try a popover), 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 Grill, Rafters 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, Panara, 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, to 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!

• Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce: http://www.amherstarea.com/list/category/restaurants-281
• Visit Hampshire County: https://visithampshirecounty.com/eat/restaurants/
• Area Restaurant Guide (PDF)

What is there to do during any free time you might have? The area is filled with exciting attractions, outdoor activities, shopping, and more! Some popular attractions are below. For more information please visit http://www.valleyvisitor.com/.

On-Campus Attractions
You don't need to travel far to find something to do - there are numerous attractions located right here on campus! 

• The UMass Fine Arts Center seeks to engage audiences in the arts, embrace diversity, and uphold the highest standards for arts education. Comprehensive in scope, the Center offers the region's only mix of classical music, dance, theater, jazz, Broadway, special events, and gallery exhibitions. The Fine Arts Center is also home to the University Museum of Contemporary Arts. 
• The Mullins Center, our state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility, hosts diverse events from hockey and basketball to concerts and popular touring performance groups. 
• The Augusta Savage Gallery, ocated in New Africa House, ocated in New Africa House, is a multicultural and multiarts facility that seeks to promote artistic works from a broad spectrum of cultures
• The Durfee Conservatory and Garden, established in 1867, is a historic plant conservatory that offers a sanctuary of calm and serenity among the hustle and bustle of campus.

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.
• 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 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. 
• 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.

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

UMass Amherst Information

• UMass Amherst
• UMass Amherst Parking
• UMass Amherst Campus Map
• UMass Amherst Campus Accessibility Map
• UMass Amherst Parking Map (PDF)
• UMass Amherst Special Transportation Services
• Zipcar at UMass Amherst

Area Information

• Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
• Northampton Visitor Information
• Area Attractions (PDF)
• Area Restaurants (PDF)
• Area Places of Worship (PDF)

Contact Us!

For questions regarding the campus, Residence Hall lodging, payment, or completing a reservation please contact the Registration Office (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m - 5:00 PM ET).

UMass Conference Services 
810 Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
t: 413-577-8102
e: registration@umass.edu