Office of the Chancellor

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Open House for Early Action Accepted Students

Spring 2011

Good morning, and welcome to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of America’s finest public institutions, located in the best college town in the United States! That last judgment is not ours alone, but is shared by a nationally known college admissions counselor who wrote about our campus on MSN.com.

UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the great state of Massachusetts; it’s on the rise into the top ranks of public research universities in the nation, and we would like you to be part of our success.

You should be very proud to be here as accepted students; I know we’re honored to have read your applications. Once again, this year we had a record number of impressive applicants to UMass Amherst. Should you enroll and become part of the class of 2015, you will live and study alongside the most well qualified students the campus has ever seen. We’ve set records in test scores and grade point averages for the past three years, and this year should see another high-water mark.  When you enroll here, you will be part of an exceptionally smart, talented, and diverse student body.

Today you’ll learn more about the opportunities at UMass Amherst. You’ll learn about the outstanding under­gradu­ate education we offer, about how we have strengthened our first-year programs, and about the extra­or­dinary undergraduate research opportunities on our campus. I hope you’ll see our new Integrated Sciences Building and our Recreation Center, learn about our mind-boggling array of clubs, groups, and athletic teams, and see the opportunities here to participate in everything from the arts to publications to student-run businesses.

UMass Amherst is widely known as an outstanding research university. Last year we received a record-setting $170 million in research funding. What that means for you is that you will be taught by and work along side the producers of new knowledge, the pioneers in their fields. Let me bring you up to date on some recent achievements in other areas and steps we’re taking to make the flagship campus of the Commonwealth even stronger:

• Our students continue to earn prestigious national awards. For example, in the fall semester, 16 UMass Amherst students studied abroad on congressionally funded Gilman scholarships. UMass Amherst ranks fourth in the country for these scholarships. Our students study anthropology in Tanzania, the hotel business in Hong Kong, and philosophy in the United Kingdom, among other topics.
•  We also received recognition from Teach for America, which named UMass Amherst one of the top universities in the country contributing graduating seniors to its ranks.  As you may know, Teach for America was more selective than ever last year. UMass Amherst was the only public university in New England to rank in the top tier of recruits. This demonstrates the university’s national standing and confirms the high quality of our students and our institution.
• Bleacher Report, an influential sports web site, named our Minuteman Marching Band one of the greatest college bands in the country – we already knew that, but it’s gratifying to see it confirmed. Our fantastic new band building will open this spring. 
• In 2010, UMass Amherst was again named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, recognizing our commitment to volunteering, service learning, and civic engagement.
• Last year we received an A for leadership in sustainable energy and climate change issues, as assessed by the College Sustainability Report Card.  And, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized us with a “Leading by Example” Award for sustainability and reducing greenhouse gases. We’re most proud that our students are deeply involved in these efforts to protect the environment.
• Our Dining Services earned yet another in a long list of awards when The Daily Beast website called our campus dining service among the top 15 in the entire country. And, it’s true, we do serve lobster in the Dining Commons on Halloween!
• At UMass Amherst, you will be taught by many exceptional faculty members and we are in the process of hiring even more. Our professors are nationally and internationally recognized researchers, scholars, and creative artists. To give you an idea of their high caliber, in December, two of our scientists, cell biologist Magdalena Bezanilla and polymer scientist Ryan Hayward both went to the White House to receive Presidential Early Career Awards from President Obama. This is one of the most important awards a young scientist can earn.
• Student diversity is a campus priority. Greater than one-fifth of our student body is African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Native American. We have a new center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success that provides greater services for minority students.
• Our campus continues to be recognized nationally for the success of our exemplary alcohol screening and intervention program. We’ve garnered funding and awards for our achievements in this area.
• Parents and other family members in the audience will be particularly interested to hear about one further award: Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine last year named UMass Amherst among the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. Kiplinger bases its rankings on a combination of academics and affordability.

For me, what makes UMass Amherst stand out as a great place to spend your undergraduate years are the many opportunities here to declare your intellectual independence. As the state’s flagship campus we are a big university, and that means we offer big opportunities and give students a large array of choices in academics and in engagement outside the classroom. Here at UMass Amherst you can choose among 88 undergraduate majors; you can participate in one or several of the 300 student clubs and organizations; and we provide you with over 1400 acres of beautiful campus at your disposal.

Your opportunities extend well beyond our campus. UMass Amherst is a member of the five college consortium, which includes Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College. As students on our campus you can take courses at any one of these institutions, and you will find that students from these institutions will frequently take courses here on our campus.

You are among the most talented students in the country. I know that because you applied for early action and were accepted. I also know that means you have other opportunities for post-secondary education. There are many great schools here in Massachusetts and throughout the northeast. But I can assure you that you will be making the best decision of your life if you come join us at UMass.

If you want great education at a great value; if you want edginess that will give you an edge in life; if you want to have four stimulating years in the best college town in the United States; if you want to learn from pioneering scholars and researchers, and work along side them on their path-breaking discoveries; if you want not just a few choices in programs, but excellence across 88 different majors, from linguistics to sport management, from kinesiology to food science, from sociology, English, and music to electrical engineering, accounting, and public health; if you want hundreds of student clubs and activities, dozens of cultural and entertainment events, and thrilling Division 1 NCAA athletics; if you want the best college food and the best marching band in the region; if you want all of this and more, then we welcome you to UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ flagship institution of higher education.

Thank you very much for taking the time to be with us today, and welcome once again to our beautiful campus! Go UMass!