Living Options
One of the things that make life at UMass Amherst so great is the amount of living options that you have.
You’ll request your housing preferences and any living-learning opportunities that interest you during orientation, but it doesn’t hurt to start thinking about these choices now.
Types of Housing
There are a few different types of housing at UMass Amherst. You may live in a traditional style room with a roommate, or in a suite—a mix of doubles and singles with a common bathroom and living room. Married students may consider unfurnished and furnished apartments in family housing. Fraternities and Sororities are also an option, (though you need to be a sophomore to live in your chapter house).
There are six different residential areas on campus: Central, Northeast, Orchard Hill, Southwest, Sylvan and the North Apartments. Each has its own distinctive characteristics, inspired in part by location, architecture, and the different cultural or academic living/learning programs housed within.
First-Year Programs
UMass Amherst has special programs for first-year students to help make the transition to college easy and fun.
Residential First Year Experience
This special first-year program is designed to facilitate and support a smooth transition to UMass Amherst and enhance student success and satisfaction.
Housed in 4 different residential areas – Southwest, Central, Northeast and Orchard Hill, the Residential First Year Experience offers a variety of programmatic and academic focus areas.
To learn more about the program and the many options that are available, visit the Residential First Year Experience website.
Residential Academic Programs
Live and Learn. A Residential Academic Program (RAP) is a community of students with similar academic interests or majors who enroll in specific classes and live together in a designated residence hall.
By joining a RAP you will…
• be part of a small community on a large campus
• connect easily with classmates and faculty members
• enroll in General Education classes, many of which are taught in the
residential areas
• explore educational opportunities as they relate to your interests and goals
Go to the RAP website to learn more about these programs.
All RAP program spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested, visit the RAP website to reserve your space in the program of your choice before you come to orientation.
Commonwealth College Honors RAPs
First-year honors students are invited to join the Commonwealth College Honors RAPs offered throughout campus. Not only will you live and study with other highly motivated students, you’ll be able to take special faculty seminars and small classes in the residence halls.
Go to the Commonwealth College website to learn more.
Living and Learning Communities
UMass Amherst makes it possible for you to live with students who share your particular interests or worldview. These Living and Learning Communities include:
· Asian/Asian American Student Program
· Harambee: African Heritage Student Program
· International House Program
· Kanonhsehsne: Native American Student Program
· Nuance: Multicultural Student Program
· 2 in 20 Program
Go to Living & Learning Communities for more information.
Discovery Learning Communities
Want to live on a floor with people who have similar interests as you? How about living with people who have a similar academic background as you?
Discovery Communities offer you a chance to create your own living and learning experience for a specific period of time ranging from one semester to one full academic year. You can create two different types of Discovery Communities: Involvement Communities or Academic Linked Communities. Learn more.
Please Note: Students who wish to join one of the First-Year Programs or Living & Learning Communities but require accommodations due to mobility or other disabilities should contact Disability Services at 413-545-0892 for assistance and additional information, as all such students must first register with Disability Services in order to qualify for services.
Disability Services and the Housing Assignment Office will work with otherwise qualified students to accommodate their needs. The University has a practice of relocating programs and activities when necessary to make the programs and activities accessible to persons with disabilities.
Other Housing Options
You may also consider one of our other housing options, which give you some specific choices on how you want to live.
· Alcohol Free Residence Hall
· 9-Month Residence Halls
· 24-Hour Quiet Floors
· Nontraditional Student Program
· Single-Sex Housing
· Gender Free Housing
· Coed Suites
Go to Other Housing Options for more information.
For everything you need to know about living on campus, visit the Housing and Residence Life website.
