Traditions
Here you'll find a number of UMass Amherst traditions -- We hope that they will become a part of your life as a UMass Amherst student!
The Big Chill
Chill out with your friends and celebrate the end of the school year. A fantastic afternoon of music, rides, free food, and giveaways- all on a perfect May afternoon.
The Class Tree Planting
The planting of the class tree is a time-honored tradition that dates back to 1867. Each year, the graduating class plants a tree. When walking across campus, look carefully at the base of trees for the year that each one was planted.
Commencement Ball
As part of the graduation festivities, seniors attend the formal Commencement Ball to celebrate their final days at the University. The night is full of glitter, glamour and rides around campus in a horse-drawn carriage.
Dean's List Reception
The Dean’s List Reception is a program created by students to honor their peers for the outstanding academic achievement of gaining honor roll status. The reception allows students to interact directly and network with the Dean of their particular college, faculty, and members of the Alumni Association, as well as other academically-driven students. Acknowledging academic success helps to increase feelings of community and connections within the university as a whole.
The event, held during the fall semester, also features entertainment, food, and a short speaking program.
Festival of the Arts
The Festival of the Arts, which takes place each spring, was created to highlight student talent at UMass Amherst and give student artists an opportunity to perform and share their work with the campus community. The Fine Arts Center Plaza plays host to the performances of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), informal student groups, and solo performers.
The Festival is also interactive and gives the audience an opportunity to get involved in the artistry. There are stations set up around the plaza where students could make hemp and henna and make buttons; students taught their peers to fold paper cranes, and how to use a pottery wheel. Free artistic expression is also encouraged with a painting station as well.
First Week is UMass Amherst’s incredible introduction to campus life. It takes place the first week of the fall semester and offers a dizzying array of events. Some are social (with excellent food), some are cultural, some intellectual, and others will help you get acclimated to college life and ready for classes. By the time it’s over you’ll know the UMass Amherst campus inside and out and you will feel at home.
Homecoming Weekend
Homecoming is the perfect opportunity for alumni to come back to campus and meet up with their UMass Amherst friends for a fun-filled weekend! Homecoming highlights include a bonfire, school and college open houses, and festivities at MinuteFan Park before the football game!
The Minuteman Statue
Looking for a little extra luck around finals?
A lot of UMass Amherst students put their faith in the Minuteman Statue near the Old Chapel. Created by retired UMass Amherst art professor John Townsend, the statue was commissioned by the Class of 1950 in honor of the veterans of World War II. Students in the know like to stop by and give his foot a rub before sharpening up their No. 2 pencils and diving into exams.
Spring Concert
Organized each year by students, over the decades, the UMass Amherst Spring Concert has brought some of the biggest names in music history to campus. Recent concerts include Nas, Fabolous, Dropkick Murphys, Dashboard Confessional and The Roots.
