Student Life at UMass Amherst

The University

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is the largest and oldest of the campuses that comprise the University of Massachusetts system and is the flagship campus. The inception of the Amherst campus was as the Massachusetts College of Agriculture in 1863 under the terms of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 that set aside a portion of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to endow colleges of agriculture and the mechanical arts in several states.

Located in the picturesque Connecticut River Valley, the University is part of the Five Colleges Inc., a consortium of Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and the University. This consortium greatly enriches the educational and learning environment because courses may be taken on any of the campuses. It continues the proud tradition of education and cultural activity that have been the hallmark of the area since colonial days. There are a wide variety of cultural events available year-round to residents. The Five Colleges Inc. sponsors two public radio stations (WFCR and WPIN), a free bus service serving the five campuses as well as the towns of Amherst, Sunderland, Hadley, and Northampton.

The local cable company offers broadband service which provides high speed connection to the internet. The University offers email and internet services to all students, faculty and staff.

The Community and Area

The town of Amherst, founded in 1759, is located nearly in the center of Massachusetts in a portion of the Connecticut River Valley known as the Pioneer Valley. The area is still largely rural and is dotted with farms and orchards. The Valley is rich in opportunities for outdoor adventure with numerous lakes and ponds, hiking trails and hills. There is excellent hunting and fishing as well as canoeing, boating, downhill and cross-country skiing, ice-skating, rock climbing, bicycling, competitive shooting, tennis, and golf. The are a number of horse stables in the area for those who like to ride and the bike trail between Amherst and Northampton allows for bicycle commuting between these two population centers. There are opportunities for indoor recreation at a host of gymnasiums, pools and tracks. In addition to the University and College libraries, the town offers the historic Jones Library that is open to all residents. Amherst was the home of the well-known poets Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost.

The cost of living in Amherst is comparable to that of similar towns in the northeastern United States. Estimates of minimum funds needed to support a student in resident are available through the Foreign Student Office, Goodell Building, University of Massachusetts.

The weather in Amherst is temperate with four distinct seasons. The spring and fall seasons are long and pleasant with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer can be very warm with high temperatures approaching 100 degrees (although 85-90 degrees are more typical) and low temperatures in mid-winter (January) can be well below zero with daytime highs in the middle 20 degree range. A range of clothing weights will be necessary.

Amherst is about 100 miles (2 hours) from Boston, 200 miles (3 1/2 hours) from New York City, 300 miles (5 hours) from Montreal and about 100-150 miles (2 hours) from excellent ocean beaches. The ski areas of Vermont and New Hampshire are within an hour's drive. Major interstate highways are within easy reach and there is bus service from Amherst to Boston and New York City as well as intermediate points.

International air service is available from Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut that is about 45-50 minutes south of Amherst. Boston's Logan Airport can be reached in 2 hours and offers direct service to many European countries. There are bus and limousine services from Amherst to the airports that leave from campus.

Student Body

There are nearly 5,500 graduate students on the Amherst campus in more than 55 doctoral programs. There currently are about 25 graduate students majoring in the Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences program in addition to abut 10 students in the Department who are majoring in either the Molecular and Cellular Biology interdepartmental graduate programs or Microbiology graduate program. Most students are interested in careers in research and/or teaching, and many go on to postdoctoral research appointments at leading institutions in the United States and abroad.

Housing

The University provides a limited amount of on campus housing for married and single graduate students. Prince House, in the Southwest Residential College, is reserved primarily for use by unmarried graduate students. It is a four-story building containing three large social/lounge areas, a recreation room, a television room, vending machines, study areas, and a snack lounge.

The University also owns and manages about 395 unfurnished apartment units of various sizes at three locations on or near campus. Married students or students with dependent children are eligible for these spaces although single students may also rent apartments from the University. Assignments are made according to circumstances with regard to the number of current vacancies. The Family Housing Office attempts to fill the apartments as soon as possible. Applicants willing to take immediate occupancy are assigned first. Information regarding assignment procedures, apartment descriptions, and application forms may be gotten from the Family Housing Office, Wysocki House (413) 545-3115 or by email at family.housing@housing.umass.edu.

In addition, there are apartment and rooms in private homes available in Amherst. A database of off-campus apartments, houses and rooms is maintained at the Commuter Services & Housing Resource Center, 430 Student Union, (413) 545-2145.

Health Services

Health services are available on campus through the University Health Services. This is a fully staffed institution that is able to provide most services required including outpatient consultations, X-ray, laboratory work, pharmacy, physical therapy and inpatient services for those in need of hospitalization. In addition, The Bay State Medical Center in Springfield (15 miles away) is a major regional hospital that provides full medical services, as does the Cooley-Dickenson Hospital in Northampton (9 miles away). In addition there are private physicians and dentists in Amherst and Northampton. Insurance is available to students to cover the cost of medical care and is provided without charge to those receiving a T.A. or R.A.