COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND ON-CAMPUS DINING

At Berkshire Dining Commons, Hampshire Dining Commons, and Worcester Dining Commons, families and guests of graduates who are on a UMass meal plan may join their graduates for complimentary meals. Other students, families, faculty, and staff may dine at the Commons at the rate of $10.50 for breakfast, $14.00 for lunch, and $17.00 for dinner. Meals feature healthy and sustainable global cuisine and showcase local and regional ingredients. On Saturday, the commons will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Hampshire and Worcester DC will serve Sunday breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The Blue Wall Cafe at the Campus Center is open on Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come see what all the campus buzz is about and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal from one of our many stations. Choose from fresh sushi, made to order salads, house roasted lunch meats, hand tossed fresh pizza, or a grass fed beef burger with local cheddar. Enjoy our gelato bar, delicious house made pastries, and cakes! The People’s Organic Coffee Shop on the concourse and Harvest Fresh Market both open at 8 a.m. and serve coffee, breakfast, and fresh baked organic and all natural treats.

The Commonwealth Restaurant, located on the top floor of the newly constructed Worcester Commons, offers a relaxed atmosphere with beautiful views of campus. The award-winning UMass Dining program offers a special commencement dinner on Friday, seating at 7:00 p.m., as well as brunch on Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.  Dinner is a prix-fixe menu and is $50.00 per person. It includes a champagne or non-alcoholic toast. For reservations, please call 413-545-0255.

Stadium Food Court
A food court will be open before and after Commencement, at the Stadium. Snacks and light meals, including a fresh grill selection, salads, fruit, desserts, and beverages, will be sold at the Stadium Food Court, at the north end of the stadium. Some snacks and beverages will also be sold in the stands before the ceremony begins. 

OFF CAMPUS

Visit Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce website and the Amherst Business Improvement District website for an eclectic mix of locally owned Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, motels, and a variety of national chains. For more off campus lodging options, please visit:

• UMass Amherst Alumni Association Partner Hotels
• Hotels and motels near Amherst
• Bed and breakfasts near Amherst
• Campgrounds and RV parks near Amherst
• Visit Hampshire County
• Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

ON CAMPUS

Residential Hall Lodging 
Staying on campus is the best way to be close to all of the commencement activities. Our campus residence hall accommodations, in single or double occupancy, provide casual comfort at affordable rates. Each floor offers a lounge that encourages interaction with other guests while offering you the option of retreating to your own room to prepare for the next day’s activities. Parking is free and close by, and linens and towels are provided. There are a few rooms available for guests with disabilities, so please be sure to indicate any special accommodation needs when registering. All rooms are located in a low-rise residence hall in the Southwest Residential Area, a convenient location to the various commencement activities held throughout the weekend, and the closest lodging option to the main commencement ceremony held at McGuirk Stadium on Friday.

Resident hall lodging is available for Friday (5/26) and Saturday (5/27). However, due to the finals exams occurring on Thursday (5/25), undergraduate students are not required to move out of their residence halls until 8:00PM and residence hall lodging is therefore not available that day to off-campus visitors. 

Learn more about staying in one of our on-campus residence halls. For questions and/or registration assistance, call 413-577-8102 or email registration@umass.edu. Reservations will be accepted until 4 p.m. EST on Friday, April 28, or until space fills. 

Hotel UMass at the Campus Center
The Hotel UMass at the Campus Center may have vacancies for commencement weekend, but like other local hotels, it fills up early. To make reservations call 877-822-2110.

DISABILITY SERVICES FOR UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT 

PARKING 
At the Stadium, May 26, 2022
Guests with accessible parking plates/placards and drivers escorting guests with limited mobility may complete the Reserved Accessible Parking Form by April 15, 2023 to request parking closest to the stadium (guests will receive an email confirmation of their parking request and a parking pass with information will be mailed to their address). Spaces are limited and preference will be given to those with state issued accessible parking plate or placard who register first. Guests with limited mobility can also be dropped off at one of the designated bus stops, regularly serviced by shuttle buses.
Golf carts will be available near the reserved accessible parking area at McGuirk Stadium before and after the ceremony to assist guests with limited mobility get to and from the stadium and the parking area.

PARKING
Senior Recognition Ceremonies, May 26 - 27, 2023
When arriving on campus on May 26, guests with HP plates/placards or reserved parking passes will be directed to a parking lot closest to the venue of their graduate's ceremony. At the conclusion of the each ceremony, guests with limited mobility have the choice to take public transportation to the stadium, or take their own vehicles and be directed to accessible parking (designated for HP plates/placards or vehicles with Reserved Parking passes). Due to increased traffic, travel between venues will take extra time.

When arriving on campus on May 27, guests with HP plates/placards or guests who have requested a reserved parking pass will be directed to a parking lot closest to the venue of their graduate's ceremony.

SEATING
Reserved wheelchair seating on the field is available. Wheelchairs can be rented from a local medical supply store in your community, but are not available at the University. Folding chairs will be available at the rear of the field for ambulatory guests who cannot climb stairs. 

SIGN LANGUAGE/INTERPRETERS
If you or any of your guests require the services of a sign language interpreter, please contact Disability Services at jamiep@umass.edu with "Commencement Interpreter Request" in the subject line. The deadline for requesting interpreter services is April 15, 2023.

SECURITY AT McGUIRK ALUMNI STADIUM

Our security protocols ensure the safety of our visitors and our campus community. Metal detectors will be in place at the entrance to Mullins Center and McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Guests are advised to pack lightly for the day as all items taken into either venue are subject to search—the less you are carrying, the more quickly your party will be able to proceed through security. Please discuss security measures with the members of your party ahead of time so everyone is aware of our protocols. Although you can expect security measures to take a little time at your point of entry, our staff will be there to welcome you!

Please remember:

• Stadium gates open at 7:30 a.m. 
• All bags and containers are subject to search. 
• On Commencement day, on-campus parking is free, please follow parking directions provided by campus police. 
• Tickets are not required and graduates may invite as many guests as they wish. Seating at McGuirk Stadium is on first come, first serve basis.
• Graduates will enter and sit in the stadium with their school or college. The stadium map shows where each school or college will be seated so you can plan your seating in the stands accordingly.

SECURITY AT MULLINS CENTER

All guests and graduates will be required to walk through metal detectors when entering the venue. To expedite the process, we ask guests and graduates to remove cell phones from their pockets. Purses, diaper bags, and other small personal bags are allowed but will be inspected at all entrances. Bags larger than a clutch are not allowed. Outside food or beverages, weapons of any kind, and tobacco products are not permitted inside the arena. For details on security procedures and a full list of prohibited items, please visit the Mullins Center website.

DRIVING TO CAMPUS

From the South, via I-91 North
Travelers have a choice of two routes:

• Off Exit 19 in Northampton: From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9 and go approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass Exit
• Off Exit 24 in Deerfield: At the stop sign at the top of the ramp, turn right (north) onto Routes U.S. 5/10/116, and immediately turn right again at the traffic lights onto Route 116 South and follow it for eight miles where officers will direct you to graduation.

From the North, via I-91 South
Follow I-91 to Exit 25 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go one mile, turn left onto Route 116 South and follow it for eight miles where officers will direct you to graduation.

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. Follow signs to UMass. Because of bridge construction on Pelham Road in Amherst, drivers will experience delays along this route. Please plan your trip accordingly.

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.

LEAVING CAMPUS 

Following the Commencement ceremony, all shuttle buses will continue operating until 8:00 p.m. Those wishing to return to residence halls after Commencement may do so only under the direction of police officers. University Police will direct exiting vehicles along designated routes:

• From Blue Lot 44:  East Pleasant Street to Amherst center, North Amherst, Route 116, and Interstates 90 and 91.
• From Blue Lots 26, 31, and 45: North Pleasant Street to North Amherst and routes 116 and Interstate 91.
• From Red Lots 32, 34, and 71: North Pleasant Street to Amherst Center and routes 9 and 116.
• From Green or Purple Lots 11, 22, 33, 21, 25, and 12: Massachusetts Avenue to routes 116, 9, and Interstate 91.

Please be advised that on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, there will be heavy traffic.

Parking will be directed by the University of Massachusetts Police Department based nearest available parking lots. Shuttle buses will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We strongly recommend that you allow at least 45 minutes to park on campus and travel or walk to the stadium.

Several roads will have one-way traffic and the following roads will be closed: 1) University Drive between Amity Street and Massachusetts Avenue; 2) North Pleasant Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Governor’s Drive. It is highly recommended that all participants walk or use shuttle buses, as traffic will be heavy and parking lots will fill early.

If you are arriving on campus to attend a senior recognition ceremony, please park once, enjoy the ceremony, and then take the shuttle or walk to each ceremony you are attending. 

After the ceremony, campus police will guide you from your parking lot to the designated exit route from campus.

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parking

Recreational vehicle (RV) parking is available upon request at no charge. However, there are no hookups for electricity, water, or waste disposal. Call the Office of External Relations and University Events at 413-577-1101 or email commencement@umass.edu for more information or to make a reservation. 

Please be advised that on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, there will be heavy traffic. It is highly recommended that all participants walk or use shuttle buses. View a map of the commencement shuttle route through campus.