New and returning students and other area residents are invited to join us downtown for a few nights of fun and games in the early weeks of the new semester. This year's Welcome Weekends will also feature our first Amherst Pizza Tour highlighting a different Amherst pizza place at each event. Free and open to all. Come on over, grab a slice, and let the games begin!

September 12, 7-9pm: Nintendo Night

Retro meets modern. Pick up a controller and take a turn on the NES, Nintendo 64, and Switch.

September 19, 6-8pm: Trivia Night

Put your trivia skills to the test for a chance to win prizes.

September 26, 6-8pm: Paint & Play

Grab a mini canvas and create a tiny masterpiece and/or unwind with a few rounds of a board or card game. Enter your artwork into our Tiny Art Show for a chance to win a prize.

The Translated Book Club promotes the reading of literature translated into English and recognizes and supports translators and their publishers. Each meeting is hosted by a UMass Amherst faculty member or graduate student and is designed for readers of diverse backgrounds with no specific language requirement other than English. Sponsored by the Gentzler Translation Center, the club is free and open to community members from high school students to retirees, with a maximum of 15 readers per meeting. Light refreshments will be provided during meetings. 

Advanced sign-up is required. Copies of each book are available FOR FREE at Amherst Books while supplies last (one book per participant). The Gentzler Translation Center will confirm participation as soon as a club meeting reaches the maximum number of participants. All books are available for purchase at Amherst Books.

Learn more and register

October 6, 6-8pm: We Computers (Yale University Press, 2025); Host: Ilse Meiler, Comparative Literature Program 

November 10, 6-8pm: Transparent City (Biblioasis, 2018); Host: Emily Barber, Comparative Literature Program 

December 1, 6-8pm: Amanat: Women's Writing from Kazakhstan (Gaudy Boy, 2022); Host: Assemay Almazbekkyzy, English Department 

February 9, 2027, 6-8pm: Last Words from Montmartre (NYRB Classics, 2014); Host: Ruby Wang, English Department 

March 2, 2027, 6-8pm: Happening (Seven Stories Press, 2019); Host: Clara Mundy, English Department 

April 6, 2027, 6-8pm: When We Cease to Understand the World (NYRB, 2021); Host: Daniel Amaral, English Department 

May 4, 2027, 6-8pm: Via Ápia (FSG Originals, 2025); Host: Dr. Grace Holleran, Spanish and Portuguese Studies Program

Sponsored by Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and Public Interest Technology Initiative at UMass, Talking Tech aims to demystify the technology that drives our world.

Wednesday, October 7, 5:30pm: Predicting Elections: Why Can’t We Get It Right? 

Our technologies for analyzing data and building models of user behavior have evolved dramatically. Yet election polls are frequently poor predictors of election results. Why? Just in time for the November election, Fran and Laura talk about the many sources of uncertainty in the prediction process, and why even the best forecasters and pundits can be wrong. 

Wednesday, November 4, 5:30pm: Has Your Behavior Been Hacked? 

Companies spend mega-bucks on so-called “behavioral engineering” and “psychographic targeting” (used by Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 election). You’re aware of standard ads and marketing, but technology has enabled whole new ways for companies, influencers, and social media to sway you. Be informed for the holidays! 

Wednesday, December 2, 5:30pm: Reduce Your Cyber-Risk 

We hear every day about a new danger or risk in cyberspace. Phishing, scams, hacks leading to identity theft, ransomware and malware, oh, my! Not to mention stories about surveillance and stalking, child exploitation, chatbots giving harmful advice, and general misinformation. What can you do to lower your risk and get the benefits of our amazing modern technology with less fear? Fran and Laura will provide practical advice in this interactive session. Come with questions!

About the Hosts 

Francine Berman is Director of Public Interest Technology in the Manning College of Computer and Information Sciences at UMass, as well as a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Berman is a leader in the field of Public Interest Technology, focused on the responsible development, use and management of technology for social impact. Berman received the 2024 Pioneer in Tech award from the National Center for Women in Technology and is a regular panelist on WAMC’s Roundtable. 

Laura Haas is Professor and former Dean of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass. Haas was formerly an IBM Fellow, leading research and development in data management and data science. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and currently chairs the National Academies’ Computer Science and Telecommunications Board.

First Tuesdays, 10am-4pm

Looking for job opportunities at UMass Amherst? Need help with your application or have questions about the hiring process? Are you a new employee with questions about onboarding? UMass Amherst Human Resources is here to help! 

The UMass HR team offers monthly community office hours at UMass Downtown to provide application assistance and interview guidance for prospective employees and CORI verifications and onboarding support for new hires. 

No appointment necessary. Just stop by during UMass HR's community office hours!

There will be no community office hours in September 2026.

Second Tuesdays, 7-8pm

Get to know some MASSively talented up-and-coming UMass musicians in this chill monthly concert series. Fall concert dates are September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10. Presented in partnership with the UMass Songwriting and Production Club, the MASSive Desk Concert Series is free and open to all.

Third Mondays, 10am-4pm 

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free advising for Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce members at UMass Downtown on the third Monday of each month. Meet with Rob DelMastro, Regional Director of the MA SBDC, and receive confidential one-on-one support tailored to your business. Hosted in partnership with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Registration is required. Learn more and register for a slot at amherstarea.com/advising.