Getting Started

Your IT Account NetID and password give you access you access to most online services, like SPIRE (UMass Amherst's online student information system), teaching and learning technologies (Moodle, Echo360, etc.), library resources, and HR services. If you have not yet received your NetID, contact the IT Service Desk. 

You will need to attend a New Employee Orientation (not to be confused with the New Faculty Orientation) with the Office of Human Resources (HR). Your department’s personnel coordinator will register you for an orientation date and you will receive an email from an HR contact about important paperwork due dates and what documentation to bring with you to orientation. 

We encourage you to get a UCard, which will allow you to take books out of the library, use the PVTA bus system, UMass recreational facilities, and more. 

If you plan to park a car on campus, you will need to purchase a parking permit through Transportation Services. 

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses are free during the academic year and connect the UMass campus with Amherst and 23 neighboring towns and cities in addition to the nearby campuses of other Five College Consortium institutions. Many of the PVTA bus routes that serve our campus are operated by UMass Transit.  

The UMass Amherst Off Campus Housing page contains updated information regarding available leases as well as general advice for renting in the Pioneer Valley. 

• The Center for Early Education and Care offers full-day and flexible schedule services for toddlers and preschool-aged children throughout the year.
• The Childcare Assistance Program  helps new tenure- track faculty with childcare expenses in the first three years of employment at UMass.
• GreatSchools is a helpful nonprofit online resource that provides information about public and private PK-12 schools in Massachusetts, searchable by town/city, school district, or type of school.  
• At the Faculty & Librarian Commons, the Office of Faculty Development has a “kid kit” including various toys for young children, as well as snacks and coffee for adults. If you have your child on campus, feel free to bring them to this family-friendly workspace.  
• The Office of Faculty Development provides curated resources of  information, options, and support for faculty caregivers   

The University offers tuition waivers/remission to benefited university employees and retirees, and to the spouses and dependent children of benefited university employees and retirees. Tuition discounts (waivers and remission) apply to classes taken at UMass campuses and other Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. 

The Provost’s Office sponsors a Partner Employment Program (PEP), which provides partial, temporary salary support for the spouses/partners of some newly-hired tenure-system faculty. 

The Five Colleges Consortium is a member of The Plus One Network, which assists educational institutions in supporting their employees by connecting spouses/partners to professional and personal opportunities. 

The Faculty Senate is responsible for faculty participation in university planning and governance. It has numerous standing and ad hoc councils and committees. Departments’ bylaws also provide an overview of local governance. 

The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) is the union on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus representing librarians and faculty, including tenure track faculty, lecturers, extension faculty, clinical faculty and research faculty. The MSP’s primary responsibility is to protect and enhance faculty and librarian members' economic position and professional rights.  

The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) contract has information on the various leave policies. 

The Provost’s Academic Human Resources Office also has guidance.  

The Office of the Provost's Academic Human Resources web page includes information about reappointment, promotion, and tenure processes at UMass Amherst. You are also encouraged to engage in regular discussions with your chair about department and college-level expectations. The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) holds workshops on reappointment and promotions. The Office of Faculty Development holds workshops for those transitioning to new roles from early to mid and mid to late career.  

You can request to delay your tenure decision year for several reasons, including caregiving needs. For parental leave, the delay is automatic but can be reversed at any time if you wish. The UMass Amherst postponement of tenure-year decision language, under the parental leave policy, is stated in the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) contract. 

The University has set aside a small pool of funds to cover some of the costs that you incurred while transitioning to your new position at UMass, if these are not otherwise covered by the University.  You will receive an email from Michael Eagan at the Provost’s Academic Personnel Office regarding how to apply for this early in the fall semester. The due dates for applications are typically in October and distribution of funds occurs in December. For more information, contact @email.