Welcome to UMass Graduate School (WUGS)

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WUGS, an in-person orientation experience for incoming students will be held right before the start of the fall semester. WUGS 2026 will be held on Friday, September 4th!

Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts Lobby   

Check-In & Light Refreshments — 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Join us to be sure you have time to check-in and grab a pastry. Check-in tables will be located outside the front entrance of the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts.  

Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall at the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts  

Welcoming Remarks — 9:30 AM to 11:55 AM
Land Acknowledgement  

Grad School 101

Student Support Panel 
While our large campus offers many resources and opportunities, it can sometimes feel confusing to know where to go for what. This panel will introduce a team of offices here to support you in your graduate journey.

The Graduate Student Experience Panel
Our panel of current graduate students will offer advice to help ease your transition to graduate school at UMass. What strategies did these students use to get to know UMass and the resources available to graduate students? How can you best position yourself for success? What are the most important things to do in your first year? We’ll cover all this and more to get your graduate career at UMass off to a strong start!

Mid-Day Break: 

Grab Lunch — 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

There are many options for lunch; dining commons, Campus Center and various cafes around campus. Learn more about UMass Dining.

Some departments/programs are hosting welcome lunches. Students will have received communications directly from their department/program. 

Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center 1st Floor Rooms

Concurrent Talks, Session 1 - 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

  • Adjusting to Life in the Amherst Community, featuring UMass Downtown

    Are you new to Western Massachusetts? Welcome to the area known as the Pioneer Valley! Join members of UMass Downtown and several current graduate students for a series of roundtable discussions around topics and themes of interest in the community. This is a great opportunity to get further connected into Amherst!
     
  • Managing Your Mentoring Relationships: Working Effectively with Your Faculty Advisor

    Students in a research-based graduate program work closely with a faculty advisor to plan, conduct and communicate their research. This session will highlight steps students can take to establish and maintain productive relationships with faculty advisors.
     
  • Cultivating Strong Relationships in Graduate School

    While graduate school is symbolized by great personal achievement, success is not achieved alone. Graduate students rely on faculty, staff, peers, friends, professionals, and others for guidance, expertise, and support. In this session, panelists will talk about the importance of these relationships and the steps you can take to start building your own community of support.
     
  • First-Year Strategies: Setting Goals and Supporting Well-being

    Having a plan helps students achieve more and stress less. Learn how goal setting and time management strategies can help you create an effective first-year plan that focuses on balance, productivity, and well-being.
     
  • People of Color in Academia: Opportunities, Challenges & Resources

    Panelists will discuss the campus environment for students of color, identify major resources and sources of community, and present solutions to common challenges. 

Concurrent Talks, Session 2 - 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

  • The Art of Introducing Yourself

    Whether the goal is to meet friends, impress faculty or simply survive a social event, many of us dread the idea of introducing ourselves. But the first step in building successful relationships is making yourself visible. This session will offer tips to help you introduce yourself with confidence.
     
  • Launching Your Master's Career Journey

    Managing your career as a Master's student is no easy feat— that's why you have a whole community at UMass here to help! Join us as we hear from a small panel of graduate career advisors about the ways they support and work with our students. This panel will review what services are available in your college or school, as well as how to successfully begin managing your career growth at UMass and beyond.
     
  • You Need a Five Year Plan

    Why did you come to grad school? In the midst of courses and other responsibilities, it is easy to overlook your long-term plans. Come hear tips for creating a multi-year plan for research, writing, and teaching that will propel you towards your professional goals.
     
  • First-Year Strategies: Setting Goals and Supporting Well-being

    Having a plan helps students achieve more and stress less. Learn how goal setting and time management strategies can help you create an effective first-year plan that focuses on balance, productivity, and well-being.
     
  • People of Color in Academia: Networking

    The Office of Inclusion & Engagement will host a small networking opportunity for students of color beginning their graduate experience at UMass. This is a great way to connect with peers, both new to campus and well-established, to learn more about the area and how to get involved.
     
Break 

Take time to grab a quick snack before the last session in the Campus Center. 

Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center Auditorium

Title IX at UMass — 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM
A staff member from the Equal Opportunity & Access office will join us for a brief overview of Title IX policies and resources available at UMass Amherst.

Goodell Lawn

Welcome Dinner and Resource Fair — 5:00 PM