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Orientation

Students sitting in the CHC Events Hall at orientation

Once you’ve decided to enroll at UMass Amherst, you will participate in several New Student Orientation and Transitions (NSOT) programs, including three meetings for all new Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) students specific to your experience. 

Online Advising & Course Registration: Commonwealth Honors College Group Advising

All new CHC students are required to participate in a virtual group advising meeting. This meeting will help you understand the purpose and benefits of an Honors education, introduce you to CHC support resources, and give you a broad overview of the college's curriculum. You'll also learn how to incorporate CHC requirements into your course schedule for your first semester. While you won’t register for classes during this group meeting, the information will help prepare you to sign up for Honors coursework during your individual advising appointment with your major advisor.

As part of NSOT, you'll have a virtual individual advising appointment with an advisor from your major. It’s during this appointment that you’ll register for your first-semester classes. The content covered in your CHC group advising meeting should help you register for one of the following Honors courses:

  • ENGLWRIT 112H: College Writing — Recommended for all first year CHC students should take this course in their first year, unless they already have credit for a College Writing equivalent (AP credit, transfer credit, exemption). 
  • HONORS 201H: Ideas That Changed the World — Recommended for first year CHC students but can be taken in a later semester.  
  • An Honors General Education course — There are many courses that fulfill both a UMass General Education requirement and a CHC requirement. Recommended for CHC students who still need to fulfill UMass General Education requirements. 
  • Any Honors course — Incoming CHC students with many AP or transfer credits that fulfill College Writing and other General Education requirements can take any other available honors courses of interest if they have completed the necessary prerequisites.

If you’re in an Honors Residential Academic Program (RAP), you must take the Honors courses listed for that RAP. Please note that any one-credit seminars associated with an Honors RAP do not satisfy a CHC curriculum requirement.

Housing and RAP Choices 

  • During NSOT, you must confirm your housing and RAP choice. 
  • Only Honors students may choose to live in Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community housing. 
  • If you have decided not to be in a RAP, you will need to confirm your housing preferences online. 

Ready for the U: Commonwealth Honors College Connect with Your College Welcome Meeting 

CHC welcome meetings will be held first thing on the morning of your on-campus Ready for the U (virtual Ready for the U attendees will be invited to a zoom meeting). 

The meetings provide new Honors students the opportunity to:

  • Learn about the benefits of the CHC experience
  • Connect with other new students in the college

Welcome to the U: Commonwealth Honors College Induction & Reception 

A newly inducted Honors student pins their CHC pin on at the University of Massachusetts
A newly inducted Honors student pins their CHC pin on; Photo: Myles Braxton

The Honors College begins each fall semester with an induction ceremony welcoming new students to our living and learning community. This time-honored tradition is a way for each member of our community to celebrate and thank new students for choosing to share their UMass journey with us. The Commonwealth Honors College induction ceremony is a milestone that marks our collective commitment to academic excellence, and our dedication to curiosity and the exploration of ideas, all in the service of developing a deeper understanding of and finding solutions to real-world challenges. 

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Amherst, MA 01003
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