Spring Move-Out

Traffic Patterns & Advisories

Traffic patterns including one-way designations for streets, concourse travel and loading zones will change on Wednesday May 13 and Thursday, May 14 for Southwest and CHCRC.  

Please use the following links and QR codes to discover the designated traffic pattern for each residential hall: 

Commonwealth Honors College Move-Out Directions:

Southwest Move-Out Directions:

Parking

Parking near the residence halls is not permitted during Move-Out. Vehicles being actively loaded with students’ belongings are allotted 20 minutes near the halls before they must be moved. If a ride arrives before the student is ready they must park in the following lots until the student is ready to load the vehicle:

• Southwest – Lots 33 and 22
• Orchard Hill and Central – Lot 49s
• Sylvan and North – Lot 44s
• CHCRC – Lots 25 and 12

All vehicles planning to park on campus must purchase a valid parking permit or pay to use a parking facility (garage or meters). Permits may be purchased in advance or same day from either Parking Services location. For more information and a parking map please visit the Parking Services.

Access to Move-Out Bins

Move-Out bins will be available for use in buildings with elevators. Staff will set up centralized locations in these areas to sign out bins throughout closing week. Learn more about Move-Out Bins in the Bins tab.

Donate Used Items to New2U

UMass provides sustainable options for Move-Out through the New2U Move-Out Collection. Donation tents will be available between Monday, May 11 and Monday, May 18 in every residential area. Students can drop off items they no longer need such as furniture, clothing, lamps, and electronics. Students interested in helping at New2U can do so in their online volunteer sign-up.

Residential Service Desk (RSD) Hours

Additional Reminders

• Need to Stay Late? Students with a legitimate need to stay after halls close on May 14 at 9:00 p.m. can submit a request. Learn more about Permission to Stay Late in the Late Stay tab.
   
• Mail Delivery ends on May 14. In order to receive mail or packages from domestic senders before May 14, we recommend they be sent no later than Monday, May 4. Please remember to update your mailing address in SPIRE under My Personal Information > Addresses and with any online stores prior to leaving for the semester. Forgot to pick up or reroute your mail? Learn more about Mail After Move-Out in the Mail tab.
   
• Complete a Proper Check Out! If you fail to broom clean your room, return your key to your RSD, and complete a proper checkout, you will be charged additional fees. Learn more about Check-Out or ask your Residential Service Desk for information.
  • Forgot Key Return – If you have already left campus and did not return your key, view instructions for mailing back your key in the Key Return tab. All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100 mailed key fee. Failure to return your key to your RSD at checkout will result in a $250 recore fee.
     
• Need a Storage Unit? UMass has partnered with Dorm Room Movers to offer students a convenient summer storage option with the added benefit of having your belongings delivered during Move-In. Please note: No other vendor will be allowed on campus during Move-In.

Move-Out Checklist

Below are some must-do's when for Move-Out:

• Use multiple trips. 
  Going home over the Patriots' Day long weekend? Take the opportunity to bring as much of your belongings home as possible. 
   
• Decide if you need storage.
  UMass has partnered with Dorm Room Movers to offer students a convenient summer storage option with the added benefit of having your belongings delivered during Move-In. Please note: no other vendor will be allowed on campus during Move-In.
   
• Purge before packing.
  Eliminate clutter and get rid of unnecessary items. Be sure to distinguish between items you will donate, recycle or throw away. New2U donation tents will be set up in every residential area starting Monday, May 8 to collect unwanted furniture, electronics, clothes, etc.
   
• Get moving supplies. 
  Be sure to have boxes, bins, zip ties, and other moving supplies on hand before move-out day. 
   
• Start packing early. 
  If you’ve already started your packing process, you will avoid the stress and time consumption of last minute packing. No one needs added stress during finals week!
• Don’t forget to clean and return your furniture to its original position.
  Be sure your space is broom swept and in the same condition as when you arrived to avoid additional charges.
   
• Return your key to your Residential Service Desk.
  Make sure you return your key before leaving campus in order to avoid a $250 lock recore fee.
   
• Avoid traffic and move out as soon as possible.
  Over 11,000 residents will move-out on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Avoid sitting in traffic around campus and on your route home by heading home as early as possible.
   
• Know the traffic pattern for your area.
  If you must move out on Wednesday or Thursday, be aware that traffic patterns on campus will be altered and plan accordingly. Learn more about current traffic patterns in the Traffic tab.
   
• Be ready to load your belongings when your ride arrives.
  There will be no parking near the halls during Move-Out. Only cars being loaded with belongings will be permitted.

Packing Tips

Below are some tricks of the trade, packing tips that every student should know:

• Know that you'll have more belongings than you moved in with.
  You have accumulated additional belongings since the beginning of the year. Plan accordingly by taking multiple trips and being ready with additional moving supplies.
   
• Leave clothing on their hangers.
  Zip tie hangers together and cover the clothing with a plastic trash bag. Tie the bottom of the trash bag to keep your items clean.
   
• Roll your bedding up together. 
  Create more space in your car by rolling sheets, comforters, and even pillows together and using a belt to secure them.
   
• Leave items packed in plastic drawers.
  Be sure to secure the doors with Duct Tape or something similar.
   
• Place loose items in small boxes or containers.
  Small boxes or Tupperware are great for transporting jewelry, toiletries, school supplies, and the rest of the stuff you’ve accumulated this year.
   
• Don’t use trash bags.
  Yes, a trash bag to protect clothes on hangers is one thing, but putting everything you own into 6 trash bags is not the best idea. Regular shaped items like boxes and plastic bins (that you probably already have) are much easier to pack into a car.
   
• Did you keep the box your tv, computer, lamp, etc. came in?
  Use the original boxes for the safest and most efficient transport of electronics and other expensive items.
   
• Tame loose cords with rubber bands.
   
• Be sure to balance weight when packing boxes and bins.
  Start with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Try to keep the weight of each box similar to avoid straining yourself.

Update Mailing Address

In order to receive mail or packages from domestic senders before halls close for summer break, we recommend they be sent at least 10 days before halls close. Please remember to update your mailing address in SPIRE under My Personal Information > Addresses and with any online stores prior to leaving for the semester.
 

Post-Move-Out Mail

What happens to mail left in mailboxes and mail scheduled to be delivered after halls close dependents on the mail carrier. View the different carriers below to see what happens to mail after halls close.

• United States Postal Service (USPS) – Mail and Packages scheduled to arrive at the Service Desk after May 14 will be returned to sender. This includes undelivered packages and letter mail at the Service Desk. The package will be returned to sender.
  • Change your permanent address on SPIRE under Main Menu > My personal Information > Addresses. Click on the “edit” option that corresponds to your permanent address.
     
• DHL – Packages scheduled to arrive at the Service Desk after May 14 will be returned to the local DHL office. This includes undelivered packages at the Service Desk. The package may be returned to the shipper.
  • For more information or to see if it would be possible to reroute your package, contact 1-860-953-3309. Be sure to have your tracking number.
     
• FedEx Express – Packages scheduled to arrive at the Service Desk after May 14 will return to the FedEx Express local facility. This includes undelivered packages at the Service Desk. FedEx Express will contact the shipper and the recipient to set up another delivery location.
  • To schedule retrieval at the local facility, to request that a package be readdressed, or for more information contact 1-800-GOFEDEX. Be sure to have your tracking number.
     
• FedEx Ground – Packages scheduled to arrive at the Service Desk after May 14 will return to the FedEx Ground local facility. This includes undelivered packages at the Service Desk. FedEx Ground will contact the phone number on the package and attempt to set up a different delivery address. If contact is not made to forward the package, it will be returned to sender.
  • To schedule retrieval at the local facility, to request that a package be readdressed, or for more information contact 1-800-GOFEDEX. Be sure to have your tracking number.
     
• UPS – Packages scheduled to arrive at the Service Desk after May 14 will be returned to the sender by UPS. This includes undelivered packages at the Service Desk. To reroute your package you must contact UPS prior to the package being sent back.
  • To schedule a re-direct or for more information contact 1-800-PICKUPS . Be sure to have your tracking number.

To reduce and prevent wait times, there will be a strict 40-minute limit for each bin sign out.

Bin Sign-Out Regulations

You will not be able to sign out a bin until:

• Fully Packed – You have fully packed all of your belongings so that they are easy and quick to load into a bin.
• Designated Loading Zone – The vehicle you are loading your belongings into is outside of your building’s designated loading zone.

40-Minute Limit – If you are unable to finish loading your vehicle in 40 minutes, you must return the bin to the checkout station where you signed it out, and hand carry the remainder of your belongings to your vehicle. Do not keep a bin for more than 40 minutes. Students who keep a bin for over 40 minutes will be assessed a $50 late return fee.

No Bin Sharing – Do not pass your bin to a friend once you are done loading your vehicle. 
You must return the bin to the checkout station you signed it out from. Students who do not return a bin will be charged the cost of the bin, which can be up to $250.

Sign-Out on Student's Behalf – Please note: We understand family, friends, and guardians may be assisting students with Move-Out. These individuals will be able to sign out a bin on a student’s behalf, but should have the student’s name, building, and room number ready to provide at the bin sign-out table.

Bins Availability (May 2026)

Bin locations final sign-out time is 30 minutes prior to close. All bins must be returned to their location by close. Bins will also be available for sign out from your Residential Service Desk throughout the move out period.

Bin Locations

North – Near North B
Orchard Hill – Bowl
CHCRC – Area between Roots Café and Oak
Southwest – four locations:

1. In front of Hampshire DC near Kennedy Ramp.
2. Between JQA and Washington, near ramp to John Adams.
3. Behind Berkshire DC, between Moore and Pierpont.
4. ​Sunset Avenue between Patterson and MacKimmie.

Permission to Stay Late Request Form - Will Activate at 7:00am on Friday, April 17

Residence Halls will close for Spring 2026 on Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 p.m. In situations where students have a specific reason, they can request Permission to Stay through May 18 at 10:00 a.m. Students with a 6:00pm final on May 14, Graduating Seniors, and Commencement Volunteers are automatically approved for permission to stay late and will receive an email in April confirming their status. 

Plan Move-Out Travels

All other students can submit a Permission To Stay Request, which will become available on this website at 7:00am on April 17, 2026 and will be reviewed on an individual basis. Please note that our office is only able to approve permission to stay requests in specific situations. A list of commonly approved reasons and the materials required is listed below. A list of reasons that will not be approved is also listed below. Please make arrangements for bus tickets and rides in order to vacate by May 14 at 9:00 p.m. unless you are approved for permission to stay. Students who submit a permission to stay request will receive a response within 2 business days. The Individual Permission to Stay Late request form will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12.

This information is being made available now to give students significant time to plan for their departure. Flights that were scheduled prior to this information became available will be taken into consideration when reviewing Permission to Stay requests.

Commencement Day Traffic

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this year the Doctoral Hooding ceremony will be held at the Mullins Center at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16. If your travel plans include inbound travel to the Commonwealth Honors College Residence Halls any time between 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. that morning, you may want to reconsider your plans. Very HIGH incoming traffic to attend the ceremony will interrupt normal travel routes and timing getting to your residence hall. Additionally, access to local Uber, Lyft, or other ride share services may be limited and/or unavailable that morning.

Automatically Approved

• Students with a 6:00 - 8:00pm Final Exam on May 14 - Students with an 6:00pm - 8:00pm exam will have permission to stay late until 9:00am on Friday, May 15.
• Graduating Seniors – Students projected to graduate for Spring 2026, Summer 2026, or Fall 2026.
• Commencement Volunteers – Students approved by a college or department as a Commencement Volunteer.

Commonly Approved Reasons

• Sibling Graduating
  In the text box, please include the name and student ID of your sibling
   
• International Flight Issues
  In the text box, please include the airline and flight number with scheduled departure time. Also, students will be required to attach a .PDF or .JPG of their flight itinerary to the Permission to Stay application.
   

• Participating in a Five-College Course that ends after May 14
  In the text box, please include the campus and class information. Also, students will be required to attach a .PDF or .JPG of their class or finals schedule to the Permission to Stay application.

   

• Rescheduled a Final Exam to Friday, May 15
  In the text box, please include the class and updated exam information. Also, students will be required to attach a .PDF or .JPG of their adjusted final exam date and time to the Permission to Stay application.

Commonly Declined Reasons

• Scheduled Final – Finals scheduled before 6:00pm on May 14.
• Graduating Friend/Relative – Friend/relative that is not a sibling who is graduating.
• Ride/Bus Issues – Ride/bus issues not involving a flight.

Students who have left campus for the semester and forgot to checkout and return their key should mail their key in a padded envelope to the appropriate address based on the date they are mailing the key. Students are strongly encourage to utilize a shipping method which allows them to track their package. All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100.00 mailed key fee. Failure to return your key to your RSD at check out will result in a $250.00 recore fee.

IMPORTANT: Residents of Cance, Pierpont, Moore, Emerson, Linden and Oak will not be able to return keys after May 14 as rooms will be needed for immediate turnaround.

Prior to May 14, 2026:

Students may return their key by mailing the key directly to their Residential Service Desk (RSD). In addition to the key, students must enclose the following information with the key: Name, Student ID, Hall and Room. Failure to include this information could result in a failure to return key at checkout and lock recore charge of $250.00.

Residential Services strongly advises keys be sent via a shipping method which offers tracking in a sturdy padded envelope in order to prevent a key being lost in transit. Standard envelopes with keys have a high probability of tearing in US Postal machines. Envelopes which arrive without keys will be considered lost and the student will be billed $250.00 for a recore. All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100.00 mailed key fee.

Beginning May 14, 2026:

Students outside of the above mentioned halls must return their key by mailing the key directly to the Residential Services Office, not their Residential Service Desk. In addition to the key, students must enclose the following information with the key: Name, Student ID, Hall and Room. Failure to include this information could result in a failure to return key at checkout and lock recore charge of $250.00.. All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100.00 mailed key fee.

Residential Services strongly advises keys be sent via a shipping method which offers tracking in a sturdy, padded envelope in order to prevent a key being lost in transit. Standard envelopes with keys have a high probability of tearing in US Postal machines. Envelopes which arrived without keys will be considered lost and the student will be billed $250.00 for a recore. All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100.00 mailed key fee.

All mailed keys must be postmarked by Thursday May 21! Keys postmarked after May 21 will be considered lost and the student will be billed a $250.00 recore fee.

Mail keys to:

Residential Services 
Berkshire House Room 123
121 County Circle
Amherst, MA 01003-9256

Mailing Requirements

• Postmarking – Keys must be postmarked by Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Keys for Cance, Pierpont, Moore, Emerson, and Oak must be received by May 14).
• Appropriate Address – Keys must be mailed to the appropriate address given the time of mailing.
• Personal Info – Enclosed in the envelope you must include: student's name, student ID, hall and room number.
• Padded Envelopes – Padded envelopes, as shown below, are strongly recommended to prevent the loss of your key in the mail (keys lost in the mail will result in the student being billed a $250 recore fee).
• Tracking – Tracking is strongly recommended.

• Mailed Key Fee – All keys returned by mail will be assessed a $100.00 mailed key fee. 

  The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.
  The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Traffic patterns including one-way designations for streets, concourse travel and loading zones will change for Southwest and CHCRC during Spring Move-Out 2026 on:

• Wednesday, May 13
• Thursday, May 14
   

Please use the following links to discover the designated traffic pattern for each residential hall.
*Please note vehicle height restrictions for Southwest and CHCRC one-way routes.

*****UDPATED INFORMATION FOR 2026 COMING SOON*****