Policies : Live On Campus : UMass Amherst

Overview

Guest Policy

Guest Policy (2025–2026)

Updated February 25, 2026

Throughout the academic year, residence hall security hours may be extended and guest policies adjusted for major athletic events, and weekends when a large number of guests are anticipated. Residential students will be notified when guest policies are adjusted. Again, please review the sections on guests and on safety and security in the Residence Hall Policies.

February 8-9, 2026

Beginning Sunday, February 8 at noon and continuing through Monday, February 9 at 3 a.m., UMass Amherst residential students will be allowed to sign in up to two (2) guests who reside in the same residential area as the host. For example, residents of Northeast may only host guests who also live in Northeast. No other guests, from either on-campus or off-campus, will be allowed into the residence halls.

Security desks will be staffed beginning at noon on Sunday, February 8.

March 5-8, 2026

Beginning Thursday, March 5 at 8 p.m. and continuing through Sunday, March 8 at 11 p.m., residential students may sign in up to two (2) UMass Amherst students as guests. Only UMass Amherst students, faculty, staff, and emergency/health care response staff will be allowed in UMass Amherst Residence Halls during this period. Non-UMass Amherst guests should be checked out by 8 p.m. on Thursday March 7. Residence hall security desk hours will be expanded in residence halls from March 5–8.

Learn about UMass Parking policy changes.

Terminology

Guests

A guest is defined as any individual who is not assigned to the residential hall. Residents are expected to sign in students from other UMass Amherst residence halls, Off Campus UMass Amherst students and Non-UMass guests with Residence Hall Security during their hours of operation. Residents should only provide access to individuals they are hosting as guests. The university reserves the right to modify the guest policy at any time and residents will be notified of any modifications.

Residents (hosts) are permitted to host up to two (2) guests in their residence hall at one time. Guests must be at least 16 years of age and possess a valid ID. Permission for guests under the age of 16 can only be obtained from Residence Hall Security staff. Residential Life and Residence Hall Security staff have the right to refuse entry to guests and/or ask guests to leave.
Overnight guests are limited to two (2) guests per resident (host). Guests may stay no longer than two consecutive nights. Guests must then wait at least 14 days before returning to the same room as an overnight guest. Guests must be accommodated in the host’s room.
Hosts should check with their roommates before inviting guests and are encouraged to engage in conversations about guests when completing a roommate agreement. Roommates have the right to refuse their roommate’s guest(s) or to ask the guest(s) to leave if the guest is being disruptive or their presence is in violation of an established roommate agreement.
The hosts must accompany their guests at all times while in the residence hall and are responsible for their guest’s behavior. Guests are never to be left unattended in community spaces such as lounges/common areas.
If a guest engages in behavior that does not meet University behavioral expectations, both the host and guest (if a student of the University) may be held accountable under the Code of Student Conduct. If a guest engages in concerning behavior or refuses to leave, residence hall staff or UMass Amherst Police Department (UMPD) may be contacted.

Room Occupancy

The maximum occupancy of any room, suite, or apartment is the number of assigned residents plus no more than 2 individuals per number of assigned residents.
All other residence hall policies regarding residence hall access, residential security, and hosting responsibilities are in effect.

All other residence hall policies regarding residence hall access, residential security, and hosting responsibilities are in effect.

Residency Requirement

First-Year Student Requirement

First-time, first-year undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program are required to reside on campus for the first two semesters that they are enrolled. Therefore, Residential Life guarantees on-campus housing for first-time, first-year students. University-sponsored first-year programs abroad fulfill the first semester residency requirement. Any student who does not fall under the category of being required is not guaranteed housing.

Exemptions

Students are exempt from the residency requirement if they are:

Students are required to be 16 years of age or older on move-in day to be eligible to reside on campus; therefore, first-time, first-year students under the age of 16 are exempt from the residency requirement.
An undergraduate student who is not a first-time first-year student in their first two semesters of enrollment.
A graduate student.
A married, divorced, or separated student.
A parent of dependent children.
A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
A commuting student living with your parent(s) or court-appointed guardian(s) within a 40-mile radius of the Amherst campus.

Applying for an Exemption

Housing Exemption Requests are considered from students who complete a Housing Exemption Application via the Housing Portal. Within this, the student must select an approved reason and/or compose a personal statement explaining why the need an exemption from on-campus housing.

Applications will be reviewed within 10 days of submission. Per University Policy, first-year students who are required to reside on campus are not eligible to live in Sorority or Fraternity Housing. Exemption Applications submitted that indicate a plan to live in Sorority or Fraternity Housing will be denied.

Please Note: If an exemption application is approved, you are no longer guaranteed on campus housing through any other housing process. Any reserved assignment/preference application will be cancelled. Therefore, if you are planning to submit an exemption, be certain that your off-campus plans are secure.

Associated Fees & Charges

Students who secure on-campus housing and later apply for a housing exemption or commuter status are subject to cancellation fees and a Housing Fee refund. The date of cancellation is based on the date the exemption application or commuter form is received by Residential Life Assignments.

Learn more about the cancellation fee schedule.
For additional information, contact the Residential Life Assignments Office at 413-545-2100.

Meal Plan Consideration

If you receive a housing exemption or commuter status, you have the option of keeping or cancelling your meal plan. For more information, contact the Meal Plan Office at 413-545-5380.

Note: Your meal plan is NOT automatically cancelled when you receive a housing exemption or commuter status.

Posting Protocol

Posting Protocol in the Residence Halls

Poster Distribution Policy

Approval

All posters must be approved prior to providing them to Residential Life for distribution. For approval email Alysha Desharnais (@email) and copy @email.

If you are a student or student group – please review the solicitation expectations in the Residence Hall Policies to ensure your poster meets the expectations before submitting for approval.

Delivery

Deliver posters to Berkshire House Room 202, 203, 204, or 207 during business hours (9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday) or to Alysha Desharnais via campus mail in Berkshire House 203.

Start of Semester Delivery Requirement

Items/Posters for distribution must be delivered by campus partners at least 3 weeks prior to the first day of classes for them to be posted/delivered in the halls when they open. Deliveries will not resume until the Monday after classes start.

During Semester Delivery Requirement

Posters should be delivered at least 2 weeks or 10 business days before the date you would like them posted or the date of the event. • As a suggestion: if you plan on hosting multiple events that you want to be advertised in the halls, consider creating a semester long series poster or poster advertising your organization with a QR code for students to scan and get access to an online location where you post and advertise your events.

Count Limits

If a poster is for a specific event/date, we are only accepting 1 or 2 per building and encouraging folks to provide 1-2 larger posters.

55 posters for 1 per hall.
110 posters for 2 per hall.

The exceptions to that rule are only for posters from UMass Offices and Departments that:

contain dates for a programming series that spans the entire length of the year/semester.
contain information about office resources/contact information that is applicable for the year/semester.
are part of annually reoccurring Student Affairs Collaborations (NSOT, Housing Selection, etc.)

No exceptions can be made for student groups or Registered Student Organizations.

Digital Flyers

Email digital flyers to the Residential Life Administration Team (@email). These flyers will be sent to Residential Life staff to share virtually at their discretion.

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