Chancellor Javier Reyes welcomed the campus community to the start of the Spring 2026 semester in a campus-wide email message, which can be found below, on Jan. 30.
 

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Welcome to the spring semester! 

While I know the idea of spring may seem far off given the fresh blanket of snow covering our campus, the days are getting longer, and from Amherst to Newton, home to our recently renamed Charles River Campus, the entire UMass Amherst community is brimming with excitement and possibility. 

Even as I am heartened by this energy, I want to first acknowledge that we are starting the semester at a troubling moment globally and at home—events that weigh differently on each of us. As we navigate the days, weeks, and months ahead, I ask that we do so with care for one another, with compassion, with curiosity, and with a renewed commitment to our values of excellence, inclusion, and respect. For 163 years—nearly two-thirds of our nation’s history—UMass Amherst has stood on the promise that exceptional education, grounded in a steadfast commitment to the common good, can help shape a better future. 

As our nation and the world keep changing around us, generation after generation, through turbulence and with hope for calmer air ahead, we have never stopped empowering our students, faculty, and staff to lead change. Especially in times of unrest and uncertainty, we are called to serve the common good and advance the boundaries of knowledge. 

In moments like this, it is especially important that every member of our community feels supported and able to thrive in an inclusive, welcoming environment. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the resources available and to remember that reaching out for help is a sign of strength and resilience.

Student Affairs and Campus Life offers a range of Student Support Resources to help students thrive and succeed, including programming from the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health, which offers a community of care to students to help cope with stress or anxiety, find strategies to overcome challenges, promote mental wellbeing, and more. 

The Office of Human Resources provides a range of employee wellness resources, including free and confidential short-term counseling and consultation for all employees through the Employee Counseling and Consultation Office.

The Undergraduate Student Success Center coordinates several programs designed to connect undergraduate students to resources, guidance, and communities for academic, personal, and professional success.

The Graduate School offers a number of resources to support graduate students in their work.

UMass Emergency Management: Emergency Procedures provides guidance on strategies for responding to an emergency on campus or in the community.

The university also continues to maintain a Federal Actions webpage to share resources for students, faculty, and staff in response to changes in the federal landscape. With that in mind, I encourage you to attend the next “Know Your Rights” webinar with Susan Church, JD, chief operating officer for the Office for Refugees and Immigrants for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Hosted by the UMass Office of the President, this February 3 event will include a comprehensive review of rules regarding federal enforcement efforts. Registration is required and all members of our campus community are invited to attend.

I also encourage you to find ways to engage in community and deepen a sense of belonging on our campus, whether through attending activities during the Week of Wellbeing, attending lectures and performances, or cheering on our athletic teams. There are also many engaging programs and events at UMass Downtown, including The Translated Book Club and the MASSive Desk Concert Series, all of which are worth exploring. 

Most of all, look for ways large and small to support and uplift each other. Together, We Are One UMass. 

Sincerely,

Javier A. Reyes
Chancellor