Expect Heavy Traffic, Delays During UMass Amherst Commencement Weekend May 9-11

Traffic Advisory sign

AMHERST, Mass. – The public should expect heavy traffic, some road closures and delays getting to and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus due to commencement activities from Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11.

Campus police say heavy traffic will begin on Thursday, May 9 during the day as 7,000 students move out of residence halls. Visitors should be prepared for very busy traffic on Massachusetts Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue and Route 116. Traffic exiting the Southwest Residential Area and Commonwealth Honors College will be routed through Lot 71 west of Whitmore Hall onto Massachusetts Avenue.

In addition, on May 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Commonwealth Honors College is holding its Senior Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the Mullins Center.

On Friday, May 10, campus police say to expect heavy traffic all day. There will be multiple ceremonies concluding with Undergraduate Commencement from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

Beginning at noon, road closures will take effect. North Pleasant Street from Eastman Lane to Massachusetts Avenue will be closed to all traffic. University Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to Amity Street will be closed to all traffic. Access to campus will be from the north on North Pleasant Street in North Amherst, from the south on Route 116 and from Amherst center on North Pleasant Street.

Campus police says visitors should park in a designated parking lot when first arriving on campus and take the free bus system to the various ceremonies, especially to the Undergraduate Commencement. Moving cars from one parking lot to another will be not be allowed.

On Friday, May 10, activities include:

9 - 11 a.m.

  • Graduate Commencement - Mullins Center

10 - 11 a.m.

  • ROTC Commissioning (Air Force) Ceremony - Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall
  • ROTC Commissioning (Army) Ceremony - Bowker Auditorium, Stockbridge Hall

10:30 - 12:30 p.m. 

  • Phi Beta Kappa - Campus Center Auditorium

1:30 - 3 p.m.

  • School of Public Health & Health Sciences - Mullins Center
  • College of Humanities & Fine Arts - Recreation Center
  • College of Nursing - Fine Arts Center
  • College of Education - Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall
  • University Without Walls - Campus Center Auditorium
     

On Saturday, May 11, expect heavy traffic all day. There will be multiple ceremonies all across campus. They include:

 9 - 10:30 a.m.

  • College of Natural Sciences (9:00-11:00 a.m.) - Mullins Center
  • College of Engineering - Recreation Center
  • Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC) - Campus Center Auditorium

10 a.m.  - 12 p.m.

  • UMass Amherst, Mount Ida Campus - Alumnae Hall, Newton MA 

1 - 2:30 p.m.

  • Stockbridge Commencement - Bowker Auditorium, Stockbridge Hall
  • College of Social & Behavioral Sciences - Mullins Center
  • College of Information & Computer Sciences - Recreation Center
     

5 - 6:30 p.m.

  • Isenberg School of Management - Mullins Center