UMass Amherst fall campus
University News

Get Ready for Fall 2021

UMass Amherst will provide a full college experience in Fall 2021, including face-to-face instruction, full residence halls, and a complement of student events and activities.

UMass Amherst will provide a full college experience in fall 2021, including face-to-face instruction, full residence halls, and a complement of student events and activities. Read the report of the Fall Planning Group for details.


COVID-19 Vaccinations

COVID-19 Testing

We’re Open for Campus Tours!

In anticipation of welcoming students in the fall 2021 class to campus, we are excited to announce that on-campus tours will resume beginning April 20. The first round of tours will be limited to students who have been admitted for the fall 2021 semester.

Tours will be conducted in groups no larger than 15 people. This will allow us to give a more specialized experience, while following state and university safety protocols. To learn more, view our spring campus visit website.

Teaching and Learning

The fall 2021 semester will begin on September 1st with all classes normally taught in-person returning to that mode of instructional delivery. Public health protocols for classrooms, labs and studios will be monitored over the summer with public health measures continuing this fall if necessary. Courses that require field trips and field work will take place, while following public health guidelines for travel and the site's location. In addition, in-person research and library activities will resume.

New Student Orientation and Transition Programs

Planning for summer orientation is well underway. New students will be invited to participate in a series of synchronous and asynchronous orientation programs over the summer before they arrive for in-person welcome programming at the end of August. Registration is expected to begin in May.

Students who entered the university in fall 2020 and spring 2021 will also be invited to attend special welcome programming prior to the start of the academic year. For details, visit our New Student Orientation and Transition Programs website.

Living at UMass

We are excited to welcome back 13,000 students to our residence halls for fall 2021. All incoming first-year students are guaranteed university housing. With the exception of a small percentage of space reserved for potential isolation and quarantine, all available rooms will be filled to design capacity. The room selection process for new students begins on June 1, 2021. Once new students are fully matriculated in May, more information about on-campus housing will be sent to their UMass email.

This past fall, many first-year students who would have experienced on-campus housing for the first time did not get that opportunity. In an effort to support these students, fall 2020-spring 2021 admitted students and projected sophomores will receive priority consideration to select on campus spaces for fall 2021. Based on current interest, we expect to be able to meet all housing requests, including all interested juniors and seniors.

Student Union

Student Union Is Now Open

The newly renovated Student Union is now open. It offers superb space for events, Registered Student Organizations, student businesses, and includes a ballroom with incredible views of campus. With a full range of in-person events, activities and programs planned for this fall, student life on campus will be as vibrant as ever, contributing to the student learning experience by providing opportunities for leadership, recreation, connection and engagement in and beyond UMass Amherst.