Deadline Reminder: Media Passes Required for Journalists to Cover UMass Amherst Commencement on Friday, May 14

AMHERST, Mass. – Media passes will be required to gain access to the field at the Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium for coverage of Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Friday, May 14.

Due to pandemic restrictions, Undergraduate Commencement this year will take the form of four smaller and short ceremonies, all following the same format. Media are invited to attend their choice of these two events:

  • Noon: featuring the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and College of Education
     
  • 3 p.m.: featuring the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, College of Engineering, University Without Walls, and Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration candidates

All reporters, photographers and videographers, including those from campus media outlets, should indicate to the Office of News and Media Relations which ceremony they wish to attend. Contact Nancy Miller at nancy.miller@umass.edu. Credentials will be mailed. Journalists will be located at the press tent on the floor of the stadium. Press box access is unavailable this year.

Each ceremony will feature the commencement speaker, Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy, who will confer degrees, and a student speaker. Each ceremony is projected to run approximately 40 minutes.

Journalists attending the commencement ceremony must follow campus COVID-19 protocols and wear face coverings and practice social distancing at all times. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do not come to the event. Due to potentially heavy traffic in the Amherst area on commencement day, journalists are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to ensure timely access to the ceremony. Media should check-in at the press tent on the field when they arrive.

Directions to Reserved Media Parking

From Interstate 91 Northbound
Take Exit 25 (old exit 19) (Route 9: Northampton/Amherst)

  • Turn right onto Route 9 toward Hadley/Amherst; follow for approximately 4 miles
  • Turn left onto North Maple Street (at the Home Depot shopping plaza); follow for 1 mile
  • Turn right onto Rocky Hill Road; follow for approx. 1/2 mile

Please note:  Access onto Rocky Hill Road is restricted for Commencement and a police detail will ask for your media credentials

After crossing the overpass bridge, turn left at the stadium entrance (at the “Stonehenge” boulder arrangement) and follow signs to Media Parking.

If coming from Boston or Albany via Interstate 90/Mass Pike (Westbound or Eastbound)

  • Take Exit 4, merge onto Interstate 91 Northbound toward Holyoke; follow for approx. 14 miles
  • Follow directions above