Information for Accepted Students

Spire is the UMass student account system. It's where you'll find your course enrollments and class schedule, and your bill. Your Spire login (NetID & password) is also a universal login for all UMass systems, such as email, cloud file storage, online course platforms, campus WiFi, etc. 

To activate your Spire account:

Once you've registered, check your inbox for an email from UMass IT (Information Technology) that will have your NetID along with a link and instructions to activate your Spire account and create a password. This message gets sent to the email address listed on your application, and can take up to 5 business days to arrive. Be sure to check your spam & junk folders, too. 

Deposit & Confirmation of Attendance
Once accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $500 must be paid to hold a student’s space in the program. Payment of the deposit represents the student’s confirmation of attendance and is non-refundable. We recommend submitting your deposit as soon as possible, as some programs may fill up quickly.

For students registering after June 1st: Program fees are due in full as soon as you have received access to Spire. You do not need to submit a deposit.

To view your bill and make payments:

Log into Spire at www.spire.umass.edu with your NetID & password.

Click on the Finances tile, then "View & Pay Bill." This will open up something called QuickPay in a new window (be sure to turn off any ad blockers), where you can see your program fees and submit payments. QuickPay accepts either credit card (there is a 2.3% processing fee), electronic checks (no fee), or Flywire (for international payments). 

Viewing and Paying Your Balance
The balance after the $500 deposit is due by June 1st, 2023. For students registering after June 1st, your program fees are due in full. You can view your balance by logging into Spire and clicking on the Financials tile, then "Account Summary". To make a payment, navigate to "View &Pay Bill" under the Financials tile. This will open up something called QuickPay in a new window (be sure to turn off any ad blockers), where you can see your program fees and submit payments. QuickPay accepts either credit card (there is a 2.3% processing fee), electronic checks (no fee), or Flywire (for international payments). 

The Registration Packet and Participation Agreement will be emailed to parents/guardians through DocuSign for electronic signature. 

• The Registration Packet for residential programs consists of a Liability Release, Photo Release, Consent to Treat Minor form, Emergency Contacts, Accessibility & Special Needs, Participation Agreement, and Commuter Student Agreement. 
• The Registration Packet for online programs consists of a Remote Learning Release Form and Participation Agreement.

All pre-college students are given a UMass email account (Google mail). Go to https://www.umass.edu/it/email, click on Google Mail, and log in with your NetID & password. Your professor may use your UMass email to send course-related communications, particularly if you are attending an online course. 

A set of medical records (physical & immunizations) is required for all students attending in-person Summer Pre-College programs at UMass Amherst. This allows students to be seen at University Health Services. 

Blank forms to be filled out by your doctor's office, as well as a link to the upload portal, will be provided by email. 

You will be issued a UMass student ID card, otherwise known as a UCard. Your UCard gives you access to the pre-college residence hall, and will be loaded with meal swipes. Please follow the instructions at the link below to upload a photo for your UCard:

https://www.umass.edu/ucard/content/ucard-photo-upload-online-photo-submission

• Guidelines for UCard photos are included (similar to a passport photo)
• UCard office staff will let you know via your UMass email address if the photo has been accepted or not. If the photo is not accepted, you will need to upload a new one. Be sure to check your UMass email (login is your NetID & password). Pro tip: don't put this off until the last minute! The UCard office will be processing hundreds of photos and it may take a couple of tries before your photo is accepted.
• Summer Pre-College staff will pick up your UCard for you, and you will receive it when you arrive on campus. 

Parents/Guardians: All students should come prepared with a personal Covid-19 plan. In the event that your child contracts Covid-19 during the program, Summer Programs staff will contact you to assist with making arrangements to check your child out of the program in a timely manner. For those families who live outside of driving distance from campus, we strongly recommend designating a relative or family friend who would be able to pick up your child. This contact should be listed on the emergency contacts page of your Registration Packet. In the event your child cannot be picked up, isolation housing will be provided on campus. 

UMass Amherst Campus

UMass Mount Ida Campus

Directions to Campus

Housing for pre-college students is in Sycamore Hall in the Commonwealth Honors College, located at 140 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. 

Visitor Info - here you'll find directions to campus by car, by air, by bus, and by train. Please note the closest Amtrak train station is in Northampton, MA - from there you would need to take a taxi, Uber or bus to campus. 

Ground Transportation to/from Airports

Valley Transporter
(413) 253-1350, provides airport transportation services.

Seemo Shuttle
413-586-1120, provides shuttle service to and from Bradley, Logan, and New York airports.

Exclusive Car Service Inc.
877-695-4665, provides private car services to and from Bradley, Logan, and New York airports.

Bluebird Transportation
413-221-4512, provides airport shuttle and car services from Bradley, Logan, and JFK airports.

Michael's Limousine & Transportation Service
800-533-8470, provides transportation services to and from Bradley, Logan, and JFK airports throughout the local area.

Directions to Campus

The UMass Mount Ida campus is located at 100 Carlson Dr., Newton, MA 02459. Housing for pre-college students is in Brown Hall.

By Car: Driving directions by car

By Air: Logan International Airport Logan (Boston) is 15 miles east of the Mount Ida campus.

Ground Transportation to/from Airport

Shuttle rides will be provided to program participants by Mount Ida campus staff. A sign-up form will be shared via email.

• From Logan Airport to Campus: 1pm and 4pm on Sunday check-in days
• From Campus to Logan Airport: 9am and 12pm on Saturday checkout days

What to Bring (a suggested list)

• A shower caddy, flip-flops/shower shoes, robe
• Personal toiletries
• A cellphone and charger
• A laptop or tablet
• A notebook or binder, pens, and pencils
• Small reading light, if you would like one (each room has overhead lighting & a desk lamp)
• Quarters and laundry detergent for laundry facilities
• Medications (to self-administer)

Linens: UMass Summer Pre-College will provide 2 towels, 1 pillow, 1 pillowcase, 1 set of sheets (includes 2 non-fitted sheets) and 1 blanket for your stay. If you wish to bring your own towels and bedding you are welcome to, but you do not need to. If you do choose to bring your own sheets, we recommend extra-long twin sheets.

What Not to Bring

• A car (unless you are a commuter student)
• Air conditioners
• Hoverboards
• Anything illegal, including: alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and tobacco products
• Firearms, knives, or other weapons
• Fireworks, candles, or incense

UMass Amherst is committed to maintaining the health and safety of the campus community. For up-to-date COVID-19 policies at UMass Amherst, please see https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/.

Vaccination Policy

UMass Amherst strongly recommends that members of the campus community, including Summer Pre-College program participants, get vaccinated with the COVID-19 booster when they are eligible.

Masking

UMass is a mask welcome campus, and we encourage everyone to respect the choices that individuals make about their own masking.

COVID-19 Testing

University Health Services (UHS) has PCR tests available to those in the UMass community with symptoms or known exposures. Testing will be billed to an individual’s insurance. UHS also offers elective PCR testing for a $25 fee. Additionally, the Summer Pre-College program will have free antigen test kits available to participants. Current testing protocols can be found at https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-testing.