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University of Massachusetts Profile

Amherst, Massachusetts

The Basics

Founded in 1863, U-Mass Amherst is a large public liberal arts and sciences institution located in the residential community of Amherst Massachusetts. The footprint of the site is very spread out with several large open spaces, one being the north/eastern edge of the campus adjacent to Tillson Farm, the second being the Hadley Equestrian Farm on the south/western edge of the campus off Massachusetts Ave. U –Mass Amherst’s map also separates the college into a north, and south side with the campus pond linking both sides of the campus together with several large grassy areas in the middle of campus. U-Mass is unique because it has a large suburban school feel to it, while still being small in regard to student activities and clubs. The school is also popular because it’s located in driving distance to Boston, approximately 2 hours, which is considered one of the best large cities in the U.S. for students to enjoy. The campus is very big, but it feels smaller than the observed geographical footprint.

The university has a large footprint of approximately 1,463 acres of park like property within the northwestern area of Massachusetts. The physical layout observes numerous historic buildings shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 346 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between the Lincoln Campus Center, DuBois Library, and the Student Union due to the time of day. My student tour guide also told me that the Mullins Center also gets busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were reasonably maintained for a large state school. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. U-Mass students, faculty, and employees enjoy a state school community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The university also provides several large research facilities within the sprawling campus footprint, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year. The published demographic information for the university describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. U-Mass Amherst has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Sciences educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The University is home to a large campus population of approximately 9,079 male, and 8,806 female full time, and 399 male, and 528 female part time students. U-Mass also has a large graduate school population with 2,392 male, and 2,498 female students attending the university’s graduate program. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 80% of students are from Massachusetts. Others are from 49 states, and 28 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 76% of students are white, 8% Asian Americans, 5% are Black, and 4% are Hispanic.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

U-Mass Amherst has a large educational system, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Freshman Class: 20,205 applied, 16,240 accepted, 4,427 enrolled. SAT Verbal 560, SAT Math 580. ACT 25 Application Deadline January 15.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

U-Mass Amherst only guarantees on campus housing for 1st year students through a lottery system. The university has available housing for approximately 12,000 students and encourages upper classman to apply for housing within the stated deadline. The school has several types of housing units including dorm rooms, apartments, and Greek houses off North Pleasant Street. The student housing is split in several housing villages situated on each end of the campus, I observed the northeast residential area including Arnold Hall, which was very dated in my opinion.

Off Campus Housing

U-Mass Amherst has been described as a large public university situated within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Amherst’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows 12,000 students to have housing within walking distance to university facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university housing demands. The university itself has 62% of it’s student population living on campus which helps reduce the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find information about available resources on the quick links page.

Campus Life

U- Mass Amherst is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with an active social, and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The rural town of Amherst Massachusetts only adds to the university’s international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. U-Mass also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment borders a nature preserve with trees and bushes that are individually named by type, and species. The university has also built several state of the art (Green) research facilities that incorporate green technologies including clean ground water technology. And finally, the campus is reasonably clean and maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate and culture of the entire U-Mass community is a combination of intellectual and social due to it’s close relationship with Amherst College, and the “Five-College Consortium” of Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith Colleges that allows students from each of these institutions to share educational, and social resources with U-Mass throughout the year. These schools are located within the Pioneer Valley of northwestern Massachusetts. The university’s mature student population, research, educational, and athletic resources makes U-Mass Amherst an attractive institution because it offers students real world professional experiences in driving distance to Boston.

U-Mass Amherst also provides social relationships with local organizations and community groups through student activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. This issue of school culture is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. U-Mass has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students to advance these studies. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 280 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 21 intramural sports activities; U-Mass also has 13 NCAA teams for men, and 14 for women to enjoy. The school is also home to a substantial Greek population with 6% of students belonging to 18 national fraternities and 14 national sororities.

Campus life at U-Mass Amherst can be considered very active due to several notable student venues including the Mullins Gymnasium, student union, and the Lincoln Campus Center, which are the main student recreational center on campus. The university also has a large Fine Arts Center that offers several different types performing arts and theatre productions throughout the year. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to develop social relationships by experiencing school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums together.

Public Transportation

The university uses the Pioneer Valley Transit System (PVTA) for reliable bus transportation to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. U-Mass has a small number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. Amherst Township enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Massachusetts also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the college can be identified by the northeast weather patterns.

Community Profile

Amherst Township has been described as a quiet suburban town that was built around it’s local college with students, and local residents enjoying the Hampshire County Massachusetts landscape. The township has also been described as a family centered residential community within striking distance to Boston. The Town of Amherst also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Amherst College, and U-Mass Amherst. The town is favorable to students and local residents because it offers a local pedestrian walkway onto South Pleasant Street (Rt. 116), which links students, and local residents to a several restaurants and local shops within the northern edge of town.

The community has a small town feel to it when you are walking to neighborhood eateries on the northern edge of town. Residents and students also enjoy several social destinations when walking, or driving to Hadley Township from Northampton Road including several strip malls featuring several national food, and consumer chains. The walk from Amherst’s northern edge to the above-mentioned meeting places is approximately 20 minutes from the campus. The Town of Hadley is more rural than Amherst with several roads connecting to local shopping areas. Downtown Amherst Township is the opposite because it offers a real downtown commercial resource for students and local residents.

The township itself is located within the northwestern area of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) provides local bus service in the community. This 5 College bus corridor links to Amherst College and the other 3 schools in the consortium, this vital transportation link also connects to downtown Amherst. The local commuter bus also links to U-Mass Amherst’s regional bus service provided by Peter Pan Bus Lines, which provides daily bus service to Boston & Springfield where students can link to several different commuter trains and the northeast corridor including Amtrak and the Massachusetts Transit Authority (MTA).

Amherst also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including Route 91 that links to the Massachusetts Turnpike, and Interstate 95. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus. Appendix #1 on the back page of this profile lists several of observed resources in close proximity to the school.

The following demographics for Amherst Township describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 34,874 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Amherst College has strong relationships with the township because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services, legal programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% residents are male, 52% are female. 79% of residents are white, 5% are African American, 6% is Hispanic or Latino, and 9% are Asian. The median age of population is 29 years old. 87% of residents are 18 years old or over,57 % are over 21, and 6% of township residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Amherst is also interesting. 97% of all housing units within the township are occupied. 55% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 45% of units are owner-occupied. Only 3% of total available housing was vacant.

U-Mass Amherst Quick Links Page

Amherst Area Hotel and Bed & Breakfast Quick Links Page

Courtyard Marriott
423 Russell Street
Hadley MA 01035
Hampton Inn
24 Bay Road
Hadley MA 01035
Holiday Inn Express
Route 9
Hadley MA 01035
Comfort Inn
Route 9
Hadley MA 01035

Bed & Breakfast Accommodations

Amherst Inn
257 Main Street
Amherst MA 01002
Allen House
599 Main Street
Amherst MA 01002
The Black Walnut Inn
1184 N. Pleasant Street
Amherst MA 01002

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Amherst Massachusetts. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found off Route 116 in Hadley, and Interstate 91 & 90 (Mass Pike) on the way to Boston to the north, and Springfield to the south.

Complete information about hotels, restaurants, shopping, museums, and general tourism activities in the Boston area can be found in the document “ Everything Boston” on the Your College Profile web site.

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