UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst skyline

UMass from the air

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (also referred to as UMass Amherst or simply UMass) is the flagship university of the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Initially founded as an agricultural school in 1863, it now offers a broad array of degrees in liberal arts and natural sciences as well.

[edit] Academics

UMass is classified as a Doctoral/Research University (Extensive), formerly a Research I University. Universities classified this way award many doctoral degrees per year in many fields of study. UMass lives up to this classification by offering programs in over 90 undergraduate and 65 graduate fields.

UMass Amherst is nationally notable in a number of areas including Linguistics, Computer Science, Polymer Science, Creative Writing, Social Thought and Political Economy (STPEC), and Labor Studies.

See also: Academics - Academic Departments

[edit] Facilities

UMass Amherst is situated on 1,430 acres [1] of land in Amherst, Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley. The campus is large, taking 20 minutes or more to walk from end to end. Scores of buildings house about 6 million square feet of floor space for classrooms, labs and residential living. Facilities include a full-service hotel in the campus center, four dining commons, a variety of smaller restaurants and convenience stores, a sports stadium and athletic fields, and two gymnasium complexes. The campus even has its own power plant.

The main street running through campus is North Pleasant Street which connects to the center of Amherst to the south and to several major apartment complexes to the north.

Located near the center of campus, the prominent 26 story W.E.B. DuBois Library is the tallest red brick library in the United States. The University offers other libraries including the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library located in LGRC and the Music Reserve Lab in the Fine Arts Center.

The University is home to its own daily newspaper (The Daily Collegian), radio station (WMUA 91.1), and television station (UVC-TV 19). Each of these is run almost entirely by students.

See also: Campus - Campus Buildings - Residence Areas and Dorms - List of on-campus dining areas

[edit] Student body

The University is home to about 23,000 students, with about 10,000 living on campus. Every year, the dorms are filled to overflowing. A new apartment-style area, North, opened in fall 2006.

[edit] Social scene

UMass Amherst is often referred to as "ZooMass," affectionately or otherwise. Every year, UMass consistently makes the Princeton Review's list of the nation's best party schools, placing in the top 15 or higher.

Students from UNH, UConn, Northeastern and BC as well as non-students from the surrounding area often come to UMass to party, particularly during major sporting events involving the Red Sox and the Patriots.

UMass students have a well-known tendency to cause disturbances (termed "riots" by some) after wins by the Red Sox and Patriots. This tendency is strongest in Southwest, though no living area is immune, even the generally quiet Sylvan.

In 2006, the University took a tougher stance against alcohol abuse and other problem behaviors.

[edit] Activities

UMass offers a wide array of activities for students. It showcases teams in almost every college sport, a multitude of RSOs (recognized student organizations), theatric and comedy groups and several student-professor collaborations including but not limited to the Model Senate, Minuteman Marching Band, Jazz ensembles and club sports.

See also: Category:RSOs - List of RSOs by category - Category:Clubs and Organizations

[edit] Image Gallery

Fall tree near the FAC / Isenberg	South Athletic Fields in winter	Cherry tree near Totman	Computer Science building
The Fine Arts Center	Northeast in summer	View across campus pond from the FAC	Forest on campus outskirts (courtesy Drew Von Maluski)