University of Massachusetts BostonStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for University of Massachusetts Boston. Free for students.

University in Boston, MA. Operating on a semester system.

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Boston, MA
17K+ students
@massachusettsboston.edu
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17K+

Total Enrollment

University

Institution Type

7

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Special Program 1 & 2 (SP1/SP2) 2026

The semester, explained for University of Massachusetts Boston

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Special Program 1 & 2 (SP1/SP2) 2026
Campus terms
28
Local details
21

Academic calendar

Special Program 1 & 2 (SP1/SP2) 2026 runs May 26, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

29 entries
  1. Summer Session 1 (SS1) 2026
  2. Special Program 1 & 2 (SP1/SP2) 2026Summer Session 3 (SS3) 2026Summer Session 3 2026Relevant now
  3. Summer 2026 Session I (SS1)Summer Session 1 (SS1) 2026
  4. Special Program 2 (SP2) 2026Special Programs 1 (SP1) 2026Special Programs 2 (SP2) 2026Special Session 1 and 2 (SP1 and SP2) 2026Summer 2026 Session III (SS3)Summer 2026 Special Programs I (SP1)Summer 2026 Special Programs II (SP2)Summer Special Program 2 (SP2) 2026
  5. Summer Session 2 (SS2) 2026
  6. SP1 Second Half 2026Summer 2026 Session II (SS2)Summer Session 1 - Second Half 2026Summer Session 2 2026
  7. Fall 2026
  8. Winter 2027
  9. Spring 2027
  10. Summer 2027 Session I (SS1)
  11. Special Session 1 (SP1) 2027Special Session 1 and 2 (SP1 and SP2) 2027Special Session 2 (SP2) 2027Summer 2027 Session III (SS3)Summer 2027 Special Session 1 and 2 (SP1 and SP2)
  12. Summer 2027 Session II (SS2)

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

28 terms

B

Beacons
The official nickname for UMass Boston students and athletic teams.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group responsible for organizing campus events.

D

Dunkin'
The Dunkin' Donuts in the Campus Center, a primary social hub and caffeine source for students.
Dunks
The Dunkin' location inside the Campus Center, a popular student gathering spot.

E

East and West
The two distinct wings of the University's first on-campus residence hall complex.
East and West Halls
The two distinct wings of the on-campus residence hall complex.
East/West
Shorthand for the two distinct wings or buildings of the on-campus housing complex.

G

GSA
Graduate Student Assembly, the governing body representing graduate student interests.

M

MASSPIRG
The campus chapter of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy organization.

O

OSL
Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement, which oversees campus organizations.
OSLCE
Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement, which oversees clubs and volunteering.

R

Res Halls
Common student shorthand for the Residence Halls.

S

SAC
Student Activities Council, the group responsible for planning major campus events.
SACB
Student Activities Control Board, the body responsible for allocating funds to student clubs.

T

The Catwalks
The elevated indoor walkways connecting Wheatley, McCormack, and the Library.
The Commons
The Dining Commons located in the residence hall, primarily used by students with meal plans.
The DC
The Dining Commons, the main all-you-care-to-eat facility located in the residence halls.
The Dorms
The on-campus residence halls, specifically Residence Hall East and West.
The Food Court
The retail dining area on the first floor of the Campus Center featuring various vendors.
The Harborwalk
The scenic public waterfront path that circles the campus perimeter.
The Mass Media
The university's student-run independent newspaper.
The Point
Columbia Point, the peninsula in Dorchester where the UMass Boston campus is located.
The Point Cafe
A dining location in the Integrated Sciences Complex (ISC) known for coffee and quick meals.
The Res Hall
The on-campus Residence Hall complex, which is divided into East and West wings.
The Res Halls
A common shorthand for the Residence Halls located near the Monan Park.
The Shuttle
The free bus service that transports students between the JFK/UMass T station and campus.
The T
The MBTA subway system, specifically referring to the Red Line access via JFK/UMass.

U

USG
Undergraduate Student Government, the representative body for the student population.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

21 details
beacon_cafe
Beacon Cafe
BeaconCard
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
BeaconSpace
The online portal used by students and organizations to reserve rooms and event spaces on campus.
Campus Center
The social hub of the university, containing the bookstore, food court, and student offices.
campus_center_food_court
Campus Center Food Court
CC
The Campus Center, the central hub for student services, dining, and activities.
dining_commons
Dining Commons
Healey
The Joseph P. Healey Library, the main university library.
ISC
Integrated Sciences Complex, the modern facility housing science labs and research centers.
JFK
Short for the JFK/UMass MBTA station, the primary public transit stop serving the campus.
JFK/UMass
The primary MBTA station serving the campus; students often refer to it simply as 'JFK'.
McCormack
McCormack Hall, a primary academic building connected to Wheatley.
One Stop
The integrated student service center in the Campus Center for registrar and financial aid needs.
OneStop
The centralized service center in the Campus Center for registrar, bursar, and financial aid inquiries.
Quinn
The Quinn Administration Building, which houses the Chancellor's office and administrative departments.
The Harborwalk
The scenic public walkway surrounding the campus along the water, used by students for exercise and transit.
The Shuttle
The free bus service (Routes 1, 2, and 3) connecting the T station and parking lots to campus.
U-Hall
University Hall, a major academic building containing classrooms and performing arts spaces.
umarket
UMarket
Wheatley
Wheatley Hall, one of the primary academic buildings on campus.
WISER
The Web Information System for Education and Registration; the online portal for classes and grades.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Special Program 1 & 2 (SP1/SP2) 2026 runs May 26, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
28 approved campus terms and 21 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · University of Massachusetts Boston

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  • Jul 1

    Submit final high school transcripts

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    Move-in day at UMass Boston

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    Waive UMass Boston health insurance

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Find a few communities to try at University of Massachusetts Boston

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

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6 mapped items from 5 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

Graduate Student Government (GSG)

Represents graduate students, funds graduate professional organizations, and provides grants for research and professional development.

Regular commitment

Student Arts and Events Council (SAEC)

The student-led campus-wide programming board responsible for planning major campus traditions like Welcome Week, Spring Ball, and movie nights.

Undergraduate Student Government (USG)

Represents the undergraduate student body, allocates student activity fees to fund clubs, and advocates on behalf of students to the university administration.

Regular commitment

Easy to try first

Welcome Week

A series of events at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters to welcome new and returning students, featuring social events, information fairs, and entertainment.

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Campus rituals

Spring Ball

An annual formal dance hosted by the Student Arts and Events Council (SAEC) at an exclusive Boston venue for UMass Boston students.

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Resources & spaces

Intramural Sports

Offers a variety of sports leagues and tournaments for students, faculty, and staff to compete in a fun and social environment. Sports include soccer, basketball, volleyball, and more.

Drop in any time

Using DormWay at University of Massachusetts Boston

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

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University of Massachusetts Boston on DormWay

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Life in Boston for University of Massachusetts Boston Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Boston.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$2,500

Cost of Living Index

150

Student Population

150,000

City Transportation

Walkability

82

Bikeability

70

Public Transit

MBTA subway, MBTA commuter rail, MBTA bus, MBTA ferry

Nearest Airports

Logan International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

51°F

Avg Snowfall

48 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

West Garage

garage

Primary visitor and student parking garage.

Campus Center Garage

garage • limited

Located directly under the Campus Center.

Lot D

surface_lot

Surface lot located on campus.

Bayside Lot

surface_lot • high

Off-campus lot with shuttle service to the main campus.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of Massachusetts Boston

First-Year Student Orientation (On-Campus)

July 21, 2026

UMass Boston Campus

A two-day, overnight program for new first-year students to learn about campus resources and academics.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of Massachusetts Boston

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

7 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Harbor Hall

Room types: single, double, suite

Motley Hall

Room types: single, double, apartment

Residence Hall 1

Capacity: 1,000

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Residence Hall East

Capacity: 1,077

Room types: single, double, triple, suite

Residence Halls (UMass Boston campus, general description)

Room types: in-room bathrooms, community bathrooms

Residence Hall West

Capacity: 539

Room types: single, double, triple, suite

UMass Boston Residence Hall

Capacity: 1,077

Room types: single (limited, for disability accommodations), double (with community or private bath), large double (with community or private bath), triple (community or private bath), quad (private bath)

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@massachusettsboston.edu

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