umass amherst travel policy

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You are here, covid-19 response.

Visit  UMass Amherst Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19 ) for resources and updates on the University's COVID-19 response. This site provides the latest campus news and comprehensive information. 

Departmental Guidance

All employees are encouraged to observe the following guidelines:

• Follow the current face covering and COVID-19 testing protocols .
• Complete daily self-check for Covid-19 symptoms.
• All faculty and staff are required to get vaccinated. See Public Health Update for Faculty and Staff  for details.

Visitor Guidance

Indoor and outdoor campus spaces at UMass Amherst are open to the public, masks are welcome but not required.  We encourage everyone to respect the choices that individuals make about their own masking. See Face Covering FAQs for additional information.

Visitors with COVID-19 Symptoms and Exposures listed below should not to come to campus.

Information for Vendors, Contractors and Persons Conducting Business on Campus

All Vendors, Contractors and Persons Conducting Business on Campus must follow the requirements provided in Visitor Guidance above and must comply with the new COVID-19 Requirements for Vendors, Contractors and Persons Conducting Business on Campus

General Contractors/Construction Managers shall continue to notify Campus Safety,  Maryanne Steele  or Rob Wallace if a member of their team tests positive for COVID-19 to assist with contact tracing. For UMBA projects,  Peter Gray-Mullen shall also be notified.

Please feel free to contact  Maryanne Steele  or Rob Wallace if you have questions.

Planning Guide to Isolation and Quarantine

UMass Amherst will use the key public health tools known as isolation and quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID19 among the campus community. Because there is typically little time to prepare for isolation or quarantine when instructed to do so, UMass Amherst has developed this planning guide to assist individuals in preparing to isolate or quarantine.  

Onsite Personnel Covid-19 Checklist

If you are an on-site employee, please use this COVID-19 Daily Self Checklist  each day before reporting to work.   

Disinfectants

Please go to   Disinfectants used at UMass Amherst that are EPA approved for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 Illness)  for a list of products that have been reviewed and found effective against SARS-CoV-2 by comparing them to the EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Use against SARS-CoV-2.

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Power point presentations covering Custodial and Maintenance Response to COVID impacted spaces may be found here . For best viewing of imbedded videos, these PowerPoint presentations should be downloaded from the box folder. 

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• Follow the CDC's guidelines for Properly Removing Gloves.  Please dispose of discarded personal protection equipment (PPE) properly.

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Contact Dominic Singh if you have a need for UMEMS EMTs or questions about UMEMS event support operation.  Visit the UMEMS webpage for general information about the unit.

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All campus personnel – including supervisors, deans and department heads – who are concerned about potential exposure because they believe an employee has tested positive, is presumptive positive, or has been in contact with someone they think has been infected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), should contact the COVID-19 HR Response Team.

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Office of Global Education Travel Policy & Resources

Section navigation, student travel update for 2023-2024.

Students on college-sponsored must petition the College's student travel policy only if the host country has a level 3 or level 4 U.S. Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisory and/or CDC Travel Health Notice  for non-COVID reasons. For example, if a country has a DOS or CDC level 3 or 4 only for "H" (i.e., health) and the reason is COVID, then the student does not have to petition the College's travel policy. If the DOS or CDC level is 3 or 4 because of political instability, crime, or a non-COVID health reason, the student will have to petition the travel policy .

Therefore, students traveling to countries with a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory level 1 or 2 and/or CDC Travel Health Advisory level 1 or 2 (or if the advisory is level 3 or 4 because of COVID), they do not need to petition. If travel to a particular country does not require a petition now  but the DOS and/or CDC level rises to a level that does require a petition  prior to travel , students will be required to petition the College.

Students need to review the advisories linked above to learn if a COVID-19 vaccine is required for entry to a foreign country.

Please c ontact us  if you have questions.

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
• CDC Travel Health Notices
• GEO's Health & Wellness page

Travel Policy for College-Sponsored Programs

Students traveling on college-sponsored trips* in countries that have significant political unrest, a natural disaster, or other country or region-specific disturbance should carefully consider the risks with their families and in consultation with official sources of travel information such as the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The highest travel warning for the U.S. Department of State is "Level 4: Do Not Travel" and the highest travel health notice for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel."

In instances where the college sponsors travel to areas with a Level 3 or Level 4 State Department travel advisory and/or Level 3 CDC travel health notice, the college may require students to take additional steps (in addition to completing the college’s international travel waiver) before receiving funds to study or travel or before being enrolled in Study Away Placeholder Course for a semester abroad. For example:

• For students receiving sponsorship (e.g., funding and/or credit) to areas where there is a Level 3 travel advisory by the U.S. State Department and/or a Level 3 travel health notice by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the college requires an additional special waiver to be signed by both the student and the student’s parents/guardians.
• Travel to countries or regions under a Level 4 travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department is presumptively ineligible for college sponsorship. Sponsorship to travel to areas where there is a Level 4 travel advisory is permitted only if an exception is granted by the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty. 
• Students interested in traveling to countries with an overall Level 1 or Level 2 advisory that have a region within the country at Levels 3 or 4 travel advisory and/or Level 3 travel health notice must follow the protocol for travel to Levels 3 or 4 travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notice only if they wish to travel to those higher risk regions.

The responsibility to assess the safety of a student’s proposed trip remains with the student -- in consultation with the student’s family -- at all times. The college may, in its sole discretion, sponsor programs to areas with Level 3 or Level 4** U.S. State Department travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notices by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The college’s decision to sponsor travel to areas with Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notices is not an endorsement of the safety of the area or of a student’s specific plans.

The college may decline to allow a student to study abroad for credit (and financial aid) transfer and/or may prohibit a student from receiving funds to study or travel on a college-sponsored trip in a particular country. Students who nonetheless choose to study abroad or travel to that country or region may not transfer credit or financial aid or other college funds and would need to take a personal leave from the college or travel independently in order to participate in the program.

*College-sponsored trips are either funded (in full or in part), arranged by, and/or awarded credit by the college.

** The travel policy and petitions are reviewed by the international risk management group. Members are: Provost and Dean of Faculty Catherine Epstein, Chief of Staff in the President's Office Kathleen Pertzborn, Associate Provost and Associate Dean of Faculty Pawan Dhingra, Director of Emergency Management Matt Hart, Director of Media Communications Caroline Hanna, Director of Immigration Services Hanna Bliss, Director of Global Education Janna Behrens, Assistant Director of Global Education Chelsi Colleton. 

Spring Break 2024 Travel Preparation

If you are traveling with college funds - either domestically or internationally - please review the appropriate checklist for your travel and download a copy of the AIG Travel Guard and brochure. 

Domestic travel checklist

International travel checklist

Common Questions: Next Steps for College-Sponsored Travel

Do I need to petition the college's travel policy?

If you are traveling to a country with a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory or CDC Travel Health Notice level 3 or 4 you will need to petition. 

What is the standard travel waiver?

All students traveling abroad on a college-sponsored trip need to complete the standard travel waiver, which informs students about the risks of traveling and what their responsibilities are. The waiver is an important advising tool, one that may introduce to you what risks are involved with travel that you had not yet considered. 

How do I register my travel?

Students on college-sponsored trips must register their trip with the Amherst College Travel Registry. This steps takes only a few moments:

• Go to the  Amherst College Travel Registry website  and log in with your Amherst credentials.
• On the "Register Travel" tab, create a new trip with emergency contact information as requested.

How do I get access to the AIG Travel Guard emergency medical assistance membership?

This benefit through AIG Travel Guard includes emergency medical assistance, general trip advice, and access to many other services. The  online resources of AIG Travel Guard are extensive which include country-specific medical and security information, travel guidance, up-to-date travel delay information, and much more. 

The domestic travel checklist and the international travel checklist include the AIG membership brochure, policy, and other important steps you will want to take as you plan your trip. 

What other questions should I be considering (e.g., do I need a visa) in prep for travel?

Important information and FAQs about travel are here , along with FAQs. Students should carefully consider how they will mitigate risks associated with travel. Use the checklists linked above to help you plan. 

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Expense Reimbursements

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When submitting expenses for reimbursement, either electronically or in person, forms must include a PI accounting speedtype number and signature. Travel reimbursement forms must also include a pre-travel (Terradotta) ID#. If you have any questions please contact Maria Farrington [email protected] .

Forms for download:    Meal Reimbursement Form     Miscellaneous Reimbursement Form     Travel Reimbursement Form

Meal Reimbursements

Please Note:

• Itemized receipt must be attached
• Include list of attendees with affiliation
• Tips can be reimbursed up to 20%
• Alcohol cannot be charged to Federal/State grants. Otherwise, observe a 1 drink per person limit. (Alcohol reimbursement cannot exceed 25% of total bill.)
• Meals over $500 must have prior approval form signed by the Dean

Travel Reimbursements

Before making travel arrangements, please make sure that you are familiar with the UMass employee travel policies. CLICK HERE for the travel quick reference guide. ( CLICK HERE  for the extended travel policy manual.)

Pre-travel registration is required for all University travel. In addition, pretravel authorization is necessary for all out of state or overnight travel. CLICK HERE to register travel and submit to be approved by advisor. ( Job Aids  for registering travel.)

If you try to file a pre-travel for an upcoming trip and the location is not on the list it can be added by following  this link . (You may need to wait 24/48 hours for the location to be added to the registry.)  

Some notable reminders are:

• Receipts must show proof of payment – noting either cash or partial credit card info.
• Only expenses for lodging can be included in lodging (excludes video charges, mini bar, room services, etc.)
• AirBNB, VRBO etc. charges are accepted and can be charged to UMass OneCard if expenses are cheaper than local hotel. (Please show comparisons.)
• When sharing travel charges, the reimbursement can only be given to the employee who provides proof of payment. All travelers' pretravel authorization numbers should be included on the reimbursement form.
• Mileage should be calculated from your home address or UMass Amherst (the shorter distance to destination).
• Taxi/Shuttle - 15% tip allowed for reimbursement
• When converting currency for international travel reimbursements, the conversion rate must be based on the expense date. If a credit card was used, it may be easiest to submit a copy of the statement with personal info redacted.
• See above for meal reimbursements (business meetings) that are separate from a per diem request

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Amherst Wire

UMass announces new testing and quarantine policies for the fall

The campus-wide email details who needs to get tested as well as quarantine and isolation policies when testing positive for COVID-19.

Talia Heisey , Managing Editor | August 21, 2021

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Amherst — In a new email to the campus community on Thursday August 19, UMass Amherst’s co-directors of Public Health and Promotion Center (PHPC), Anne Becker and Jeffrey Hescock outlined the policy for the fall semester around quarantine and isolation procedures and testing requirements for COVID-19.

With residence halls fully occupied this semester, isolation and quarantine housing will be limited, and only available in specific instances. The policy states on campus students who need to isolate or quarantine should do so at their permanent home or residence. The school is encouraging students who live both on and off campus to create a planning guide with their families in case they are exposed or test positive for COVID-19.

This semester, there will be an additional option for community members to do unobserved testing through picking up a kit from the PHPC and dropping off the completed kit at three kiosks located across campus–outside the Mullins Center, Outside of University Health Service, and at the PHPC.

Testing will be required twice a week for faculty, staff, and students who are between their first and second shots of the COVID-19 vaccine in addition to those who have received exemptions from the vaccine for religious or medical reasons. Anyone who suspects they have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should also get tested through University Health Services or through using an unobserved testing kit. 

The Public Health Promotion Center will also be moving on Aug. 23 from the Mullins Center to the first floor of the Student Union. This location, behind Blue Wall, will serve as the location for asymptomatic testing.

The email also noted an increase in domestic undergraduate and graduate student rates with 98% being vaccinated from the previous 96% of students who were reported being fully vaccinated by the university in a campus wide email on Aug. 9. Additionally, 93% of faculty and staff are also in compliance with the university’s vaccine requirements. 

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Finance/travel.

FAQ’s – Graduate Student Award Reimbursement Process

I have been awarded a travel/research grant. How will I receive this money?   The department distributes your award to you via a reimbursement for research-related purchases or travel expenses. Reimbursement payments are made in tandem with payroll (typically direct deposit); however, a check can be sent if direct deposit is not used. These awards cannot be distributed as cash or as an advance payment towards future expenses. In order to be reimbursed, you must be able to present receipts for research-related travel or expenses.

How do I submit my reimbursement request? Please submit your travel and/or business reimbursement requests to  [email protected] . Be sure to also specify the funding source as “Travel Grant” and include the semester (Fall/Spring/Summer) and year; ie. Fall 2021 Travel Grant. Whenever possible, please combine as many electronic receipts or images into one PDF file to prevent information from being lost.

What will I need to submit to obtain reimbursement for my travel expenses?

• Travel and Reimbursement Request Form We recommend using our Travel & Reimbursement Request Form to summarize your expenses and trip details. This form is not required but often serves as a helpful tool if totaling up multiple expenses from a single trip. All forms and receipts may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.
• University Travel Registration ID You must request approval for University-related travel that is out-of-state or overnight. Each trip registration is assigned a 5-digit ID upon submitting your registration for approval. Please include this 5-digit number when submitting your reimbursement request.
• Valid/itemized receipts Receipts must be included for each expense you would like reimbursed. A valid receipt should indicate what was paid for, your name, and a proof of payment (i.e. C. Jones – VISA ********1234 - $75.00 ). If payment information is not clear on your receipt, a credit card or bank statement can be included to indicate the charge you have incurred. However, a statement cannot serve as a receipt on its own. If a receipt was lost or not offered with a specific transaction, a Missing Receipt Affidavit must be submitted in its place.

How do I register my travel/obtain a pre-travel authorization? Travel registration is a requirement of the University in an effort to track where students, faculty, and staff are in the event of an emergency. Travel authorization is required for all travel that is either out-of-state or overnight. You can log in using your existing Net ID and password. After logging in, enter the known information about your trip (estimated dates of travel, the destination(s), emergency contact, and the estimated cost). Request for approval should go to Crystal Paul , the department’s Director of Administration and Research. You can find her in the keyword search by entering her e-mail address ( [email protected] ) or by typing “ crystalpaul. ” If you experience issues while working through the travel registry workflow, please refer to the Travel Registry Guidelines and utilize the contact information, if necessary.

Can I apply my travel grant funds to travel that has already occurred? Yes, in most cases this is acceptable. Registering your trip within the registry will still be required and can be requested retroactively if you did not initially request approval prior to traveling.

Can the department help me with booking my travel or pre-pay some of my travel expenses? The department may be able to book some things like airfare, conference registrations, and membership dues prior to a trip. Any advance booking costs should not exceed the amount of the grant you have been awarded. If your out-of-pocket expenses exceed the amount of your grant, the department will reimburse you up to the amount of your grant. Please send an email to  [email protected]  for assistance with advance purchases.

I have received a non-working fellowship from the department. Will this also be paid out as a reimbursement? No. Non-working fellowships are not paid as reimbursements and you do not need to submit receipts for payment. Emily White will notify you with details on your fellowship and the payment timeline.

I have been offered reimbursement for an expense unrelated to travel. How do I proceed? Please submit a Business Expense Form to [email protected]  to summarize the details of the expense(s) and funding support being offered. This form may also be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

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Travel Laptop Program

On this page:, features & options, eligibility, how to obtain, policies & compliance, support resources.

UMass Amherst IT's Travel Laptop Program provides laptops to full-time UMass Amherst faculty and staff for short-term use for domestic or international travel. Travel does not have to be on university business in order to borrow a laptop through this program.

Students can rent computers through the Library, see Laptop Lending for more information.

• Two laptop models, subject to availability: Dell (Windows) or Apple MacBook Air 13" (Mac OS X)
• Each laptop comes with a travel case, charger, power supply (110-240V, 50/60 Hz)
• A travel power converter and/or an external CD/DVD drive may be supplied upon request
• Microsoft Windows or Mac OS
• Microsoft Edge (Windows) or Safari (Mac OS), Google Chrome, and Firefox web browsers
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Teams
• Select Adobe software
• Anti-virus & anti-malware software
• Select utility software (e.g., VPN software)

Note : You will not be able to modify system settings or install new software. Laptops have been configured to provide access to email, internet, and select software while complying with United States Federal export regulations and university security policies. They are configured to balance security and convenience and are not intended to replace your usual, daily use laptop.

Travel laptops are available to full-time UMass Amherst faculty and staff.

Faculty and staff can borrow laptops for up to two weeks. Exceptions may be made under special circumstances, subject to availability, and at the discretion of IT. Laptops are not available for extended travel, sabbaticals, or as departmental replacements.

Laptops must be reserved at least two weeks before your departure. To check availability and reserve a laptop, please fill out the request form .

If your request is approved, you will receive a confirmation and further instructions as well as the date and place to pick up your laptop.

Travel laptops are available at no additional cost.

UMass Amherst and UMass System policies:

Computer Security and Usage Guidelines  

Acceptable Use of Information Technology Policy  

Information Security Policy

Privacy Policy

Federal Policy, Laws, and Standards:

Contact your department’s IT professional. If your department is serviced by Enterprise Desktop Support (EDS), contact EDS at (413) 545-4048 or [email protected] . Otherwise, contact IT User Services at 413-545-TECH (8324) or [email protected] .

Office of Global Education Travel Policy & Resources

Section navigation, student travel update for 2023-2024.

Students on college-sponsored must petition the College's student travel policy only if the host country has a level 3 or level 4 U.S. Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisory and/or CDC Travel Health Notice  for non-COVID reasons. For example, if a country has a DOS or CDC level 3 or 4 only for "H" (i.e., health) and the reason is COVID, then the student does not have to petition the College's travel policy. If the DOS or CDC level is 3 or 4 because of political instability, crime, or a non-COVID health reason, the student will have to petition the travel policy .

Therefore, students traveling to countries with a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory level 1 or 2 and/or CDC Travel Health Advisory level 1 or 2 (or if the advisory is level 3 or 4 because of COVID), they do not need to petition. If travel to a particular country does not require a petition now  but the DOS and/or CDC level rises to a level that does require a petition  prior to travel , students will be required to petition the College.

Students need to review the advisories linked above to learn if a COVID-19 vaccine is required for entry to a foreign country.

Please c ontact us  if you have questions.

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
• CDC Travel Health Notices
• GEO's Health & Wellness page

Travel Policy for College-Sponsored Programs

Students traveling on college-sponsored trips* in countries that have significant political unrest, a natural disaster, or other country or region-specific disturbance should carefully consider the risks with their families and in consultation with official sources of travel information such as the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The highest travel warning for the U.S. Department of State is "Level 4: Do Not Travel" and the highest travel health notice for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel."

In instances where the college sponsors travel to areas with a Level 3 or Level 4 State Department travel advisory and/or Level 3 CDC travel health notice, the college may require students to take additional steps (in addition to completing the college’s international travel waiver) before receiving funds to study or travel or before being enrolled in Study Away Placeholder Course for a semester abroad. For example:

• For students receiving sponsorship (e.g., funding and/or credit) to areas where there is a Level 3 travel advisory by the U.S. State Department and/or a Level 3 travel health notice by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the college requires an additional special waiver to be signed by both the student and the student’s parents/guardians.
• Travel to countries or regions under a Level 4 travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department is presumptively ineligible for college sponsorship. Sponsorship to travel to areas where there is a Level 4 travel advisory is permitted only if an exception is granted by the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty. 
• Students interested in traveling to countries with an overall Level 1 or Level 2 advisory that have a region within the country at Levels 3 or 4 travel advisory and/or Level 3 travel health notice must follow the protocol for travel to Levels 3 or 4 travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notice only if they wish to travel to those higher risk regions.

The responsibility to assess the safety of a student’s proposed trip remains with the student -- in consultation with the student’s family -- at all times. The college may, in its sole discretion, sponsor programs to areas with Level 3 or Level 4** U.S. State Department travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notices by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The college’s decision to sponsor travel to areas with Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisories and/or Level 3 travel health notices is not an endorsement of the safety of the area or of a student’s specific plans.

The college may decline to allow a student to study abroad for credit (and financial aid) transfer and/or may prohibit a student from receiving funds to study or travel on a college-sponsored trip in a particular country. Students who nonetheless choose to study abroad or travel to that country or region may not transfer credit or financial aid or other college funds and would need to take a personal leave from the college or travel independently in order to participate in the program.

*College-sponsored trips are either funded (in full or in part), arranged by, and/or awarded credit by the college.

** The travel policy and petitions are reviewed by the international risk management group. Members are: Provost and Dean of Faculty Catherine Epstein, Chief of Staff in the President's Office Kathleen Pertzborn, Associate Provost and Associate Dean of Faculty Pawan Dhingra, Director of Emergency Management Matt Hart, Director of Media Communications Caroline Hanna, Director of Immigration Services Hanna Bliss, Director of Global Education Janna Behrens, Assistant Director of Global Education Chelsi Colleton. 

Spring Break 2024 Travel Preparation

If you are traveling with college funds - either domestically or internationally - please review the appropriate checklist for your travel and download a copy of the AIG Travel Guard and brochure. 

Domestic travel checklist

International travel checklist

Common Questions: Next Steps for College-Sponsored Travel

Do I need to petition the college's travel policy?

If you are traveling to a country with a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory or CDC Travel Health Notice level 3 or 4 you will need to petition. 

What is the standard travel waiver?

All students traveling abroad on a college-sponsored trip need to complete the standard travel waiver, which informs students about the risks of traveling and what their responsibilities are. The waiver is an important advising tool, one that may introduce to you what risks are involved with travel that you had not yet considered. 

How do I register my travel?

Students on college-sponsored trips must register their trip with the Amherst College Travel Registry. This steps takes only a few moments:

• Go to the  Amherst College Travel Registry website  and log in with your Amherst credentials.
• On the "Register Travel" tab, create a new trip with emergency contact information as requested.

How do I get access to the AIG Travel Guard emergency medical assistance membership?

This benefit through AIG Travel Guard includes emergency medical assistance, general trip advice, and access to many other services. The  online resources of AIG Travel Guard are extensive which include country-specific medical and security information, travel guidance, up-to-date travel delay information, and much more. 

The domestic travel checklist and the international travel checklist include the AIG membership brochure, policy, and other important steps you will want to take as you plan your trip. 

What other questions should I be considering (e.g., do I need a visa) in prep for travel?

Important information and FAQs about travel are here , along with FAQs. Students should carefully consider how they will mitigate risks associated with travel. Use the checklists linked above to help you plan. 

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Administrative Standards Highlights - Amherst

Reduced tax risk.

• Commuting expenses = distance minus normal commute for travel reimbursements
• All employees who are receiving a reimbursement (including student employees) are treated the same for taxability of reimbursements 120 days or more
• Reporting and taxation of student payments are governed by the IRS, most institutional funds to students should be awarded in the Student Financial Aid System
• Gift cards must be purchased with the US Bank Declining Card or cash advancement (for human subject compensation) and required gift card documentation must be provided such as (Employee ID)
• Gifts to employees which exceed limits will be taxable and prior approval for the exception will be required
• Non-employees are taxed when gifts to the recipient total $600 or more in a CY

Documentation/Receipt Requirements

• All receipts, including restaurant receipts must be detailed and provide itemization
• Receipt requirements are consistent across all spending mechanisms. If a receipt is lost, the traveler/cardholder must make every possible attempt to contact the vendor and obtain a copy. If a copy cannot be obtained, a Missing Receipt Form must be completed and attached to the Expense Report
• The only exception to the missing receipt requirement would be receipts for travel related items (parking, tolls, taxi, etc.) that are under $25.00
• Refer to the Approvals, Documentation Requirements, and Exceptions page for applicable matrices, tables, and guidelines

Updated Limits

Business meal limits, contributions, gifts, and awards limits, business meetings with alcohol.

Alcohol can not exceed 25% of the business meal OR a single beverage per person

Updated Allowability

• No restriction on “one on one” meals. Meals cannot be provided as a matter of personal convenience. Meals for employee-only business meetings are allowed with an extended agenda such as trainings, workshops, and retreats, or to support emergency operations, or as allowed in collective bargaining agreements
• Home Internet-not allowed
• Transition relocation-not included, processed through HR/Payroll
• Lodging in private residence-language removed, allowed on an exception basis
• Mileage to campus satellites within 10 miles allowed only in special circumstances with prior approval
• Pre-travel authorization is no longer needed to travel out of state with no overnight stay
• Donations to organizations as an expression of sympathy in lieu of a tangible gift is not allowed
• Reimbursement for non-travel expenses are not allowable
• Meals in travel status are now allowed on the Bank Card

Approvals and Exceptions

• Fund administrator is not required for non-sponsored transactions. Employee and supervisor are always required for reimbursement requests as well as PI on sponsored funds.
• Events in excess of $500-Dean, Provost, VC or delegate
• Alcohol at events-Dean, Provost, VC or delegate
• Donations to external organizations-Dean, Provost, VC or delegate
• Gift cards-Controller’s Office
• Exceptions to the Standard-Dean, Provost or VC

Getting to Amherst

The closest airport to UMass Amherst is:

• Bradley International Airport (BDL)

Windsor Locks, Connecticut

45 miles/80 km

Please note: Flying into Bradley may require you to schedule an additional connecting flight through one of the larger U.S. airports.

Other international airports:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Boston, Massachusetts

95 miles/160 km     

• New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)

Queens, New York

145 miles/240 km

Ground Transportation from Airports to UMass Amherst

Getting to umass amherst from bradley international airport (bdl).

Hire a Shuttle

        *Approximately 1 hour drive

Valley Transporter 800-872-8752 A very convenient option which provides van shuttle transportation door-to-door from the airport terminal to your residence hall or hotel.  Reservations are required.

Seemo Shuttle 413-586-1120

Exclusive Car Service Inc. 877-695-4665

Bluebird Transportation 413-221-4512

Michael's Limousine & Transportation Service 800-533-8470

Bus or Train

There are no bus or train services available from Bradley International Airport to UMass Amherst.

Getting to UMass Amherst from Boston Logan Airport (BOS)

        * Approximately 2-hour drive

       *Approximately 4 to 6 hours travel time

Peter Pan Bus Lines 800-343-999    

Greyhound 800-229-9424

In order to take the bus from Boston to UMass Amherst, please note the following:

Upon arrival at Boston Logan airport, you will need to take public transportation, the Silver Line (SL1), to Boston South Station to get your bus. This will take about 20-30 minutes and it is a free service.

You will need to transfer buses at the Springfield, MA bus station

There are no train services available from Boston Logan Airport to UMass Amherst.

Getting to UMass Amherst from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)

        * Approximately 3.5-hour drive

       * Approximately 5.5 to 7 hours travel time

Peter Pan Bus Lines 800-343-999

In order to take the bus from NYC to UMass Amherst, please note the following:

Upon arrival at JFK, you can take public transportation to Penn Station, where you will get your bus. This will take about an hour. Plan your trip using the MTA Trip Planner website.

       Approximately 6 hours travel time

Amtrak 800-872-7245

In order to take Amtrak from NYC to Amherst, please note the following:

Upon arrival at JFK, you can take public transportation to Penn Station or Grand Central Station, where you will get your Amtrak train. This will take about an hour. Plan your trip using the MTA Trip Planner website.

You can take Amtrak to either the Northampton, MA Amtrak station or the Springfield, MA Amtrak station. Upon arrival to Northampton Amtrak Station or the Springfield Amtrak station, you will need to find either the closest bus station (see local transportation--buses below) to get to UMass Amherst, or you can use a ride services (see below) to get to UMass Amherst.

Local Transportation--Getting around the Pioneer Valley

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)

413-586-5806

PVTA is a local bus service that only serves the Pioneer Valley. It is free to students during the school year.

Peter Pan Bus Lines

800-343-999

800-229-9424

Ride Sharing Services

Local Transportation

UMass Transit

UMass Transit operates the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA ) buses for the UMass Amherst campus and the other Five Colleges as well as the towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Northampton, South Hadley, and Sunderland. There is limited service on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and breaks. Most buses are free of charge when school is in session with your UCard. Without a school identification card some buses cost will charge a fare (you need to have exact change). Schedule and routes information are here .

Taxi Services (Amherst area)

Gotta Go Taxi: 413-461-3070

City Cab: 413-568-6177

Ambassador Taxi: 413-345-8912

Non-UMass Bus Services

Peter Pan Bus Service: This bus line offers services between New York and Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Includes schedules and fairs, terminal locations, and fleet details.

Mega Bus :  This bus service offers discount service from Amherst to NYC and Hartford    

Used cars are offered for sale by private owners and car dealerships. Listings can be found in the local newspapers, like the Daily Hampshire Gazette , Craig's List , or AutoList .

A dependable older model car can be found for around $3,500. Keep in mind that Massachusetts requires a yearly inspection of cars. Without an inspection sticker the car cannot be driven. There is also mandatory car insurance which will cost about $700. The registry will charge a 5% state sales tax and your town will bill you annually for another tax which is $25 per $1000 ($50 for a $2000 car). Most insurance companies will give a discount if you can prove you are a safe driver. It helps to bring a document from your home agency or government stating this.

ZipCar Service On-Campus

Need a car? Borrow a Zipcar! UMass Amherst partners with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. When you're done, return the car to the same location where you picked it up.

As a member you get:

Access to Zipcars 24/7.

Discounted hourly rates for faculty, staff and students age 18 and older: rates start at just $7.50/hour or $69/day.

Gas, insurance and maintenance are included for free!

Join for only $25 a year, and receive $35 in driving credit your first month.

Need more information?

Find out more about Zipcar

What is car sharing?

Is car sharing for me?

Zipcar on Facebook

Driver's Licenses

Please refer to Driver's License Information Page if you are interested in obtaining a Massachusetts Driver's License.

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Massachusetts (MA) » 15 Best Things to Do in Amherst (MA)

15 Best Things to Do in Amherst (MA)

In the Connecticut River Valley, and skirted in the south by the long ridge of the Holyoke Range, Amherst is a town known for institutions of higher education, famous poets and progressive thought.

To call Amherst a college town would sell it short. Within minutes there’s the innovative and iconoclastic Hampshire College, the gigantic UMAss Amherst campus, and finally the esteemed and picture-perfect Amherst College, which mingles with the city’s downtown area.

Robert Frost taught at Amherst College and retired in the town, while Emily Dickinson spent almost her whole life in the Dickinson Homestead, now a museum managed by Amherst College.

1. Emily Dickinson Museum

The birthplace and lifelong home of the poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is just east of Amherst Center on Main St.

After childhood and a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, Dickinson rarely left this building, seldom greeted guests and later in life hardly left her bedroom.

So visiting the Federal-style Dickinson Homestead (1813) you’ll get a privileged and moving insight into a unique mind and talent that was only truly recognized when her cache of poems was discovered after her death.

The museum also comprises The Evergreens next door, home to Dickinson’s brother Austin, his wife Susan, and their three children.

The collection comprises more than 8,000 family artifacts, from furniture to portraits, dinnerware and textiles. The museum also curates all kinds of events throughout the year, including the Tell It Slant Poetry Festival in September.

2. Amherst College

The third-oldest institution of higher education in the state blends seamlessly with downtown Amherst.

Amherst College is compact, enrolling fewer than 2,000 undergraduates each year, and prestigious, as one of the highest ranking liberal arts schools in the world.

Among the alumni are six Nobel Prize laureates and a President of the United States in Calvin Coolidge.

You’re free to wander the campus on an informal tour, appreciating 19th and early 20th-century architecture by the McKim, Mead & White firm, and mansion-like fraternity houses from the early 1900s by Putnam & Cox.

A remarkable building is The Octagon (1848), ordered by college president Edward Hitchcock, and previously containing the natural history collections and observatory.

In 1870 the Central Park-designer Frederick Law Olmsted had input on the campus layout, recommending today’s quadrangle. The modern Beneski Museum of Natural History and Mead Art Museum on the campus both demand a visit.

3. Hampshire College

Established in 1970 as an experiment in higher education, Hampshire College has a campus with a beautiful setting in the south of Amherst.

Here the peaks of the Holyoke Range are on the horizon to the south. Hampshire College continues to do things its own way, with an unorthodox curriculum, self-directed academic concentrations, use of narrative evaluations instead of grades, and has always been known for its progressive politics.

A few famous alumni are Ken Burns, Barry Sonnenfeld, Lupita Nyong’o, comedian Eugene Mirman and author Jon Krakauer.

There’s profuse green space on the campus, as well as a food cooperative and worthwhile attractions like the Yiddish Book Center and Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

4. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (The Carle)

With his wife Barbara (1938-2015), the treasured children’s author and illustrator, Eric Carle (1929-2021) founded this unique museum on the Hampshire College campus in 2002.

Eric Carle published more than 70 books, and is best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969), which has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 66 languages.

There are three galleries at the museum, staging six exhibitions a year for national and international picture book artists, with shows devoted exclusively to Carle’s body of work at the West Gallery.

This attraction is designed with younger visitors in mind, while celebrating the power, beauty and fun of picture book art.

The museum hosts a wealth of programs and has a library, a studio where children can create their own masterpieces, a garden/meadow in memory of Barbara Carle, and an excellent gift shop.

5. UMass Amherst

At almost 1,450 acres, the largest campus in the University of Massachusetts system, and the largest campus of any university in the state is less than a mile north of Amherst Center.

You can take a tour or simply look around the campus on your own steam. The prevailing style here is Modernist, after a flurry of construction in the 1960s and 70s.

One landmark from this time is the W. E. B. Du Bois Library (1974), which at 286.5 feet is the tallest university library and second-tallest library of any kind in the world.

For sports, the UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen compete in Division I of the NCAA, and have a strong reputation for ice hockey and lacrosse.

The university’s Brutalist Fine Arts Center (1975) has pride of place by Campus Pond, and is designed as a monumental gateway to the campus, housing a 2,000 seat concert hall, studios, galleries and the University Museum of Contemporary Art.

6. Amherst Center

Downtown Amherst is a destination in its own right, loaded with cultural venues, sights, colorful events, independent shopping and dining.

Part of that appeal comes from the adjoining Amherst College campus with its stately architecture and world-class museums. Just along Amherst Town Common there’s a global assortment of eateries, for everything from falafel to pho.

The Amherst Cinema has been an entertainment pillar for nigh on a century, while a much newer arrival is The Drake performing arts space, which opened in 2022.

For a moment of reflection you could also wander over to the historic West Cemetery (1730) where you’ll find the grave of Emily Dickinson, and the Jones Library (1919) holds vast collections of manuscripts and correspondence for both Dickinson and Robert Frost.

Back on the common there’s a farmers’ market on Saturdays, and free weekly outdoor concerts on Fridays in summer.

7. Yiddish Book Center

Also not to be missed on the Hampshire College campus is a cultural center dedicated to preserving Yiddish-language books and media.

When it was founded in 1980 by the young graduate student Aaron Lansky, this was the first Yiddish museum in the world, and was set up to preserve and recover Yiddish books that were being discarded by American Jewish people who couldn’t read the Yiddish language of their forebears.

There are now more than a million books in the collection. The current 49,000-square-foot complex opened in 1997 and hosts enthralling permanent and visiting exhibits.

Unquiet Pages for instance is a series of 19 panels on the library’s bookshelves, shining a light on Yiddish novels, poetry, plays, reportage and memoirs.

The Lee & Alfred Hutt Discovery Gallery is devoted to traditional Eastern European Jewish culture, while there’s a children’s corner with a reading area and a pretend restaurant where kids can learn Yiddish names for typical Jewish foods.

8. Beneski Museum of Natural History

The modern Beneski Earth Sciences Building on the Amherst College campus houses three stories of exhibits, with more than 1,700 specimens on show.

These extensive collections go back to the college’s earliest days in the 1820s, and many were assembled by the geologist and third college president, Edward Hitchcock (1793-1864).

This goes for the incredible assortment of dinosaur tracks, known as the Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet, and considered the largest collection of its kind in the world.

You can also get stuck into rich displays on other aspects of vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, anthropology, minerals and other geological specimens.

Some of the iconic exhibits are the Ice Age mastodon and mammoth skeletons on the first floor, and the world’s best preserved Dryosaurus specimen in the basement.

9. Mead Art Museum

The third must-visit Amherst College museum is the repository for the college’s distinguished art collection and is named for the architect William Rutherford Mead (1846-1928) who graduated in the class of 1867.

Mead’s wife Olga Kilyeni Mead left his entire estate to the college, which went towards the museum’s building, designed by James Kellum Smith and opened in 1949.

Numbering 19,000 pieces, the college’s collection touches on Ancient Assyrian carvings, Japanese prints, West African carvings, American and European fine art (Claude Monet, Frans Snyders), Mexican ceramics, Russian art, Tibetan scroll paintings and an entire English paneled room from the 1600s.

The Mead Art Museum is free to the public and displays selections from that inventory, as well as modern and contemporary art shows, with recent exhibitions featuring the work of Liliana Porter, Sonya Clarke and Michael Mazur.

10. Mount Holyoke Range State Park

There’s striking mountain scenery in the south of Amherst courtesy of the Holyoke Range, a 9.5-mile traprock ridge running east to west.

Crossed by the 114-mile Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, the range is loved for its challenging hikes and rewarding walkers with distant views from its ledges.

The Mount Holyoke Range State Park contains seven miles of the ridge line, but also has more than 30 miles of trails through woods and wetlands.

The park is known as one of the best spots in the area for mountain biking, whether you want to test yourself on those steep slopes or meander through the forest. There’s a visitor center along Route 116, serving as a handy pitstop before an eastward hike across the ridge.

11. Amherst Farmers’ Market

Saturday mornings, April through November, there’s an award-winning farmers’ market on the Amherst Common. This has been a local tradition for more than half a century now, and brings in producers, growers and makers from across the Pioneer Valley.

The market is a big event, with as many as 50 vendors each week for local and seasonal produce, honey, maple syrup, eggs, jams, cheeses, cut flowers, wines, pasture-raised meats, organic nuts, breads, pastries and tons more.

There’s always an assortment of vendors for handcrafted items, as well as a profusion of prepared food and beverages, from breakfast wraps to crème brûlée and kombucha.

12. The Norwottuck Rail Trail

A stretch of this 11-mile bicycle/pedestrian trail passes through Amherst on its route from Northampton to Belchertown.

The Norwottuck Rail Trail is on the rail bed of the Central Massachusetts Railroad, which opened in the 1880s and closed to passengers in 1932 and freight in the 1970s.

The trail passes east to west through Amherst bending northwards to the southern edge of the Amherst College campus, before turning southeast. There’s a parking lot for the trail just on the town line in South Amherst along Station Rd.

Despite crossing some hilly terrain, especially in the southeast of Amherst, the Norwottuck Rail Trail is a level ride or walk, and from Belchertown now connects to the Mass Central Rail Trail, which will eventually be more than 100 miles long.

13. Amherst Cinema Arts Center

This non-profit, four-screen movie house in Amherst Center dates back to 1926 and was converted from an old stable.

In the late 20th century this had become a second-run theater, before closing in 2000 and reopening in 2006 as a three-screen theater for mainstream and independent film.

The fourth screen was added in 2012, and this is a great place to go for classic movies, Hollywood releases, art house hits, documentaries, shorts, and dozens of international and independent features.

The popcorn is excellent, and you can also order beer, wine and cider for these small, comfortable auditoriums, all up-to-date with the latest sound and projection technology.

14. Puffers Pond

The largest body of open water in Amherst is in the north of Amherst on the Mill River corridor, and is a favored recreation area for swimming, picnicking, walking, birding, fishing and paddlesports.

This is a remnant of Amherst’s industrial heritage, and was the site of mills as early as the 1720s, although activity ceased by the 1940s with only foundations visible today.

There’s a beach in summer, with shallow waters regularly tested for quality. Not far west of the swimming area is the pond’s dam, with a rather pretty mid-19th century waterfall/spillway that can be viewed from the bridge on Mill St.

15. Atkins Farms Country Market

At the foot of Holyoake Range by Hampshire College is a giant country market packed with local items, combined with a specialty food store.

The roots of this business go back to 1887, when George H. Atkins moved to the area and planted an orchard.

The retail side of things grew quickly through the 1960s and 1970s, and the enormous store that welcomes you today was doubled in the 1990s and then expanded again in the early 2000s.

The apples and apple products sold at Atkins Farms Country Market come from trees grown a stone’s throw away at Belchertown and another site off Bay Rd.

People come from miles around for the baked goods, especially the apple cider donuts, and there’s a first-class salad bar and a deli counter known for its Rueben and meatloaf sandwiches.

15 Best Things to Do in Amherst (MA):

• Emily Dickinson Museum
• Amherst College
• Hampshire College
• Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (The Carle)
• UMass Amherst
• Amherst Center
• Yiddish Book Center
• Beneski Museum of Natural History
• Mead Art Museum
• Mount Holyoke Range State Park
• Amherst Farmers’ Market
• The Norwottuck Rail Trail
• Amherst Cinema Arts Center
• Puffers Pond
• Atkins Farms Country Market

Rated The Best Hotel In Amherst, Book Now!

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First-class accommodations and exceptional service..

During your stay, you will enjoy first-class accommodations and exceptional service. We offer university guests, conference attendees, parents, students, local and corporate travelers and alumni an exceptional Hotel UMass experience.

Enhanced Accessibility

The newly renovated room is designed to provide comfortable accommodations for guests with mobility needs. It features a spacious layout, wider doorways, roll-in shower, and amenities tailored to enhance accessibility. This room ensures that all guests can enjoy a restful stay with ease and convenience.

Junior Suite

The junior suite is designed with your relaxation and productivity in mind. Enjoy spacious accommodations that include a well-appointed bedroom with a comfortable queen-size bed, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. The living area provides extra space for work or leisure, with a cozy sitting area. Enjoy panoramic views of lush greenery and the bustling campus ,offering a front-row seat to the vibrant pulse of UMass Amherst.

Bateman Suite

This newly renovated room offers a stylish setting for a peaceful stay & provides comfortable accommodation for guests with mobility needs. The bedroom features a king bed. The oversized parlor offers additional lounging area, sleeping space, mini kitchenette with wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and also an additional private guest bathroom. The picturesque views of the university of Massachusetts campus and the surrounding pioneer valley will allow you to appreciate the charms of New England.

UMass Suite

This suite is comprised of two connecting rooms that allow you to indulge yourself with extra space to entertain, unwind, or work with the full privacy that you desire. The suite offers sweeping views of the University of Massachusetts Campus and overlooks the campus pond. The bedroom features a king bed. The oversized parlor offers additional lounging area, sleeping space, mini kitchenette with wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and also an additional private guest bathroom

All Guest Rooms feature:

• 37” flat screen TV with extended cable with HBO
• Keurig coffee maker
• Complimentary wireless high speed internet
• Phone with data port, included free local phone calls
• Iron and ironing board
• Scenic views of campus
• Certified Green Cleaning
• All rooms are Non-Smoking
• Bathroom with an extendable vanity mirror, glass enclosed shower, and a hairdryer.

All Bathrooms feature:

• Oxygen Amenity Collection
• Glass Enclosed Shower
• Extendable Lighted Vanity Mirror
• Roll in Showers in ADA rooms

Cancellation Policy:

In an effort to better serve hotel guests seeking last-minute accommodations, guests will now be required to cancel their room reservation 48-hours prior to arrival in order to avoid a fee.

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