November 2026  newsletter

Disability Services Updates

Schedule Your Final Exams Today! 

Final exams will take place the week of Monday, May 11th through Friday, May 15th.If you have exam accommodations and plan to take any of your final exams with the Exam Proctoring Center in Disability Services, please consider scheduling your final exams in Clockwork now. Exams cannot be scheduled until your accommodation letter has been sent. If you’re unsure how to send it, please contact your Access Coordinator for assistance.  

The deadline to schedule final exams with Disability Services is Friday, April 17th but if too many students wait until the deadline, it risks crashing our Clockwork site. Be proactive, check your final exams schedules in SPIRE (under Manage Classes > Class & Finals Schedule > Finals Schedule), and schedule your exams today.  

Schedule Final Exams in Clockwork

Fall 2026 Housing

We know that Fall housing selection can be very stressful for students, and that it can sometimes be challenging to find a room that meets all of your needs AND all of your preferences. 

Current students: If you selected a room for Fall '26 but are still hoping for a better fit, please be sure to participate in the next Change Process. If you missed the recent housing selection window for Fall 2026, there will be another opportunity for Unassigned students to select housing in June. Whether you want to participate in the Change Process or the Unassigned selection process, you need to request an appointment to do so through SPIRE between 4/13/26 and 5/30/26. 

If you did not receive a housing accommodation in time for the March housing selection process and want to be considered prior to this upcoming Change Process or Unassigned selection, you can still submit new documentation and meet with an Access Coordinator by May 5th.

And don't worry - if you can't find what you're looking for on campus, you can connect with the office of Off Campus Student Life for support with exploring off-campus housing options. 

Incoming first year students: If you are an incoming first year student seeking a housing accommodation for Fall 2026, please make sure to register, submit documentation, and meet with an Access Coordinator no later than July 1st. Disability Services is open regular hours during throughout the summer and can meet with students remotely via Zoom!

UMass Amherst Commencement Ceremonies 

Did you know that commencement is about 6 weeks away? Are you prepared? Here is all the important information that you will need to feel ready.  

Undergraduate Ceremonies 

For the full experience, you and your families should attend both the main Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. and your individual senior recognition ceremony. The Commencement ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium is a fun and celebratory event held outdoors, where degrees are conferred, the UMass Wind Ensemble performs, and university leaders, the student speaker, and the keynote speakers present their remarks. The senior recognition ceremonies are smaller, more intimate events where each undergraduate's name is called. Visit the 2026 Commencement Information for UGRADS website for more information on Graduation Eligibility, Tassel, Caps & Gowns and more!  

Master’s and Education Specialist Candidate Ceremony 

The Master’s and Education Specialist Candidate Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 15, at 9 a.m. in the Mullins Center. Updates and day-of-ceremony instructions will be posted on the website and sent by email in May.  

The deadline to register in Tassel is April 18. If you miss this deadline, you will be able to attend your ceremony; however, guest tickets are not guaranteed.  If you have not yet received your Tassel registration email, please contact the Graduate School.  

Doctoral Candidate Ceremony 

The hooding ceremony is a time-honored academic tradition. This year's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. in the Mullins Center. You can find comprehensive guidance on the “Information for Doctoral Candidates” page, which covers eligibility requirements, registration procedures, regalia, and more. Check back frequently for ceremony updates, and monitor your email for announcements from commencement@umass.edu so you don't miss any important information. 

The deadline to register in Tassel is April 12. If you miss this deadline, you will be able to attend your ceremony; however, guest tickets are not guaranteed.  If you have not yet received your Tassel registration email, please contact the Graduate School. 

Visit Disability Services During Fresh Check Day  

April 29—also known as Founders Day—Disability Services will be participating in Fresh Check Day, an interactive mental health fair featuring wellness activities, campus resources, and opportunities to learn how to support yourself and others. 

Stop by the Disability Services table (11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) to pot a flower and connect with our team. You’ll also find a variety of campus partners offering engaging, hands-on activities. Together, we’re working to reduce the stigma around mental health and foster a culture of openness, support, and care.  

Organized in partnership with the Jordan Porco Foundation, Fresh Check Day is part of a national initiative aimed at preventing suicide and promoting mental wellbeing among college students. 

34th Annual Autism Connections Autism Conference 

This day-long conference features a keynote address, a variety of 18 breakout topics in three sessions, and an exhibitor showcase to collect resources and find supports. All tickets include breakfast, snack break, and lunch. There will be a quiet sensory room to decompress and recharge. 

Professional credits (PDPs, ABA credits and, pending approval, CEUs) are available for professionals working in the autism field.

Two staff members from Disability Services will be presenting during the Breakout Session 3 (3:00-4:30 p.m.). Rachel Adams, Associate Director for Education and Training and Alex Deschamps, Associate Director of Accommodation Services will be presenting “Understanding College Neurodiversity Supports through Social Model Frameworks”. 
Get your tickets today!