May 2026 newsletter

Disability Graduation Celebration 

Last week, on April 27th, Disability Services honored our graduating students with a celebration in Goodell Hall.  

Many students and staff came together in community and celebrated the Class of 2026 with a reception dinner. Students received special shoutouts and had the opportunity to take photos after the event at our designated photo area!  

One of the gifts from Disability Services to graduates was a purple and white graduation cord to wear with their regalia. Purple and white are symbolic of the disability movement. The purple signifies a graduate being creative, independent, and having a great future, while the white signifies new beginnings, and a graduate being complete. Posting photos? Make sure to  tag @umassdisability on Instagram! 

Want to stay in contact with Disability Services after graduation? Complete this Post-Grad Contact Form!  

UMass Amherst Commencement: All You Need to Know!   

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.  

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.

Accessibility Needs

If you have accessibility needs, such as parking or seating, visit the "Know Before You Go" Commencement website. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Finals Forecast at the EPC

The Exam Proctoring Center (EPC) is gearing up for Finals Week! Nearly 1,500 exams are scheduled over a five-day period from May 11th to 15th, covering 353 courses and supporting 644 individual students.  

In addition to our exam rooms in 420 Goodell Hall, the EPC will utilize up to 20 additional rooms each day (some classrooms, some private rooms), and will rely on a team of over 70 staff members, including student assistants to prep exams and greet students, student proctors and Disability Services professional staff to administer the exams, couriers to deliver completed exams to instructors, and more.    

Huge kudos to our Exam Proctoring Center Staff, for organizing space and time to get this all done!  

Professional Development Opportunities for Graduate Students  

The Graduate School’s Office of Professional Development offers graduate students professional skills training in career preparation, communication , grants and fellowships, personal development, and teaching . These programs include virtual and in-person options!  

Here are all of the upcoming workshops! 

You can contact OPD with any questions at opd@umass.edu.