ARRIVAL

When arriving at the conference, attendees should head first to the lower level of the Campus Center, which will be open for registered presenters and faculty members to pick up badges and check their bags and posters starting at 9 am. Attendees can then head up to the 11th floor of the Campus Center (Marriott Room) for the keynote address. If you arrive just before the keynote, you can go directly to the 11th floor. The first poster session will begin at 10:30 am following the end of the Keynote. Lines can get long in the morning before the keynote as well as before and after lunch, so it’s best to plan in advance and arrive with plenty of time to get checked in before you present.

The address for the Campus Center that can be entered into a GPS is: 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9243. An accessibility map of UMass can be found here.

BY CAR:

Parking is available at the Campus Center Parking Garage, a few steps from the Campus Center. The regular rate is $1.85/hr and MassURC is able to offer a 50% discount. You must register with your plate number through the Parkmobile app or at one of the paystations within 20 minutes of parking or you will be issued a citation. To access the 50% off discount, use one of the paystations. After entering your license plate and hours expected, choose “yes” to enter coupon code 25MURC. Insert a credit card to pay the parking fee. Directions to the parking garage can be found here. More information about parking can be found here. Due to the large number of people arriving on the UMass campus on the day of the conference, we encourage participants/attendees to carpool because finding parking spaces close to the Campus Center might be difficult. For those needing accessible parking, there are spaces in the garage near the entrance to the Campus Center.

BY CHARTER BUS:

Take Campus Center Way to Flint Circle. Students can walk from here to the Campus Center (1 - 2 minute walk).

The recommended parking location for buses (and any vehicles that can’t park in the garage) is Lot 12 on Forestry Way. The bus can proceed down Campus Center Way, take a right onto Commonwealth Ave., and then take the first left at the traffic lights onto Forestry Way into the parking area. See the Campus Parking Map for details.

Directions - Campus Center

If parking in the parking garage:

Poster Sessions & Keynote

The poster sessions, along with registration and coat check, will be taking place on the lower level of Campus Center. The keynote speech will take place on the 11th floor of the Campus Center at 9:15. There are banks of elevators on the lower level and first floor of the Campus Center.

Be on Time

Be on time to your poster session! Arrive to the conference at least 30 minutes before your assigned time. This will ensure that you can register, check any items that you don’t want to carry with you, find your presentation location and begin setting up. Planning ahead the day of the conference helps ensure that you and everyone else has the best experience possible!

You will have a 15-minute window before your scheduled presentation time when the prior presenter will take down their poster and you may set up your presentation. Each presentation slot is 45 minutes long.

Dress Code

We highly encourage all presenters to dress professionally for the day of the conference. Given that legislators, university leadership, and alumni frequently attend, it’s essential to present yourself in a manner akin to what you might wear for an interview.

For those unsure of what constitutes professional attire, we recommend adhering to an office/business casual dress code. This typically includes well-fitted slacks or skirts, button-down shirts, blouses, or tops, and closed-toe shoes. It’s advisable to avoid overly casual items such as jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers.

For further guidance on office casual attire and tips on putting together a polished look, you can refer to resources like this one: What Is Business Casual Attire? (With Examples and Tips).