Inside Higher Ed | University of Massachusetts Amherst

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, diversity matters!  The University has a long tradition of valuing diversity in people, in areas of study, and in research and creative activity. The campus has a proud legacy of bold efforts to remove the barriers to a fully inclusive campus and to increase the diversity of its student body, faculty and staff.  As a public land grant institution, UMass Amherst has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people, while demonstrating our commitment to inclusion of historically underrepresented groups. We believe that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence and that our students, faculty and staff should reflect the diverse world in which we live.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, political belief or affiliation, veteran status, sexual orienta¬tion, gender identity and expression, genetic information and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.  Further¬more, University policy includes prohibitions of harassment of students and employees, i.e., racial harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation for filing complaints of discrimination.

Affirmative action in employment is required for women; racial and ethnic minorities; disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and Vietnam-era veterans; and individuals with disabilities in order to address under-representation in the workforce.  Inquiries concerning applicable laws, regulations, and policies should be addressed to the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office (EO&D), 243 Lederle Lowrise Building, main number and TTY (413) 545-3464, email: [email protected], web: www.umass.edu/eod/.

The University is committed to compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title I and Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Executive Order 11246 (1965), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its regulations found at 34 C.F.R. part 106, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Vietnam-era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 151B, 151C, and Chapter 149, all as amended.

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, diversity matters!  The University has a long tradition of valuing diversity in people, in areas of study, and in research and creative activity. The campus has a proud legacy of bold efforts to remove the barriers to a fully inclusive campus and to increase the diversity of its student body, faculty and staff.  As a public land grant institution, UMass Amherst has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people, while demonstrating our commitment to inclusion of historically underrepresented groups. We believe that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence and that our students, faculty and staff should reflect the diverse world in which we live.

The University recognizes and values the wide range of voices and perspectives in all spheres of the academic enterprise. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to policies that promote inclusiveness, social justice and respect for all, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, political belief or affiliation, marital status, veteran status, immigration status, gender identity and expression, genetic information or any other characteristic or status protected by state or federal laws.

Further information about all of the ways that diversity matters at UMass Amherst can be found at our Website, Diversity Matters http://www.umass.edu/diversity/.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a wealth of diversity resources for faculty, staff, and students. 

Faculty and staff diversity resources include the Center for Teaching (Faculty Mentoring Program); the Center for Women & Community; the Disability Services Office; the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office; the Faculty Staff Assistance Program; the Faculty Senate Status of Diversity Council; the Faculty Senate Status of Women Council; Labor/Management Workplace Education Program (LMWEP); the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life; STEM Diversity Institute (SDI); the Stonewall Center (LGBT Support and Advocacy); the University Women's Network; the Veteran Services Office; and Workplace Learning and Development.

Student diversity resources include the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS); the Center for Student Development; Disability Services; the Center for Women and Community; Cultural Interest Housing; the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office; Family Housing Community Centers and Programs; the International Programs Office; the Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center; the Latin American Cultural Center; the Malcolm X Cultural Center; the Multicultural Greek Council; the Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (NEAGEP); the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life; Registered Student Organizations (RSO's);  Residential Academic Programs (RAP); the Stonewall Center; UMass Dining, Cultural and Other Special Food Events; the Veteran Services Office; the Women of Color Leadership Network (WOCLN); and the Yuri Kochiyama Cultural Center.

UMass Amherst’s 1,450- acre campus is ideally situated in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers.  The town of Amherst is 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City.

The campus is fully engaged in the lives of the surrounding Five College communities and the cities of Holyoke and Springfield; community partnerships include the UMass Partnership with the Dunbar Community Center, the Greater Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership, Student Bridges, and Upward Bound.