UMass Boston

East Residence Hall remains closed due to a burst pipe and the need for ongoing remediation work, including repairing the pipe, restoring fire suppression systems, removing excess water, and fully assessing the impact to the building.

At this time, the building is expected to remain closed for several days (beginning on 2/9/2026). We will share updates as soon as we are able to confirm timelines for partial or full re-entry. 

Students who were relocated to the Charles River Campus / Mount Ida Campus can remain there again tonight (2/11/2026). We are also exploring additional housing options, including potential placements closer to campus, and will share updates if those become available. If you need university-provided housing, please contact us at housing@umb.edu or 617-287-6011 so accommodations can be arranged. 

Shuttle Service – Charles River / Mount Ida Campus 

• Beginning Thursday, February 12, 2026, shuttles departing the Charles River /Mount Ida campus will begin service at 6:45 a.m. Shuttles will then depart at the top of each hour thereafter. 

• We encourage students utilizing shuttle service to plan accordingly and allow extra time for travel during peak morning hours. 

In coordination with city and state inspectors, students will be permitted to briefly return to their rooms Thursday, February 12, to retrieve essential personal belongings during the following time blocks: 

• 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. 

• 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. 

This will be a coordinated and supervised re-entry process managed by Student Affairs and Facilities, with student safety as our highest priority. PLEASE REVIEW these important guidelines for re-entry: 

• If you are unable to come to East Residential Hall during this time frame, please contact dean.students@umb.edu  

• Students should enter from the West Hall main entrance only. 

• Students will be escorted to their hall and rooms by university staff. 

• Entrance will be permitted for the residents only.  Multiple people will not be allowed up to rooms. 

• Entry will be time-limited to 10 minutes. 

• Access is limited to your assigned room only. 

• Students are not moving out during this period. 

• Large items, furniture, or non-essential belongings may not be removed at this time. 

• Some large bags will be available for use if needed. 

• Students who have mobility issues or may need assistance with packing and getting items out, should email dean.students@umb.edu to confirm assistance. 

• For students staying at the Charles River / Mt. Ida campus, shuttle transportation will be available following retrieval. We added a shuttle pick up stop at the Mt. Vernon & U Drive West MBTA bus stop to accommodate both students and their belongings. 

• PLEASE BE PATIENT.  This process may take some time, and you may experience some lines and waiting time. We will do everything we can to move the process along. 

We understand that everyone is eager to access their belongings. To ensure that all students have a safe and equitable opportunity to retrieve what they need, we ask that you be judicious and prioritize essential items only, including: 

• Clothing (enough for one week) 

• Academic materials (laptops, coursework, textbooks) 

• Hygiene products 

• Medications 

• Personal identification and important documents/Passports 

• Any valuable items 

Residential Life and Student Affairs staff will be present to guide the process and answer questions during your entry window. Additionally, the Counseling Center will have staff on site and information about resources for any students experiencing distress. 

Finally, we appreciate your cooperation and adherence to the outlined process. Following these protocols will allow us to move students safely and efficiently.   

If you were unable to access your room and need clothing or other essential items today, please contact the Dean of Students Office in the Campus Center, Floor 2, Suite 2100, dean.students@umb.edu, 617.287.5800, so we can assist you.

Temporary Parking Access 

For East Hall students who are currently commuting to campus from another location, we are making temporary parking passes available. 

• A temporary parking pass can be added to your BeaconCard, allowing access to gated campus parking facilities, including West Garage, Lot D and the Campus Center Garage 

• This temporary access will remain active through Friday, February 20. 

To request a temporary parking access, please email the Dean of Students Office at dean.students@umb.edu with your full name and student ID number. 

Shuttles

Shuttles will run at the top of every hour from the Charles River Campus / Mount Ida Campus to UMass Boston. Shuttle service will begin at 6:45 a.m. from Wingate Hall and the last shuttle will depart the Campus Center at 10 p.m. to bring students back to the Charles River Campus/ Mount Ida Campus. Shuttles will have signage indicating that they are for Wingate Hall. We are working to secure additional shuttles to increase the frequency. 

We encourage students utilizing shuttle service to plan accordingly and allow extra time for travel during peak morning hours. 

Uber

We will also be partnering with Uber for Business to assist you with travel from the Charles River Campus / Mount Ida Campus to University Station located in Westwood. University Station has a number of stores, Target and Wegmans, for any items you may need. The Uber for Business program will only cover the full cost of trips from the Charles River Campus to University Station and then from University Station back to the Charles River Campus. Please see instructions below how to set up your Uber for Business trips.

How to Get Started

1. Simply click here to accept your invite and follow the steps.
2. Sign in to your Uber account, or create a new one.
3. Connect your account as directed.

Once set up, just switch to your business profile at checkout in the Uber app before booking a ride. For more details, check out this resource.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Tim Dunn, timothy.dunn@umb.edu.

The Dining Commons will reopen on Wednesday, February 11, for meal service as usual, while the remainder of the building remains closed.

Dining Commons Food Service access details:

• Hours: Open beginning 2/11/2026

o   Breakfast 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

o   Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

o   Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For students housed at the Charles River Campus / Mount Ida Campus there is a dining hall on site open from 7AM – 11PM. Students should present their UMass Boston ID card to gain entry. 

All mail and packages have now been sorted and are available for pickup at the main entrance of the East Residential Hall. 

Pickup Details: 

• Location: Main entrance, East Residential Hall 
• Time: Available for pickup Thursday, February 12 
  • 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
  • 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Please continue to monitor your UMass Boston email for updates. For any questions or concerns, Student Affairs staff are available to support you, and you may also reach out to Dean of Students office in the Campus Center, Floor 2, Suite 2100, dean.students@umb.edu, 617.287.5800, or by visiting umb.edu/support.  

Faculty have been made aware of the current situation. We encourage you to reach out to your faculty to discuss your situation directly. We ask both faculty and students to provide one another with reasonable flexibility over the coming days. If you have very specific concerns related to student wellbeing or support, please contact the Dean of Students Office at dean.students@umb.edu or 617.287.5800.

Residential Life has set up a temporary workstation in the Dean of Students office in the Campus Center, Floor 2, Suite 2100.