University of Massachusetts Amherst is a renowned public land-grant research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts system’s flagship campus, established in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, holds a prestigious position in the academic realm. In addition, it is part of the Five College Consortium, which includes four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley. University of Massachusetts Amherst boasts an impressive student body of over 31,000, making it the second largest university in Massachusetts in terms of enrollment, just behind Northeastern University. The university provides a wide range of academic degrees, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes. Programmes are organised in nine schools and colleges. It is classified as one of the top-tier research universities with a strong focus on academic excellence and research. The university allocated a substantial amount of $211 million towards research and development in 2018, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation. University of Massachusetts Amherst’s 21 varsity athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I and are collectively referred to as the Minutemen and Minutewomen. The university is affiliated with the Atlantic 10 Conference and participates in Hockey East for ice hockey and as an FBS independent school for football. University of Massachusetts Amherst has around 1,300 full-time faculty members. The university is structured into nine schools and colleges, providing a wide range of academic programmes including 111 bachelor’s degrees, 75 master’s degrees, and 47 doctoral degrees. University of Massachusetts Amherst has been recognised as one of the top universities in the United States. In the prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 edition of America’s Best Colleges, UMass Amherst secured an impressive ranking. It tied for 66th place among the “Best National Universities” and stood out by tying for 26th place among 141 public universities in the country. UMass Amherst has received accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education. The University’s campus spans across 1,450 acres of land with a rich historical background, primarily in the town of Amherst and partially in the neighbouring town of Hadley. The campus spans approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Campus Centre in all directions, resembling a series of concentric rings. The innermost ring houses academic buildings and research labs, encircled by seven residential areas and two university-owned apartment complexes. Some of the residential complexes available are North Apartments, Sylvan, Northeast, Central, Orchard Hill, Southwest, and Commonwealth Honours College Residential Complex. The two university-owned apartment complexes, North Village and Lincoln Apartments, underwent demolition and were subsequently replaced by a private development known as Fieldstone.[54] Surrounding these are a variety of athletic facilities, smaller administration buildings, and parking lots.