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University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

First Year Residence Halls

Video tour of first-year residence hall.

The most modern living facility on campus

Our newest first-year residence hall is the most modern living facility on campus. Split into two main residential buildings with a state-of-the-art dining facility as the connector, the beautifully designed community will be home to 1,210 students in fully-furnished single and double occupancy rooms. 

Balsam & Spruce amenities

Designed for academic and social success, our new first-year residence halls feature computer lounges, maker spaces, performance practice areas, classrooms, and plenty of outdoor gathering space. Large lounges with kitchen areas promote independent living. There are study areas and access to high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the entire community, plus free laundry with an app to remotely monitor your laundry’s progress.

Students in the first-year residence hall lounge
Students getting food in The Grove
Balsam Hall
The Grove at dusk
Drum lounge in The Grove
The Grove dining area
The Grove
Student getting food at The Grove
Students studying in one of the lounges in Balsam Hall
Students in one of the gathering lounges in Balsam Hall
Students in their dorm room in Balsam Hall
Resident Lounge in Balsam Hall
Students in The Grove
Inside the Grove

Engagement Communities

Each residence hall for incoming students—first-years and transfers—features a number of different Engagement Communities. These Engagement Communities:

  • increase awareness of opportunities and resources at UMass Dartmouth
  • encourage participation in campus activities
  • enhance academic, personal, and social success

Engagement Communities are based on preferences expressed by incoming students…so residence hall themes change and evolve based on incoming students' own preferences.

What is gender-inclusive housing?

Gender-inclusive Housing is a suite of rooms in which assignments are not determined by biological sex. This is often seen as a "safe space" for students who feel more comfortable living with students of a different biological sex, transgender students, or students interested in social justice issues involving gender conformity. Please note that students must actively choose to live in this community. 

Any questions or interest in gender inclusive housing options can be directed to our Assistant Director for Housing Administrative Services, April Gauvin, at ablinn1@umassd.edu. 

What if I need some sort of special accommodations?

Visit ADA Reasonable Housing Accommodations to make requests for special accommodations. If you have a request or question that falls into another area, please don't hesitate to contact the housing office at housing@umassd.edu or 508-999-8140. We are happy to work with students individually to consider current on-campus housing that meets your needs. 

Billing

Note that residents of Balsam & Spruce Halls will receive two bills.  The UMass Dartmouth bill will include tuition, student fees, dining, etc… which are viewable on the COIN Account.  The Housing bill for a student’s room can be viewed on Entrata ResidentPortal at https://umassdartmouth.residentportal.com.

More information