2025 News 2025: A New Year Begins at UMass Dartmouth

The 2025–26 academic year has officially launched on the SouthCoast, bringing with it a renewed sense of excitement, purpose, and Corsair pride

On Sunday, August 31, more than 1,000 first-year students arrived on campus, moving into Balsam and Spruce Halls and officially making UMass Dartmouth their new home. In total, nearly 1,400 new undergraduates and 575 new graduate and law students came to campus this fall, the highest incoming total since 2018, marking another milestone in building an inclusive and dynamic Corsair community. In addition, the University saw transfer enrollments grow by 15%, continuing undergraduate enrollments increase by 3%, and online enrollments are up 10%. The School of Law celebrated one of the largest and most diverse entering classes in five years, with students from 27 states.

The move-in weekend was packed with tradition, competition, and connection. After settling into their rooms, first-year students jumped into the Corsair Olympics, a spirited mix of athletic contests, puzzles, and creative challenges. By night’s end, the Commuter earned the crown of 2025 champions, narrowly beating out Balsam and Spruce Halls.

The excitement continued as students gathered at the campus amphitheater for New Student Convocation, the official start of the academic year. University leaders, faculty, and student mentors shared words of encouragement, reminding the newest Corsairs that opportunity and support are waiting at every corner of campus. Student speaker Manu Frederico, a junior Management Information Systems major, told his fellow Corsairs, “Pursue your interests—whatever they may be. You’ll find that here at UMass Dartmouth. And if you don’t, you have the power to take initiative and create something new.”

Following Convocation, the All-Campus Picnic united new and returning students, faculty, and staff for an afternoon filled with laughter, food, and campus spirit, including a record high 40 new faculty members.

Beginning on the morning of September 3, classrooms and labs buzzed with energy as the semester officially began—marking the start of another extraordinary year of discovery, growth, and achievement at UMass Dartmouth.