Resident Lounge in Balsam Hall

First Year Residence Halls

The most modern living facility on campus

Our newest first-year residential community 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 is home to 1,210 students in fully-furnished single and double occupancy rooms. 

Balsam & Spruce amenities

Designed for academic and social success, our 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.

Balsam & Spruce Billing

Housing charges for Balsam and Spruce Halls are billed separately. Details on the billing for this community can be found here: Balsam and Spruce Billing Packet (PDF)

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. 

I’m accepted! What are my next steps?

  1. Make sure you’ve set up your UMassD login.
  2. Complete your housing application on the Student Information Portal (StarRez).
  3. Pay your housing bill on the Entrata ResidentPortal.
    • If you’re living in Balsam or Spruce, you will receive two bills: your UMassD bill that includes tuition, student fees, dining, etc. (viewable on COIN) and your housing bill.
    • You’ll receive login information for Entrata via email in July. This is where you’ll view your balance and pay your bill. Payments are due 8/1 – or if you’d like to join the housing payment plan, contact Nachel Motta.

Take a look at this information packet for more details on billing in this community: Balsam and Spruce Billing Packet (PDF)

Checking in

Please note: in order to be eligible to check in to campus housing, all residents must meet the following requirements:

  1. Enrolled for the current semester.
  2. Cleared through Health Services as having uploaded all needed documentation.
  3. Cleared through our Student Service Center through one of the following ways:
    1. Pay the semester charges in full.
    2. Have enough Financial Aid to cover your tuition, fees, dining, and housing.
    3. Sign up for a payment plan for your full bill(s) AND complete the first required payment.

More information