Orchard Hill

Orchard Hill in springtime (courtesy Drew Von Maluski)

Another view of Orchard Hill (courtesy Drew Von Maluski)

The Orchard Hill residential area has four residence halls: Dickinson, Grayson, Webster, and Field, surrounding a central grassy area known as "The Bowl." Orchard Hill is known for its annual Spring event, Bowl Weekend.

Each residence hall has seven floors with two corridors on each floor branching off from the lobby/elevator area in the center of the floor. All Orchard Hill halls are coed; however, an all-female corridor is available.

Orchard Hill also refers to the hill on which the Orchard Hill Observatory and a cell phone tower are located. The cell phone tower also supports a microwave relay system for internet and land phone service at the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, located on a penninsula within the Quabbin Reservoir (according to Dr. Ronald Snell, UMass Amherst Astronomy Department chair, circa 2003).

[edit] Living and Learning Communities

The Orchard Hill Residential Area offers a General Education First-Year Program to entering residents that consists of a special program of writing, language, and social science subjects. All Orchard Hill courses meet in the residence halls.

• First Year Experience: Science and Discovery located in Dickinson Hall
• First Year Experience: Society and Leadership located in Webster Hall
• First Year Experience Talent Advancement Program (TAP) is offered in Dickinson Hall
• Commonwealth College Learning Communities, for first-year honors students, is also offered in Orchard Hill
• Wellness Floor (for students who want alcohol- and substance-free living)

[edit] Bowl Weekend

• In usually the first weekend in May students from Orchard Hill and the rest of campus come to The Bowl for a themed dance party. Last year's theme (2007) was 50s and this year (2008) will be superheroes.

[edit] OHAG Toilet Paper

• One of the unique features of Orchard Hill is the weekly newsletter that is posted in bathrooms. It contains campus events, trivia, and fun facts. It is written by the Orchard Hill Area Government.

[edit] Other Area Features

• Orchard Hill Area Government and Sweets N More snack bar located in Field Hall.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Center located in Dickinson Hall

[edit] Trivia

Best Feature of the Orchard Hill residence area: Walk-in closets in which to avoid one's roommate.

[edit] External links

• http://www.housing.umass.edu/reshalls/orchard.html