To the UMass Boston Community,
Earlier today, our campus experienced reports of shots being fired in a residence hall and other locations. After a thorough investigation by university, Boston, and State Police — along with other emergency services — no evidence of any gunfire was found anywhere on campus or in any adjacent building and, thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries.
Out of an abundance of caution, we closed campus for the evening and canceled all activities. All classes and campus activities will resume tomorrow morning as scheduled.
Throughout this incident and after, students and all of those who were registered in our campus alert system were kept informed with regular updates, which were repeated in all of our university and public safety public communications channels.
We know how unsettling this incident was, especially for those on campus who experienced the large public safety response and campus-wide sweep, as well as for all of your families, friends, and loved ones. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and resilience during this difficult moment.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to our emergency operations personnel and the dedicated officers of the UMass Boston Police, Boston Police, State Police, Boston Fire Department, and all first responders for their swift and thorough response. I also want to thank each of you — students, faculty, and staff — for your calm cooperation throughout this incident and for carefully following the directions of public safety and emergency personnel. Your actions helped ensure the safety of our entire community.
This incident remains under investigation. If you have information that could be helpful, please contact UMass Boston Police at 617-287-7780.
Please remember that support is available:
·Students: Please know that Counseling Services are available for you 24/7. Should you wish to speak with a clinician, please contact the Counseling Center directly at 617-287-5690.
·Faculty and Staff: Confidential support is available through ComPsych Guidance Resources at 844-393-4983 (TDD: 800-697-0353) or online at guidanceresources.com (Web ID: UMASS).
Thank you, Beacons, for standing together with strength and care.
With appreciation,
Marcelo Suárez-Orozco
Chancellor
