Cummings Hosts International (CHI)

Cummings Hosts International (CHI) is committed to making Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University a welcoming place for international visitors, including student externs, visiting faculty, residents, post-doctoral scholars, scientists, and veterinarians.

Founded in January 2014, its mission is to create an environment that fosters an enriching social and educational experience. Comprised of staff, students and faculty, CHI members address the unique needs of visitors and their goals and provide resources that complement the services established by Tufts University International Center.

The Cummings School is proud to be a global leader in veterinary medicine and values its many partnerships with institutions involved in veterinary medicine around the world. In recent years, Cummings School has hosted visitors from Brazil, Japan, Bangladesh, Italy, and Germany, and has developed partnerships with universities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Cummings School staff, faculty and students and visiting guests mutually benefit from the opportunities to meet and work with colleagues engaged in the field of veterinary medicine from other parts of the globe. CHI hosts several socials throughout the year to inspire new and lasting connections.

Beyond the role CHI plays in creating a hospitable learning experience for international visitors to campus, the group also encourages cultural diversity by sponsoring a series of events that celebrate diversity and cultural traditions.

Close to the Grafton Campus

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is located in rural New England.  The Grafton campus is situated about 35 miles west of Boston and 8 miles southeast of Worcester.  Central Massachusetts is the geographic center of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is made up of many diverse towns and communities all providing great options for lodging. Some of the accommodations listed below offer special rates to Cummings School guests, be sure to mention the Cummings School when making your reservation.

See more on housing accommodations here

Webster Library at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
Franklin M. Loew Veterinary Education Center
3 Library Circle, North Grafton, MA 01536

Services available to international visitors

• IN LIBRARY ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES including journals, e-journals, database searches, internet access, staff assistance, and other resources, such as, sample surgical instructions, knot tying kits, instructional DVDs, etc.
• SCANNING, PRINTING AND PHOTOCOPYING.

Scanning and creating a PDF is free.
B&W printing costs are 10 cents single side/ 15 cents double side.
Color printing costs are 30 cents single side/ 45 cents double side.
Photocopying is 10 cents a copy.

• SPECIAL USER CARD allows visitors to borrow books from stacks and leisure collections (no reserve books). Forms available at the library to apply.
• LAPTOPS can be borrowed for use by international visitors by a Tufts ID holder.
• A THIRD PLACE. A safe, clean, staffed place where visitors are welcome during off-hours. Library opens at 8AM all weekdays and is open till 11PM most weeknights during the school year, 6PM in the summer. (Exact hours are posted at http://www.library.tufts.edu/vet/)

Library Staff:

Betsy Like, Library Manager
Suzanne Duncan, Library Assistant III
Nancy Meyer, Library Assistant I

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is located along Route 30 (Westboro Road) in North
Grafton, Massachusetts. Directions to our campus and a campus map are available online for your convenience.
Directions can also be found using the following websites:

• MapQuest
• Google Maps

Commuter Rail
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Cummings School is within a five minute walk of the Grafton Station on the MBTA Framingham/Worcester Line Commuter Rail. Exit the parking lot and take a right onto Pine Street and a left onto Route 30 (Westboro Road). The
Cummings School campus is just up the road.

Car Service: Airline Limousines/Shuttles
Knights Airport Limousine - 390 Hartford Tpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 - 508- 839-6252 Offers door-to-door Airport service to Logan International (Boston), T.F. Green (Providence), Bradley International, and Manchester, NH.

Other Regional Transportation
Union Station - 2 Washington Square, Worcester, MA 01604 Union Station is an intermodal transportation station servicing, the MBTA/Boston, Amtrak, intercity regional buses, interstate and New England bus lines. Interested in traveling to other cities? You can take the Greyhound bus to cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and much more! Greyhound buses leave from Union Station in Worcester and South Station in Boston.

WRTA – Worcester Regional Transit Authority (Bus)
287 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 - 508-791-9782 As the second largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts, the WRTA serves 35 communities with its fleet of buses which includes 4 clean diesel-electric hybrid buses. The WRTA now offers two bus routes which stop in Grafton:
Route A: Route A – Northbridge Walmart – Shoppes at Blackstone Valley via Fisherville
Route B: Route B – New Village – Rockdale – Stop & Stop- Grafton MBTA Station

Amtrak (Train)
2 Washington Square, Worcester, MA 01604 - 800-872-7245 Amtrak serves 500 destinations in 46 states and Canada. Enjoy the journey!

Car Rental Information
Rent a car at the airport:

• Logan International (Boston)
• T.F. Green (Providence)

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
240 Turnpike Road Westborough, MA
508-614-9308
http://www.enterprise.com

Budget Rent A Car
1500 W Park Dr. Westborough, MA
508-839-7500
http://www.budget.com

Hertz Rent A Car
5400 Computer Dr. Westborough, MA
508-229-2756
https://www.hertz.com

For more information about Cummings Hosts International, contact Suzanne Ukpong at suzanne.ukpong@tufts.edu.