When was the last time you reviewed your beneficiaries? As life events occur, good and bad, it is important to keep your beneficiaries up to date. Consider the last time you reviewed beneficiaries for the following: MetLife life insurance through the GIC State Retirement Board pension account Standard life insurance (if enrolled in ORP) Fidelity and/or TIAA 403(b) accounts Empower Retirement…
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Sheena Yadav, UMass Boston, Data Analyst Intern with the Academic Affairs Institutional Research Team , Sheena supports the Institutional Research team by maintaining and updating reports, preparing data for internal and external stakeholders, and developing automated solutions that streamline reporting processes. As an intern, her work contributes directly to data-informed decision-making at the executive level. Most Memorable Moment: One of Sheena’s most memorable projects was developing an IPEDS…, Carley Castro, UMass Boston, Communications Intern, As a Communications Intern, Carley supports the team by brainstorming and creating content for social media, drafting copy, and assisting with key projects and campaigns, such as the State of the University. Her work helps elevate the visibility of UMass initiatives and engage audiences across platforms. Most Memorable Moment: One of Carley’s favorite memories was visiting Camp Shriver at the…, Parker Sowersby, UMass Dartmouth, Digital Experience Intern with UITS, As a Digital Experience Intern, Parker contributed to the redesign and accessibility improvements of the UMass President’s Office website. Her work focused on user research, digital accessibility, and supporting site enhancements within Drupal to improve the overall user experience. Most Memorable Moment: Parker’s most memorable project was contributing to the umassp.edu website refresh. From…, Maiti Fucci, UMass Amherst, UITS Intern, Starting in Fall 2021 as a Cybersecurity intern, Maiti first tackled phishing awareness and email safety, eventually giving a presentation on the risks of clicking on suspicious links. She later transitioned into the IT Process Analyst team, where she supports major incident mediation and manages the Most Valued Behavior (MVB) Coin program. Most Memorable Moment: One of Maiti’s favorite projects…, Tyler Small, UMass Amherst, Business Analyst Intern with the Innovation and Operational Services Team, Tyler supports communication and collaboration between the UMass campuses and the President’s Office. In a project management-focused role, he helps coordinate meetings, organize internal communications, and create materials like presentation decks to keep initiatives on track and aligned across departments. Most Memorable Moment: One standout experience for Tyler was helping UPST manage the use…
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On May 7th, airport security is set to begin enforcement of having a Real ID to board a domestic flight. You will also need a Real ID to visit some federal facilities. If your ID has a black or gold star it is already a Real ID If you do not get a Real ID by May 7th you will need an alternative form of ID at the airport - such as a passport. Additional information about Real ID can be found on…
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On April 8th, our office gathered for a special moment — the first-ever Eid celebration at the UMass President’s Office! It was a heartwarming event that brought colleagues together to learn, connect, and celebrate the spirit of Eid. Akshit opened the celebration with a warm welcome and introduced our speakers for the day. 🗣️ Siraj Sayyed kicked off the program by sharing an insightful overview…, What is Eid?, A holy festival celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan., Why is it celebrated?, Eid marks the reward from the Almighty after fulfilling the month-long duty of fasting., When is it celebrated?, Based on the lunar calendar, Eid dates vary each year., How is it celebrated?, With prayers, family gatherings, delicious food and sweets, exchanging gifts (especially for children in the form of “Eidi money”), charity, and heartfelt greetings. 🌍 Following Siraj, Shahriar Panahi gave us a glimpse into how Eid is celebrated in his home country. He shared personal stories and answered questions from the audience, making it a truly engaging and informative session. 🍬 To…
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GIC Health Insurance Buyout enrollment is being offered from October 6-October 31, 2025 for January 1, 2026 effective date. Information may be obtained on the GIC Buyout Information page . MetLife Non-Unit Dental Insurance enrollment is being offered from October 1-October 31, 2025 for January 1, 2026 effective date. BJ’s Membership Discount is being offered from October 1-October 25 for…
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The deadline to submit expenses for FY25 is quickly approaching. If you are enrolled in the health care spending account and/or the dependent care assistance program, you need to submit for expense reimbursement to TASC by Wednesday, October 15. Please go to the TASC website for information.
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Promotions, Name Hire Date Title Department Zachary Gull 9/12/25 Strategic Sourcing Specialist UPST
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We are excited to announce the opening of the, Westborough Suite, , a dynamic new multi-purpose space located on the 2nd floor of 50 Washington Street! This innovative area is designed to support our evolving work environment, promoting collaboration and flexibility among all UMPO staff. In celebration of this launch,, we invite everyone to attend an open house on October 8 from 1:00 – 1:30pm., This is a great opportunity to tour the Westborough Suite, discover its features, and see how it can enhance your work experience. What Makes the Westborough Suite Special? The Westborough Suite embodies a hybrid workspace concept, merging the benefits of office neighborhoods and hoteling models. Here’s a glimpse into how this space can be utilized: , Neighborhood Suite:, A dedicated area for teams to collaborate on projects, fostering teamwork and building a strong sense of community. , Mini-Hub for Onsite Events:, A flexible space for hosting larger gatherings and facilitating cross-team connections in a welcoming atmosphere. , Overflow Workspace:, During busy times, the Westborough Suite will also serve as an overflow workspace when the third floor reaches approximately 90% capacity, ensuring that everyone has access to a productive environment. Amenities Include: Ten desks in the open area for collaborative work Two private offices, each with two desks Westborough Conference Room: A Zoom-enabled room for up to 12 people, perfect…
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This summer, the UMPO Department of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Equity (Academic Affairs) hit the road with its “Let’s Reconnect” Campus Summer Tour—an energizing initiative aimed at reintroducing the Academic Affairs team and sharing strategic priorities for the 2025–2026 academic year. Led by Nef Walker, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the tour emphasized the department…, Leadership Highlights , Each Assistant Vice President shared updates on their portfolio: , Academic Affairs & Research, Gabriela Weaver spotlighted efforts to streamline academic program approvals, foster multi-campus research collaborations, and develop the Academic Affairs Interaction Portal to enhance data management and reporting. , Equity & Access , Sheree Ohen discussed expanding early college pathways, strengthening compliance with evolving federal DEIA regulations, and finalizing a comprehensive systemwide strategic plan for equity and access. , Strategic Analytics & Decision Support , Tom Beraldi shared progress on several initiatives, including a pan-system survey on Open Educational Resources, assessment of the Intercampus Course Exchange, and the development of a systemwide data mart under Project Zeno. , A Successful Summer of Connection , , The tour reinforced Academic Affairs' dedication to collaboration, transparency, and innovation across the UMass system. Feedback from campus colleagues was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the opportunity to connect in person with team members they typically see only on screen. As the academic year begins, Academic Affairs remains focused on advancing student…
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We're thrilled to share highlights from our recent Coffee Hour with UMPO , which provides a fantastic platform for our campus community to gather critical information about procurement, travel, business expenses, treasury, and other A&F-related activities. , Growth of Coffee Hour, Since its launch in February, this initiative has grown significantly, with five successful events in FY25 that attracted 795 unique participants. Feedback has been invaluable, confirming that the Coffee Hour serves as an effective resource for informing users and providing essential system support. Based on this, we are excited to continue these sessions into FY2026! Our latest Coffee Hour on…, Looking Ahead for Coffee Hour, In response to the insights shared, our Access Team is following up with participants on specific needs, having opened over a dozen support cases to provide additional assistance based on questions submitted before, during and after the session. We invite all UMass colleagues to join us for the upcoming monthly Coffee Hours throughout the academic year! Our next session on October 16th will…, Upcoming Dates: , October 16, 2025 November 20, 2025 December 18, 2025 Did you miss the previous Coffee Hours sessions? No problem, we record and share presentations with everyone on the Coffee Hour with UMPO Administration & Finance (A&F) webpage (Please note: You will have to login). If you have any questions or would like to suggest a topic for future discussions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at A…
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