Dear UMass President’s Office Colleagues, This email is a follow up to the email you received from President Meehan (below). President’s Office employees must be fully vaccinated by September 13, 2021, which is the first day of the UMPO Hybrid Work Pilot. This vaccination requirement applies to all employees who are classified as fully on-site, regular reporting, or on-site as needed as defined…, Proof of Vaccination, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” that you receive when you are vaccinated will serve as proof of your vaccination. Within the next few days, we will provide direction as to how you can provide proof of vaccination in a manner that is confidential and as convenient as possible. Definition of Fully Vaccinated and Grace Period According to the CDC , a person…, Medical or Religious Exemptions, An employee may request an exemption to the vaccination requirement based on the existence of medical contraindication to vaccination. In addition, an employee may request an exemption to the vaccination requirement based on a sincere religious belief. In both cases, an employee will be required to submit documentation to support the request for an exemption. Employees who secure an exemption may…, Access to Vaccination, The COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available. Listed below is information about how and where you can access the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are not yet vaccinated and need assistance with accessing the vaccine, please contact Jacquie Kittler, who will be happy to assist you. Local Pharmacies (such as CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid) CDC Website Mass.gov Websites The Human Resources Department will…
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As an attorney diagnosed with autism at the age of three, author Haley Moss grew up knowing what it was like to feel unheard or unseen because of the way she communicated. Neurodiversity is a natural, valuable aspect of human diversity, yet one that too often means that people with neurocognitive differences face discrimination and exclusion. Haley's book Great Minds Think Differently:…
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Two of the biggest gaps in digital accessibility include lack of accessibility guidelines around mental health and how to bridge the knowledge divide between advocacy and professional. In this Accessibility Talks event, Albert Kim, the founder of Accessibility NextGen and a W3C invited expert on mental health, will be discussing his digital accessibility journey and the role Accessibility NextGen…
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Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN) is hosting the first ever “ Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Accessibility: Starting with Math ” virtual conference on February 10th and 11th, 2022. We are striving to create a diverse conference where experts can share their best practices, solutions, techniques, etc. for accessing and creating accessible STEM content in higher…
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Significant progress has been made to drive the finalization of the IT VAR program. The four strategic vendors, CDW-G, GovConnection, WEI, and Whalley have worked hard with UPST and campus stakeholders to secure final contracts and pricing. What do all the changes mean for campuses? Here are the top 3 benefits: Efficiency: Purchases from these VARS satisfy University policy requirements…
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month takes place in May. It celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. , Who identifies as Asian American or Pacific Islander?, Asian Americans, trace their roots back to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam., Pacific Islanders, trace their roots back to the Pacific Islands, which consists of three main regions: Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands); Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia); Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu,…, Historical Facts about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is as diverse as the various communities that make up both groups. The following facts only encompass a small portion of that history. During the gold rush, Chinese miners headed to California seeking riches, with 25,000 arriving by 1851, according to the Library of Congress. With uncertain work and hostile locals, not to mention a language…, Today's Climate: AAPI Hate Crimes increase by nearly 150%, While it's important to recognize the substantive history of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, it's also important to look at our climate today. Hate crimes against the AAPI community increased by nearly 150% in 2020 and are happening in our state as covered in a recent WCVB podcast . We encourage everyone to read Stop AAPI Hate Safety Tips and also review other resources…, Take part in Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, You can take part in Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We welcome everyone to get involved. Have resources you would like to share about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month? Did you come across an upcoming or previously recorded event that may be of interest? Would you like to hold an event to share a heritage story? Feel free to post to the #inclusion channel…
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Pride Month is celebrated annually in June to push for equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/aromantic) individuals. The + is used as a wide signifier of inclusion and acceptance of the diverse community, including members who do not feel represented in the LGBTQIA acronym., What is Pride Month?, The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBTQIA+ movement. June is unofficially recognized as Pride Month by the LGBTQIA+ community, and many Pride events still occur on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall.…, What does the rainbow flag represent?, The rainbow flag is iconic. It was created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 and is used as a symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride. In the widely known six-color flag, red is symbolic of life, orange is symbolic of spirit, yellow is sunshine, green is nature, blue represents harmony and purple is spirit. But, it is not the only flag. There are many flags , such as the Transgender Flag, that are used to…, Understanding terms, Words are important. Understanding a community’s terminology makes everyday conversations easier, more comfortable, and, most importantly, more inclusive. GLAAD , a non-profit organization rewriting the script for LGBTQ acceptance, has compiled a Glossary of Terms that includes general definitions and terms to avoid., How can I get involved? , Boston Pride lists local resources and is hosting events throughout the month, including a Flag Raising Ceremony on June 4, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Find local places seeking in-person, socially distanced, as well as full remote volunteer opportunities. , Take part in Pride Month, You can take part in Pride Month. We welcome everyone to get involved. Have resources you would like to share about Pride Month? Did you come across an upcoming or previously recorded event that may be of interest? Feel free to post to the #inclusion channel on Slack or contact the UITS DEI Collaborative .
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Event Details, Join us on, Monday, December 12 at 12:00 p.m., for a conversation facilitated by Cedric Woods on the National Day of Mourning as an entry point to dialogue on historic and contemporary Indigenous Peoples of the Commonwealth. This will include a viewing and reflection of a brief film on the National Day of Mourning, presentation on the contemporary demographics of the Native community in the Commonwealth, and dialogue on the complexities of…, Speaker Bio, Cedric Woods is a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He combines over a decade of tribal government experience with a research background, and is the founding director of UMass Boston’s Institute for New England Native American Studies and Graduate Program Director of the MS in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies. The institute's purpose is to connect Native New England with…
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The DEIA Communications team sends out monthly emails about upcoming diversity awareness events recognized either nationally or internationally due to their cultural, historical, or religious significance. See below for several diversity dates to be aware of in the month of January., Upcoming Observances, Note that Martin Luther King Jr. Day, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Chinese New Year are covered under the "Additional Awareness Events this Month" section below., National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Sunday, January 1 - Tuesday, January 31, January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The significance of January originates from the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, declaring 3.1 million slaves free. The month is dedicated to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. For more…, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Sunday, January 1 - Tuesday, January 31, Poverty is a complex social issue that affects people at a national and international scale. During the month of January, Poverty Awareness Month aims to raise awareness and shine a light on the growing levels of poverty in America. Through a variety of organizations and advocates, Poverty Awareness Month’s goal is to analyze, understand, and support solutions to ending poverty. You can make a…, World Braille Day, Wednesday, January 4, January 4 is World Braille Day. It is celebrated on this day to honor the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the touch reading and writing system. Recognizing World Braille Day reminds us of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for the blind, deafblind, and partially sighted communities. For more information, visit the United…, Makar Sankranti, Sunday, January 15, Makar Sankranti is the first major harvest festival to be celebrated in India. It is recognized as both a religious as well as seasonal observance dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Makar Sankranti marks the close of the Winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season. Social activities include colorful decorations, children singing, dances, kite flying, bonfires and feasts. To learn…, Additional Awareness Events this Month, The DEIA Communications team will send out individual communications around the following awareness events this month: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 16 Chinese New Year - Sunday, January 22 International Holocaust Remembrance Day - Friday, January 27
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On Monday, January 16, 2023, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader of Civil Rights in America with roots in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. King earned his doctoral degree from Boston University in 1955 and met his wife Coretta Scott King in Boston in January 1952. Just three years before he was assassinated, and a month after “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, Dr. King returned to Boston to…, Friday, January 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m, . You can also watch live coverage starting at 11:00 a.m. on NBC10 Boston, ROKU, and Peacock along with a live stream on NBC10Boston.com . Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is also designated by Congress as a national Day of Service . Each of us is encouraged to honor Dr. King and his vision by engaging in service activities on this day to empower our communities and bring meaningful change.
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