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…
Type: Article
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.
Type: Article
Promotions, Name Hire Date Title Department Zachary Gull 9/12/25 Strategic Sourcing Specialist UPST
Type: Article
On Sunday, September 28th, 18 members of the President’s Office and their families participated in the 27th annual UMass Cancer Walk hosted at Polar Park in Worcester. The President’s Office team, nicknamed “UMPO Strides for a Cure,” was composed of members from various departments, including HR, UPST, Access, and UITS, and raised over $2,000 for efforts at UMass Chan. The UMass Cancer Walk was…
Type: Article
On Wednesday, September 10, five volunteers from the President’s Office helped the Westborough Garden Club clean up one of their largest gardens, Gateway Garden near the railroad bridge. In addition, we added 16 plants to the garden, including some native bushes that are drought-tolerant and will thrive better in the garden. “It was truly inspiring to meet the members of the Westborough Garden…, Oriana Adabo, , Employee Services , Kristina England, , UITS , Jake Hewins, , Budget & Planning, Sara MacKenzie, , Budget & Planning, Akshit Mehta, , A&F Support Services Team The Westborough Garden Club is currently seeking volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering with them can contact westboroughgardenclub@gmail.com .
Type: Article
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…
Type: Article
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…
Type: Article
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…
Type: Article
In April 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a rule requiring public entities to make their digital content accessible by April 24, 2026. This rule applies to all web and social media content, third party products, mobile apps, and course content. Please refer to the Office of the General Counsel’s legal alert on Web Accessibility for Public Entities for a full list of requirements and…, Completed Activities, The Digital Experience team has completed development of the following self-paced digital accessibility training courses: Develop Accessible Presentations, Write Accessible Emails, Create Accessible Social Media Posts, Create Accessible Excel Spreadsheets, Create Accessible Knowledge Articles, Create Accessible Slack Posts, Introduction to Video Accessibility, Create Accessible Web Content and…, In Progress Activities, Accessibility testing and vendor remediation efforts are in progress or scheduled for all high-impact third-party products, with the final critical product testing scheduled for October. Developed the Audio Description Guidelines and User Guide for any and all University-created or distributed video content to include audio descriptions when the visuals convey information not communicated through…, What to Expect Next, Accessibility testing will be scheduled for all medium-impact third-party products. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the project team: Rob Baker, Kristina England, Ron Agrella and Ana Ligia Rezende.
Type: Article
September 2025 – University of Massachusetts President’s Office, Office of the General Counsel The University of Massachusetts, as a public institution and agency of the Commonwealth, is subject to both state and federal anti-discrimination laws. These laws govern not only employment but also all university programs and activities, ensuring equal treatment regardless of protected class, such as…, Recent Developments: , Executive Orders:, Several executive orders issued in 2025 have affected diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs and policies. While these orders do not directly change existing law, they impact federal agency operations, which in turn affect universities. Many of these orders are being challenged in court., State and Federal Guidance:, The Massachusetts Attorney General and other state agencies have clarified that lawful DEIA practices remain so. Quotas or preferences in hiring continue to be illegal and remain prohibited. If you have any questions about specific programs or activities, please consult with the Office of General Counsel for assistance., Litigation Landscape:, Numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging federal policies related to DEIA, grant and research funding, and immigration. The University has provided evidentiary support for many of the lawsuits and amicus briefs filed by the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General., Supreme Court Actions:, The Supreme Court’s emergency docket has led to rapid decisions affecting a number of areas in higher education, including the cancellation or freezing of federal research and grant funds and immigration. , Affirmative Action: , Affirmative action, which promotes diversity without favoring any protected category, has been curtailed at the federal level. However, Massachusetts continues to promote affirmative action in employment through state law and executive orders. , Best Practices for the University: , The University’s mission remains focused on providing accessible, high-quality education and advancing knowledge for all. Programs and activities should be inclusively designed so that opportunities are available to all students, not reserved based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics. For more information, visit the Office of General Counsel’s website .
Type: Article
