Doc. T13-091, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013, I. Introduction, This policy will assist the individual student account holder in meeting his or her financial obligation to the University and will also assist the President and the Chancellors in carrying out their fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of the Commonwealth. This policy and its related standards establish guidelines for the timely collection of past due and delinquent student accounts. This…, II. Policy Statement, A. Principles of Receivables Management, Student accounts shall be administered by each campus according to the following principles of financial management: Each campus shall have written policies and procedures for the administration of student accounts. Each campus shall have a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Each campus shall perform a periodic review of past due accounts and prepare an…, B. Financial Reporting, Each campus shall prepare financial reports on student accounts receivable at the end of fall and spring semesters. The specific reports are defined in the Student Accounts Standards., C. Roles and Responsibilities, President The President working in concert with the Campus Chancellors have the fiduciary responsibility for the collection of all funds due the University of Massachusetts. The President hereby assigns to the Chancellor or their designee general responsibility for collection of all amounts owed to the University. Responsibility for accounts receivable due the President's Office or University…, III. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Chancellors shall formulate, and may amend from time to time, Standards to implement this policy. At their discretion, University campuses and departments may impose more restrictive guidelines for budgetary or control reasons.
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(Doc. T13-091), I. Introduction, Student Accounts Receivable Standards apply to the administration of student accounts. Campuses may establish campus policies and guidelines within the scope of University policy regarding the development of student accounts receivable policy. Campus policies and guidelines may be more, but not less, restrictive than the President’s Administrative Standards. This Standard applies to all…, II. Policy for Student Accounts, The Policy for Student Accounts Receivables (T13-091) and these standards establishes general documentation and reporting requirements. Section II defines the standard for satisfying the requirements of the following policy:, A. Principles of Receivables Management, Student accounts shall be administered by each campus according to the following principles of financial management: Each campus shall have written policies and procedures for the administration of student accounts. Each campus shall have a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Each campus shall perform a periodic review of past due accounts and prepare an…, B. Past Due or Delinquent Student Accounts, When a student account is past due or delinquent as defined by these Standards, the campus shall place the student account on financial hold status. The Standards to the Accounts Receivable Policy (detailed below) list the administrative actions that will be initiated by each campus. Chief among them is the denial of registration for future semesters. If the account is not paid in full after…, C. Financial Reporting, Each campus shall prepare financial reports on student accounts receivable at the end of fall and spring semesters. The specific reports are defined in the II.C below., D. Roles and Responsibilities, President The President working in concert with the Campus Chancellors have the fiduciary responsibility for the collection of all funds due the University of Massachusetts. The President hereby assigns to the Chancellor or their designee general responsibility for collection of all amounts owed to the University. Responsibility for accounts receivable due the President's Office or University…, II. Standards Statement, A. Management of Receivables, The University campuses must have written policies and procedures, and a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Written procedures should include at a minimum: Requirements for establishing and recording a receivable. Collection actions and timeline for the collection process. Requirements for placing holds on student records. Approvals for adjustments to…, B. Past Due Receivables, The student account is considered past due if payment is not made by the payment deadline. A student account is considered delinquent when a balance greater than $1000 is outstanding for more than two consecutive semesters. Past due accounts should be reviewed at appropriate intervals including at the end of the add/drop period and prior to the start of the registration period for the next…, C. Financial Reporting Requirement, On a regular basis but no less than at the end of the fall and spring semesters, the campus Controller or their designee will: Age all accounts receivable amounts. Review all accounts receivable that are one year or more past due for write-off. Calculate an estimate of uncollectable accounts receivable amounts. For debts older than four years and inactive, authorize a mandatory write-off of the…, D. Campus Student Account Policies and Guidelines, Any campus within the University may issue student account policies or guidelines that relate to matters of interest predominantly within that particular campus as long as those policies do not conflict with University of Massachusetts Board of Trustee Student Account Policies and University Standards and are consistent with applicable law. These policies or guidelines are to be referred to as…
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Doc. T13-093, as amended, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013 Latest revision: September 16, 2015, I. Introduction, In addition to state and federal laws and regulations, the University of Massachusetts is managed in part through a series of University of Massachusetts Board Policies. This Board Policy and related Standards outline the protocol for issuing, revising and rescinding University of Massachusetts Board Policies. Board Policies are policies that affect the entire University and require Board of…, II. Policy Statement, A Board Policy is defined by all of the following criteria: It has broad application throughout the University; It contains specific procedures for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, promotes operational efficiencies, supports the University’s mission; The subject matter requires approval by the Board of Trustees. Board Policies will be kept current and made readily available…, III. Responsibilities for Issuing, Revising or Rescinding a Policy, Policy Review President’s Council The President’s Council (President, Executive & Senior Vice Presidents, and Chancellors) shall be responsible for the review of new or revised Board Policies and for the review of Board Policies to be rescinded. The President’s Council will recommend policies for approval by the Board. University Councils The University Councils (e.g. Academic Affairs,…, IV. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Vice President(s) and Chancellors, will issue Standards to implement this Board Policy. Campuses may establish Campus policies, procedures and guidelines within the scope of this Board Policy (and Standards). Campus policies, procedures and guidelines may be more, but not less, restrictive than the standards. , Doc. T13-093, as amended | Policy for Creating and Establishing Board Policy & Standards, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013 Revised: September 16, 2015
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(Doc. T13-093, as amended), I. Introduction, Creating and Establishing Board Policy Standards sets forth the protocol for issuing, revising and rescinding University of Massachusetts Board Policies. Campuses may establish Campus policies, procedures and guidelines within the scope of Board Policy. Campus policies, procedures and guidelines may be more, but not less restrictive than the President’s Administrative Standards. This Standard…, II. Standards Statement, Development of a new or revised Board Policy Development of a new Policy Any campus, the system office or a Trustee can identify a need for a new Board Policy and accordingly request that a new Policy be developed. Proposals for new Policies are to be submitted initially to Secretary to the Board of Trustees. Upon receipt of the proposal, the Board Secretary will provide copies to the pertinent…, III. Responsibilities, President’s Council (President, Executive & Senior Vice Presidents, and Chancellors) The responsibilities of the President’s Council include: Ensuring that all Board Policies are current and compliant with all statutory requirements and law; Approving or rejecting the final draft of a Board Policy before it is submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval, or; Making changes as necessary or…
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Doc. T16-055, Passed by the Board of Trustees on December 9, 2016, Purpose, The Sustainability Policy exemplifies the long-term commitment of the five campuses of UMass to be good stewards of fiscal and environmental resources. Our environmental responsibility is rooted in the University’s founding as a land-grant institution, designed to bolster good stewardship of land and industry as well as to serve the greater public good. With stewardship in mind, the efforts and…, I. Introduction, The University of Massachusetts which includes five campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and the Medical School in Worcester has made a collective commitment to be “good stewards of resources”. This includes responsibly managing our fiscal resources, investing in our capital assets, continuing our commitment to being environmentally responsible, and, in direct alignment with UMass’ core…, II. Policy Statement, Overarching Principles, The University of Massachusetts is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrating leadership in sustainable business practices. The University’s five campuses should be continuously improving our practices for sustainability consistent with available funding. The guiding principles for the University of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy include: Sustainability Strategic…, Principles with Goals, Sustainability Strategic Planning, - Integration of sustainability planning, practices, and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 – Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently understand the energy needs and potential sustainability…, Clean Energy, - Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.1 – Achieve UMass’ commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 or as specified through the sustainability planning process occurring through the development of campus-specific action plans, as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet sustainability objectives, and UMass…, Climate Resilience and Preparedness, - Implementation of strategies to mitigate or reduce environmental impact. Goal 3.1 – Build climate resilience and preparedness standards into the University’s capital planning process, emergency management and business continuity planning., Green Building Design and Sustainable Campus Operations, - Strategies to address emissions associated with designing, building, maintaining, and operating campus buildings and grounds. Goal 4.1 – Any new construction must meet the MA Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Plus green building standards, (LEED most current version) or other standards as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and…, Sustainable Transportation, - Integrating sustainable best practices for the use and maintenance of campus fleets, student/employee commuters, and public transportation options. Goal 5.1 – Reduce vehicle fuel consumption of the University vehicle fleet through promoting the use of public transportation, reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles and increasing the use of other alternative fuel transportation for…, Waste Reduction and Recycling, - Promote strategies to encourage waste reduction and re-use and acknowledge the importance of preventative measures. Goal 6.1 – Employ strategies around preventative measures in waste diversion to promote source reduction, re-use and recycling of used materials., Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, - Implement a procurement approach to access environmentally-conscious products whenever applicable and available. Goal 7.1 – Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council wherever appropriate and consistent with available…, Sustainable Food Services, - Supporting sustainable food systems through food and beverage purchases. Goal 8.1 – Strive for each campus food service operation to procure sustainable food products while maintaining accessibility and affordability for all students and campus patrons., Sustainable Water Systems, - Reducing campus water withdrawals can reduce pressures on local aquifers, streams, rivers, lakes, and aquatic wildlife. Goal 9.1 – Reduce potable water usage and determine goals consistent with capital investments and annual programs implemented in support of reducing potable water., Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement, - Ensuring Sustainability is part of Academic and Research programming and part of community engagement efforts. Goal 10.1 – The UMass Sustainability Council will work with their respective campus curriculum governance units to identify where Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement involving Sustainability already exists, and to explore more formal incorporation into core…, III. Reporting, The University will measure and track progress on achieving defined goals through the current reporting requirements of the ACUPCC and Leading by Example. With accountability and transparency in mind, the University commits to provide an annual report regarding each campus’ sustainability activities to University Board of Trustees. The University is committed to transparent and consistent…, IV. Delegation, The President and Chancellors may delegate all or any part of their authority set forth in this Policy in accordance with the University’s delegation policy., V. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Vice President(s) and Chancellors, will issue administrative standards to implement this policy.
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(Doc. T16-055), I. Introduction, Sustainability Standards are intended to assist in the implementation of the University’s Sustainability Policy. The policy provides a framework within which the University reviews its progress toward meeting its sustainability goals. The University’s commitment to sustainability practices are not strictly limited to the topics outlined. The University endeavors to demonstrate leadership in…, II. Standards Statement, Principles – Goals – For each of the Principles, goals were established to determine how the principle would be evaluated over time. For background, each of the goals was evaluated to address the following questions: Define the goal issue and provide background information to understand the goal in layperson terms. Why is this goal important to highlight? Where do the University/campuses…, III. Related Procedures, Forms and Other Resources, Follow the links for each principle/goal below:
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Item Description Principle 1 Sustainability Strategic Planning – Integration of sustainability planning and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., The purpose of an energy master plan and/or sustainability plan centers on the need to evaluate where each campus stands as it relates to energy projects and show how university commitments for carbon emissions reduction, green building designs, and other sustainability objectives will be met, with approximate timelines and costs for meeting those commitments and objectives. To date, each campus…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, When undertaking substantial initiatives or new policies it is important to evaluate the current situation to assist in determining the proper course moving forward. Sustainability planning/energy master planning allows each campus to map out options and prioritize projects dependent on funding sources and their general impact on University operations., Where do the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, Currently, the Amherst campus has completed an Energy Master Plan and is in the process of implementing the plan. However, the other four campuses have not undergone a formal evaluation and planning session., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, While sustainability/energy master plans transcend all areas of the campuses and potentially spark priority conversations, the crucial departments involved in this process are sustainability and facilities/operations., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, As previously stated, the Amherst campus has recently completed an Energy Master Plan and are utilizing it to determine projects and priorities. The other campuses have not undergone this type of comprehensive planning., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The University must support these planning processes across all of the campuses for a consistent picture of where campuses currently stand and what can be done in the future to meet their energy needs in a sustainable and affordable manner. Each campus must engage their constituencies to engage in this planning as a way to accomplish many of the goals contained in this policy.
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Item Description Principle 2 Clean Energy – Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.1 Achieve UMass commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 or as specified through the sustainability planning process occurring through the development of campus-specific action plans, as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., In 2007, the President of the University of Massachusetts signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate commitment (ACUPCC). In doing so the University committed to developing plans to achieve climate neutrality. In the context of this commitment climate neutral is the elimination of net greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations. The University under the commitment is…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, The ACUPCC outlines the importance of this goal as it relates to climate change. Climate change is defined as a change in the global or regional climate patterns. The scientific consensus is that climate change is real and attributed to increases in greenhouse gas emissions largely caused by humans. The speed and scale of climate change has the potential for large scale adverse health, social,…, Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, All five campuses have completed climate action plans and report on greenhouse gas emissions and progress to the ACUPCC. It is important to note that the interim goals and climate neutrality are not consistently normalized. Even if they were being normalized they are still not being met because the goals do not compensate for growing energy use intensities (Ex. Labs). Therefore, with the campuses…, Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, Several departments are integral in moving forward to meet this goal, including Facilities, Engineering and Construction, Planning, Transportation, Purchasing, Sustainability & Energy Management, Power Plant Operations, Administration & Finance, and faculty, staff, and students., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The campuses have made significant gains in reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite aggressive growth and the addition of new buildings. These reductions come principally from energy efficiency measures, retrofits, fuel switching, and in part from LEED building design., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, High level support and funding is required to develop more extensive carbon reduction plans and to make investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Item Item No. Description Principle 2 Clean Energy – Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.2 Procure a defined amount of annual electricity consumption through renewable and clean energy sources as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet sustainability objectives. Metric Total GHG Emissions Reduced Since…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., When the Leading By Example Executive Order was written and signed into law in 2007, the Governor and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acknowledged their buildings consumed over 1 billion kwh of electricity, 22 million gallons of heating oil, and 46 million therms of natural gas, resulting in over a million tons of GHG emissions a year contributing to “environmental and health issues…such as…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, As campuses expand and our energy consumption grows, the University must be seeking electricity from renewable energy sources to alleviate the greenhouse gas emissions impacts. The University is the largest energy consumer in the state and therefore can have a tremendous impact on the overall GHG emissions of Massachusetts. The environmental and human health impacts would be positively affected…, Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The campuses have experienced progress in expanding renewable energy sources particularly around solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. The campuses are a part of solar net-metering projects across the state and exploring other renewable energy options. Additionally, there has been an overall reduction of GHG emissions by 14.7% based on the FY 2004 baseline. Some of the campuses have developed interim…, Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The University will have to engage with our energy planners and facility staff in determining the most cost-effective and consistent renewable energy sources. The campus may have an opportunity to engage in conversations with their local electricity utility companies to discuss available resources in the region and ways to work together. The System Office will need to continue to play an…, What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The University is currently a part of solar net-metering projects which allows for the credits to offset their electricity costs through large-scale solar PV projects which are not required to be in close geographical location. Despite rapid physical growth of most campuses within the UMass System and new development of very high energy intensive facilities that help serve the academic mission of…, What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The campuses must work to identify the renewable energy sources available to them and how much electricity consumption should be sourced by renewable energy. Carbon emission reduction efforts must be ramped up and prioritized through energy master planning, updates to carbon plan goals and GHG inventories, etc. as well as utilize innovative funding mechanisms such as green revolving funds which…
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Item Description Principle 3 Climate Resilience and Preparedness - Implementation of strategies to mitigate or reduce environmental impact. Goal 3.1 Build climate resilience and preparedness standards into the University’s capital planning process and emergency management and business continuity planning. Metric Published plans including measurable objective with corresponding strategies., Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., Climate resilience is the ability for a system, institution, or operation to withstand the impacts of climate change and related events and to modify assets and adjust operations based on changing circumstances. Climate resilience planning is a critical process for all major institutions to be mindful of when considering other types of planning., Why is this goal important to highlight?, Climate resilience planning for the campuses will assist the long-term planning at the campus level in order to be proactive about potential weather/climate related events impacting University assets and operations. Including but not limited to specific topic areas, such as tropical storms/hurricanes, snow storms, extreme heat, or sea level rise., Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The University has included aspects of climate resilience planning into the University Hazard Mitigation Plan., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The stakeholders involved in this goal are: facilities, administration & finance, design & construction, operations heads, academic heads, student affairs personnel, student government, IT, emergency management staff and campus communications., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The University has included aspects of climate resilience planning into the University Hazard Mitigation Plan., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, Continued participation and discussion at a local level; funding that can help both resilience and sustainability efforts.
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