FSU Nuts & Bolts: Student Support and Faculty Benefits

11/28/2022

Dear Member, 

As we approach the end of the semester, we are using this issue of Nuts & Bolts to provide a listing of student support services along with some faculty benefits. 

Student Support Services 

In conversations with many of you, one topic that keeps being raised is student health and our role in assisting students.   

The Dean of Students webpage  

(https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/dean_of_students/facultystaff) contains an overview of faculty resources along with a brochure (see attached).

If you have a concern about a student, you can complete a Maxient Form that is routed directly to a Dean of Students staff person who will reach out to the student.  Here is the link to the forms  

https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/dean_of_students/maxientreportingforms 

Faculty Benefits- Campus 

Discounted Tickets 

Looking to go to a movie, visit a museum, see a show or sporting event, then be sure to check out the university discounts from the Office of Student Activities & Leadership.    

Movies passes (AMC, Showcase and Regal) are $8.00, The Museum of Science is $8.00 and two strings of bowling with shoes at Boston Bowl is only $10.00.  To see the latest listing go to https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/ids_lockers/tickets 

Enjoy a Campus Event 

There are a variety of campus activities from meditation to lectures.  Visit https://umb.campuslabs.com/engage/events to learn more about events that get us out of our offices.   

Faculty Benefits – Contractual  

Tuition credits 

Bargaining unit members who are 50% or more, as well as their spouses and dependents, are eligible for tuition credits. The credits vary and depend on a number of factors, including whether or not the courses are Continuing Ed, graduate versus undergraduate, years of service of the faculty member in question, etc. The percentage of the credit granted and who is eligible for the credit can be seen in Article 27.10 and 27.11 of the contract (for total tuition dollar amounts contact each campuses Bursar’s Office). 

Phased Retirement 

Tenure track members and NTT/Librarians on continuing appointments may participate in this program that allows members to reduce their percentage of time to 50% for up to 2 years prior to separation from the university (see Article 27.14 for more info). 

Longevity Bonus 

Retiring bargaining unit members (TT, NTT, and Librarians) are entitled to 1.5 days of pay for every year of service (see Article 27.8). Retiring members should contact HR prior to their retirement date to ensure the payment will be made. 

Medical/Sick/Parental Leave

Because of your union, you have many options for medical and family leave.  Besides unpaid leave mandated by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)  and the Commonwealth’s new Paid Family Medical Leave (state laws), if you are benefited (i.e. 50% or more), you are also eligible for sick leave and parental leave through the FSU contract (all tenure track faculty members, all librarians with 4 months of service, and all NTT with the equivalent of 3 years of full-time service are eligible for a paid semester of parental leave. Tenure track faculty who take a parental leave may also opt to delay their tenure decision year (see Article 27.3.5(g) for more info).  Your sick leave time accrual, as well as other information on sick leave, can be seen in Article 27.3.3 of the contract.  (To find out how much individual sick leave time you have accrued, contact Human Resources directly). 

Furthermore, once you use up all of your sick leave time, you can apply for additional time from the Sick Leave Bank.  (See Article 27.3.3(g)) 

When contacting the Administration/Human Resources regarding a possible medical leave, be sure to ask about your paid sick leave option from the contract and, if needed, time from the Sick Leave Bank. You cannot be compelled to take time via FMLA or its MA state equivalent in lieu of the paid sick leave that you are eligible for under the contract. Please contact the FSU if you have any questions or concerns about this. 

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department        

For information on the FSU, links to our contract and bargaining updates, and a calendar of events, see the FSU webpage