Nuts & Bolts: End of Semester gathering, medical leaves, Summer Session Classes, Red line closure, RES Funds, and MTA travel benefits
5/6/2024
Dear Members,
May 6th is National Nurses Day. Thank you to our nursing faculty for all your work educating our students, conducting scholarship plus practicing to maintain your nursing license.
The FSU welcomes all members to our end of year social. Non-members are also very welcome to join us to learn about the work the union does and to encourage you to join. We are stronger together.
Join the FSU for a little nosh, spend some time gathering with others and some time out of your office. We are hosting two ‘drop by and take a break’ events.
On Tuesday, May 7th 12:00PM to 2:00PM join us in University Dining, Campus Center, 2nd floor. On Wednesday come by The Point Lounge, Campus Center, 3rd floor from 12:00PM to 2:00PM.
Outsourcing of FMLA
Past issues have informed you that the processing of our medical leaves is being outsourced to a third-party vendor. This week, a coalition of UMass unions sent a letter to President Meehan stressing our unhappiness and why this move is bad for our members. The letter is attached.
Summer Session Classes: Registration Deadline May 10th
Provost Berger’s April 24th email communication explained summer session course registration deadlines. The email stated May 10th is the deadline for student registration. In our monthly Labor Management Meeting, the FSU raised concerns about this early deadline specifically that without Spring semester grades, students may not know they should take a summer class or what class(es) is needed when reviewing the degree audit. Summer classes also enroll non UMB students who take our classes based on their spring 2024 grades from their home institution.
The provost said there will be a window where registration will re-open during and immediately after the grade submittal deadline.
Summer Session Classes: Faculty
If you are teaching a summer class, especially summer session one, please do check WISER for current enrollment. If your enrollment is low, and you want to teach the class, please discuss with your chair options to raise enrollment including but not limited to shifting or modifying the course modality.
Red Line Closure: Impacts at JFK Station
The Red Line Park Street Station to JFK/UMass Station closure continues this week. For more information, see https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/02/red-line-closed-from-park-street-to-jfk-umass-til-may-10
RES Funds and Concur
If you have not yet submitted receipts for your RES funds, you still have a few more weeks to do so. The UMass System has moved to a new system called Concur. For more information, go to https://www.umassp.edu/travel-and-expense
MTA Benefits: Travel
Summer is fast approaching and you along with your family may have thoughts of sandy beaches, historical sights, or the mountains. If so, being an FSU member gives you access to MTA Benefits travel discounts. Check out https://savings.travel/mta/
Enjoy the last week of classes.
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department
