Nuts & Bolts: FSU events, Academic Freedom and Free Speech Letter, May Day events, Blackboard Content, Summer Session registration and MTA Benefits
4/28/2025
FSU Calendar April 28th to May 2nd
FSU lunchtime in UDC on Wednesday, April 30th 12:00-1:00PM
Join colleagues on Wednesday to relax and enjoy time away from our offices. Pizza and cookies provided.
Contract Bargaining Session, Wednesday, April 30 from 9:45AM to 11:30AM in ISC 2003
Join your core bargaining team as an expanded team member. See the April 24th Core Bargaining Team email on how to register.
May Day Rally, Thursday, May 1st 12:00-1:00PM on the Quad
Come out at lunchtime to celebrate International Workers' Day with UMB union staff, faculty and grad employees. Our Unions are on the frontline of defending our members, our communities and democracy!
Dear Faculty and Librarians,
Happy National Superhero Day! April 28th is the day to recognize a superhero in your life. Look around and thank a friend, a colleague, a mentor, and a staff member for the things they do every day to make your life and our community better. Superheroes provide social and emotional support which often goes unrecognized.
Academic Freedom & Free Speech Letter to UMB Administration
The FSU Executive Committee voted to send a letter to UMB administration asking them to publicly commit to protecting students, faculty, and staff and the principles of free speech and academic freedom. The letter is attached.
The National Education Association (NEA) continues to assist higher education unions as we fight to ensure academic freedom and free speech remain pillars of higher education. Their assistance in providing letter materials was invaluable.
Thursday May 1st is International Workers Day
International Workers Day is when we honor those who came before us fighting for safe working conditions and fair wages. In 1864, the International Workingmen’s Association was formed to fight for a five-day work week, an 8-hour day, paid holidays, fair and equitable wages and a safe work environment. On May 1, 1886, over 300,000 US workers went on strike to protest unsafe working conditions.
Today, unions continue to fight for fair wages for all, safe working conditions, for management to value our work and for fair contracts. Join FSU members and our sister unions (CSU, GEO and PSU) to celebrate solidarity but more importantly; to remind management that we deserve a contract that values our work and ensures appropriate wages.
May Day Events: Off Campus
Boston May Day Rally, May 1st, 5:30 – 7:30 Boston Common, Parkman Bandstand. To register go to https://www.mass50501.com/events/may1
Education Walk In, various cities and towns, 7:00AM or 7:30AM
Join our K-12 colleagues for a May Day Walk in. Contact your local city/town teacher’s union for details.
Blackboard Content: Access ends June 30, 2025
Our access to Blackboard including our class content ends June 30, 2025. Be sure to add to your post semester to do list, a few minutes to obtain a copy of materials (assignments, readings, videos etc.). Go to https://umassboston.service-now.com/sp?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0010572
Summer Class Registration Period
Be aware that registration for Summer Session I closes soon and will re-open just prior to the first day of classes.
MTA Benefits: Disability Insurance Open Enrollment
Disability insurance can assist in a time without earned income. MTA has both short term and long-term insurance options. For details go to https://www.mtabenefits.com/benefits/insurance/disability Enrollment ends May 23, 2025.
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department
