FSU Nuts & Bolts: Elections, Sick Leave Bank, Canvas and Upcoming Events
2/5/2024
Dear Members,
I hope your first two weeks of classes are going well. For early morning arrivals, sunrise is finally before 7AM! Monday, February 5th is truck day. This is the day an eighteen-wheeler is stuffed with Red Sox equipment and leaves Fenway Park heading south to spring training. When baseball begins spring cannot be far away.
FSU Spring 2024 Elections
Nominations are open for positions on the FSU Executive Committee and President for our spring election. Executive Committee positions up in 2024 include: Non-Tenure Track (2 positions), Librarian, Pre-Tenure (1 position) and Tenured (2 positions). Nominations close on February 23rd.
See here for more information.
Sick Leave Bank
Our contract (Article 27.3.3) has a sick leave bank from which you can both donate and draw from in times of need. A sick leave bank assists members who have depleted their leave time and requires additional sick leave due to a situation that does not allow the member to work.
A member asked about donating their sick time as the member is moving towards retirement. Yes, you can donate your unused sick time to the sick leave bank. This needs to be done prior to retirement. See Article 27.3.3.f.1 for details.
Change: Blackboard to Canvas
The University is moving our online system from Blackboard to Canvas. The FSU is reaching out to Academic Affairs to learn about the timeline, migration of materials and of course, faculty training and support.
Save the Date: Women's Day talk Prof Pallavi Banerjee, March 8th 12PM
The FSU is cosponsoring Professor Banerjee’s talk on International Women’s Day, Friday, March 8th 12PM to 2PM in the Ballroom.
Prof. Banerjee’s book is called “The Opportunity Trap High-Skilled Workers, Indian Families, and the Failures of the Dependent Visa Program”. The Opportunity Trap is the first book to look at the impact of the H-4 dependent visa programs on women and men visa holders in Indian families in America. Comparing two distinct groups of Indian immigrant families —families of male high-tech workers and female nurses—Pallavi Banerjee reveals how visa policies that are legally gender and race neutral in fact have gendered and racialized ramifications for visa holders and their spouses. You can read more about Prof. Pallavi Banerjee at this link.
Save the Date: FSU Annual Meeting, April 23rd 3:00-5:00PM
Each year we are required to hold an annual member meeting where we present reports, adopt bylaws, and adopt an annual budget. Please save the date and watch Nuts & Bolts for the meeting details.
“It takes a village to raise a child,”
As the proverb goes, many parents nowadays have yet to find that village. Toward that end, a group of FSU members are starting an inter-union parents’ group for mutual support, resource sharing, socializing, and advocacy. We welcome input and participation from members of FSU, DCU, PSU, CSU, and GEO. If you’re interested, please contact Linda.Liu@umb.edu.
FSU Membership: includes NEA Membership
When you join the FSU you also become a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) and the National Education Association (NEA). Go to https://www.neamb.com/ to see your benefits. Be sure to click on no cost benefits (link at bottom of page).
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department