Nuts & Bolts: FSU Committee Representatives, know your contract travel funds and professional development funds, what to do if ICE comes to campus, LUCE training and MTA Benefits

9/29/2025

FSU Calendar September 29th to Oct 3rd

Tuesday, September 30th UDC Pizza and Cookies 11:30AM to 1:00PM

Stop by UDC for some pizza, relax, chat with colleagues and meet new colleagues. Pick up some FSU swag – stickers, buttons and t-shirts.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, October 7 FSU Executive Committee meeting, 1-2:30

Wednesday, October 8th UDC Pizza and Cookies 11:30AM to 1:00PM

Tuesday, October 14th Healey Library Archives Open House 2:00 to 3:30PM

Dear Faculty and Librarians,

This year Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15th to October 15th.  The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino website is a wonderful resource of information.

FSU Representatives on University Wide Committees

We are pleased to announce three members who answered the call and are serving as your representative on a university committee.

Health & Safety Committee: Heidi Gengenbach, Associate Professor in History

Academic Technology Committee: Brian White, Professor in Biology

Sick Leave Bank: Natalia Scarpetti, Senior Lecturer II in English (for more on sick leave and the sick leave bank see Article 27.3.3 of the contract)

Know Your Contract: Travel Funds  

Our new contract includes an increase in travel funds for TT faculty Librarians, and Clinical Professors (all ranks).

Know Your Contract: Professional Development Fund for NTTs and Librarians

A new professional development fund specifically for NTTs and Librarians was added to our new contract. 

Note: Our new contract reallocates RES funds to increase travel funds for TT faculty and professional development funds for NTTs and librarians. 

Save the Date: What to do if ICE comes to campus?  Wednesday, October 29th 12:00PM 

Last semester Professor Andrew Leong led an information workshop on your rights if ICE comes to campus.  Andrew has agreed to present an updated workshop. Please mark your calendar. Details forthcoming.

UMB LUCE Verifier Training: October 15th and 21st

FSU along with the PSU are a co-sponsor for LUCE training.  

WHO: UMass Boston community members who are looking to get organized in support of immigrant rights in our neighborhood through coordinated response and action, leveraging the new statewide LUCE Defense Hotline.

WHAT: Community training session focused on building a network among campus community members who can verify reports of ICE presence on campus and surrounding areas, and take meaningful local action to support vulnerable neighbors. We aim to bring together neighborhood groups and individuals who are already involved in organizing, as well as those newer to this work, for a training that is practical and responsive to our current national and local context.

WHEN: There are two upcoming training dates. See below. Please only attend if you are confident, you can arrive no later than 10 minutes after the session is set to begin. We want to ensure attendees receive all training content necessary to support our community in highly sensitive situations, and the training is staffed by volunteers who will need to shift to other duties after check-in.

• Wednesday, October 15th, 1:00-3:00PM (arrive between 12:45-1:15PM) (in-person)
• Tuesday, October 21st, 6:00-8:00PM (arrive between 5:45-6:15PM) (zoom)

Registration: https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/DMikPdQaDBNFH3GjNrhkgmnhDj38rJ61A-5O6AQs7MI/

MTA Benefits: Hogan Tire & Auto and Town Fair Tire

Boston traffic is not good for our automobile.  MTA members receive discounts at both Hogan Tire & Auto and Town Fair Tire. 

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department