Weekly Bulletin

Majors Fair to be held Nov. 1

Pre-Major Advising Services, the Commonwealth College/Honors Program and the Campus Career Network are co-sponsoring a Majors Fair on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 6-8 p.m. in the Students Union Ballroom. All students are invited to attend.

The event is an opportunity for undeclared students to explore potential areas of study while allowing current majors to learn about other options they may not know exist at the University.

Representatives from more than 70 different departments will be present to answer questions and provide literature on major requirements and opportunities.

GIC offers non-smoker option on life insurance

Employees who have been tobacco-free for the last 12 months and are listed as smokers on with the Group Insurance Commission life insurance carrier can change their status by applying before Nov. 15.

To submit a change of status, obtain a GIC Change and Enrollment Form from the Human Resources Information Center on the third floor of Whitmore. Changes will be effective with the December or January payroll deduction depending on the date a completed form is submitted to Human Resources.

University retirees may also change their "smoking status" on their optional life insurance. Retirees should write to the Group Insurance Commission, P.O. Box 8747, Boston MA 02114 and request a change.

Applicants are advised that false certifications can lead to discontinuation of insurance coverage.

Pre-registration dates set

All faculty and advisors are asked to remind undergraduates in their classes and departments that pre-registration for spring 2002 will take place Nov. 7-20. Invitations to pre-register will be mailed out to students during the week of Oct. 29. Pre-registration guides can be picked up starting Monday, Nov. 5, in the lobby of Whitmore.

Pre-Major Advising Services recommends that students make appointments to meet with their advisors early to avoid the counseling week crunch.

Campbell presents Fay Lecture at Medical School

Kevin P. Campbell, the Roy J. Carver Chair of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Iowa College of Medicine will give the Third Fred Fay Lecture in the Physiology Department at the Medical School on Monday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. in Amphitheater II.

Campbell's topic is "Mouse Models of Muscular Dystrophy: Molecules and Mechanisms."

The lecture will be followed by a reception at 5:15 p.m. in the fourth floor lobby.

Parking hours extended for winter months

Due to the end of Daylight Saving Time, effective Monday, Oct. 29 any vehicle with a valid UMass parking permit may park in any unrestricted, non-reserved space starting at 4 p.m. on weekdays instead of 5 p.m.

Parking is still prohibited in tow zones, handicapped spaces, vendor spaces, state vehicle spaces and reserved vehicle spaces. Also excluded are lots which require 24-hour permits: 21, 29, 47, 49, 50, 54, 67, North Village Apartments and Lincoln Apartments.

The parking hours will remain in effect through March 29, 2002.
Parking meters will continue to be enforced for payment 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Faculty Senate meeting

The Faculty Senate meets Thursday, Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m. in 227 Herter Hall.

Wintersession registration

Registration for Wintersession begins Monday, Nov. 5, through the Division of Continuing Education, 358 North Pleasant St.

Marcum, Whipple to speak at Sports Luncheon

Athletic director Robert Marcum and football coach Mark Whipple will be the featured speakers at the Weekly Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

The buffet lunch is $6.50 per person. Call 5-4289 for reservations.

Alumni electronic newsletter available to campus

Students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive @UMASS, a new monthly electronic newsletter featuring campus news and events, published by Alumni Relations and the University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association.
Subscribe online (www.umassalumni .com) by clicking on the @UMASS logo and entering a name and e-mail address.

For information, contact Jennifer Arsenault, associate director for Alumni Communications, at 5-2317 or by e-mail (jlarsena@admin.umass.edu).

USA celebrates Halloween at membership meeting

The University Staff Association's monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 31, will feature a Halloween costume contest and refreshments.

The meeting takes place noon to 1 p.m. in 168C Lincoln Campus Center.

Agenda items include a contract update, information on asbestos and members' concerns.

Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology seminar

Aleister J. Saunders of the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital speaks on "Genetic and Biochemical Insights into Alzheimer's Disease" on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at noon at the Medical School in Worcester.

The seminar takes places in S1-608 Hiatt Auditorium of the Goff Learning Center.

MSP seeks volunteers for committees

MSP is looking for volunteers for three committees established in its new contract. The first of these deals with spousal/partner employment issues. The second will deal with child care and the third will attempt to come up with a way to improve full-year sabbaticals.

Anyone who is interested in participating should call the MSP office at
5-2206.

Homebuying Fair

The Commuter Services and Housing Resource Center is sponsoring a Homebuying Fair for staff, faculty and qualifying students on Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Cape Cod Lounge of the Student Union.

Mortgage counseling staff will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and information sessions will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 1:15 p.m.
First-time homebuyers or home-owners seeking to refinance are welcome to attend. Home loan experts from Countrywide will be on hand to answer questions. Participants also can take advantage of HIT HOME benefits, including closing cost credits for a free appraisal and free credit report. A 30-minute introduction to the home buying process also will be presented.
The event is presented in conjunction with the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, Countrywide Home Loans and the Hampden-Hampshire Housing Program.

For information, call 5-0865 or visit the HIT HOME Web site
(www. hithome.org).

CSHRC service lists houses for sale

The Commuter Services and Housing Resource Center (CSHRC) has a new service allowing homeowners to list their houses for sale and save on commissions.

For a $25 fee, CSHRC will list the house with a picture on the Internet much like many real estate agents. For information, visit the center's Web site (www.cshrc.org) or contact the office in 428 Student Union at 5-0865.

Distinguished Teaching Award nominations due Oct. 26

Nominations are now being accepted for the Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest recognition of teaching awarded to faculty members and teaching assistants and associates.

To nominate a professor or teaching assistant or associate, write a brief letter describing why your nominee should receive a Distinguished Teaching Award. Current and former students may submit nominations. Faculty members may nominate up to two teaching assistants or associates. All nominations must be signed. Nominators should include their name and address on the letter. Nominations also are accepted via e-mail.

All nominations should be submitted by Friday, Oct. 26 to Distinguished Teaching Award Committee, Office of the Provost, 362 Whitmore. Nominations may be submitted by fax (7-3980) or e-mail (dta@provost.umass.edu).

Applications for Arts Council mini-grants

The UMass Arts Council is accepting applications for mini-grants for events held after Nov. 5. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Student groups, academic departments and other campus organizations are eligible to apply for up to $750 to support arts events that feature music, dance, poetry, theater, visual arts, film and other related art forms.
Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Guidelines and application forms are available at the UMass Arts Council office in 101-103 Hasbrouck, the Campus Activities Office in the Student Union and online (www.umass.edu/fac/artscouncil). Assistance for applicants may be arranged by calling 5-0202.

Equal Opportunity office hosts open house

The campus community is invited to attend an open house at Equal Opportunity and Diversity's new office location in 243 Lederle Graduate Research Center on Friday, Oct. 26 from 3-5 p.m.