News

Roif Awards in Film Studies to be presented May 3

The 13th annual Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies will be presented to undergraduate certificate students in the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies on Friday, May 3 at noon in 301 Herter Hall.
 
The first place award-winner is Tyler Clayton Appel, a sophomore Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration major from Foxborough, for “Leaving Home,” a narrative video. Appel was producer, co-writer, co-music producer and actor in the work.
 
In second place is Kadyrose Druar, a senior Journalism major from Franklin, and Mariah C.

Gerber wins national honor from Real Food Challenge

Professor John Gerber, coordinator of the Sustainable Food and Farming Program, is one of three finalists for this year’s University Ally Award from the Real Food Challenge, a national studentorganization as part of its Real Food Awards.
 
The award recognizes an on-campus administrator, staff or faculty member who displays outstanding leadership in an effort to create a more just and sustainable food system.
 
Under Gerber, the Sustainable Food and Farming Program has grown from five students in 2003 to more than 70. He currently teaches courses relating to sustainability and was

Memorial for Henry Lea planned for May 4

A memorial for Henry Lea, professor emeritus of German, is being held Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. at the Amherst Woman's Club, 35 Triangle St.

Lea died April 4 at the age of 92.

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Three teams share $55,250 in Innovation Challenge prizes

The Innovation Challenge final business plan competition has awarded $55,250 to three competing teams. Fetch Rewards won the top prize of $30,000. VideoConversation won a total of $15,000 at the event while Crowd Solar received $10,000.
 
Since 2005, the UMass Innovation Challenge has provided more than $500,000 in awards to 65 different student-led teams. It is designed to help current students and young alumni who have innovative business ideas to develop business plans and move products closer to market. This year’s final round competition was held April 17.
 
The top winner, Fetch Rewards

150-pound birthday cake cut as campus celebrates Founders Day

Thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends attended festivities marking Founders Day celebration on April 29 on the 150th anniversary of the signing of the campus charter. Among the highlights was the ceremonial cutting of a 150-pound birthday cake created in the shape of the iconic Old Chapel.
 
It was on April 29, 1863 that Gov. John Andrews signed the charter to form Massachusetts Agricultural College, creating the first Board of Trustees for what would become Massachusetts State College in 1931 and the University of Massachusetts in 1947.
 
Befitting the occasion,

House approves $34 million budget for fiscal 2014

The state House of Representatives approved a $34 billion fiscal 2014 state budget on April 24.
 
The measure, which passed 127-29, adds nearly $135 million to the spending plan proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee and includes $39 million in new funding for the UMass system.
 
Currently, the state provides 43 percent of the cost to educate a student with students providing 57 percent. The university has proposed, under the leadership of Caret, that funding to reach the 50-50 formula could be phased in over a two-year period given the state’s fiscal challenges.

$300 million UMass Rising fundraising campaign announced

University leaders have announced the launch of the campus’ s most ambitious fund-raising campaign ever, “UMass Rising,” in its sesquicentennial year, setting a goal of $300 million to achieve new heights as a leader in the Commonwealth’s and the nation’s innovation economy.

At the April 28 kickoff event, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said, “To excel today, the best universities must adapt. Simply reacting to new circumstances will not do, much more is required.

Campus closing early for Commencement on May 10

The campus will close normal operations on Friday, May 10 at 1 p.m. for Commencement, according to Juan Jarrett, assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources.
 
Staff deemed essential personnel for Commencement activities will be required to work to support Commencement day activities.
 
To learn more about volunteering for Commencement-related activities, go to www.umass.edu/commencement/news-and-announcements/seeking-
undergraduate-commencement-volunteers.

Biologists propose new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology

A team of Biology Department researchers is proposing a new investigative roadmap for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or “evo devo,” to better understand how innovation at the genetic level can lead to ecological adaptations over time. Evo devo seeks to understand the specific genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary change.
 
Seven authors, all biologists but with diverse research programs including evolutionary genetics, developmental biology, biomechanics and behavioral ecology, describe the new framework they created to link genes to ecology in the May issue of Trends

Subbaswamy inaugurated as chancellor

With academic pomp and pageantry, Kumble R. Subbaswamy was formally inaugurated April 27 as chancellor during ceremonies at the Mullins Center.

The installation was held in conjunction with a weeklong commemoration of the founding of the campus in 1863, an occasion noted by Subbaswamy during his inaugural address.

“For 150 years, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by making a world-class education accessible to qualified students from all walks of life, engaging in research to solve our most complex problems, and working in communities to

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