COVID-19 WEBINAR by Student Legal Services
Friday, March 27, 2020 |4:00pm
The current COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting transition to remote learning, has impacted students who live both on and off campus, however, students who live off-campus will now be faced with complicated legal issues surrounding early termination of their leases or sublease agreements. This will also affect many parents, who often guarantee (co-sign) student leases.
In an attempt to reach as many students as possible, the Student Legal Services Office will be conducting a webinar on this important issue for students regarding housing, contract and other issues that they will be dealing with in the coming weeks.
The webinar will be presented this Friday, March 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Please note that participation will be limited to the first 100 students, but another presentation is being planned to be presented next week (and more after, if needed).
The webinar will cover information such as: how to end your lease early if necessary; what are the consequences of early termination of your lease; how to communicate and negotiate with your landlord regarding early termination of your lease, and more..
As always, additional information and updates will be posted on our website: https://www.umass.edu/slso.
COVID-Specific updates will be posted here: https://www.umass.edu/slso/about/legalupdates, as well as on our Instagram and Facebook social media platforms.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
In support of social distancing practice, CMASS staff is working remotely but will continue to provide services for the duration of the semester. You can connect with us by calling 413.545.2517 or by emailing us at cmass@umass.edu.
Here’s an update on how to access specific services:
Success Coaching
Students are encouraged to continue scheduling appointments through NAVIGATE, making sure to let your coach know your preferred method for contact. If you prefer to connect over the phone, ensure your number is updated in SPIRE. If you prefer to connect over videoconference download Zoom.
As we work to shift our services into virtual environments, we know that there may be technology challenges at times-do not hesitate to email your coach directly.
If you don’t have a coach and would like to work with one, email cmass@umass.edu
Success Coaches:
Michelle Youngblood – youngblood@umass.edu
Celia Maldonado – celiam@umass.edu
Doris Clemmons – dc@umass.edu
Willie Pope – wjp@umass.edu
Financial Aid Hours
For assistance with your FAFSA or questions about Financial Aid, please contact Financial Aid Counseling or Customer Service at finaid@finaid.umass.edu during 8:30-5:00pm.
Let’s Talk
When something’s bothering you, talking about it is often the first step toward a solution. Let’s Talk is available by calling 413-545-2337, Thursdays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. “Let’s Talk” is led by clinicians from the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH).
Student Care Supply Closet
Our offices in Wilder Hall are closed, and so the Supply Closet is temporarily unavailable. If you have immediate need for supply closet items, please contact the Dean of Students Office at doso@umass.edu
Computer Lab in Wilder Hall
Our offices in Wilder Hall are closed, and so the computer lab is inaccessible at this time.
For continuous updates please visit this site frequently as well as www.umass.edu/Coronavirus
JOB OPENINGS FOR PROFESSIONALS:
CMass is hiring for full time positions!
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Program Coordinator Cultural Centers CMASS: Reporting to the Associated Director for Student Development, the Program Coordinator for Cultural Centers will provide direction and leadership for campus-based cultural centers.
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Associate Director for Student Support: Reporting to the Director of CMASS, the Associate Director for Student Support develops, oversees and assesses comprehensive personalized student support services for students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and leads with positive, collaborative and inclusive approaches; focuses on achieving the department’s mission, goals, objectives, work standards and assigned priorities, and serves in the capacity of director as needed.
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Associate Director for Student Development: Reporting to the Director of CMASS, the Associate Director for Student Development oversees, develops and assesses programs that educate on cultures, heritages and identities for ethnic based cultural centers and primarily students of diverse racial backgrounds; leads with positive, collaborative and inclusive approaches; focuses on achieving the Department’s mission, goals, objectives, work standards and assigned priorities.
Click on the link below for further descriptions if any of these are of interest to you. And of course, don't hesitate to reach out with any inquiries!
Craft Night: Vision Boards
March 11, 2020 | 6-8pm
Yuri Kochiyama Cultural Center
Relieve your midterm stress! Join YKCC in creating vision boards for this craft night!
Vision boards are a stress relievaing and creative activity that help students to remain focused, determined and motivated in dealing with challenging periods at school.
Supplies provided! Refreshments will be served! Be there and join in the fun!
Piñata Making @ the LACC
Thursday, March 12, 2020 | 6-8pm
Latinx American Cultural Center
Hampden DC, 2nd Floor
Southwest Residential Area
We are bringing piñata making to LACC. Come and join us! Supplies to make your own pinata filled with assorted sweets and candies available. Refreshments provided!
A piñata is a decorated container of paper or clay that contains sweets, small toys, fruits, and nuts. It is the object of a game played in Mexico at children's birthday parties in which blindfolded children take turns trying to break the piñata with a stick to release the treats.
Native Voices: Expanding the Narrative and Celebrating Indigenous Women
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 | 6:00pm
Chadbourne House, Room: B-3 Lower Level
Wheelchair accessible
Speaker: Joyce Vincent
Joyce Vincent is the founder of the Red Black Blues Hour, a small company that promotes awareness of intersectional histories through spoken word, storytelling and songs which she pulls from her own personal cultural heritage as an Aniyunwiya,Occaneechi and African HeritageWoman. She worked at UMass from 1993 and retired from CMASS as an Associate Director for Cultural Enrichment in 2017.. She was also a co-founder of the Certificates in Native American Indian Studies at UMass Amherst.
Participants will break into groups to identify indigenous women across the globe to enable us to create posters as part of the poster college series of the 5-Colleges. These efforts will be included in the celebration of Women’s History Month this March. Everyone’s welcome! Refreshments provided!
Movie Nights
Sundays | 4-6pms
March 8 - A Fall from Grace
March 29-Black Panther
April 5 - Belly
April 19 - Malcolm X
Malcolm X Cultural Center
Berlshire DC Lower Level
Series of movies popular with the black community shown in 4 weeks. These movies could be old or new so long as they depict piece or pieces of our history and students can learn and enjoy them.
This event will bring people of our diaspora together in a safe space to store memories and moments that are common to us.
Refreshments provided!
Running from the Washingtons
by: Amanda Miller, '22
AMHERST - Community and students came together for thought provoking and inspirational talk and book signing at the Commonwealth Honors College’s “Running from the Washingtons: Ona Judge and the Quest for Freedom” on February 12th.
The event - which took place from 5-6 p.m. in the CHC Events Hall - featured Erica Armstrong Dunbar; a writer, historian, and professor at Rutgers University. The evening's topic was Ona Judge, a young enslaved woman who escaped from George and Martha Washington to find freedom.
In welcoming guests to the event, Dean Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina describes the significance of the upcoming talk; “There was no way to really know the Washingtons without knowing this story.”
As Dunbar took the stage she prefaced her lecture; “I’ll ask you all to spend a little time with me this evening thinking about our nation's history and about this incredible woman….”
Read more..
Paint Party
Sunday, March 1st, 2020
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Malcolm X Cultural Center
The Paint Party is a celebration of an aspect of African American culture. Students will take part in a paint party that focuses on the expression of their culture in a creative way. Participants will enjoy being surrounded by their cultural music adding to the ambiance of the place and heighten their creative spirit! This event brings joy and unity to our community through culture expression..
There are 30 spots available. Interested participants must register to a google doc NOW here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TxmelVunQ5dsyQM5KBDsuDLXI2JlEJmFkOj6L662aLI/edit?usp=sharing
Refreshments and materials provided
Bl
ack Heritage Month Community Building Dinner
Thursday, February 27, 2020
5:30-8:00pm
Amherst Room, Campus Center, 10th Floor
February marks Black History Month, a federally recognized, nationwide celebration that calls on all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African Americans have played in shaping U. S. History.
At UMass Amherst, the Malcolm X Cultural Center will celebrate this historical occasion with a celebratory dinner at which students, faculty and staff will get together to identify common values that build and strrengthen a community.
You are invited to attend this momentous occasion. Send your RSVP to mxcc@sacl.umass.edu by February 22, 2020 NOW!
We look forward to meeting you and hope to see you there!
Harvard Biomedical Science Conference
Saturday, April 4, 2020Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA
Application Deadline: January 31, 2020. See application form here.
The Harvard Biomedical Science Career Conference is open to students from underrepresented populations who are seriously interested in the STEM fields or currently studying biomedical science or other science-related fields, such as chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry, pre-medicine, biomedical engineering, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, biotechnology, physical therapy, public health, allied health or environmental science. The conference provides students with opportunities to network with industry advisors/mentors from the basic and clinical sciences, medicine, National Institute of Health, public health, academia and biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries.
Free transportation will be provided and space is limited with only 36 seats available.
To attend, please submit/email a completed application and resume to CMASS Asst. Director Willie Pope at wjp@umass.edu or room 203 Wilder no later than Friday, January 31, 2020.
