News

Nusrat Chowdhury to Discuss Crowds as Defining Feature of Democratic Practices

Nusrat S. Chowdhury, assistant professor of anthropology at Amherst College, will speak on “Paradoxes of the Popular: Crowds and the Ambivalence of Resistance in Bangladesh” on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in 145 Integrated Sciences Building.

The talk is part of the Resistance Studies Initiative Fall Speaker Series.

Chowdhury teaches and writes on popular sovereignty and political communication with particular focus on Bangladesh. Her book, “Paradoxes of the Popular:...

Family Weekend 2018 Set for Oct. 19-21.

Family Weekend returns Oct. 19-21 with a full schedule of informative and entertaining activities, ranging from chocolate classes to tours of the new $100 million Physical Sciences Building. The weekend includes home games for football and men’s soccer, bake shop tours, the Multicolor Mile fundraiser, a parents’ reception, tips for students moving off-campus, a walking tour of campus trees, Graduate Women in STEM laboratory tour, pumpkin decorating and wagon rides and a Haunted UMass tour....

Anna Branch speaks at the launch of the Learning Community

Office of Equity and Inclusion Launches Learning Community Initiative

The Office of Equity and Inclusion has launched the Learning Community initiative, encouraging the campus community to participate in small (10-15 participants) discussion groups based on the book, “What if I Say the Wrong Thing?: 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People” by Vernā Myers.

Groups will start meeting after Oct. 18, and a learning community celebration dinner will be held in December for all...

State Approves Permanent Variance for Gender-Neutral Bathrooms at UMass Amherst

AMHERST, Mass.—Following a yearlong pilot program on campus, the state plumbing board has granted a permanent variance allowing the University of Massachusetts Amherst to keep two multi-stall bathrooms in Baker Residence Hall gender-inclusive.

The bathrooms, both on the first floor of the five-floor dormitory, serve a gender-inclusive housing option in the north wing of the building and the Spectrum: LGBTQIA+ Student Community in the south wing.

In 2017, the university formally...

Ranjanaa Devi, Director of Asian Arts and Culture Program, to Retire

Ranjanaa Devi, founding director of the Fine Arts Center’s Asian Arts and Culture Program, will retire Oct. 19 after 35 years with the university.

Devi created the program in 1993 after she was invited by director emeritus Frederick C. Tillis to address the critical need for diverse arts programming at the Fine Arts Center. The program has given center stage to artistic endeavors that reflect many cultures of Asia, bringing to the region work that is often available only in major...

Grant to Boost Child Care Aid for Low-Income Students with Dependent Children

The university has received a $1 million federal Department of Education (DOE) grant to subsidize child care costs for low-income college students who have dependent children.

The four-year funding is provided through DOE’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which supports the participation of low-income parents in post-secondary education.

In 2017, 86 colleges were awarded grants, ranging from $14,000 to $427,000, with an average award of $174,000....

Travel Grants Available for Graduate Students Presenting Family Research

The Center for Research on Families (CRF) will give three travel awards of up to $300 to selected UMass Amherst graduate students who are presenting original family research at a national research conference before May 30, 2019.

The student must be the first author on an accepted paper or poster presentation at the conference. The award money must be used exclusively for travel expenses associated with the conference.

Completed applications for the fall travel awards, including...

Ferreira to be Honored by 100 Men of Color

Sid Ferreira, special assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, will be among those honored at the 100 Men of Color Black Tie Gala and Awards at the Bushnell in Hartford on Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.

The 6th anniversary celebration of the gala will recognize the contributions of these men of color in business, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, government and public service and the impact they have made on the lives of people throughout Connecticut and western...

IPO, Office for Equity and Inclusion Offer Free Passports to New Applicants

Note: The day of the week of the event has been corrected to Friday.

The International Programs Office (IPO) is co-sponsoring a “passport caravan” event for first-time passport applicants on Friday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Olver Design Building Atrium.

Students in need of a new passport (not a renewal) who are U.S. citizens and current freshmen, sophomores or juniors enrolled at UMass Amherst are eligible for a free passport.

...

Amel Ahmed Named Director of Academic Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

Amel Ahmed, associate professor of political science, has been named the inaugural director of academic equity and inclusion initiatives in the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI). Led by Enobong (Anna) Branch, associate chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, OEI strives to promote an institutional culture that advances and upholds the university’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Ahmed will work to support the university’s...

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