June 10, 6:30-7:30pm

In our third installment of the Politics & Policy lecture and discussion series, Dr. Jane Fountain, Distinguished Professor, co-founder of the National Center for Digital Government, and director of the School of Public Policy will present, "AI, Bias, and Public Policy: What to Know about Algorithms".

AI uses computational algorithms with potential to improve public policy and civic life. But some algorithms are based on biased data and encode those biases into decision making models. Biases of concern are related to ethnicity, gender, race, disabilities, age and related attributes. AI based models may reproduce biased decisions made in the past and residing in large databases which then influence procedures and processes that may intentionally or unintentionally disadvantage some people. Examples are drawn from facial recognition technologies, predictive policing and automated decision making in administrative systems. Explore some of the remedies proposed to enhance the prospects for fair, transparent and equitable systems.

This series is presented in partnership with the UMass School of Public Policy, the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, and the Political Science Department.

June 14, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30pm

Celebrate the jazz roots of Amherst with live sets from acclaimed saxophonist and UMass alum Chuck Langford. The program will repeat three times--at 2:30pm, 3:00pm, and 3:30pm. Join us!

A Tribute to the Jazz Roots of Amherst is presented as part of the 5th Annual Ancestral Bridges Juneteenth Legacy Celebration. Learn more and see the full line up of events here.

Tuesdays, 10am-4pm

Looking for job opportunities at UMass Amherst? Need help with your application or have questions about the hiring process? Are you a new employee with questions about onboarding? UMass Amherst Human Resources is here to help! 

Beginning Tuesday, April 15, the UMass HR team will offer weekly community office hours at UMass Downtown to provide application assistance and interview guidance for prospective employees and CORI verifications and onboarding support for new hires. 

No appointment necessary. Just stop by during UMass HR's community office hours!

Fourth Wednesdays, 10am-4pm

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center provides free advising for Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce members on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Meet with Rob DelMastro, Regional Director of the MA SBDC, and receive confidential one-on-one support tailored to your business. 

Hosted in partnership with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, with thanks to presenting sponsor Greenfield Northampton Cooperative Bank. Registration is required. Learn more and register for a slot at amherstarea.com/events.

Thursdays (beginning 6/12), 10am-12pm

Stop by UMass Downtown between 10am and noon on Thursdays (beginning 6/12) to receive free tech help provided by technicians from the UMass Store. Services include computer (Apple and PC)/iPhone/iPad troubleshooting, Windows support, hardware diagnostics, and iPhone battery health checks. No appointment necessary!

James oversees the university's multipurpose retail, event and meeting satellite space in downtown Amherst, which opened this week.

The conversations, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 24, May 6 and June 10 in the university’s new multipurpose retail, event and meeting space at 108 North Pleasant St. in downtown Amherst, are free and open to all.