UMass HR Insider—December 2025 | Volume 3, Issue 12

Content

Updated Holiday and Campus Closure Days Calendar

Check out the updated holiday and campus closure calendar! Take a moment to look at the dates and talk with your teams about time off, coverage, and upcoming projects. If your area has busy seasons, this is a good time to sort out staffing needs and touch base with supervisors about any adjustments. A little planning now keeps offices steady and avoids last-minute scrambles as we move through each break and closure day.

Employee Service Center and Ask HR
Employee Service Center Hours and AskHR

If you need HR assistance as the year wraps up, there are a few ways to get support!

Employee Service Center
The Human Resources Employee Service Center is now located in Room 168 of the Whitmore Administration Building. Regular hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note the center is closed on official holidays and during any campus closures.

AskHR
AskHR provides enhanced customer support, a more efficient method for employees and guests to get answers, and new information tracking capabilities to provide better service over time. It covers benefits, payroll, employment verification, leave, retirement, and other common questions. Feel free to AskHR anytime!

Stress
Year-End Wellness Resources

The end of the calendar year can bring added demands. To help faculty and staff manage stress and maintain well-being, UMass Amherst offers a range of employee support services through the HR office, including counseling and well-being programs. The Employee Counseling and Consultation Office (ECCO) is available at 413-545-0350 or by email.
 

Why now is a good time to use ECCO:

The season often brings higher stress and increased personal commitments. With campus closures and reduced operations, some employees may feel rushed or disconnected. Using wellness resources now can help you return in January feeling refreshed.

A Guide to Winter Weather and Campus Closure Protocols

With winter at our door, it is important for all faculty and staff to know where to find information during severe weather, including announcements, parking rules, staggered departure procedures, and related time and attendance policies.
Where to find closing and weather-related information

For a summary of severe weather procedures, including radio and television outlets that carry closing announcements, visit the Inclement Weather Procedures webpage.
For “parking smart” guidance on snow days, read the UMass Amherst Campus Parking Snow Policy here.
For inclement-weather time and attendance policies, review the memo from Human Resources.
For winter safety tips, visit the Winter Weather webpage.
Additional closing and delay information is available at umass.edu/closing.
If you see stairs, walkways, or other areas that need attention during winter weather, contact the Facilities Service Center at 413-545-6401. The center is staffed around the clock and can respond to facility issues or emergencies.
Sign up for UMass Amherst Alerts

The UMass Amherst Alerts emergency text messaging system is one of the primary ways the university communicates urgent situations, including weather-related closures. Because these alerts are time-critical, employees are encouraged to register. Visit the UMass Amherst Alerts site for sign-up information.
 

Microlearning Made Easy—Try Self-Guided Learning with Workplace Learning & Development

Do you wish your professional development could fit into those spare minutes between meetings, or work around an unpredictable schedule? Workplace Learning & Development’s Self-Guided Learning (SGL) offers precisely that—a flexible, bite-sized learning format designed to meet you where you are.

SGL helps you:

reflect on your current strengths and areas for growth; 
absorb new ideas in manageable, time-friendly chunks; and 
try practical strategies on the job right away. 
If you’ve got a few minutes—or want deeper training when you have time—SGL gives you a flexible, effective way to grow! Try self-guided learning today!
 

Nomination Deadline Extended: The 2026 Chancellor's Citation Award

The annual Chancellor's Citation Award celebrates individual staff members and staff teams whose work has significantly enhanced the university's mission. This award honors those who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and who contribute meaningfully to our community. Given the demands of this time of year, we are providing additional time for submissions.

Recipients of this award consistently go above and beyond their duties, positively impacting their executive area and the campus as a whole. We will award up to ten individual staff members and two staff teams in GIC-eligible positions.

Nominations are Due Online or In-Person in 168 Whitmore Administration Building by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Help Shape the HR Insider in the Year Ahead

As we plan for the year ahead, we want to hear from you. The UMass HR Insider should be useful, informative, and worth a quick read, and the best way to get there is to ask the people who read it!

Please share your thoughts and help us build a better HR Insider.

Exciting Changes Are Coming! Recruitment Optimization Project Update

On January 12, UMass Amherst will launch a refreshed careers site with a clean look and a smoother, more intuitive experience for candidates. This update is part of our move to a dedicated PageUp recruitment system that offers stronger tools, clearer workflows, and better data to support faster and more informed hiring decisions.
The new system gives us more control, flexibility, and insight, which will help us attract strong talent and make the hiring process easier for everyone involved.

As we get closer to launch, take a moment to review the new FAQ section on the HR Website. It answers common questions about what is changing and what to expect in the coming weeks.

Career Opportunities—Tell a Friend

Assistant Director of Retention & Academic Success (Hybrid Opportunity)

This position will support the development of a comprehensive program to improve student retention and graduation rates. The role will provide academic advising to undergraduate students, with a focused effort to reduce the number of students in academic jeopardy. It will also assist in planning and implementing proactive College of Natural Sciences programs and services that strengthen undergraduate student success and retention.