UMass HR Insider—May 2025 | Volume 3, Issue 5
Content
2025 Chancellor’s Citation Award Recipients—Celebrating Excellence Across Campus!
On April 23, the university community gathered at the historic Old Chapel to honor exceptional contributions at the 2025 Chancellor’s Citation and Gerald F. Scanlon Student Employee of the Year awards ceremony.
Ten dedicated staff members, two outstanding employee teams, and 10 remarkable student employees were recognized for going above and beyond in their work and service to UMass Amherst. Their passion, commitment, and impact truly make a difference, and we celebrate their achievements with pride!
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Add Your Chosen First Name in HR Direct
UMass Amherst employees can now designate a Chosen First Name in HR Direct Employee Self Service. This is the name you prefer to be called, even if it's different from your legal name.
Please note that your legal name will still be used when UMass is required to share information with external agencies, such as the MA Group Insurance Commission, the MA State Retirement Board, and the postdoctoral health insurance vendor.
Also keep in mind that chosen/preferred names in SPIRE (the student system) are managed separately. Name information does not transfer between SPIRE and HR Direct in either direction.
For more information or to update your name, log in to HR Direct and navigate to Employee Self Service.
UMass Downtown: Where Campus Spirit Meets Community Connection
Human Resources is now on site at UMass Downtown every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary!
Whether you're a job seeker, a new hire, or simply curious about exploring opportunities at UMass, HR is here to help you every step of the way.
Learn More About UMass Downtown
UMass Amherst Night at Fenway Park—Join the Fun!
There’s nothing quite like a night at Fenway—unless you’re surrounded by fellow UMass employees, alumni, family, and friends! Come cheer on the Boston Red Sox as they take on the New York Mets on Wednesday, May 21, at 6:45 p.m., and help us turn the stands UMass maroon.
Before the first pitch, we’ll celebrate the incredible 2024–25 seasons of our UMass field hockey, men’s soccer, and hockey teams—all of whom made us proud with standout performances in the NCAA tournament.
Don’t miss this special night of UMass pride at one of baseball’s most iconic ballparks!
We Are a Health-Promoting University: Pillars of Well-Being—Sustainability
UMass Amherst values our planet and natural resources and highly prioritizes sustainability efforts. The Chancellor's Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) facilitates the integration of sustainability initiatives across campus and across categories, like academics and research, buildings and infrastructure, campus life and student activities, climate change and energy, food system and permaculture, and waste and recycling. We believe that well-being is a concept that includes the health of places and the planet.
Sustainable UMass
UMass Carbon Zero
New2U Sustainable Move-Out/Move-In
Workplace Learning and Development: Foundations of Supervision
Ready to grow your leadership skills? Our Foundations of Supervision program is now accepting applications for the summer and fall sessions—and spots are going fast!
Our current cohort is the largest ever, and we’re thrilled to see so much interest. If you are a supervisor or have supervisors on your team who haven’t yet enrolled, now’s the time to sign up and be part of this impactful professional development experience.
Don’t miss out!
Summer Dates: June 9, June 18, July 8, July 23
Application Deadline: TODAY!! May 19
Fall 2025 Dates: October 15, October 22, November 5, November 19
Application Deadline: September 26
More information—and links to the applications—can be found here.