Welcome Event for Employee Resource Groups to Take Place Sept. 21
On Tuesday, Sep. 21 at 4 p.m., a welcome event will be held in the Campus Center Auditorium for UMass employees currently in or interested in joining an Employee Resource Group (ERG). These groups provide UMass staff and faculty with resources for professional development, networking, and mentorship, while also promoting the recruitment, retention and advancement of employees who are underrepresented in our community.
This event is open to any UMass employee, and is meant to reconnect current members of an ERG, serve as a welcome for new members, and provide current non-members with information on the individual ERG’s themselves. ERGs are a free resource and there is to membership fee. The Employee Resource Group initiative is sponsored by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Human Resources.
“Our goals when we launched the Employee Resource Groups were to create professional development resources for our underrepresented staff and faculty, to increase opportunities for building community, and to identify the obstacles to our employees being able to thrive in their careers here,” says Emmanuel Adero, deputy chief officer for Equity and Inclusion. “The challenges we’ve all experienced throughout the pandemic have only increased the need for these resources. Our ERG leaders have been working hard to support our employees, and this event will be the first opportunity of many, for you to meet them, connect with colleagues from across the campus, and help us to serve you better.”
Current Employee Resource Groups are:
UMass Allies for Illness and Disability Access (UMAIDA) Network
Promoting a supportive network and work environment that is inclusive and accessible for all individuals with lived experience of disability, deafness, illness (chronic and mental), injury, neurodiversity and their allies. The group also focuses on ways to support the recruitment, retention, professional development and career advancement of employees with disabilities.
UMass Faculty and Staff of Color Network
Fostering connections and developing community for employees from underrepresented groups at UMass Amherst, and promoting an inclusive work environment.
UMass International Staff/Faculty Network
Building connections, assisting in the transition to the University, and promoting a community and working environment for both new arrivals and long-time residents of the U.S., that is both welcoming and nurturing.
UMass LGBTQIA+ Network
Cultivating a more welcoming and respectful campus community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual individuals and their allies, with a primary focus on the retention, advancement and edification of UMass Amherst staff and faculty.
UMass Veterans Network
Working to make UMass Amherst a workplace of choice for veterans, reservists and guardsmen, while fostering a community to support and encourage networking, career development and mentorship.