Sabbatical Leave

The University's Sabbatical Leave policy is set out in the Faculty Federation Contract, Article IX.

SACHEM Cross-Registration

Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education in Massachusetts

UMass Dartmouth students may cross-register for courses at other SACHEM (Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education in Massachusetts) institutions on a space-available, prior-approval basis. Likewise, students at these other institutions may cross-register for courses at UMass Dartmouth. Institutions involved in the program, in addition to UMass Dartmouth, are:

• Bridgewater State College
• Bristol Community College
• Cape Cod Community College
• Dean Junior College
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Massasoit Community College
• Stonehill College
• Wheaton College

Tuition and fees established by the "away" institution are suspended, provided that the matriculated student is a degree-seeking student at the home institution and carries and pays for a full-time load there. Further information and appropriate forms may be obtained in the Registrar's Office.

Safety Officer

Contact: Wayne Le Blanc
x8242 Dion Room 002

Our university has both a firm and deep commitment for the health and safety of its employees, students and the general public and a concern for the maintenance of a clean and safe environment. Toward this goal UMass Dartmouth provides a part time University Environmental Health and Safety Officer. The duties and responsibilities are divided among observing and complying with current local, state and federal legislative requirements and ethically maintaining a safe conducive climate for all academic endeavors.

Scheduling Events

Faculty who wish to use a room during the academic semester for a specific event (whether or not related to the instruction) should contact Colleen Wetterland (X8614) of the Registrar's Office for assistance. Do not just assume a certain room is available!

Assistance with planning and conducting on-campus events is obtained through the Conference and Events Coordinator, Elizabeth Martin (X8143).

Scholarships

Many different offices are involved in scholarship administration. The following chart gives general guidance:

Office of Admissions

Merit scholarships given to entering students; most use tuition or fee waivers but a few are from private funds

Financial Aid

Private need-based general scholarships to entering and continuing students

Office of Academic Affairs / Graduate Studies

Private merit scholarships mainly awarded to continuing students; this office also monitors students' eligibility for continuation of multi-year awards of many types.

Academic Departments

Private need and merit scholarships dedicated to a certain academic field

UMD Foundation

Certain merit and need-based scholarships; also maintains accounts, records, and policies on UMD private scholarships

Enrollment Management

The university requires use of appropriate process and procedure to ensure equitable practice in the awarding of scholarships.

A Committee of staff and faculty meet periodically to assemble information and recommend policy on scholarships; this committee is chaired by the Assistant Chancellor for Enrollment Management; call x8018. This group maintains an informational web site, accessible from the UMD home pages, that lists and describes available scholarships. Please visit that web site for information and encourage students to do the same.

Secretarial Help

You will have access to the services of a departmental secretary, but please understand that they are all very busy. Typing for department members is done on a first-come, first-served basis, within the following priorities: work required for classes (e.g. exams, hand-outs, book lists, etc.); work for departmental chairperson associated with the administration of the department; professional correspondence; research papers for faculty (not dissertations or theses) when time permits.

Since secretaries must also answer phones, receive visitors, assist students, deal with faculty, distribute mail and messages, maintain departmental supplies and files, and oversee work-study students, please allow sufficient time for the preparation of your work and treat the secretaries with all possible courtesy.

The secretary is also the person to see when you need office supplies such as paper, clips, a calendar, a stapler, a ruler, envelopes, etc.

Sexist Language

UMass Dartmouth is committed to ensuring equality and avoiding gender discrimination. Therefore, it is the university policy to avoid, in all university publications and communications, the use of language that perpetuates gender bias. University employees are urged to use gender-neutral language, and faculty are urged to choose textbooks and readings that are free of gender bias.

The Executive Director of Information, News, & Publications can advise in difficult cases (x8765).

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Officer
x8204 Group I Room 369

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an educational institution and an employer is committed to the maintenance of standards of conduct that will treat individuals with dignity and respect.

Sexual harassment is a violation of these principles and shall not be tolerated within the academic community.

Sick Leave

You are required to call your chairperson or departmental secretary to report your absence from class and to cancel your classes.

You are charged for each day of the week, even non-teaching days; that is, if you are out on Monday and Wednesday, you are also charged for the intervening Tuesday.

In cases of prolonged illness, there is a Faculty Sick Leave Bank. If you join the Bank (this opportunity is available during the first September of employment), you relinquish one day of sick leave; in exchange, five days after your sick leave is exhausted, you may draw upon the Bank as needed and continue to receive full pay and benefits.

See also Faculty Federation Contract.

Snow Procedures

Snow Procedures, with lists of Radio / TV stations, are listed in the Campus Telephone Directory, and are also available on the UMD Home Page Website.

Please do not call the University. Listen to the radio or TV instead. If classes are cancelled in the middle of the day, you will be informed.

Star Store Campus Extension

x8903 Purchase Street Room 245C

For information regarding UMD's New Bedford campus, contact Barbara Lynch.

Study Abroad

Students who wish to study abroad should register as Withdrawn on Exchange.

This status allows students to remain in current, registered status while they pursue full-time studies at another higher-education institution, which is usually located in another country.

This status also allows students to qualify for financial aid at a level appropriate to their anticipated expenses during the exchange period.

Students registered as Withdrawn on Exchange remain matriculated students at UMass Dartmouth and their aid award can be obtained through the UMD Financial Aid Office. A small registration fee is charged. Forms may be obtained at the Office of the Registrar or in the Academic Advising Center.

Faculty who are advising students interested in a semester abroad are encouraged to work closely with the Director of Academic Advising, who can assist in the choice of an institution and in completing the paperwork. Faculty should assist their advisees in planning a course of study abroad and securing departmental approval for the plan. Credits completed while a student is in Withdrawn on Exchange status will be treated as transfer credits on the UMass Dartmouth transcript.

UMass Dartmouth currently has formal agreements with about a dozen institutions, located in England, Portugal, France, Germany, South Africa, Canada and others.