University of Massachusetts Boston
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

"The University prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), and retaliation against anyone based on religion or religious belief, color, race, marital status, veteran or military status, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected class, in education, admission, access to or treatment in, its programs, services, benefits, activities, and terms and conditions of employment at the University."

https://www.umb.edu/campus-life/current-students/policies/non-discrimination-and-harassment-policy/

"The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX will work with people who come to raise a concern or make a complaint. We will give them the agency to choose how or if they want to participate in a resolution process. We offer both informal and formal resolution opportunities.

Informal resolution opportunities could be, but are not limited to, no contact directives, assistance with switching class schedules, along with other informal remedies.
Our formal resolution process includes an opportunity to have an investigation conducted by a neutral civil rights investigator from our office who will act as a fact finder. The goal of the resolution process is to resolve matters of alleged discrimination in the soundest way for the parties involved and the university.
To file a complaint with our office please click the link to our complaint form below. The complaint form will be sent to our office once completed and someone from our office will reach out to you to meet with you and discuss your complaint."

Academic and Non-Academic Staff:
"The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has the responsibility to provide guidance in the hiring process of the University of Massachusetts Boston and to assist in recruiting a diverse faculty and staff population. Additionally, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion monitors faculty and staff recruitment activities to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures."

Students:

Pathway programs:
UMB maintains relationships with local community colleges through its pathway programs for students currently enrolled at Roxbury Community College or Bunker Hill Community College. The demographics of these institutions have a majority minority population. Students who apply to the pathway program are not required to submit an additional application to UMB. Additionally, the application fee is waived. Students also receive specialized support at their community college to ease the transfer process.

Early College Program:
UMB has partnered with Boston Public Schools (BPS), including Boston Community Leadership Academy, Fenway High School, and New Mission High School. Students enrolled in the program will be dually enrolled at BPS and UMass Boston, and will receive in-person instruction, wrap-around support services, mentoring, and tutoring from UMass Boston faculty, advisors, and the university’s students, many of them BPS graduates. Students are eligible to earn 30 credits, equivalent to a full year of college, for no cost. The program has served 95 students in the year 2022-2023, with the goal to reach 1,000 students in the next 5 years. Early College programs reduce the time, expense, and systemic barriers to higher education faced by low-income, minority, and first-generation college students, increasing the likelihood of degree completion.

TAG I ALERTA:
TAG is a program that supports Latinx and Multilingual BPS students. The program aims to cultivate young citizens and civic leaders who can respond to their local and global communities’ needs in the areas of art, math and science, education, social development, and social justice. Students in the program are guaranteed admission to UMass Boston with successful completion of high school.

Academic and non-academic staff:
The Black Faculty, Staff, and Student Association (BFSSA) at Umass Boston is a membership organization available to black students and employees. For students, BFSSA supports Black student success in admissions, retention, graduation, and access to educational services. For Black faculty, we strive to increase hiring and retention while also achieving success in Black faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion at all levels. For staff, we support equitable access to UMB careers as well as the inclusive promotion, retention, and fair treatment of our members. Additionally, the organization promotes BFSSA members as senior administrators in the highest echelons of leadership roles to ensure access and representation around critical issues relevant to black diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice here at UMass Boston.

The University Health Services has individual counseling, and it hosts counseling groups and workshops each semester. The groups include an affinity space for Asian American students, and a support group for Black female students. Other resources and groups are available to students including the following:
- Interfaith Campus Ministry
- The Womens Center
- Queer Student Center
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Asian American Student Success Program
- Multicultural Coalition
(https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/multiculturalaffairs/support_resources)
(https://www.umb.edu/healthservices/counseling_center)

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion host a number of resources to support individuals with different backgrounds. These resources are both internal and external. Faculty and Staff seeking support are encouraged to connect with HR where they can request accommodations and support.

UMass Boston participates in the McNair Scholars Program. The purpose of this program is to provide opportunities for undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups to excel at the undergraduate level in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics, progress toward doctoral degrees, and undertake careers in college and university teaching.

Research is an important part of the program with McNair students pursuing a year of independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This mentor is usually a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Boston, but may also be from a hospital research laboratory or from another research institution. This research experience culminates with each participant giving an oral or poster presentation at a Scientific Conference, and also to the Scientific Community at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The program includes McNair Fellows In-Training, and McNair Fellows. McNair Fellows In-Training are students with fewer than 60 credits. The program provides these students with tutoring, mentoring, opportunities to participate in summer research at another institution, and a compensation of $9.00 an hour, if participating in research activities. Fellows In-Training are also required to attend all scheduled events including workshops and training.

McNair fellows are students with 60 or more credits. Fellows are paired with a faculty member and a graduate student who are experts in the fellows field of study. Together, they design, develop, and carry out a research project. Fellows receive the following:
- In-state tuition credit
- $2,800 stipend for the academic year
- Workshops on selecting a graduate school, preparing applications, and taking the Graduate Record Examination
- Seminars on research, writing, and presentation skills
- Opportunities to interact with successful scholars and researchers as well as other undergraduates having similar goals
- Information on how to finance your graduate education