UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
tel.: 617-287-6770
fax: 617-287-6768
american.studies@umb.edu
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Below is a listing of FAQ categories. Either click on the links below, or simply scroll down to see all of the questions.
Salary, paychecks, and direct deposit
Faculty privileges: getting ID, library card,
etc.
Office: Part time faculty office, phone number, main
office hours
Class: How do I get my roster?
How does Add/Drop work?
Problems on campus: facilities, medical emergencies,
fire alarms, etc.
Security: what if I lock myself out of the office?
SALARY/PAYCHECKS
When will I get paid? |
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Paychecks arrive biweekly on Friday mornings. You will not be paid for the current week that is ending on the Friday payday, but the two weeks prior to that. ou will not receive a paycheck on the Friday of the first week of classes.
You won't receive a paycheck until you have signed your contract and completed all of your pre-employment paperwork (including TB test) if you are a new employee. If, for some reason, you sign your contract sometime well after you have started teaching, your first paycheck will include all the back pay that you are owed.
How do I get Direct Deposit?
All state employees are required to have direct deposit for their paychecks. You should get a direct deposit form in your pre-employment paperwork if you are a new employee, or, when you sign your contract (if you have missed a semester but are not a new employee). If not, go to Human Resources (Administration Bldg, 3rd floor) and ask for a direct deposit authorization form. You will need to bring a voided check with you to attach to this form. The micred routing numbers on the bottom of the check are crucial information for getting your hard earned money to your account.
Direct Deposit will takes 1-2 pay periods to be implemented. In the meantime, you will receive a regular check. When you have Direct Deposit, you will receive an advice statement that lists your gross and net salaries as well as your deductions.
If you have been
off the payroll, you need to re-do the Direct Deposit authorization.
Direct Deposit does not resume automatically if you have been away for
a semester.
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FACULTY PRIVILEGES
How do I get a library card?
Present your UMB ID to the library check out counter and tell them you are a new faculty member who needs a library sticker. The staff will take your address/phone contact data and put a bar code sticker on the back of your ID card. Your ID card is also your library card.
How do I get a UMB ID?
ID cards are issued at the Student Life office in the Campus Center. You will need to bring a photo ID (driver’s license or passport) to get your UMB ID.
If you need your
ID before your contract data has been put into the UMB computer system,
the administrative assistant can write you a letter verifying your UMB
employment. (This often is the case for new part time faculty.)
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OFFICE
How will I know my office assignment?
The American Studies and Communication Studies part time faculty office is W-5-112. The phone number is 617-287-6772. The administrative assistant will put in a key request for you. The shared telephone does have voicemail; you will need to take messages for your colleagues (as they will for you).
What about mail, fax, email, etc? |
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You will have a mailbox in the room next to the main office (W-5-004a). Your office key will open the mailbox room and the conference room as well as W-5-112.
The office fax number is 617-287-6768. (This is a low volume fax, and students may NOT fax papers for any reason.)
UMass Boston uses MicroSoft Outlook for its email application. If you would like a UMB email, see the administrative assistant. You can access your UMB Outlook email from the web via the exchange server. Since UMB owns a MicroSoft license, you can buy the MS Office CD that has Outlook (as well as Word, PowerPoint, and Access) for $15.00 from Computing Services.
Please note that MS Outlook is prone to viruses. Make sure you have up-to-date antivirus software on your computer. If you have questions about this, ask the administrative assistant.
When is the main office open?
Office hours for
the semester will be posted. Since your key opens the main office,
you have access 24 hours a day. UMass campus is always open, so you
can get your mail anytime.
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YOUR CLASS
How will I get my roster?
Your roster will
be in your mailbox prior to your first class meeting. If you are teaching
for Continuing Education on a Saturday and there is no roster in your
mailbox, go down to the Continuing Ed office in Wheatley, 2nd
floor, room 203 and they will print out a roster for you.
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HOW DOES ADD/DROP WORK?
For the regular university: |
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All departments use the Touch tone Telephone or Web Add/Drop. Even non-degree students will be using this system. No undergraduate students should have Add/Drop slips. (Graduate non-degree students will have registration forms to be signed--they are the only exception.)
Tell students who want to get into your class that they must use the telephone or web registration system to add--and if they are persistent, they most likely will get into your class.
Continuing Education:
All students must pay for Continuing Education classes at the Continuing Education office when they register -- they are not billed through the Bursar’s Office. They may go in person and pay by check or credit card, or, they may call and register with a credit card by phone.
If classes have already started, or your class is full, the student must get the instructor's permission (via signature on the registration form) before registering for your course.
How can I add students to my class?
(Regular university courses)
If you are on the UIS system (full time or union part timers), you may add your class to the student’s registration page.
If you are not on the UIS system, get the student’s name and social security number and tell the administrative assistant that you want this student added to your course and she will take care of it.
On the UIS system,
one can override the capacity cutoff and add extra students. No students
will be able to add by phone until enough students drop so that the
numbers are below the cap.
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PROBLEMS ON CAMPUS
What if the light is out in my classroom or office, or a room is too cold or hot, etc.?
For any maintenance type problem—from temperature, to lights out, or a hazard like water on the floor, call the Customer Service Center at ext. 7-4000 from any beige house phone (located near each elevator bank). Report the problem to the Customer Service agent who will then give you a ticket number for your request. Refer to the ticket number when calling back about the status of your request.
What if there is a medical emergency?
Call 911 from any house phone, or 617-287-1212 from your cell phone. (All elevators have an emergency intercom system in them in case you have an emergency in the elevator). This will immediately connect you to Campus Police. They will call an ambulance and send a police officer over to assist.
What if the fire alarm goes off?
Everyone must leave the building as quickly as possible when the fire alarm goes off. Assume you will not be allowed to return: take your coat, backpack, purse, etc. with you.
If you are in class, tell your students to go outside in an orderly fashion. If you are not on the first floor, tell all able-bodied people to use the stairs rather than the elevator. DO NOT USE THE CENTRAL STAIRWELL. Use the back stairwells that have lit "Exit" signs. Make sure all of your students are out of the classroom before you leave.
It is crucial that you do NOT use the central stairwell...in a real fire, the central stairwell will act like a chimney and not be a safe exit. The back stairwells have a 2 hour fire-proof delay. Should you be trapped in the back stairwells, you will have a 2 hour window before the fire reaches you. All UMB solid doors have a 1 hour fire delay. If you cannot leave your office or classroom, close the door.
Please assist those
who have ambulatory disabilities—unless you yourself have a disability
that prevents you from doing so. If you need assistance, ask one of
your students to help you.
Firefighters and campus police will arrive and go through the building
to make sure everyone has been evacuated.
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SECURITY |
What if I lock myself out of my office, or forget to bring my keys?
If the administrative assistant is around, she can let you in with her master key. If she is not, call Campus Police at ext. 7-7799 from any house phone (located in every elevator lobby) and ask to have a security officer let you into your office. Each semester the administrative assistant submits a list of American Studies faculty and staff names and locations to which they are allowed access. Your name has been submitted with access to your office and the main office so that you can get your mail.
The Campus Police will ask for your name, your department, and the office location. You will also be asked to show ID when they arrive (or after they open your office if your ID is inside).
If I am on campus late at night by myself, is there an escort service?
Yes, Campus Police will provide either a police or security officer to escort you to your car, the bus stop, etc. Call 7-7799 from any house phone. There is no need to give a reason, simply ask for an escort.
Do call in advance
prior to the time you want to leave so that you will not have to wait
for the officer to arrive.
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