Dear members,

The coalition of unions is holding a member meeting to provide you with an update on the status of parking and transportation bargaining including the latest union coalition proposal and administration counter proposal.

Most importantly, we will share what happens on July 1, 2026, if we do not reach an agreement. We also seek your feedback to tell us what proposal items are most important to you.

Please attend and provide us with feedback.

Date: Wednesday, June 3rd, 12-1pm. U-Hall 1300.

Zoom Option: (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information).

Sincerely,

Parking & Transportation Coalition

 

 

 

 

Dear Member,

Please join us and your colleagues from the CSU, FSU, GEO and PSU Unions and concerned students on June 3rd to hear the latest on what UMB admin is proposing for parking fee increases–both a daily rate increase and an annual ‘escalator’–and what your campus unions (PSU, FSU, CSU, DCU) have been fighting to win.

We want to hear your thoughts on the options we’re facing.

Date: Wednesday June 3rd, 12-1pm. U-Hall 1300.

Zoom Option: (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information).

Dear Faculty and Librarians,

This is the last Nuts & Bolts of the semester.  Four years ago, the Executive Committee discussed how to share information with you. We came up with a weekly email highlighting current FSU actions/activities, contract information, and MTA information. I thank Brian White for naming the email Nuts & Bolts.

Period of non-responsibility

Most faculty are on academic-year appointments. The nine-month appointment states the faculty member works a fixed period which is nine months. The remaining three months (June, July, and August) are the period of non-responsibility.

Update: Parking & Transportation Bargaining Session

Parking coalition members (CSU, DCU. FSU, GEO and PSU) met May 13th to hear the administration’s counter related to economic issues – daily rate, 30 use passes, sliding scale rate and MBTA subsidy percent. What we received was disappointing.  In fact, the coalition believes what was presented is regressive.  We strongly expressed our displeasure about what was presented. We are back at the table on May 26th.

Next steps: watch for an email about an all-union June 3rd meeting to provide an update on our proposal, UMB’s counters and what happens if we do not reach an agreement by July 1, 2026.

Know Your Contract: Additional students above course capacities

For both in-person and distance learning courses, once course capacities are reached, only the individual faculty member may admit additional students (see Article 15.4 of the contract for more information). Faculty members have full discretion in this regard with exception of the multi-section courses referenced in 15.4.

Know Your Contract: Phased Retirement

Tenure track members and NTT/Librarians on continuing appointments may participate in this program that allows members to reduce their percentage of time to 50% for up to 2 years prior to separation from the university (see Article 27.14 for more info).

No on 90 Campaign: Board of Higher Education to Allow 90 credit Bachelor’s Degrees

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education is implementing a pilot program for a 90-credit bachelor’s degree. Currently, a degree requires 120 credits.  This change impacts the number of classes required plus the type of classes necessary to reach 90 credits.

MTA is forming a committee of higher ed members to organize against the change. If you are interested, please contact FSU.

MTA 2026 Summer Conference, July 26th to 29th at UMass Amherst

Join fellow union members at the MTA Summer Conference.  Workshop sessions include union skills, bargaining, and retirement planning.

This year, Monday, July 27th,is devoted to higher education members with workshops and events specifically for us.

Watch for MTA emails with updated conference information including registration and lodging.  Click here for more information.

MTA Benefits: Discount Directory

MTA Benefits has a wide variety of discounts from entertainment, restaurants, fitness, bookstores, retail and theme parks.  Check out  https://www.mtabenefits.com/discounts/discount-directory

Although many of us are heading into a period of non-responsibility, the FSU works all year.  If you have a question, please do email us.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia

FSU President

Senior Lecturer II

Political Science Department

 

 

This week’s Point is written by FSU President Caroline Coscia.

As my term as your union president comes to close on May 31st, I thought I would use presidential powers to take over the final The Point of the semester.

Serving as your president has been a privilege.  Each individual member conversation provided an opportunity to learn, to disagree, and to seek solutions for better working conditions, benefits, and a more inclusive community.

To many, the word union is tied to the contract. It is true that much of what we do is contract related. We negotiate changes and ensure contract implementation.  Sometimes how we interpret contract language is not how a dean might interpret it. When any disagreement occurs, we are there to make sure you are not harmed and work to ensure compliance.  When established processes such as promotions are not followed, we are there to ensure the process is followed.

A single word cannot describe the FSU. Our union was built by those who came before us and is sustained by each one of us standing together as colleagues, including faculty of all ranks and librarians.  Whether it is joining our sister unions to fight higher parking rates or answering our request to call your state legislator, you have responded to make sure we stand together.  Standing together is our collective power. It is our strength.

Stronger together does require that faculty and librarians become FSU members.  Why? When in a meeting with administrators or at the bargaining table, when we state what FSU members want or what FSU members deserve – we are telling the administration we have the power of you behind us and will push to get what you want and deserve.

Yet the administration knows that since the 2018 Janus court case, our membership numbers have declined.  No longer is union membership automatic. The decrease in the percent of faculty and librarians who are members directly impacts our ability to secure new or improved contract benefits. The greater the percentage of membership, the greater our strength, the greater our wins.

I came to UMB after years in the private sector. I knew nothing about unions.  I saw a notice about a member meeting with ice cream, specifically make your own sundaes. I went for the ice cream, met Lorenzo and joined. I joined in hopes of being able to get free sundaes every year. What I got is much more than sundaes.

When department scheduling had a hiccup, someone told me to check with the union. I did. Problem solved. I began attending the 2010s Friday afternoon NTT caucus which was a group who met to talk about items related to NTTs. I was blown away. I learned so much about how other departments worked and treated NTTs.  Meeting those beyond my department gave me a connection to UMB that I did not have before.

The thread from eating that sundae to being president is about service. I believe when one is helped, giving back to help others is required. I admit, I do enjoy organizational structures. Many would say I love getting into the weeds. To understand an organization and its internal and external operations requires knowledge and sharing that knowledge. From serving as a grievance officer to Vice President and President, I have worked to demystify the FSU.

The weekly Nuts & Bolts provides a variety of information from FSU actions taken, knowing your contract, advertising anti-racism grant recipient events and MTA actions/events. MTA Benefits highlights a cash benefit to FSU membership. Each issue was created to provide information about your union.

We sent numerous emails on a variety of items to inform and receive feedback. They included information on collective bargaining sessions, GIC changes, the Acceptable Use Policy, solidarity with our sister campus unions, parking and transportation bargaining, and funding our contracts. In addition, we held numerous pizza and cookie gatherings to get you out of your office, meet new colleagues, and share some conversations.

My first term I ran unopposed yet four opted for a write-in candidate, “Anyone but an NTT.”  I believe I proved you wrong.  On days when it seemed we could not solve an issue, I thought of you. I pushed on to prove you wrong. A person’s rank does not define their ability or commitment to serving an organization.  A person with the desire, time, passion, knowledge and dedication to service should be applauded and not dismissed due to rank. At the end of the day, we are all educators.

Our union is strong, our union values are strong, and our members are our strength. Collective action is our secret weapon.  I am confident in the strength, tenacity, and future of the Faculty Staff Union. I look forward to continuing my involvement as an active and supportive member.

 

 

 

Dear Faculty and Librarians,

The last day of classes has arrived.  Campus always seems to be a bit more crowded this week including filled seats in our classrooms compared to the last few weeks.  For those who patronize the food court, Rosa’s breakfast (eggs, pancakes) and lunch station (bowls) ends on Wednesday.

Parking & Transportation Bargaining Session, May 13th at 3:30PM  

The next bargaining session with administration is Wednesday, May 13th at 3:30PM ISC 4 – 4300.   We expect to receive a response to our counter proposal related to economic issues – no change in the daily rate, a new 30 use multi-use pass, a 50% subsidy on MBTA passes and capping the amount of West Garage debt to $2 million in the escalator language (Administration proposal is $4.5 million)

Help Us Stop the Daily Rate Increase and get what we need – a 30 use multi pass and increased MBTA Subsidy

Stop by the ISC 4th floor from 3:00 to 3:30PM on Wednesday, May 13th to show your support.  Show administration bargainers that rate increases are wrong and impact our quality of life.

If you teach MWF at 2:00PM, come by after class and join us.

REMINDER: NTT Promotion to Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer II and Senior Lecturer III

Reminder that the deadline to inform your department chair of your intent to apply for promotion is Wednesday, May 13th.

Lecturers, Senior Lecturers and Senior Lecturer IIs received detailed information in an April 30th email. If you have any questions, please contact us

University Conference on Teaching, Learning, and Technology (UCTLT) 2026, May 14th 8:00- 3:00

Join faculty, students, and staff from across the university for UCTLT 2026, a half-day conference exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, and higher education. Through short talks, applied case studies, and student perspectives, UCTLT 2026 centers equity, intentional practice, and human judgment in an AI‑rich world.

For more information and to register, go to https://blogs.umb.edu/uctlt2026/

REMINDER: PRIM Voting Ends May 22nd.

As members of the Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS), we elect Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) board members.  PRIM manages our pensions funds.  The MTA PRIM Task Force is recommending we elect Lenore Palladino, an economist at UMass Amherst.

Ballots were mailed to your home address. If you have not voted, we ask that you please do so.  Our pensions funds depend on it.

If you have not voted, the attached document contains instructions on how to easily do so.

UPDATE: MTA Annual Meeting of Delegates

MTA’s annual meeting of delegates met this past weekend and adopted a budget, new bylaws and elected our new leadership.  Effective July 15th, our new President is Matt Bach and Vice President is Deb Gesualdo.

MTA Benefits: Free Admissions!

Dues paying FSU members have access to a variety of services and discounts at MTA Benefits. All you need to do is set up your account. Once done, you have access to local and national discounts.  Some local discounts include free admission to Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Battleship Cove in Fall River, Castle Hill at Crane Estate in Ipswich, Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, and Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.

The last Nuts & Bolts of the semester will be published on May 18th.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia

FSU President

Senior Lecturer II

Political Science Department

 

 

 

 

This week’s Point was written by Jeff Melnick, former VP and Communications Director of the FSU.  As always, The Point represents the views of the author and is not the official position of the FSU.

In this next-to-last Point of the semester, I want to ask a simple question that has tentacles that extend all over the place: what on earth has happened to upper-level administrators at colleges and universities around the country?  On some level the obvious answer is: nothing.  For much of the post-World War II era our chancellors and presidents, our provosts and deans, have understood their prime directive to be satisfying the explicit and implicit desires of the military-industrial complex, the corporate hegemon, the donor class.

Many of you reading an email missive from your union likely already have a fairly robust sense that faculty and staff on the one hand, and administrators on the other, are at best uneasy partners in the work of higher education: you probably only have to take part in one bargaining session (and you should! it’s fascinating!) to be reminded that we sit, you know, on opposite sides of the table.  But even if you have a grimly realistic view of the evolution of this relationship—remember “shared governance”? those were the days!—maybe you agree that in the past few years there has been a marked tonal shift, especially with regard to how upper administrators publicly talk about faculty and students on their campuses. I am sure my vision is clouded by the hazy curtain of nostalgia, but when I arrived at UMB in 2010 I came to experience Keith Motley—a leader I had many differences with in terms of policy and strategy—as a chancellor who sincerely wanted to support faculty and students and who showed sincere delight at our accomplishments.  He was not in the business of attacking (or dismissing) accomplished, committed faculty members.

What is perhaps most striking of all to me in this regard is how regularly administrators deploy the MAGA-brand insistence that we do not understand what we have just witnessed with our own eyes and ears.  The Trumpy weaponization of “fake news” as a way to promote an alternate narrative of life that is simply not supported by any…. evidence has been enthusiastically adopted by college administrators to silence, discipline, and marginalize faculty and students.  This is certainly a development that should ring your “academic freedom” bells—but that is only a part of what is happening: in a very novel and terrifying way, I think that what administrators are participating in is a wide-scale reimagining of the university as a place where faculty and students are at best a nuisance to be ignored and at worst as threatening populations that need to be neutralized and, in many cases, erased from campus life.

I want to use the rest of this Point to talk about two emblematic cases from last week—one a rhetorical attack on a faculty member, one an actual attack on a group of students—by upper administrators at University of Michigan and Cornell University.  It will come as no surprise to you that in both instances the dangerous crossroads of conflict was defined by Israel’s war on Gaza and campus protests targeting what every major human rights group of note has termed a genocide.  This has been, for at least the last few years, the grounds upon which university administrators have flexed their muscles and tested their power.

First, there is the matter of Professor Derek Peterson’s commencement speech at University of Michigan.  You can watch it here and decide for yourself whether you think this chair of the faculty senate (and MacArthur Genius grant recipient) was “hurtful and insensitive” in his remarks—I’m not here to litigate that question.  But I do want you to notice how quickly the President of the university, Domenico Grasso, turned on him, and with language that should be chilling to all FSU members: in his statement, Grasso expresses outrage that the “Faculty Senate Chair deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony”—a charge Peterson disputes. Not only that, the “Chair’s comments were inappropriate and do not represent our institutional position.”

Here is where the battle is joined—the notion that any of us, speaking in public, must represent our institution’s official position—is a toxic and dangerous one. To his credit, Professor Peterson has loudly rejected Grasso’s absurd claim that graduation speeches should be simply “congratulatory, not a platform for personal or political expression”:  “The idea that graduations should be apolitical is ridiculous. Michigan is not a finishing school for polite young men and women. Our students are not wilting flowers.…They need encouragement to face a flawed and unjust world head on, using the tools we’ve given them: critical reasoning, careful research, sympathy for the oppressed.” (Numerous observers have reminded us that LBJ announced the goals of his very political Great Society platform during a graduation speech in Ann Arbor.) See here for much more from Peterson on the matter.

In the second case, the President of Cornell University, Michael Kotlikoff, walked away from a university-hosted debate on Israel-Palestine and literally drove his car into a student who was part of a group that was trying to question him—especially about his draconian punishment of campus protesters—as he left.  Again, I am less interested in relitigating the who-did-what-to-whom aspect of this chaotic moment than I am in parsing the administrator’s words after the fact:  the anger and disdain is palpable, the claims of “harassment and intimidation” so wildly overblown as to discredit everything else he says (did anyone really bang on his car window? Not really seeing that!).

But what most wrenches my heart is how clear it is that Kotlikoff hates these students.  Nowhere does he express concern for their well-being; this is only about demonization and discipline.  And as with the Michigan case, Kotlikoff makes it perfectly plain that he no longer believes in the campus as a space for critical engagement on the most important issues of our time.

We have not had to face anything so dramatic as these two examples here at UMB, but we do have reason to worry about how truthful and transparent our administrators will be when we do encounter a stressful moment.  I remember in December of 2023 when the provost announced that some terribly antisemitic graffiti had been discovered on campus.  Many of us had students send us pictures of graffiti they saw on campus that day that was expressly anti-Zionist but not antisemitic.  For a while the provost tried to pacify concerned faculty by saying that what he saw was truly abhorrent, but that he could not give details because of an ongoing criminal investigation.  A small group of faculty met with him over the next few months to try to explore together what kind of community response was called for.  But the provost stalled and obfuscated and two and a half years later we still don’t really know what happened.

To get a better sense of how widespread the attack on our campuses is we call your attention to a very useful website created by the Middle Eastern Studies Association which offers up a map of all the ways that academic freedom has come under attack in the past few years. Of course it is not possible for the website to remain up to date: as I finish writing this Point news has been breaking of a planned graduation speech by Rami Elghandour cancelled at Rutgers University because the speaker dared to write messages supporting Palestinian liberation on social media and this allegedly upset some students on that campus.

I am a Jewish American and a scholar who has studied antisemitism—my second book was about the case of Leo Frank, one of the very few Jews in American history to be lynched: I take threats to us very seriously.  But Israel’s war on Gaza and the purposeful conflation of Zionism and Jewishness by highly-motivated observers has seemingly turned many US higher education administrators into untrustworthy reporters and agents of carceral repression.  Our job as faculty and librarians is to continue to research and facilitate research, teach and speak in all the ways we find relevant, evidence-based, and for the common good.

The committee for this year’s The Point currently includes Jessica Holden, Healey Library; Nick Juravich, History; Jeff Melnick, American Studies; and Steve Striffler, Labor Studies. If you want to write an edition of The Point, or if you just have an idea, please write us at fsu@umb.edu.

 

Dear FSU Member,

On Wednesday, May 6th you received an email from MTA Health & Wellness Trust with the subject line of Help Shape Your Dental Coverage.

We ask you to please complete the survey.

Background

Our contract (Article 27.9) contains a Health and Welfare Trust.  The university contributes funds to the trust which then is used to provide our dental coverage.   The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees.

The past few years, members of each union in the Trust have raised concerns about the dental plan including the number of dentists accepting the Met Life plan.  As a result, the Trustees researched other providers and are ready to take a vote on a provider.

The Trustees want to hear from you.  Our responses will help the Trustees decide which plan to adopt.

We are including the May 6th MTA Health and Welfare Trust email below.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                             Jason Rodriquez

Senior Lecturer II                          Professor

Political Science Department     Sociology Department

President                                        Vice President

Dear MTA Health and Welfare Plan participant,   The Trustees of the MTA Health and Welfare plan are considering changing the dental insurance carrier from Met Life to the Delta Dental Premier/PPO Plan. Before we make the decision, we would like to find out which carrier best suits your needs. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey.   We have a very tight timeline to make this decision so we need to hear from you by this Friday, May 8th at 5:00 p.m. Please do not include any identifying personal information in your answers to the survey (such as social security number, etc.).   We appreciate your assistance with this important decision.   In Solidarity,   MTA Health and Welfare Trustees Marc Liberatore, MSP Amherst, FSU Trusee, Union Chair John Cluverius, MSP Lowell Trustee Casey Krone, USA Trustee Brian Falter, MCCC Trustee Paul Bruno, MSCA Trustee Sherry Horeanopoulos, APA Trustee, Treasurer

 

 

Dear Faculty and Librarians,

As we reach the end of the semester, sometimes it feels like only yesterday was the first day of classes and other times that first day seems so long ago.  This week includes National Nurses week (May 6th to 12th) which celebrates and honors the vital contributions of nurses to healthcare. To our colleagues in the Manning College of Nursing, thank you for all you do to train healthcare professionals.

Digital Content Accessibility: Update

The April 27th issue of Nuts & Bolts included an explanation of the Digital Content Accessibility regulation and that the implementation deadline has been extended to April 2027.   On April 28th we met with Provost Berger. Here is a recap of that meeting.

Implementation plans are being developed by academic affairs, Information technology, learning design and labor relations staff. The FSU has requested involvement in the plan specifically in the role of any required activity.

The federal regulation is not an option, and we all will need to comply to make sure all students can fully access course materials.

Currently, there is no certification required to make sure your canvas materials meet accessibility requirements. You may wish to become familiar with accessibility content at https://www.umb.edu/learning-design/accessibility/

For those teaching asynchronous courses, there remains the requirement to complete training prior to the course start date. If you are already certified to teach asynchronous, online courses there is no requirement at this time for you to undertake additional training.

Parking and Transportation: Update

Thank you to those who signed the petition to UMB administration including your concerns with UMB’s proposal to increase parking fees.  The petition was hand delivered to Chancellor Suárez-Orozco on April 30th by members of PSU along with numerous students.

The next bargaining session is tentatively scheduled for May 13th.  We will provide an update in the May 18th Nuts & Bolts.

Know Your Contract: NTT Continuing Appointment change in FTE

When continuing appointment was added to the contract, there was no provision to adjust the percent of time (classes taught such as 3/3). Our 2024-2027 contract includes a new section on when and how an NTT can seek a change in the number of classes taught in their continuing appointment.

Article 21.9.2.b states:  In the event a part-time NTT with a continuing appointment is given work above the assigned FTE of their continuing appointment for 2 consecutive semesters, upon request of the NTT to their respective department chair, the FTE of the assigned continuing appointment will be adjusted, and a new offer letter will be extended. Upon acceptance of the new offer the increase would be effective after the completion of the second consecutive semester.

Know Your Contract: Sick Day Donations at Retirement

The those retiring this academic year, please consider donating your sick time to the FSU Sick Leave Bank.  There is no sick leave payout when you retire.  There is a longevity bonus payout (article 27.8).

We suggest you complete the form in early June to make sure the transfer takes place prior to your retirement.  To do so, contact human resources.

MTA Retirement Consultant: Higher Education Consultant

MTA provides higher education members with assistance as you begin to ponder retirement.  All you need to do is schedule an appointment. Contact JoAnne Martone at  jmartone@massteacher.org  to schedule an appointment.

MTA Benefits: BJ’s Wholesale Club

MTA members can join for a low rate of $15 (savings of $45) and renewing members for $50. (savings of $10).  This offer is valid through June 30th.  All enrollments MUST be done via phone. No mail-in applications will be accepted.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia

FSU President

Senior Lecturer II

Political Science Department

 

 

 

Dear Colleagues,

According to Article 21.12.3 of the contract, NTTs who intend to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer II or Senior Lecturer III must notify their department of their intent to apply in the semester prior to the year in which the application is due (the exact timeline is outlined in the Master Academic Calendar).

This means that if you intend to go up for promotion to Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer II  or Senior Lecturer III next year, you must notify your department chair of your intent to apply for promotion by WEDNESDAY, May 13th, 2026 (note that the May 13th timeline applies to promotions for Clinical Professors, all ranks, as well).

This deadline is only to signal intent to apply–you do not have to have your application completed until the first day of the Spring 27 semester (once the actual due date is known we will inform you) should you be deemed eligible to apply. We strongly recommend that you review Article 21.12 for further information on promotional eligibility criteria so you can better determine if you will be eligible.

It is important to note that you will not be notified by the Administration of your eligibility to apply- you will have to determine that yourself. If you think you might be eligible but are not sure we encourage you to notify your department chair anyway of your intent to apply. If it turns out you are not yet eligible, you will be notified accordingly and can apply when you are next deemed eligible. There is no penalty in regards to future eligibility if you signal intent to apply now but are deemed ineligible at this time.

Please contact the FSU office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                             Jason Rodriquez

Senior Lecturer II                         Professor

Political Science Department     Sociology Department

President                                        Vice President

 

This week’s point was written by Nick Juravich, Associate Professor of History and Labor Studies. As always, The Point represents the views of its author and is not the official position of the FSU. 

When the news broke earlier this month that Hampshire College would be closing, few people expressed surprise. The college nearly closed in 2019, and while it staved off that initial crises, the threat of closure led to a vicious cycle of falling application numbers and financial hardship. The college will run one final semester in Fall 2026 before shuttering its Amherst campus for good.

Hampshire’s end is, of course, not unique. The Hechinger Report counted nearly 300 college closures between 2008 and 2024, and just this year, two other Massachusetts colleges, Anna Maria College and Labouré College of Healthcare, have also announced their demise. Many reports on Hampshire’s closure cited deleterious long-term trends, including a decline in the overall college-age population (though not nearly to the extent that the language of a “demographic cliff” would have us believe) and a decline in the percentage of those students attending college. These trends – and panicked coverage of them, which impact everything from student choices to bond ratings – have put enormous pressure on schools that depend on tuition dollars to keep the doors open (and the current administration’s chaotic directives on student aid haven’t helped).

Still, Hampshire’s loss hit me hard; I grew up in Amherst, where Hampshire has been a beloved part of the local community for over half a century. Friends’ parents worked there and let us run around the grounds as kids, to the amusement of the students. As we got older, we raced cross country at the annual high school invitational (a great use of a beautiful campus), attended talks, exhibitions, and performances put on by Hampshire’s brilliant, idiosyncratic students – who, famously, all designed their own programs of study – and watched some of our friends become students there themselves. One of my high school teammates has coached the cross country and track and field programs at Hampshire since 2016; they just competed in their last-ever track season.

The nostalgia many of us feel at Hampshire’s closing is undeniable, but it can also be paralyzing. “In an era when students increasingly expect colleges to offer a career-focused education that funnels them toward the work force,” wrote the Chronicle of Higher Education, “Hampshire swam against the tide.” An op-ed in Inside Higher Ed mused that Hampshire’s model, while still “academically sound” would not “save a beloved, quirky institution from the dustbin of history” on account of the changed political economy of higher education. These are not hostile pieces, but they, like many, treat the Hampshire model and experience as a relic of bygone years of plenty, when countercultural institutions thrived and the hard edges of today’s economy had not yet grown so sharp.

Hampshire is, indeed, a unique institution, but the ideas that animated its creation were not. The college emerged following the publication, in 1958, of a “New College Plan” created jointly by the three small colleges in the area – Amherst, Smith, and Mount Holyoke – and the University of Massachusetts, itself all of eleven years old at the time. Demand for higher education was soaring, and educators believed that new pedagogies, curricula, and organization could better serve some of those in this widening undergraduate population.

UMass’s involvement in Hampshire’s creation is particularly relevant on our campus, because system administrators had Hampshire in mind when they created UMass Boston’s College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) at UMass Boston in 1972. Some personnel even overlapped; Hampshire’s first president, Franklin Patterson, joined UMB as a political science professor in 1971, and later served as interim president of UMass. The contrast between a commuter school for working-class Bostonians and a leafy, hippie Western Mass campus might seem high, but both institutions were animated by the idea that students deserved, and would respond to, educational models that met them where they were and took seriously their ability to direct their own learning. The idea that “experimental” higher education could deliver both knowledge and opportunities to a very wide range of students flourished in these years, from the Antioch network to the new “career ladder” programs created at the City University of New York after student and community organizing won open enrollment policies and a dramatic expansion of CUNY.

My first year at UMass Boston coincided with the last official year of CPCS, and there are many on our campus who can speak to its virtues and legacy far better than I can. My knowledge of CPCS comes, primarily, from teaching in our Labor Studies program, which was created within in CPCS in 1979. Alumni of our program took me aside, as a new faculty member, to share how transformative the CPCS model was for them. The competency-based credit system allowed workers with experience as shop stewards or bargaining team members to direct, and demonstrate, their own learning without taking a course in something they already understood better than any professor. Night classes at the Park Square campus incubated a new generation of progressive labor leaders; labor studies founder Jim Green described one, in his book Taking History to Heart, that contained four future local presidents (and one future Labor Resource Center administrator, Wally Soper). Susan Moir, who earned her BA in labor studies at UMB and later returned to the labor studies program, made sure I understood that CPCS “welcomed people on welfare,” including her, in the 1970s, a decade when attacks on social welfare programs and those who needed them were reaching a fever pitch (one from which our meager social safety net has never recovered).

It would be reasonable, at this point, to note that CPCS predeceased Hampshire by seven years, a victim of many of the same pressures in higher education. Our colleagues at Lesley University are on a two-day strike as I write this (you can support them here), fighting for a contract in the face of uncertainty at their institution, which has long prioritized hands-on learning and creative pedagogies for future educators. As our retired colleague Maurice Cunningham wrote earlier this year, the UMass System is now considering three-year degrees as a way to fast-track students into the workforce, a vision that seems oceans away from the New College Plan or the founding of CPCS.

In spite of these depressing trends, I would argue, there is real value in keeping the lessons of Hampshire, CPCS, and other such experiments out of the dustbin of history. We hear regularly of the “loss of trust” in higher education, which, however manufactured such narratives may be, seems to have contributed at least somewhat to the declining enrollment of college-age students (the far larger factor, of course, is the cost of higher education, exacerbated by uncertainty about access to loans and grants). Promises of three-year degrees are framed as a way to lure uncertain students to college, but they only go so far when the job market into which students are being rushed is deeply unstable.

Moreover, as critics of the “demographic cliff” narrative have noted, it relies on data about traditional college-age students (18-22 year olds). Worse, one of its leading progenitors assumes racial disparities in educational attainment to be constant demographic factors, not dynamic problems to be addressed by, or in, higher educational institutions.

During a period of economic and social upheaval half a century ago, Hampshire, CPCS, and other “experiments” believed that making students agents of their own education offered a way forward. They intentionally welcomed non-traditional students: older people who went straight to work, or into military service, or raised a family (or all three) out of high school, students who had been denied educational opportunities earlier in life on account of segregation, racism, patriarchy, and class expectations about their future (one colleague in history, a UMB alum herself, still recalls the student who showed her the slip on which his high school guidance counselor had written, years earlier, “you are not college material”). Experimental education was not envisioned to compete for traditional students in a marketplace, but to reach not served by such competition.

Hampshire may be closing, but the generations of students it trained still put its ethos to work in their own teaching, as Jason Read and Touré Reed discussed on the Breaking Culture podcast earlier this week. CPCS may be gone, but many of us at UMass Boston still believe in meeting students where they are and allowing them to direct their own learning. In my short time here, I have watched countless colleagues design assignments, independent studies, and capstone projects that allow students to put their particular skills and unique knowledge to work in service of credit. That, far more than a headlong dash to a degree, seems like a compelling way to make a case for public higher education.

The committee for this year’s The Point currently includes Jessica Holden, Healey Library; Nick Juravich, History; Jeff Melnick, American Studies; and Steve Striffler, Labor Studies. If you want to write an edition of The Point, or if you just have an idea, please write us at fsu@umb.edu.