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Hello River Hawk Families!

Student safety and well-being are always top priorities for the UMass Lowell community, and we know that parents and families often have questions about resources on campus. The email letter below was sent to your student to remind them about important programs, resources, and policies that are designed to support them and promote safety on campus. We know that your student gets a lot of email, so please feel free to nudge your student and remind them that important info is waiting for them in their inbox!

Welcome to Spring Semester 2024 at UMASS Lowell!!

We hope your semester is off to a great start, and you are settled into the academic, work, and extra-curricular routine of university life.

Each semester the University notifies all students of important information; please review the following information:

• We highly encourage you to review all this information, as you are held responsible for knowledge of the rules, laws, and information contained in these documents. The Conduct Code and related campus policies (appendices to the code) can be found here: https://www.uml.edu/student-services/Student-Conduct/conduct-code/.

• Please be aware of the University’s “Good Samaritan Policy” which represents the University’s commitment to increasing the likelihood that community members will call for medical assistance when faced with an alcohol or drug-related emergency. Empowering students to call for help is critical to keeping campus safe. The policy also promotes education for individuals who receive emergency medical attention related to their own use of alcohol or drugs in order to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences. Details can be found at https://www.uml.edu/student-services/Student-Conduct/conduct-code/#umass-lowell-good-samaritan-policy

• If you have any questions regarding the university’s Nondiscrimination Guidelines including Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct please contact William Cummings, Director of Equal Opportunity and Outreach, Compliance, and Title IX Coordinator at (978) 934-3567 or via email at William_Cummings@uml.edu.

• The Sexual Violence Prevention website www.uml.edu/prevent provides resources regarding sexual violence prevention, including information on what to do (and not to do), who to report to, who to seek support from, and much more. During the academic year we offer different opportunities to learn more, participate in trainings, and to challenge the ideas shaping rape culture, and how you can help change that culture. There is also a “Report a Concern” button in case you would like to report an incident.

• It is a violation of the Student Conduct Code, other university policies, and local, state, and federal law to engage in any form of blackmail related to sexual images. Commonly referred to as “sextortion,” no person can solicit favors, money, or threaten to release any sexual images of another party, nor use sexual images to manipulate the behaviors of another person. This is often used as a part of a scam perpetrated by on-line predators from out of the country. If you have been a victim of sextortion please speak with UMLPD or the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities.

• If you need or would like information to support positive mental health or about Suicide Prevention and resources please take a look at the UMATTER2 webpage found at https://www.uml.edu/UMatter/. These resources include Togetherall, an on-line peer support network; you can access Togetherall at https://togetherall.com/en-us/ and use your UML email to register for the platform. This is an anonymous platform for you to explore; the platform includes a place where you can post, interact with peers, explore information and “courses” on mental health and support, and so much more.

• If you or a friend need mental health assistance, please reach out to the Wellness Center and schedule an intake appointment with Counseling during regular work hours, Monday-Friday; in addition, if you are experiencing a mental health crisis there is a crisis counselor on call 24/7 and can be reached at 1-855-890-2879. You can also call for assistance from the UMass Lowell Police Department at 1-978-934-4911.

• The University is concerned about students who are in need in a variety of ways. The UML Strive Program, https://www.uml.edu/student-services/uml-strive/, is a great resource for students looking for assistance in a variety of basic needs areas. Please check out the webpage for more information about the program in general. The UML Strive Pantry is available for students who are food insecure or need any of the other resources we provide in the pantry. If you have questions please email umlfoodpantry@uml.edu. For the most up to date information please visit: https://www.uml.edu/student-services/UML-Strive/Food-Pantry/
• There are also UML Strive satellite pantries on North and South Campus; click this link for locations and hours: https://www.uml.edu/student-services/uml-strive/food-pantry/locations.aspx

• If you are housing insecure or homeless, please contact Ann_Ciaraldi@uml.edu, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, or Richard_Doria@uml.edu Assistant Director of Student & Family Support Services, the University’s two Single Point of Contacts for resource insecure students. In addition to the resources of the University we collaborate with a local service provider to assist students who may need housing and other social services.

• Disability Services at UML is here to help students gain equal access to their curriculum. If you have a documented disability and are in need of academic accommodations, the Disability Services website provides more information for you to register with the office.

• The University Police Department prepares the annual security report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by UMass Lowell; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. This report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault and other matters. The annual security report can be found at this link:https://www.uml.edu/Police/Alerts-Statistics/Annual-Security-Report/

• Hate has no home at UMass Lowell. We believe that all students should be treated with respect and given the opportunity to express their individual beliefs. We encourage all students to express themselves in a respectful and peaceful manner, including surrounding topics about which they feel strongly. All speech that does not constitute or incite a direct threat to physical harm to another person is protected speech, both on campus and in the greater community. Students can learn more about the university demonstration policy at https://www.uml.edu/student-services/student-conduct/conduct-code/#guidelines-for-responses-to-demonstrations-on-university-property

• For many students, voting is a new experience and registering to vote is the first step in the process. Students must decide where to register and whether they will need an absentee ballot. Some students attending school in Massachusetts may consider their school address their residence for voting purposes while others may still consider their home address their residence for voting purposes. In either case, the student must register to be eligible to vote. Please check this website for information on voter registration in Lowell or check with your hometown website for voting and absentee ballot information. https://www.uml.edu/community/voting-resources/

Please remember, if you have any questions about any of this information, or anything else you are struggling with, please contact us via email at Student_Affairs@uml.edu or phone at 978-934-2100 and you will be connected with a staff member who is here to help.

Take care and enjoy the remainder of the semester!