Dear Colleagues,

UMBC will delay opening its physical campus today, on December 12, due to inclement weather, effective 6 a.m. The campus will reopen today at 9:30 a.m. Please note that this decision applies only to the UMBC main campus (1000 Hilltop Circle and the North and South Campus Technology Centers); students and employees at other locations should follow the inclement weather guidance for their specific site. All in-person and remote (synchronous) classes will resume at 9:30 a.m. Asynchronous online classes will occur as scheduled. 

Essential personnel should report to campus as scheduled. Non-essential employees should report for duty at 9:30 a.m. If you have questions about reporting to campus or need alternative accommodations due to local weather conditions, please communicate directly with your immediate supervisor.

Please review the Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Guide to learn more about employee leave during closures. Thank you for your flexibility as we work to keep our community safe during inclement weather. 

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen 
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear UMBC Community,

In the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, I had the opportunity to attend two gatherings of higher education leaders, including the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, where I am a member of its Council of Presidents.

In those settings, as you might imagine, there was a great deal of conversation about the current pivotal moment for higher education as all of our institutions navigate the effects of ongoing federal actions, as well as a host of other often interconnected challenges and opportunities. The gatherings were substantive and important in many ways. For me, a key takeaway was, frankly, that amid all the worry out there, this is a time for UMBC to lead.

Our position is strong because our values and purpose are so clear. That clarity is a privilege as much as it is a responsibility in that we can remain true to our core value of inclusive excellence and the public purpose it serves as we advocate for higher education broadly.

We can also remain true to our values as we set a course for UMBC's future, with the humility to know we can do better. That is a strength as well. Maybe it is related to UMBC's age: we are old enough to know who we are and young enough to still change and grow. What I know is that there is nowhere I would rather be in this moment, no institution I would rather be serving, than UMBC.

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby 

Dear UMBC Community, 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am feeling especially thankful to this community for the way you continue to show up in dedication to UMBC. 

Strengthening shared governance is one area of focus for me for this year, and I am grateful for the progress I am seeing. I have been consistently impressed this semester by the willingness of our students, staff, and faculty to engage in meaningful, not always easy conversations. It means a great deal to me personally—and makes all the difference in building trust and understanding—that you are open and honest in sharing your feedback, ideas, and perspective, as well as generous in hearing your fellow community members. 

In so many venues, we are talking about the things that truly matter for our students and for UMBC. Our ability to engage authentically in such conversations is critical in the context of today's challenging environment for higher education and in our work to shape UMBC's future. It helps me to be a better leader, the leadership team to be in greater service to you, and all of us to partner in making the university even stronger. Thank you!

Best wishes to you and your family for a warm and restful holiday. 

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Dear UMBC Community,

As we continue to rely on digital platforms for teaching, learning, and administrative functions, digital accessibility has been a core component of that commitment. UMBC has been dedicated to making our information technology and digital content accessible so that everyone has the opportunity to make use of the university's knowledge, ideas, and resources.

We are updating and expanding our digital accessibility initiatives to meet new federal requirements. On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), defining clear technical standards for digital accessibility to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A (minimum) and Level AA (enhanced) for images, sound, video, documents, and text. As content for courses, research, and the public is constantly created, this will be an ongoing effort requiring everyone to do their part for the benefit of others.

To support this ongoing effort, UMBC has launched the Digital Accessibility Steering Committee (DASC) led by vice presidents Tanyka Barber and Jack Suess. This group is charged with developing, tracking, and evolving our compliance efforts by focusing our resources on the efforts that can achieve the greatest impact.

The DASC has started meeting and will begin reaching out to campus departments and constituencies to communicate and seek feedback on our plans and efforts that are underway. This work affirms our university's deep and ongoing commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all our members. Together, we can use this effort to create a more accessible digital environment that truly works for all members of our community.

Additional digital accessibility information and resources are available on both the UMBC Digital Accessibility website and the USM Digital Accessibility website.

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

Jack Suess
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

Dear UMBC Community,

I happily accepted the invitation of a faculty member to sit in on his class recently. I expected to enjoy it—I love the classroom, because I love teaching, and I love being in the presence of students learning.

I did not expect to be struck so powerfully by what I witnessed there, which was the very embodiment of what UMBC espouses: that we believe every student can succeed, and that it is on us to create the conditions and opportunities for them to do so.

In his interactions with students and in the way he responded to their questions (and their answers), it was clear that this professor had created a culture in his classroom in which students felt supported and comfortable engaging actively in the learning process. They showed no signs of fear in asking questions or not knowing the right answer, and they possessed a confidence in their role as scholars. There was an openness to this environment, in which everyone seemed to know that the learning was more important than getting it right.

Thinking about how many times a day across our campus that beautiful learning environment is replicated, I am uplifted, inspired, and deeply grateful to our faculty.

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Dear UMBC Community,

Winter weather is on its way. To prepare, we want to remind you about UMBC's policies and procedures for weather-related delays and closures and make sure you know how to find up-to-date information.

If you have not done so already, please sign up for our emergency text alerts. This is the most effective way to receive urgent text updates for weather-related delays, closures, and campus emergencies. In addition to text alerts, we will also post alerts on both the UMBC homepage and the homepage of myUMBC, and we will also send email alerts as early as possible.

Please note that the decision to close campus or open late applies to the main UMBC campus only. For community members not located on the main campus, please follow the protocols for your specific location. These include:

• UMBC-Shady Grove: Visit The Universities at Shady Grove campus alerts website.
• bwtech@UMBC: Email crice@umbc.edu to sign up for the bwtech@UMBC text alert system.
• Rita Rossi Colwell Center: The Colwell Center follows University of Baltimore's policies and procedures during inclement weather due to its proximity.

When it becomes necessary to close the main campus for inclement weather, employees designated as essential personnel must report. Decisions about administrative leave for all other employees will be made based on the weather conditions that day and communicated accordingly.

If campus remains open, please use personal judgment when traveling to and from campus as weather and road conditions vary by your location. Please be sure to communicate early and often with your supervisor should you have any concerns. It is our goal to keep you safe and warm this winter.

Read more about UMBC's policies and procedures for inclement weather, including how and when decisions are made, response plans, employee leave information, and details on how delays and closures impact events, parking, and more.

Sincerely,

Dan Petree
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance 

Dear UMBC Community,

With this week's Happy Monday message, I want to share a glimpse into a recurring event on my calendar. While it happens often, it never feels routine; in fact, it is always inspiring.

Last week, I held student office hours at UMBC-Shady Grove, where we offer several undergraduate and graduate programs at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. As is the case when I hold office hours on our main campus, connecting with students in back-to-back meetings over the course of an afternoon reminds me of the very best of UMBC.

This time, I happened to meet with four students who had transferred from Montgomery College and were studying social work, psychology, or both. They shared, too, a passion for service and an appreciation for the access to UMBC they have through Shady Grove. Their ages and backgrounds varied widely, as did their aspirations and their reasons for wanting to meet with me—some for the first time, and one who has seen me in student office hours every semester since she began at Shady Grove. I cannot begin to describe the joy I feel to see and learn from them and to engage so directly with the mission that drives us every day.

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Dear UMBC Community,

In recent weeks, concerns and questions about the potential for federal immigration enforcement at UMBC have risen to a new level. The ever-increasing online visibility of enforcement actions and shifts in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's strategy nationwide have understandably caused anxiety across our country and at UMBC. 

Today, I want to remind you of guidance, information, and resources that may be of assistance to you and provide clarity during these uncertain times. 

Key resources and information

First, our federal orders and actions website contains detailed information and communications about federal actions and their impacts on our UMBC community. You will find a web page that covers guidance related to federal immigration law enforcement, and links to the Office of International Students and Scholars immigration policy updates, which features recent clarifications regarding the entry ban on certain H1-B employees.  

Role of the UMBC Police Department

I also want to address the important role of the UMBC Police Department in responding to federal immigration enforcement notifications and actions. Should you receive a request from external law enforcement for information, records, or access to non-public space on campus, immediately notify the Police Department at (410) 455-5555. They will coordinate with relevant university officials and respond to the request. The Police Department and my office—the Office of General Counsel—will work together to ensure that any contact with outside law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies, is handled lawfully, carefully, and with the safety and privacy of our community in mind.

Will federal immigration enforcement notify UMBC of plans to come to campus?

Several of you have asked if federal immigration enforcement will notify our Police Department of any plans to come to UMBC. Federal law enforcement personnel are not required to notify campus or local law enforcement before entering public spaces. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have previously indicated that, as a matter of professional courtesy, they would contact our Police Department if they plan to visit or operate on our campus. While that notification would be greatly appreciated, there is no legal requirement for advance notice, and federal agencies may conduct lawful activity in public areas without prior coordination. 

If the Police Department becomes aware of the presence of federal law enforcement personnel on campus, they will immediately work with university leadership and my office to confirm legal authority and purpose, ensure compliance with Maryland law and university policy, determine the appropriate response, and take all lawful steps to protect the safety and well-being of our community. 

Campus communications

Many of you have inquired about communications to the campus community. Consistent with regular university procedures, if a situation presents a safety concern or results in a significant disruption to normal campus operations, the Police Department will promptly use its established emergency and safety communication systems, such as UMBC Alerts, to keep the UMBC community informed. If you have not yet signed up for UMBC Alerts, please consider doing so.

The department will partner with university leadership, including my office, to ensure consistent, timely, and lawful communication. If the activity is lawful, limited in scope, and there is no direct safety impact, the Police Department, my office, and university leadership will monitor and manage the situation appropriately, and communicate updates as necessary through official university channels, which include UMBC Alerts, and emails through myUMBC.

Please be assured that the shared goal of the Police Department, my office, and university leadership is to protect and support our university community and maintain open communication and mutual trust. We are committed to reinforcing safety, care, and belonging at UMBC. Should you have any further questions, please contact my office at ogc@umbc.edu or call the UMBC Police Department at (410) 455-5555.

Thank you.

Regards,

Paul Meggett
Vice President and General Counsel