The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is requiring the use of the new developed Department of Commerce RPPR (Form RPPR, OMB Number 0690-0032) for research award performance reports. The RPPR must be used for all FY2019 research awards and awards in succeeding fiscal years. In addition, awards with a start date prior to 10/01/2018 will include a special award condition requiring the use of the RPPR. More information can be found in the attached memo. 

Congratulations to Evan Avila (Economics, Political Science, 2020), winner of the prestigious Truman Scholarship for 2019!

Established in 1975, the Truman Foundation is the nation’s official living memorial to our thirty-third president and The Presidential Memorial to Public Service. The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.

Evan is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and member of the Honors College, studying economics and political science at UMBC. He is passionate about solving the structural disadvantages that marginalized populations face when trying to achieve long-term financial security. “Evan has taken on what other students might consider “boring” endeavors- income tax preparation, working for the U.S. Census Bureau- and turned them into deeply meaningful experiences, ones that he sees as inextricably linked to empowering people. He cares about people who are invisible to many- immigrants, retirees, the poor,” observes April Householder, Director of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships.

In 2018, Evan won a national research competition, the iOme Challenge, with policy solutions for gig workers who lack access to qualified retirement plans. He has since been invited to speak on the subject at several policy conferences, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As President and Site Manager of UMBC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), Evan deters predatory tax preparers by training students to prepare free income taxes for over 500 low-income households in the Baltimore area. Evan is has also interned at the U.S. Census Bureau and Treasury Department. After graduation, Evan intends to earn a dual JD/LLM in Taxation and pursue a public service career in tax and social insurance policy.

According to Arthur Johnson, former UMBC Provost and Director of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program, “Evan’s selection is a reflection of the significance and relevance of the service activities that UMBC students are providing through programs such as theSondheim Scholars, Shriver Center, Honors College, and many others.  It also is further evidence that UMBC’s commitment to civic engagement is alive and well among our students. Among many other expectations, TrumanScholars are expected to become leaders of our nation and communities and we are confident that Evan will fulfill those expectations.”

For more information about Truman and other UMBC past prestigious scholarships winners, please visit: https://ur.umbc.edu/prestigious-scholarships/.

Please see below for a curated list of upcoming funding opportunities. The Center for Social Science Scholarship and the Maryland Institute for Policy, Analysis, and Research (MIPAR) assist faculty members and departments in finding funding opportunities and in providing researchers with pre-award and post-grant management assistance. To set up an appointment, email socialscience@umbc.edu.

Program: Grant

Congratulations to Susan Sterett for her recent award from the National Science Foundation. Professor Sterett intends to use the award to hold  a workshop to be held at the beginning of the 2019 WPSA conference. A key component will be a session on managing conflict and improving our lives in the academy, facilitated by a professional from a university office on diversity and inclusion.  The workshop will close with brainstorming some of the challenges people find in the profession, including managing rejection, and brainstorming what gatekeepers can do.  

• Honoraria paid to a guest speaker or lecturer
• Expenses for project personnel or collaborators to attend meetings, conferences, or seminars including meetings to discuss a research project’s progress and direction 
• Payments to participants in human subject research studies  
• Conference support costs such as facility rentals, media equipment rentals, or conference food and snacks  
• Payments to the providers of the training  
• Payments to other employers to reimburse the employer for the costs related to sending its employee to a training.  

The Volunteer Registration is now open for the NIH Regional Conference to be held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel on May 15-17 2019 as local “Ambassadors." This NIH program provides valuable information to our research-active faculty and administrative staff to learn firsthand about current NIH-related research administration matters. 

 Workshop topics are broken down for Administrators, New Investigators and something for everyone.  There are session on Writing Grants, International Collaborations, Advanced Administration – Post Award, and Current NIH Issues.  There is also an opportunity for faculty to meet their Program Directors face to face!

In past years a contingent of UMBC personnel attend the meeting as volunteer ambassadors. This is an excellent opportunity for our research faculty, administrators, and students to attend the seminar at no charge on the day they volunteer. If someone volunteers for a day and would like to attend a 2nd day as an attendee, the OVPR will pay for the $100 charge for second day!  That is a day of Free training from arguably one of the best federal granting agencies. UMBC will be billed centrally for all of the registration for Ambassadors so don't worry about payment.  Once you have registered please email me to let me know. I would like to have a list by early next week.

Stan Jackson

jacksons@umbc.edu

Information for registration is below:

Online Registration 

Students, faculty, or staff who are interested in participating as a volunteer will be able to sign-up here on a first come, first served basis. When prompted for an access code, please enter 2019Volunteer to begin registration. Once you get to the point that it is asking for payment just exit the registration.  They will then send on bill to OVPR.  Make sure you email me that you are registered because I must send a list of our volunteers so they can mark them as paid.  Please also have volunteers select “No” when asked if they will be an exhibitor. During the registration process, potential volunteers will be: 

·         Reminded that volunteers are expected to participate in a full day of events 

·         Informed about the mandatory orientation session the morning of their participation (only need to attend one orientation if volunteering multiple days) 

·         Asked to choose their preferred roles and seminar sessions from the following choices: 

o    Room Monitor: volunteers will select this role by the title of the session; duties may include counting attendees, keeping the session on time, and assisting speakers and/or attendees  

o    Data Entry: volunteers will help collect and tabulate survey responses 

o    Floater: volunteers will pitch in as needed; duties may include helping with registration, assisting attendees, setting up or breaking down conference rooms, or other activities 

o    All volunteers will be asked to support morning registration after the volunteer orientation  

While the registration page reflects the current conference agenda, it is important to note that the timing, titles, and/or content of individual sessions are subject to change. We will send an email to the confirmed volunteers outlining the orientation session, roles and responsibilities, and additional seminar information a few weeks before the event.