uncomfortable conversations, deadlines, additional resources and support)

Dear Graduate Assistants, 

All UMBC GAs are eligible for membership at SECU (State Employees Credit Union), and there is a SECU ATM on-campus at UMBC (University Center building). 

What are Credit Unions:
Credit unions are nonprofit institutions that are owned by their members, so they tend to offer lower fees and better rates. (For instance, one current member of GAAC chose SECU for a HELOC, or home equity line of credit, this year.) Once you gain membership, you can remain a member even after your GAship ends, so this is one benefit it may make sense to take advantage of now so that you have it for future use.

How do you become a member? 

• SECU requires you to open a $10 savings account along with any new account to establish your membership, which will automatically be set up during the account opening process. 
• Once you join SECU, you are a member for life, as long as you maintain at least a $10 balance in your savings account. 
• It takes about a week for SECU to approve your membership application.

• SECU is currently offering a promotion (through the end of May 2023) in which new members can get $100 for opening a Total Checking & Rewards account and using your debit card to pay for purchases 12 times in the first 60 days. 
• This account has no monthly fee and comes with online banking and one free order of checks per year. The debit card and checks will be automatically ordered for you once you have opened the account.

If there is anything specific you want GAAC to discuss / explain in our Wednesday Wisdom series, please reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu.

Dear Graduate Students and Graduate Assistants, 

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has approved the Graduate Summer Tuition and Fees. Please make sure to share this update with your students, faculty, and staff. You can find the links provided below. 

• Summer 2023 Tuition and Fees
• Summer Registration Requirements and Options for Graduate Students: Summer GA FICA

If there is anything specific you want GAAC to discuss / explain in our Wednesday Wisdom series, please reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu.

Dear Graduate Assistants, 

The Graduate School has sent out a very important reminder for all GAs regarding their Summer Residency status. Please go through below details for a better understanding.

Summer Residency Clarification 

• The Graduate School will begin working on  GA Residency Exception review for the summer semester in the next couple of weeks. 
• Our goal is to identify students who were GA's and had residency exceptions in the past term but are no longer GA's for the current term.  
• GA's who do not have a contract for the summer semester will be changed back to out-of-state or billing purposes unless their official status is "in-state" resident.  
• If a GA will be returning in the fall semester, once their fall appointment letter and tuition remission forms are received, the Graduate School will change their residency status back to "in-state" for billing purposes.

Summer Registration Requirements and Options for Graduate Students: FICA-Exemption

• All graduate students employed and not enrolled in at least 3 credits in the summer while on a Graduate Assistantship are subject to FICA taxes on their earnings.
• If domestic Graduate Assistants are not registered for at least three (3) credits at all times during the summer, the Graduate Assistant and the supporting department will each pay approximately 7.65% of the student's gross pay each pay period as FICA.
• International Graduate Assistants with F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q-1 immigration statuses MAY be FICA-exempt but should consult the information in the following links, to determine eligibility for exemption: 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-student-liability-for-social-security-and-medicare-taxes 

If there is anything specific you want GAAC to discuss / explain in our Wednesday Wisdom series, please reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu.

Dear Graduate Students and Graduate Assistants, 

We are here to support you on your academic and research journey. Staying connected with your representative committee (GAAC) is important so here is a list of ways to reach out to us. 

• Email: Reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu. We try to get back as soon as possible.
• myUMBC group: Follow us on our myUMBC group to get emails about latest events, resources that we post, and surveys that we conduct. Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/gaac
• Contact form: Use the contact form at our webpage to raise your concerns with us, share your opinion, and stay connected. Link: https://gsa.umbc.edu/contact-gaac/
• Instagram: Follow UMBC GAAC on our Instagram. 
• Discord: Use this invite link: https://discord.gg/8FeYbKBe
• GSA events: We are often tabling at other GSA events so you can come meet us in-person. Stay tuned to the GSA page for updates. 

If there is anything specific you want GAAC to discuss / explain in our Wednesday Wisdom series, please reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu.

Dear Graduate Students and Graduate Assistants, 

This week we will be sharing some helpful resources provided by UMBC (and its partners) to help eliminate the burden of food insecurity* for UMBC members:

Meal Plans:

• As Graduate Assistants, you are eligible for purchasing Faculty & Staff Meal Plans. 

• These meal plans allow either 10, 20, or 75 meals to be used at any dining venue on campus with the exception of the Skylight Room.

• You can purchase a Faculty & Staff Meal plan following this link.

• Please also consider donating meals to those in need through the 'Save-a-Swipe' program.

Retriever Essentials:

• To tackle food insecurity, UMBC offers free, pre-assembled, and nutritionally balanced bags of non-perishable food and toiletries.
• These items are available for pickup at various food zones across the campus. 
• You can locate these Food Zones here.
• Please also consider donating to the Retriever Essentials pantry.

Free Farmers Market:

• Every Thursday, from 2:15 to 3:00 PM, you can stop by the AOK Library (towards Erickson Hall and Walker Ave) to grab fresh produce and assorted dry goods.

True Grits Discounts:

• For Graduate Students, you can purchase a meal (without a meal plan) at a discounted rate of ~ $7. You would need to show your campus ID to prove your student status.
  
• For all UMBC students and staff, you can purchase a meal (without a meal plan) from True Grits at a flat rate of $6 on Fridays.

If there is anything specific you want GAAC to discuss / explain in our Wednesday Wisdom series, please reach out to us at gaac@umbc.edu.

Note: Please show some appreciation for UMBC GAAC by following us on our Instagram. 

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.