***These instructions were sent specifically for faculty and staff the week of January 24 - 28. For more general testing instructions, visit covid19.umbc.edu/testing.***

Dear Colleagues,

As additional faculty and staff return to campus over the next two weeks, we wanted to share additional instructions and answers to frequently asked questions about how to complete an on-campus COVID-19 PCR test. All community members are required to test the first day they return to campus, regardless of vaccination status. 

1. We recommend that you take an at-home rapid test the day before you come to campus. 

2. Testing on-campus requires the use of a mobile app. Please review these instructions, download and register now, before you come to campus to test. If you need technical assistance, email mgscanner@umbc.edu.

3. Plan to test as soon as you arrive on campus, before 11am if possible.

4. When you come to campus, plan to pick up a vial and swab at:

• The UMBC police station

• The Center for Well-Being (during operating hours)

• The University Center 3rd floor vestibule

5. Find an isolated or distanced place to complete your swab. This may be your car, your office, or outside. Return your completed test to the drop box at each location. Do NOT test at the pick up and drop off locations as you may expose others.

Frequently asked questions:

Can I be on campus while I am waiting for my results?

Yes. Once you complete your test, you may remain on campus to complete your day wearing an appropriate mask and maintaining physical distance as much as possible. We are relying on masking and distancing protocols to reduce on campus transmission while we await your test results. Given the shortage of testing in Maryland, we felt this was the fairest way to require an entry test.

How long will it take to receive my results?

UMBC cannot check on the status of individual tests. In general, it can take up to three business days to receive your results. Testing results from on-campus tests will be posted to your COVID Compliance Card in your myUMBC profile. 

Is testing on campus safe?

We do believe testing on campus is safe, as long as community members follow instructions, pick up their kits, and swab in a location that is distanced from others. For the first week of classes, we plan to make additional testing, as well as technical assistance, available in the RAC, in order to reduce any potential crowding at testing sites. In addition, it will be helpful to have most employees complete testing next week, before students return. 

What if I recently tested positive?Should I test?

You are not required to test as you may continue to test positive for up to 90 days. You will need to report your result in order to be exempted from entry testing. Information on how to do this and when you can return to campus is available here.

Please email covid19@umbc.edu if you have any questions.

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to update you on UMBC’s plan for implementation of the salary enhancements for University System of Maryland (USM) faculty and staff included in Governor Hogan’s budget for FY 2022 and FY 2023.

Eligible faculty, staff, and graduate assistants will receive FY 2022 enhancements—including a one percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), a 2.5 percent merit increase, and a one-time bonus.

• Bonus: All Regular faculty and staff, Contingent II staff, and graduate assistants who were on payroll as of January 2, 2022, will receive a one-time $1,500 bonus, prorated by full-time equivalency (FTE), in the February 4, 2022 paycheck.

• COLA: All Regular faculty and staff, Contingent II staff, and graduate assistants will receive a one percent COLA retroactive to January 2, 2022, in the February 18, 2022, paycheck.

• Merit: Regular faculty and staff and Contingent II staff are eligible to receive a 2.5 percent increase retroactive to January 2, 2022, in the February 18, 2022, paycheck. 

• Exempt staff, faculty, and Contingent II employees must have been in an eligible position prior to January 15, 2021.

• Exempt and Nonexempt employees must have at least an ‘Effective” on their 2021 performance evaluation. 

• Nonexempt employees must have completed their original probation by June 30, 2021, to be eligible for the merit increase. Regular Nonexempt employees on original probation during that period will receive a 2.5 percent increase upon successful completion of the probation period. 

Additional details can be found in this memo to campus leadership.

The across-the-board merit increase this year recognizes the full community effort that has allowed us to continue our mission of education, research and creative achievement, and public service in spite of the many challenges we have encountered during the pandemic. In recognition of the integral part that adjunct faculty have played in this community effort, we will shortly announce what will be provided to adjunct faculty who are employed to teach on a course by course basis. 

For FY 2023, which begins July 1 2022, USM employees are scheduled to receive an additional three percent COLA and merit increases based on performance from a 2.5 percent merit pool. We will keep the campus updated on UMBC’s plan for implementing FY 2023 salary enhancements.

Thank you for all you do to keep our campus running smoothly.

Provost Philip Rous

Vice President for Administration and Finance Kathy L. Dettloff