There's still time to give—and another chance to win!
As we prepare for the winter break, we can think of no better embodiment of the spirit of the season than UMBC's remarkable participation in the Maryland Charity Campaign. Our campus is one of the most generous in the state, and our generosity speaks volumes about who we are and our values.

We want to thank everyone who has contributed to the campaign so far and are delighted to announce we are nearing our goal of 900 participants. To date, 700 donors have contributed a total of more than $205,000. Incredible! Just two more donations from each unit or department and we can surpass our goal of 50% participation.

If you have not yet had the chance to do so, we encourage you to make a gift. Your contributions, no matter the size, make a real difference to those in need.

Donate Now »

One more chance to win a visitor parking permit for a year!

Due to the popularity of our visitor parking permit incentive a few weeks ago, Parking Services has graciously donated a second parking pass in support of this year's Maryland Charity Campaign! Donate between now and Friday, December 14 to be eligible for the prize drawing. As always, anyone who has previously contributed to the campaign is automatically entered into the drawing.

The supplemental permit will be good for parking in any visitor hourly spot in the following parking garages and lots: Admin Garage, upper level; Walker Garage, upper level; Commons Garage, lower level; Lot 7 near Residential Life; and Lot 9 behind the Performing Arts & Humanities Building.

Win two round-trip tickets from Southwest!

For our MCC grand prize giveaway, Dr. Hrabowski has generously donated two round-trip tickets to anywhere that Southwest Airlines flies in the continental United States. Make your gift or pledge before the end of the day, Friday, December 14 to be eligible. Everyone who has contributed to the fall campaign is automatically entered into the drawing.

The winners of this year's previous and current incentives and giveaways will be announced at the upcoming Holiday Open House on December 19, 3-5 p.m. in the UC Ballroom.
]]> As we prepare for the winter break, we can think of no better embodiment of the spirit of the season than UMBC's remarkable participation in the Maryland Charity Campaign. Our campus is one of the... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/81013/guest@my.umbc.edu/ad57c0d140bcf86a45dee6f9892ea9c0/api/pixel UMBC Community News https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/insights https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/original.png?1593096708 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/large.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/medium.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/small.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxsmall.png?1593096708 UMBC Community News 1 0 true Wed, 12 Dec 2018 15:39:13 -0500 Physical Education Degree Requirement Changes Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

We are writing to inform you of the status of UMBC’s physical education requirement for the undergraduate baccalaureate degree.

As you know, on November 13, 2018, as an information item, the Faculty Senate was presented with a draft resolution that would support an administrative proposal to eliminate the current physical education requirement. Yesterday, during the December 11, 2018 meeting of Faculty Senate, the Senators voted to support the elimination of the physical education requirement for all undergraduate baccalaureate degrees, effective Winter 2019 term and forward. This means that as of the Winter 2019 term, both currently enrolled and newly enrolled students will no longer be required to take physical education courses for their degree.

As a result of this resolution, all undergraduate degree audits will be automatically updated to reflect the new degree requirements. However, students who wish to remain under the prior requirements (have two physical education courses required for their degree), may request to have their degree audit/degree requirements reflect this choice (please refer to the FAQ page referenced below).

It is important to note that there will be no changes to any UMBC transcripts. The only changes that will be made will be to degree audits that will no longer display physical education courses as required for graduation.

While physical education is no longer required for the UMBC undergraduate degree programs, physical education courses will continue to be offered and students may elect to take a physical education course for their personal edification and for the health and wellness benefits.

For additional information, we encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Best wishes for a successful remainder of the semester.

Philip Rous, Ph.D. Provost
Katharine Cole, Ph.D. Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs ]]> Dear Members of the UMBC Community, We are writing to inform you of the status of UMBC’s physical education requirement for the undergraduate baccalaureate degree. As you know, on November 13,... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/81010/guest@my.umbc.edu/7ff92399e4e1ccb4ec3be3f269856cbb/api/pixel UMBC Community News https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/insights https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/original.png?1593096708 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/large.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/medium.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/small.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxsmall.png?1593096708 UMBC Community News 0 1 true Wed, 12 Dec 2018 14:26:34 -0500 UMBC's Cameron Walkup Named Finalist for Student Regent Congratulations to UMBC junior Cameron Walkup, who has been selected as one of three finalists from across the University System of Maryland (USM) for the position of 2019-2020 Student Regent. The Student Regent serves as a voting member of the USM Board of Regents, representing more than 175,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 12 institutions, including UMBC. 

Cameron is pursuing a Geography and Environmental Studies major and Legal Policy minor. A Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and Honors College student, Cameron has completed internships with Earthjustice and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. He serves as Political Director of College Democrats of Maryland. On campus, Cameron serves as a Hearing Board Justice with UMBC's office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

The three Student Regent finalists will meet with University System of Maryland officials in the coming weeks, and their names will be submitted to Governor Hogan. The Governor will select the Student Regent later this spring.
]]> Congratulations to UMBC junior Cameron Walkup, who has been selected as one of three finalists from across the University System of Maryland (USM) for the position of 2019-2020 Student Regent. The... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80989/guest@my.umbc.edu/109e7a778b46820ab90a13c6c7771c9c/api/pixel Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/original.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/large.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/medium.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/small.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxsmall.png?1554944150 Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/xxlarge.jpg?1544550140 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/xlarge.jpg?1544550140 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/large.jpg?1544550140 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/medium.jpg?1544550140 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/small.jpg?1544550140 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/xsmall.jpg?1544550140 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/989/56cd71954860a1f5e835771e21ed6259/xxsmall.jpg?1544550140 32 0 true Tue, 11 Dec 2018 12:43:19 -0500 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 07:22:49 -0500 Graduate Assistantship Forms Transitioning to DocuSign! Digital Workflow Offers Expanded Functionality
The Graduate School has been using DocuSign as their e-signature and digital workflow platform, replacing many of their paper forms with electronic forms that can be submitted, signed, processed and stored with no printing required. The ease with which both students and staff can submit and sign the forms and the efficiency they generate in the workplace has encouraged the Graduate School to partner with the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) to transition graduate assistantship forms to the DocuSign platform.

However, creating a form that all departments could use while simultaneously fulfilling the individual needs and preferences of each was not an easy task. The form had to be smart enough to adapt to many different scenarios and reliable enough to remain consistent and efficient for signers.

With the help of DoIT’s assistant vice president Joe Kirby, software developer Frank Elmore, their team of student developers, and input from graduate assistants and campus stakeholders, the Graduate School created a dynamic data gathering form for assistantships. This webform allows departmental staff to quickly enter information, automatically retrieve key information from the school database, and easily identify the name and email of each required signer in the workflow. As the DocuSign form travels to each individual via secure email, administrators can track the document through recorded timestamps and easily see each time someone opens, edits, or signs it.

According to the Assistant Dean for Administration, Policy and Compliance Isabel Garrido, the ability to track the form as it progresses in the DocuSign workflow is efficient and eliminates guesswork. As an example, when graduate assistants contact the Graduate School about the status of their tuition remission, instead of referring them to their department, searching for paper forms or wondering if they have been signed, DocuSign allows Isabel and her staff to view the most recent timestamp on a form and know exactly where it is in the process in seconds.

DocuSign’s technical accessibility is also beneficial. Within moments of the form being sent graduate assistants can access, sign and submit them on their mobile device from any location. Upon receipt of the form, graduate assistants will be glad to see that not only has much of the required information been pre-populated, but the few fields they are required to complete are intuitive and come with helpful tips to guide them smoothly and quickly through the process.

Although mistakes are less likely when entering DocuSign forms, if errors occur, the process to generate a corrected form in DocuSign is quick and easy. The helpful notifications feature in DocuSign automatically sends email reminders to signers ensuring speedy compliance and provides an electronic copy of each finalized form to the Graduate School. DoIT’s recent upgrade of the forms has gone even further to make the process more flexible to the needs of graduate assistants and departments alike.

Lina Chung, Program Management Specialist in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CoEIT) transitioned to the DocuSign process for graduate assistant forms in 2017 and praises how efficiently her office processes GA Tuition Remission and GA Appointment Letters now. “Before, timelines could be very unpredictable. Forms could take anywhere from days to weeks to fully complete. Now, it rarely takes more than a few days,” Lina explains. With most graduate students living busy lives off campus, some in other countries, a faster process that limits the need for back-and-forth communication is essential.

Information Systems adopted the DocuSign process for graduate assistantships in 2017. Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering (CBEE) implemented the process in Dec. 2018. Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE), Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics and are expected to implement shortly. A pilot group comprised of members from various departments who have not transitioned to the DocuSign process is currently testing the forms. Departments interested in joining the pilot group should contact Isabel Garrido (garrido@umbc.edu) in the Graduate School.

Campus-wide implementation of graduate assistantship forms via DocuSign is slated for summer ‘19.

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Attention Students:

The Secretary of Education proposes to amend regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX).  The proposed regulations would clarify and modify:

  1. Title IX regulatory requirements pertaining to the availability of remedies for violations
  2. The effect of Constitutional protections
  3. The designation of a coordinator to address sex discrimination issues
  4. The dissemination of a nondiscrimination policy
  5. The adoption of grievance procedures
  6. The process to claim a religious exemption

The proposed regulations would also specify how recipient institutions that are covered by Title IX must respond to incidents of sexual harassment consistent with Title IX's prohibition against sex discrimination.

The proposed Title IX regulations have been posted to the Federal Register. Because of this, the comment period for submission of comments on the proposed regulations is now open until January 28, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET.

These comments can be submitted here:
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ED-2018-OCR-0064-0001

Information on how to submit an effective comment can be found here :
https://www.regulations.gov/docs/Tips_For_Submitting_Effective_Comments.pdf

Note that a unique comments carry more weight than form letter comments. Non-unique comments are counted as essentially a single comment.
]]> Attention Students: The Secretary of Education proposes to amend regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX).  The proposed regulations would clarify and... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80945/guest@my.umbc.edu/599840e4410b0e41a2c20e87ca78445e/api/pixel UMBC Graduate Student Association https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/gsa https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/xsmall.png?1688588974 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/original.png?1688588974 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/xxlarge.png?1688588974 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/xlarge.png?1688588974 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/large.png?1688588974 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/medium.png?1688588974 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/small.png?1688588974 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/xsmall.png?1688588974 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/141/6944ed1afb7c0b0557d52a5e61a6d9c9/xxsmall.png?1688588974 UMBC Graduate Student Association 0 0 true Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:20:43 -0500 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 07:17:46 -0400 Find a Quiet Place to Study At AOK Library! Studying is hard. Finding a quiet place shouldn't be!

The third and fourth floors of the AOK Library are Quiet areas.  These are good places to study if you don’t mind the occasional whisper or vibrating phone. The fifth and sixth floors of the AOK Library are designated Absolute Quiet areas at all times.  

If you need an environment free from talking, cell phones, or any other noise sources, these are the floors for you!  Library staff walk through the area periodically to enforce quiet rules, but you can also report violations to the Security Desk at 410-455-2331 or Circulation Department staff at 410-455-2354.

]]> The third and fourth floors of the AOK Library are Quiet areas.  These are good places to study if you don’t mind the occasional whisper or vibrating phone. The fifth and sixth floors of the AOK... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80943/guest@my.umbc.edu/2f1c7c3474f68e0c53ed8017e828f8d3/api/pixel Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/library https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xsmall.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/original.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xxlarge.png?1279120404 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xlarge.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/large.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/medium.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/small.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xsmall.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xxsmall.png?1279120404 Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/xxlarge.jpg?1544450764 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/xlarge.jpg?1544450764 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/large.jpg?1544450764 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/medium.jpg?1544450764 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/small.jpg?1544450764 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/xsmall.jpg?1544450764 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/943/836bce4e664c2c7e0ebd5d47ba590ecc/xxsmall.jpg?1544450764 0 0 true Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:06:31 -0500 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:09:54 -0500 UMBC Winter Weather Policies and Procedures
Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

As we enter the winter season, we ask that the UMBC community take a moment to familiarize themselves with our policies and procedures regarding weather-related closures and delays.

For the most reliable information, we encourage all members of the campus community to sign up for our E2Campus emergency alert text-messaging system. If the potential for inclement weather arises, please visit the UMBC homepage and myUMBC for the latest information on the status of campus.

Campus Closure Procedure

The decision to close or delay opening campus is determined by many factors, including the type and severity of the forecast conditions; current conditions of campus roads, parking areas, and walkways; and weather and related road conditions in the surrounding area. Please note that the decision to close campus or open late applies to the main UMBC campus only. Students, faculty, and staff at other sites are recommended to contact their location directly to receive inclement weather updates:
If Inclement Weather Occurs

Be sure to use official sources of information, such as E2Campus text alerts, campus email, and the UMBC homepage for the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about any delays or closures. We also strongly recommend you review our inclement weather and emergency closing policy to understand how a delay or closure impacts campus schedules, activities, and events. You can also see UMBC's snow removal plan to learn our process and prioritization for clearing roads, parking areas, and walkways.

Above all, we ask that you use personal judgment when traveling to and from campus. Weather and related road conditions are not the same in every area where students, faculty, and staff live. Consequently, the decision as to whether it is safe to travel must ultimately rest with each individual. Faculty are encouraged to arrange a system for communicating to their students should it be necessary to cancel class, and to be mindful that not all students may attend class.

Lynne Schaefer, Vice President, Finance and Administration
]]> Dear Members of the UMBC Community, As we enter the winter season, we ask that the UMBC community take a moment to familiarize themselves with our policies and procedures regarding... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80905/guest@my.umbc.edu/3402faf73ba9c4656118ca91f993cc65/api/pixel UMBC Community News https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/insights https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/original.png?1593096708 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xlarge.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/large.png?1593096708 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/medium.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/small.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xsmall.png?1593096708 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/090/56c39666a7bf2e5028d5419fc903e52d/xxsmall.png?1593096708 UMBC Community News 0 0 true Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:53:42 -0500 UMBC Graduate School Makes Strides In Efficient Outreach E-signatures Continue To Produce New Business Solutions
The Graduate School at UMBC takes pride in providing opportunities for student success. Through collaboration with prestigious faculty and research with groundbreaking partner institutions, graduate students can achieve personal, professional, and academic excellence. In order to better serve students and the community, the graduate school provides numerous services and programs that support non-traditional students in reaching their goals.

The Golden ID Program waives the tuition costs of certain graduate programs for qualifying Maryland retirees who are at least 60 years of age. Whether degree seeking or not, Golden ID students can continue to enrich their lives with learning and development at little cost.

The Accelerated Graduate Program allows ambitious undergrads to double count a certain number of credits for both their bachelor’s and intended graduate degrees. By making their intentions known to both their undergraduate advisor and the appropriate graduate program director, accepted students can make an academic plan that jump-starts their collegiate career.

Both of these programs offer unique opportunities for qualifying individuals, but they generally require those individuals to discover and actively pursue those opportunities. Consequently, retirees who don’t know they could attend classes without paying tuition and undergrads who are too preoccupied with their current coursework can easily miss the chance to apply. That is why the Graduate School at UMBC is reexamining their business practices and adopting new tools and technology to widen their outreach to prospective students.

DocuSign, the e signature and digital workflow platform, has provided a unique solution. In addition to making traditionally paper forms much easier to fill out and process, DocuSign’s digital envelopes can be sent out automatically to potential applicants via secure email complete with personalized messages and direct access to the electronic form. Rather than depend on students or applicants eligible for the Golden ID program to research and initiate the process themselves, Grad School can instead approach them directly with everything they need.

Converting to a new business process has its difficulties. It is often an exercise in reexamining every aspect of the workflow and defining what is essential and where the inefficiencies occur. Operations manager Dan Neeley, M.S. ‘15 Human-Centered Computing, says that change management involves balancing the needs of both staff and students, managing the workflow and accountability of designated signers, and handling exceptions and possible points of failure.

Despite these challenges, Neeley acclaims the plentiful opportunities for improvements in sensible efficiency that come in return. Improving communications between UMBC and applicants to these valuable programs goes a long way in increasing student satisfaction and success.

More Info:
]]> The Graduate School at UMBC takes pride in providing opportunities for student success. Through collaboration with prestigious faculty and research with groundbreaking partner institutions,... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80886/guest@my.umbc.edu/79cc36f83aee5280c8b9a7c73f95ef71/api/pixel bsg docusign success Division of Information Technology (DoIT) https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/doit https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/xsmall.png?1727453227 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/original.JPG?1727453227 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/xxlarge.png?1727453227 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/xlarge.png?1727453227 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/large.png?1727453227 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/medium.png?1727453227 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/small.png?1727453227 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/xsmall.png?1727453227 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/021/d27760c5de12c74b73faec8d0e631acf/xxsmall.png?1727453227 Division of Information Technology (DoIT) https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/xxlarge.jpg?1544108118 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/xlarge.jpg?1544108118 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/large.jpg?1544108118 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/medium.jpg?1544108118 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/small.jpg?1544108118 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/xsmall.jpg?1544108118 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/886/40950e784f21e9e4584935af4f408117/xxsmall.jpg?1544108118 2 0 true Thu, 06 Dec 2018 09:55:41 -0500 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 06:33:40 -0400 What kinds of activities do you want to see in the library? Take our poll, we want to know! Select your top three! ]]> Select your top three! https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80850/guest@my.umbc.edu/10bec786d122534e845038d608d856cf/api/pixel librarysurvey pickmany Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/library https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xsmall.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/original.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xxlarge.png?1279120404 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xlarge.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/large.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/medium.png?1279120404 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/small.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xsmall.png?1279120404 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/016/854d6fae5ee42911677c739ee1734486/xxsmall.png?1279120404 Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/xxlarge.jpg?1544026972 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/xlarge.jpg?1544026972 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/large.jpg?1544026972 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/medium.jpg?1544026972 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/small.jpg?1544026972 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/xsmall.jpg?1544026972 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/080/850/ef33b1e41d57e34ab9231b10c7264887/xxsmall.jpg?1544026972 2 0 true Wed, 05 Dec 2018 11:22:10 -0500 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:59:14 -0500 Digital Workflows Integrate Procedure And Technology AOP Provides New Opportunities For Business Efficiency
UMBC’s Office of Academic Opportunities Programs (AOP) is dedicated to providing assistance, resources, and support to students who have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education in order to facilitate academic success. By coordinating with UMBC departments as well as off campus agencies such as the US Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, AOP encourages and empowers pre-college and ambitious UMBC students to achieve their academic goals.

In order to enhance its correspondence with students and their families as well as improve its business processes, AOP has adopted DocuSign as their e-signature and digital workflow tool. With help from developers in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), AOP has converted much of their paper forms to electronic, automated forms that can be signed and submitted without ever having to print.

The McNair Scholars Program, for example, has transformed its entire application process to DocuSign, creating a digital envelope that allows applicants to upload any financial documents or recommendations directly to the form and submit it all through a secure email. DocuSign forms can also be filled out on any mobile device, which can significantly reduce the time it takes for students to submit their applications.

In addition to improving the experience for students, AOP has integrated DocuSign’s capabilities with their existing business practices to create a much more efficient system for processing and storing the submitted forms. One of the big disadvantages of paper applications is always the back and forth correspondence and approvals required when the form is filled out improperly. This takes up a lot of time that staff could be using to complete their numerous other tasks and tends to leave both staff and students dissatisfied.

With DocuSign, staff can create templates that guide signers step by step through the form, offering tooltips and validations to ensure that signers input the correct information. At any time, staff can also check on the status of each pending form as DocuSign timestamps each time the signer views and edits the form. Once the form has been submitted, AOP staff have designated Box folders into which DocuSign will automatically upload the completed application and all supporting documents. If they still need to follow up with the applicant, AOP can cancel or resend the form with just a few clicks.

McNair Scholars Assistant Director Michael Hunt, B.S. ‘06 Mathematics, says that the ability to adjust and automate the application’s workflow has gone a long way in reducing administrative work for McNair staff. Though the McNair Scholars Program has gone farthest in reducing paper, AOP’s other programs have also taken up DocuSign as well.

AOP Director Corris Davis, B.S. ‘98 Biological Sciences, praised the use of DocuSign for the many agreements and contracts used in the Upward Bound Program, which reaches out to high school students in Baltimore City and County. Many of these forms require both the student and a parent/guardian to read and agree to numerous program requirements and rules. DocuSign not only skips the hassle of having to submit all these forms by mail, but also does more to ensure that the signers fully read each section by preventing submission before each part is initialed and signed. 

In advancing their mission to enable academic success, AOP has simultaneously improved their business processes to benefit both students and staff. Moving forward, as DoIT continues to integrate DocuSign with campus systems, AOP expects to create even more efficient solutions.

More Info:

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