• Leads the library’s investigation and implementation of emerging technology to better serve the campus.
• Develops a technology plan that builds on the University’s and Library’s strategic plans to address new opportunities and pursue possibilities of adapting and applying technology solutions.
• Participates in library planning; serves on library-wide and university committees and task forces including the Library Executive Council.
• Works in partnership with the campus Division of Information Technology for discovery, planning and implementation of new technology.
  
• Keeps current with trends and issues in the IT industry, including current technologies and costs.
  
• Provides leadership in coordinating and defining technology requirements for library-wide projects and initiatives.
  
• Oversees Library Information Technology Services composed of library faculty and staff and student employees and works with other areas of the library and university that are affiliated with technology.
  
• In partnership with the Division of Information Technology insures that library systems and computing are robust and operational.

• ALA accredited MLS or equivalent advanced degree.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in IT-related project management in one or more of the following in an academic library setting:
• Database development
• Network engineering
• Hardware and software upgrades to mission critical applications
• Application development
• Experience with library technologies and technology planning and demonstrated knowledge of current technology trends.
• Strong analytical and decision making skills.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Evidence of leadership and management ability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to communicate clearly, knowledgeably and personably both orally and in writing.

Preferred:

• Knowledge and understanding of significant trends and issues in the application of information technology to libraries and higher education, including research support and information management services and solutions.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing new technologies or services, e.g. virtual servers, immersive technologies, and maker spaces.
• Experience working with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
• Experience developing IT policies for workflows and software support.
• Demonstrated record of participation in relevant professional associations and ongoing professional development.
• Experience working with a larger campus information and computing group.
• Experience working in a consortia of libraries.

Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

We are writing to inform you that Charlene Uhl, Director of Budget and Resource Analysis, has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2018. Her last day in the office will be Friday, February 23.

Charlene has served as the Director of the Office of Budget and Resource Analysis at the University for almost six years.  She has been a great resource for all of us in a highly visible role. Her impressive understanding of the budget process at the State level and her ability to discuss strategy and budget at a detailed campus level have provided valuable input to the legislative processes influencing our budget as well as policy issues. She has improved and documented many of our campus budget procedures with the assistance of her excellent staff. Additionally, she has served on many campus committees and task forces over those years including Strategic Planning and Middle States Work Groups. We are deeply grateful for all of the great work she has done for Financial Services and UMBC.

A search committee to find a replacement has already been established. We hope to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible and will inform the campus as soon as the position is filled.

On behalf of Financial Services and the entire UMBC community, we would like to thank Charlene for her exceptional contributions to UMBC over the years.

Please join us in congratulating Charlene as she enters this new and exciting stage of life on Thursday, February 22, 3 - 5 p.m., in The Commons, Fireside Lounge.  Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Desiree Stonesifer, sdesiree@umbc.edu, by February 15 if you can join us for this occasion.

Lynne Schaefer, Vice President, Administration & Finance

Ben Lowenthal, Associate Vice President, Financial Services

This memorandum is to announce the Computer Replacement Initiative (CRI) for the Academic Year 2018-2019.  CRI is being extended across the campus to all faculty and staff; each division has developed the criteria to be used in that division.  This continues to be an important initiative as we strive to provide our faculty and staff with the technology tools needed to carry out our academic mission.  Funds available for the CRI continue to be limited and consequently we anticipate that we will not be able to fund all the meritorious applications.

Within Academic Affairs, the procedures for this year’s CRI will be the same as last year’s and we will also maintain the same subsidy levels as before.  Specifically, the subsidy for a laptop is $1,000 and the subsidy for a desktop is $600.  The goal for this differential is to promote the purchase of laptops by faculty and staff based on the advantages provided by laptops in the areas of academic continuity, sustainability, portability and teaching with technology as we continue to enhance our pool of classrooms.  Those wishing to purchase a different configuration may apply the subsidy amount toward the purchase of a customized computer configuration.  All computers should minimally be purchased with a three-year warranty.

Ordering of the new machines will occur in early June.  Installations will begin as soon as the machines arrive, and we will endeavor to complete as many of the installations as possible in advance of the fall semester.  Given the success achieved during the previous years with a single procurement and mass distribution of PCs, we will continue with a similar program this year.  As in the past, we will have several “standard” configurations included in this procurement.  The minimum and recommended configurations for a desktop and laptops can be found at:

 Recommended Technology for Faculty and Staff

 The CRI has always required cost sharing of new computers.  As indicated above, we will provide a subsidy of $600 for a desktop computer and $1,000 for a laptop computer.

We will place a bulk purchase with Dell so machines can be delivered and installed in advance of the start of the Fall 2018 semester.  Each individual will have the option of using the bulk purchase or ordering their customized unit from either Dell or another vendor.  I encourage you to participate in this bulk purchase plan given the benefits we have seen in the past.  Your department will be charged a one-time amount depending on which option you should select.  The options available and the exact department cost share for each option will be announced in March as soon as we have such information from Dell.

The timeline for this year’s CRI is the following:

• February 12, 2018 - Announcement sent to campus
• March 30, 2018 - Deadline for submitting the CRI application via the DoIT web form
• April 13, 2018 - Notification to chairs/directors of award recommendations from the review committee
• April 18, 2018 -Feedback from chairs/directors on the award recommendations
• April 23, 2018 -Review by the deans of the awards list
• April 30, 2018 -Awards are announced
• May 25, 2018 - Deadline for awardees to make their computer options selection
• Early June - Computer order will be placed

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers U.S. and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA’s scientific goals. The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA’s missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics, and engineering, human exploration and space operations, and astrobiology.

Current research opportunities can be viewed online: https://npp.usra.edu/opportunities/ Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply.

Stipends start at $60,000 per year, with supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation as well as subsidized health insurance, and $10,000 per year is provided for professional and programmatic travel.

Applications are accepted three times each year:

• March 1
• July 1
• November 1

For further information and to apply, visit: https://npp.usra.edu/

Send questions to npphelp@usra.edu.