Welcome to the fall 2020 semester at UMBC! We’re excited to welcome you back even though these extraordinary times create unique challenges for many of us. We want to provide you with information about how to protect yourself, support the health and safety of our campus community, and reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 at UMBC and beyond. We also write to share UMBC’s community expectations during the transition back to campus.

All students who will be attending face-to-face classes and/or living or working on campus this fall are required to complete the Return to Campus COVID Awareness training by August 27, 2020. To access the training, please use the following instructions:

• Log in to your UMBC Blackboard site.
• Select the “Organizations” section located on the left side of your screen.
• Select the training “Return to Campus COVID Awareness.”
• Select Module 1 to begin the training.
• This training does not have to be completed in one sitting; however, you must complete all five training modules.

If you are having any issues accessing the training, please follow the instructions located at this FAQ page to self-enroll in the Return to Campus COVID Awareness.

At the end of module 5, you will be asked to acknowledge and sign the Retriever Community Agreement making a personal commitment to precautions and actions required in order to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 on our campus and beyond.

If you do not complete the training and sign the Retriever Community Agreement by August 27 you will be required to take classes online and/or live off campus until circumstances allow for a return to campus.

Additional information on all of the requirements for students approved to return to campus, including information on COVID-19 testing options and daily symptom tracking, is available on the Retrievers Return Roadmap site.

Thank you very much for your commitment to helping us keep our UMBC community as healthy as possible. We look forward to seeing you soon!

TRANS SUPPORT GROUP UMBC COUNSELING CENTER

Fridays 2-2:50PM
Starting September 4th 2020
WebEX Virtual Meetings

Support for Transgender, Non-Binary, & Gender Questioning Students

The trans support group is a closed group for transgender, non-binary, and gender questioning students. We will meet weekly; students who register will hope to commit to the weekly meetings through the end of the semester. Topics of discussion will revolve around supporting one another in an online, virtual space.

Contact Lily Kaufmann (she/her/hers) lkaufman@umbc.edu or Ethan Swift (he/him/they/them) eswift@umbc.edu to register.

Joint Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) Health Statement

Counseling Center

University Health Services

Women’s Center

Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers

We celebrate the monumental ruling from the Supreme Court on June 15, 2020 that upholds protections for the LGBTQ+ community against discrimination in the workplace. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited and this ruling declares that this includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

At the same time, we are deeply troubled by new Federal guidelines that place limitations on non-discrimination protections in healthcare by removing the inclusion of transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals. We are troubled not only by the ruling, but also the fact that these decisions were made during Pride Month, on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, and in the midst of both a global pandemic and a movement to defend and affirm Black lives.

The erasure of these healthcare rights for TGNB people can significantly impact their access to health insurance, resources, and providers, making it more likely for them to experience inequities and unfair treatment in healthcare. Moreover, these guidelines do not align with UMBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence. We feel it is essential to reaffirm our support of the trans and non-binary communities at UMBC.

We want to assure our UMBC community that, regardless of this change at the federal level, Maryland state law protects healthcare access (including insurance coverage) for transgender and gender non-binary people. Other states may not have the same protections. UMBC students who have out-of-state health insurance that might not be as inclusive can select our student health insurance to be covered in Maryland.

The Counseling Center and University Health Services are available for questions, support, and guidance around getting your healthcare needs addressed in an inclusive and affirming manner. The Women's Center and The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers will also continue to hold steadfast in our commitment to providing support services and educational programs, and will advocate for trans and non-binary community members' well-being and belonging.

Your identities are valid. Always. You are deserving of equitable and affirming care. Always.

We see you. We believe you. You matter. Always.

We also offer the following non-exhaustive list of local resources as options for affirming care in the areas of physical and mental health, legal support, housing and food security, and community advocacy:

Free State Justice

Trans Healthcare Maryland

Chase Brexton Health Care

The Pride Center of MD

Hearts and Ears, Inc.

Joy Baltimore

Center for Black Equity (LGBTQ Focus)

On Campus Resources Include:

Counseling Center: The Trans Support Group is a group for transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and gender questioning students. The group is discussion based with topics based on group consensus, with flexibility to explore current issues faced by group members. Look out for recorded webinars based on the Trans Support Group as well as news regarding Trans Support Group in the Fall semester.

LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association

LGBTQ Student Union and the Queer and Trans People of Color (QPOC) Student Org

Office of Equity and Inclusion

The Mosaic, Interfaith and Pride Centers

University Health Services

Women’s Center: Spectrum is a discussion group for community members who identify as trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, outside of the gender binary, and/or those who are questioning their gender identity. Spectrum will begin meeting virtually again in the Fall.

UMBC Counseling Center

Statement and Resources Regarding Racism and Systemic Oppression in Black Communities 

In light of recent events and in support of the recent statement by the University System of Maryland chancellor and presidents, the Counseling Center continues to take an unequivocal position against racism. Not only do we denounce the extrajudicial murders of Black people, with the recent tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor,  George Floyd, and Tony McDade, but we are also tormented by the daily acts of aggression and weaponizing of majority power that lead to other experiences of racial trauma, most recently seen in the case of Christian Cooper. We continue to show solidarity for Black and Queer/Trans POC (QTPOC) faculty, students, staff, and communities. More personally, as a diverse staff serving students at one of the most diverse institutions on the East Coast, we grieve for the experience of our colleagues who hold these identities.  

As mental health providers, we acknowledge the negative mental health consequences of racism, as well as the detrimental impact of direct or vicarious experiences of race-based trauma. In the aftermath of these traumas, it is normal to experience a range of emotions, such as sadness, anger, shock, fear, helplessness, guilt, or anxiety. In the midst of these extremely trying times, we want to remind you that the Counseling Center staff are here for you, and are committed to providing affirming care to all students who are needing psychological support. If you, or someone you know, would like help coping with and healing from recent events, we encourage you to contact our office at 410-455-2472. 

It’s not lost on us that a little over two months ago we were writing a very similarstatement condemning xenophobia and racism being perpetrated on Asian American communities in the wake of Covid-19. We can’t help but acknowledge that with each new dehumanizing event that requires one of these statements can come the feeling like such measures aren’t enough or ring hollow. However, we implore you to not only see this as a message of support, but as a resource for action, healing, and growth. Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of resources on addressing systemic racism and anti-racism, resources for Black communities on coping with racial trauma, and resources for ways we can all get involved. Let’s all commit to finding our pathway towards bringing change and healing to our communities and our world.

Please continue to follow or check in with the Counseling Center via our website, myUMBC group, and social media platforms (@UMBCCounseling on Instagram and Facebook) for updates on our services and programming. 

Resources from UMBC Campus Partners:

• Campus Life’s (CL) Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers

• The Women’s Center

Resources Addressing Systemic Racism:  

• “We are living in a racism pandemic says APA president” 

• “A Timeline of Events that Led to the 2020 ‘Fed Up’-rising” 

• “3 Things Amy Cooper Did in Central Park to Damage Her Reputation and Career”

• George Floyd and the Dominos of Racial Injustice Video by Trevor Noah

Resources for Coping with Racial Trauma:

• Coping with Racism

• Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture: Racial Trauma Toolkit  

• Radical Healing Collective

• www.callblackline.com 

• www.thebipocproject.org

• BLM Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma by Dr. Candice Nicole

• www.liberatemeditation.com

• Books on Microaggressions and Traumatic Stress by Kevin Nadal

• The Racial Healing Handbookby Anneliese A. Singh

Resources Addressing Anti-Racism:

Videos on Anti-racism

• Anti-Racism Practices & the PandemicTim Wise 

• Anti-Racism EducatorJane Elliott  

• Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo 

• America is a Tale of Two Cities Chris Cuomo

*Books on Anti-racism

• How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi   

• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 

• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo 

•  I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Ways to Get Involved

• “75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice” 

• 26 Ways to be in The Struggle Beyond The Streets

• Information re: Financial Support & Donations

• Sign a Petition

• Register to Vote

• Showing Up for Racial Justice

• Color of Change

In support of the University System of Maryland chancellor and presidents' statement, the UMBC Counseling Center continues to stand against racism and denounces the murders of Black people with the most recent tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade. We stand with Black folx and communities as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent acts of state violence continue to highlight the health disparities and the traumatization of marginalized communities (see Counseling Center Statement).

Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources on systemic racism history, antiracism resources, resources for Black communities, and resources for parents raising antiracist children. If you want your voice to be heard and considering one’s circumstances, call your elected representative, vote, donate time or money. 

Systemic Racism Resources:

·         "We are living in a racism pandemic says APA president"

·         "A Timeline of Events that Led to the 2020 ‘Fed Up’-rising"

·         "3 Things Amy Cooper Did in Central Park to Damage Her Reputation and Career"

Antiracism Resources:

·         "75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice"

·         "26 Ways to be in The Struggle Beyond The Streets"

Videos on Antiracism: 

·         Anti-Racism Practices & the Pandemic Tim Wise

·         Anti-Racism Educator Jane Elliott

·         Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo

·         COVID-19 Trevor Noah

·         America is a Tale of Two Cities Chris Cuomo

Books on Antiracism:

·         How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi 

·         Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

·         White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Resources for Black Communities:

·         Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture: Racial Trauma Toolkit

·         NAMI African American Mental Health

·         Black Lives Matter: Healing Action Toolkit

·         Coping with Racism

·         Radical Healing Collective

Resources for Queer People of Color

·         Standing Together Coming Out for Racial Justice: An Anti-Racist Organizational Developmental Toolkit for LGBT Equality Groups and Activist

·         Human Rights Campaign: Explore Communities of Color

·         UC Santa Cruz: Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color Resources

Resources for Parents:

Articles:

·         "Countering COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Stigma and Racism: Tips for Parents and Caregivers"

·         "PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month"

Books:   

·         Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults

Podcasts:  

·         Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’

·          Fare of the Free Child podcast

Social Media:

·         The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram

*resources list adapted from University of Illinois Chicago Counseling Center