KEY POINTS
Spring semester classes will begin as scheduled on January 31.
Spring telework agreements will be in effect beginning January 24.
All in our on-campus community must be up to date with our vaccination requirement, including a “booster shot” when eligible.
PCR tests are required for all returning to campus.
KN95 or equivalent masks must be worn in all spaces where masking is required.
Dear UMBC Community,
As promised, we are writing to update you on the University’s plans for the spring semester. Classes will begin as scheduled on January 31, and spring telework agreements will be in effect beginning January 24.
It is clear that the COVID-19 Omicron variant will affect many in our campus community as we begin this semester. Knowing that many of us and our families have and will continue to be impacted by this virus, we will continue our multi-layered approach to health and safety precautions and our commitment to compassion and flexibility for students, faculty, and staff. If you need additional support or flexibility as the semester starts, please ask for help. Students can reach out to their instructors and advisors, faculty should work with their department chairs and keep their students informed, and staff can work directly with supervisors. We will get through this together.
Three safety requirements will allow us to continue teaching and learning, research and creative achievement, and other community activities as safely as possible. We expect all students, faculty, and staff on campus to comply with these measures:
1. Be up to date with our vaccination requirement, which will include an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine—a “booster shot”—when you are eligible. More information is located on this page.
2. Take an on-campus PCR test on the first day that you return to campus. We will share particular information on how to test for the spring semester directly with commuting and residential students. Instructions on how to test are available here.
3. Wear KN95 or equivalent masks in all spaces where masking is required. The campus continues to require indoor masking for all community members and visitors. More information, including locations to obtain free masks, is available here.
Finally, please remember that community members who have been on campus and have tested positive, or been a close contact of someone who has tested positive, should file a Case Report Form. We also have added guidance for community members who have recently tested positive.
Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping our community healthy and strong. Additional guidance for faculty members, residential students, and our Universities at Shady Grove students and faculty will be forthcoming soon. If you have any questions, contact us at covid19@umbc.edu.
Provost Philip Rous
Vice President of Information Technology and CIO Jack Suess
COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs
Dear UMBC Community,
After 12 years of dedicated service to our campus community, UMBC Police Chief Paul Dillon has announced that he will retire from UMBC effective February 25, 2022. Chief Dillon came to UMBC from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2010 as Deputy Chief, and became Chief of Police in 2018.
I have asked UMBC’s Deputy Chief of Police, Major Bruce Perry ‘97, psychology, to serve as Acting Chief of Police upon Chief Dillion’s departure. Major Perry has been a member of UMBC’s Police Department since 1998; I look forward to working with him in his new role.
Throughout his time at UMBC, Chief Dillon has applied his wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff to live, work, and learn. He has developed, implemented, and led many key public safety initiatives for the campus, including the campus text alert system and an updated emergency preparedness plan.
A strong advocate for equality, tolerance, and inclusiveness, Chief Dillon is a representative and advisor for several campus groups, including the Behavioral Risk Assessment and Consultation Team (BRACT), LGBTQ Climate Group, and Relationship Violence Awareness and Prevention Advocates group.
Most recently, Chief Dillon had provided remarkable leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his work with the COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee, as well as his leadership of the Contact Response Team, Chief Dillion’s vast knowledge and expertise in crisis and emergency management has proven invaluable.
Last, but certainly not least, UMBC Police added its first community outreach officer during Chief Dillon’s tenure, and welcomed “Officer Chip,” our certified comfort dog, to support UMBC community members in distress.
Our campus is safer and more prepared for emergencies due to Chief Dillon’s professionalism and hard work. His good nature, collegiality, and sense of humor will be missed. He and his wife, Cynthia, are the proud parents of three children, including two Retriever alumni: Jake Dillon ‘16, a Sondheim Scholar, who is an economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Katie Dillon ‘18, a Center for Women in Technology Scholar, who is a software engineer for Google. Their daughter Grace earned a degree in musical theater from Otterbein University in 2021 and is pursuing an acting career in New York City.
Please join me in congratulating Paul and wishing him all the best in his next adventures!
Kathy L. Dettloff, Vice President for Administration and Finance
Key Points
The campus will continue to reduce density on campus by encouraging flexible telework when possible through January 24.
All community members are required to take an on-campus COVID-19 test the day that they return to campus.
Our next on-campus booster clinic is January 20.
Dear Community,
The COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee is actively working to understand the health and operations risks associated with the COVID-19 Omicron variant surge. We will keep the campus informed of developing plans to carry on with teaching and learning, research and creative achievement, and campus operations as safely and smoothly as possible in the spring semester. We anticipate being able to share updates on these plans no later than January 14, 2022.
In the meantime, we want to share guidance regarding health precautions and campus operations during the next few weeks.
Reduced Campus Density and Telework
Between now and January 24, we are encouraging departments and supervisors to be flexible and, when possible, accommodate additional telework days for staff. Staff may continue to work off site beyond the scope of existing telework agreements with their supervisor’s permission. Some employees will be needed on-campus to provide critical, on-campus services necessary to support research, administration, and students. Supervisors should work directly with employees to determine a schedule that decreases density but also provides the core services needed by the campus.
On-Campus Testing & Return to Campus
All community members are required to take an on-campus PCR test on the day that they return to campus. Please test as soon as you arrive on campus. Details on where and how to test are available here or through this wiki. Testing on campus requires the use of a mobile application that you will need to download before you arrive on campus, so please plan ahead. After you test, you may remain on campus but please be extra diligent about mask wearing and distancing as you wait for your results.
In addition, we are strongly recommending that, if possible, all community members take a home rapid test 3-5 days before they return to campus.
Case Response and Campus Safety Measures
Our contact response team has resumed tracking of on-campus cases. If you test positive, please review important response measures and report your result here. Masking continues to be required in all indoor spaces, except when you are actively eating or in an office alone. We recommend high-quality KN95 masks. Free KN95 masks are available at The Commons information desk and the Library mail counter.
Booster Clinics
With new information released by the Centers for Disease Control, we continue to strongly encourage all in our community to get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible. Due to community demand, we are hosting new COVID-19 Booster and Flu Clinics, with our next clinic on January 20. Boosters are available by appointment only. Make your appointment here.
Thank you for your patience as we weather this surge and plan for the spring semester. If you have any questions, contact us at covid19@umbc.edu.
Provost Philip Rous
Vice President of Information Technology and CIO Jack Suess
COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs
Due to community demand, we are hosting new COVID-19 Booster and Flu Clinics.
Clinics are January 6 and 20 and are by appointment only.
Reserve your appointment today!
Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
Vic Madrid
Medical Director, Retriever Integrated Health
]]>Due to the remote working guidance, Chartwells has adjusted dining hours for January 4 - 9. Venues and hours are below. Adjusted hours may continue as needed. For the most updated dining locations and hours, please visit dineoncampus.com/umbc.
Starbucks
Monday - Friday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
True Grit’s
Monday - Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 – 9:00 am
Lunch: 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Dinner: 5:30-7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday
Brunch: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Dinner: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
This campus update is from Enrollment Management. Receive regular updates by following their myUMBC page.
On January 5, 2022, UMBC will launch its enhanced online enrollment tools and interface to support students’ academic planning. The enhanced tools and interface, powered by HighPoint Technology Solutions, provides critical infrastructure needed to support a more improved student enrollment experience for both students and advisors, including degree planning, class search, registration and schedule adjustments. This improved enrollment experience further supports and promotes the goals and objectives of the Strategic Enrollment Plan (SEP) with respect to the defined Student Success Strategy. Specifically, students and advisors will benefit from:
An Updated Look and Feel: The new interface offers a fresh, modernized look and a more intuitive experience. Students and advisors serving as early test-drivers of the enhanced tools and interface report overall positive user experience.
A More Integrated Experience: Because the new enrollment solution sits inside PeopleSoft SA (our student information system), enrollment transactions will be facilitated more seamlessly from beginning to end. For example, students can build courses into their degree planner and schedule builder, place the courses into their shopping cart, and register for the courses within the same platform. Students no longer have to move from one tool to another to complete an enrollment transaction.
More Real-Time Transactions and Updates: The unified experience and approach will allow the scheduler builder tools, that includes class enrollments, open seats and waitlist totals to be almost real-time - providing both students and faculty with timely and accurate information for academic planning purposes.
More Robust Class Search Options: The enhanced tools respond to feedback from students and advisors about the need for more robust search options. Now, students and advisors can leverage more search options including the ability to search courses that meet GEP requirements without having to select additional search criteria. Additionally, search results are displayed in an easily readable format without the need to drill down for more course detail.
For more information about the enhanced enrollment tools and interface, we invite you to review the online FAQs or contact the Registrar’s Office.
The enhanced online enrollment tools and interface represent the beginning of a series of planned enrollment enhancements to support student success. Other planned enhancements include an improved new student onboarding (confirmation/deposit) experience and more robust degree planning tools.
Thank you to the Registrar’s Office and the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) teams for leading, planning and facilitating these important enhancements. Thanks, too, to our SA Academic Advisory Committee - represented by our Colleges, Office of Academic and Pre-professional Advising, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, and the Student Government Association - for providing critical insight and feedback about the student and advisor enrollment experience to help inform this project.
]]>Dear UMBC Community,
Due to community demand, we are hosting new COVID-19 Booster and Flu Clinics in the New Year.
Clinics are January 6 and 20 and are by appointment only.
Reserve your appointment today!
These slots may fill. If no times appear when you click on January 2022, our clinics are filled. We will continue to host throughout the new year.
Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
Vic Madrid
Medical Director, Retriever Integrated Health
]]>Key Points
A liberal temporary telework policy for staff is being implemented for the week of January 3 to 7 to reduce density on campus.
On-campus testing will be provided in January, and all UMBC community members are required to test as soon as they return to campus.
UMBC’s PCR testing will pause during winter break, but self-administered rapid antigen tests will be available at the Police Station and open residence halls.
Dear UMBC Community,
Thank you for your collective efforts to keep the campus open and safe during the fall semester. As students, faculty, and staff prepare for a well-deserved winter break, the COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee is monitoring the current surge of Omicron-variant cases in Maryland and beyond and taking steps to minimize the risk of spread on campus when we return.
Reduced Campus Density for Week of January 3
In order to reduce density on campus in the week of January 3, we are implementing a liberal temporary telework policy for staff, which means that most employees can determine their on- campus work schedules for the week. Supervisors should only require an employee who can otherwise work remotely to come to campus if there is a critical on-campus task to be performed. If you can work remotely, consider doing so for up to five days between January 3 and January 7. Please make sure you share your schedule with your supervisor. This is a temporary measure and will not alter existing telework agreements. Staff who do not currently have a telework agreement are also eligible for telework in the week of January 3.
Additional information regarding work schedules and testing will be announced before January 7.
Campus Safety Measures in January
Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you self-test at home 1-3 days before returning to the campus. We know that both PCR and rapid testing may be difficult to obtain after the holidays, so please start planning for your family now.
We will provide on-campus testing in January and will require all of our community members to test as soon as they return to campus. While you are waiting for your results, please be diligent about mask wearing and physical distancing. If your work situation does not allow for distancing, please speak with your manager about an alternative safety plan.
When you return to campus, please strictly adhere to safety protocols in place at that time, including any testing and symptom tracking requirements you have previously been assigned. KN95 masks are available free of charge at the RAC front desk, The Commons Information Desk, and the Library mail counter.
Winter Break On-campus Testing
As we shared in our last campus message, UMBC’s PCR testing will pause during winter break but self-administered rapid antigen tests will be available at the Police Station and the desks of open residence halls.
COVID-19 Planning Leadership
Finally, we want to recognize and thank the members of the COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee, Work Groups and Sub-Groups, who have worked constantly for nearly two years to support academic continuity, research and creative achievement, student success, operations, and events. As Lynne Schaefer retires this week, we are grateful to announce that Jack Suess, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, will take over as co-chair of the COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee in the new year.
Provost Philip Rous
Vice President for Administration and Finance Lynne Schaefer
COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs
]]>Key Points
The increase of COVID-19 cases on campus is challenging but manageable.
During Winter Break, many COVID-19 response processes will be paused.
Community members who receive positive test results should reach out to their healthcare provider for guidance.
Certain compliance measures remain in effect, especially for faculty, staff, and students who will be on campus in January.
Dear UMBC Community,
As we near the end of the semester, we continue to manage a number of COVID-19 cases on campus. We appreciate the actions taken by all of our faculty, staff, and students to increase safety measures and offer flexibility for symptomatic students and colleagues. This increase on campus is challenging, but manageable, and we are fortunate that the cases have not been severe. We have no evidence of transmission within classrooms. In addition, we have reason to believe that most of our transmission is happening in unofficial gatherings where masking and distancing are not occurring.
At this time, we are planning to hold in-person graduation ceremonies as planned. Please be aware that we are carefully monitoring a broad range of factors and will keep the campus community informed if there are any changes.
Given the very reduced number of community members on campus during Winter Break, we will pause most contact tracing and case response processes from December 23-January 2 in order to provide frontline staff a much needed respite. Community members in need of support will still be able to access immediate help by calling University Police or emailing covid19@umbc.edu for non-urgent concerns. Students on campus in need of medical support may also call the Retriever After Hours Support Line at 410-455-3230.
On-Campus COVID-19 Testing
UMBC’s on-campus PCR testing will pause during Winter Break. The last opportunity to test on campus is Tuesday, December 21 before 11am. However, self-administered rapid antigen tests will be available at the Police Station and the desks of open residence halls for any individual who is required to be on campus and test during the break.
If you receive a positive test result between December 21 and January 2, please work with your healthcare provider and/or local health department to seek care and guidance on quarantine and isolation. Students who test positive next week should complete their isolation period off-campus. If this is not possible, we will work with you to find alternative housing arrangements.
Compliance
Students who have health and safety requirements may stop regular testing when they leave campus for the semester. However, if they will be on campus for winter courses, they must continue to symptom track during Winter Break and through the end of Winter Session. Testing requirements will resume the first day of any in-person or hybrid winter courses.
Faculty and staff with testing requirements will not need to test during the break but must continue to symptom track. Faculty and staff with testing requirements are expected to test when they return to campus on January 3.
Booster Clinics
We are very pleased that our on-campus COVID-19 booster and flu shots clinics have each filled to capacity. We are currently planning additional clinics in January. Clinics will be by appointment only. Dates and appointment links will be posted here.
Thank you for all of your efforts to keep our campus safe and healthy. We wish all of our students, faculty, and staff a productive conclusion of the semester and a restful break.
Provost Philip Rous
Vice President for Administration and Finance Lynne Schaefer
COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs
Dear UMBC Community,
To recognize, in some small part, all of your hard work and your remarkable commitment to our community, we are pleased to announce that UMBC will be closed on Thursday, December 23, 2021. This will extend our winter break, with the campus reopening on Monday, January 3, 2022.
The day will be designated as an administrative leave day on time sheets. If Governor Hogan makes changes to the state employees' holiday leave, as he has done in previous years, the state holiday will replace the administrative leave day, without changing the dates the university is closed.
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for everything you do, and have done, to strengthen and advance our community. Thank you for your hard work to keep the operations of the university stable despite the many professional and personal challenges created by the pandemic, for your continued creativity in and out of the classroom, and for your unwavering support of our values, our mission, and our students. We are so grateful for each of you. We hope you find time for rest and restoration during the break, and we look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Thank you.
President Freeman Hrabowski
Provost Philip Rous
Vice President for Administration and Finance Lynne Schaefer