Honoring the Memory of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
UMBC mourns the loss of the iconic United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, died last Friday, September 18, 2020, after 27 years of service on the high court. Breaking down barriers even after her death, she is the first woman and first Jewish person to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a true champion of justice. She was committed to gender equity and worked to give women the ability to participate in education and the workplace equitably. Justice Ginsburg fought for women’s legal autonomy over their bodies and finances. Her work has contributed to the efforts to end violence against women and she was a champion for LGBTQ rights.

As we mourn this great loss, the UMBC community can best honor Justice Ginsburg by carrying on her tenacious commitment to justice and equity.  For more information or support, please contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion and UMBC Women’s Center.

Candace Dodson-Reed
Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion
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Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Email covid19@umbc.edu.

COVID-19 Health & Safety

  • UMBC’s Public Health Dashboard was updated with new data on September 23. The dashboard provides timely data about the prevalence of COVID-19 within our main campus, based on UMBC’s on-campus testing and reported results from off-campus testing among UMBC faculty, staff, and students who are approved to be on campus this fall. 

Counseling Center Offers Group Counseling 

  • The Counseling Center is offering several support groups, including “Connecting While Apart” groups for both undergraduate and graduate students.

University Health Services Fall Semester Appointment Process

  • University Health Services continues to serve the UMBC by appointment only during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please call 410-455-2542 to make an appointment. If you need care outside normal operating hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), please contact the UHS after-hours care line at 410-455-3230. 
  • Healthcare providers will first meet with patients through a telehealth visit using the secure video conferencing platform WebEx or by phone if video conferencing is not available. If the healthcare provider deems it necessary to further evaluate the patient in person, the provider will discuss that need during the telehealth visit and schedule an in-person appointment. Visits with our nurse or medical assistant for vaccines, blood work, and allergy shots will be scheduled without a telehealth component.
  • If you are experiencing an emergency while on campus that requires an immediate response, please contact UMBC police at 410-455-5555. If you are off-campus and have an emergency, please call 911.

Office of Health Promotion Peer Health Educators


The UHS Office of Health Promotion staff and trained Peer Health Educators provide virtual education sessions on the following topics; visit the Health Promotion website to schedule a session.
  • Alcohol and other drugs
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Stress management and relaxation techniques
  • Nutrition and exercise
  • Eating disorders
  • STI and HIV/AIDS education
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Sexual assault
  • Mental and emotional well being
  • Financial well-being

UMBC Together

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Dear UMBC Community:

We deeply appreciate the many precautions that students, faculty, and staff are consistently taking to protect your health and the health of others on campus and in the broader community. The UMBC Public Health Dashboard update released today reports a current COVID-19 campus positivity rate of 0.2 percent, based on test results received September 8 through 22. The current Baltimore County positivity rate is 2.3 percent. During this reporting period, two new cases were identified among students, faculty, and staff. Each individual and their reported contacts have received appropriate follow-up support.

We are encouraged by these early results and optimistic that continued caution and discipline will enable UMBC’s fall semester to continue as planned, with limited numbers of students in residence halls and on-campus classes required for their academic progress.

We also know that ongoing vigilance is essential to minimize the spread of COVID-19. All community members approved to be on campus must complete COVID-19 testing, daily symptom tracking, and health and safety training requirements. Learn more on UMBC’s Health & Safety page. Campus testing will continue every week in a surveillance mode. Surveillance testing methods will include: (1) random sampling, (2) targeted test sampling of people in settings with greater interaction (i.e., research labs, music and theatre classes, residence halls), or (3) responsive testing to follow up in situations where we are aware of exposure or possible exposure to COVID-19. In addition, surveillance testing within Athletics exceeds NCAA standards. Men’s and Women’s Basketball students and staff are tested weekly as they actively prepare for a planned season start on November 25. Other student athletes are tested on a rotating basis, with 25 percent of the roster tested every other week.

We want to recognize the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee’s Testing Group—comprised of leaders from Student Affairs, the Division of Information Technology, Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Institutional Advancement, University Health Services, and University Police—for developing and managing so many of the new administrative and clinical processes necessary to safeguard the health of the campus. And we especially thank Emergency Health Services Professor Lucy Wilson, M.D. for sharing her expertise in infectious disease outbreak response with UMBC leaders, other University System of Maryland institutions, and the State of Maryland during this pandemic.

Again, our deepest thanks to each of you for continuing to do your part to protect our campus.

Provost Philip Rous, Vice President Lynne Schaefer, and Vice President Nancy Young
]]> Dear UMBC Community: We deeply appreciate the many precautions that students, faculty, and staff are consistently taking to protect your health and the health of others on campus and in the... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/96023/guest@my.umbc.edu/34e0f67a4fcf6742482588e49f1d5408/api/pixel covid19 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 2 0 true Wed, 23 Sep 2020 12:21:11 -0400 Board of Regents’ Faculty Awards Call for Nominations
The Board of Regents’ Faculty Awards recognize distinguished performance by faculty within the past three years, in the categories of:
  • Teaching
  • Research/scholarship/creative activity
  • Public service
  • Mentoring
  • Innovation
  • Inter-USM campus collaboration
The Honors and Awards Committee of the Faculty Senate will select up to three individuals in each category for nomination to the Board of Regents.

To nominate yourself or a faculty colleague for one of these awards, prepare a packet of no more than five pages including a summary resume, a one-page essay by the nominee describing his or her contribution to excellence, a letter of recommendation from the department chair or dean, and a brief documentation of exemplary achievement.

Submit the packet via email to the Honors and Awards Committee, c/o Patrice McDermott, Office of the Provost, at mcdermot@umbc.edu, by Friday, October 2. Additional detailed information concerning eligibility, criteria, and documentation for these awards can be found here.

]]> The Board of Regents’ Faculty Awards recognize distinguished performance by faculty within the past three years, in the categories of: Teaching Research/scholarship/creative activity Public... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/96005/guest@my.umbc.edu/0dd7a8ebdc3f7d9ace7fd7bfcd934d3f/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 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 17:52:48 -0400 September 22: Retriever Ready Action Update Proper Handwashing Techniques + Virtual Event Planning Tips
Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu.

COVID-19 Health & Safety

  • Check out this video from the CDC about proper handwashing techniques. Make sure to protect your health and the health of your fellow Retrievers through physical distancing, wearing masks, and proper handwashing.

Student Ambassadors Are Ready to Answer Your Virtual Learning Questions

  • Students: Do you have questions about virtual learning? UMBC’s Student Ambassadors are ready to help! Undergraduate and graduate students can connect with peers who serve as a “brain trust,” sharing information and resources on how to become successful virtual learners in the time of COVID-19. Ambassadors provide information, share their experiences using effective strategies, and direct students to available resources.

Virtual Event Planning Tips 

Faculty & Staff: Annual Leave “Carryover” Limit Update

  • The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has approved a temporary exception to the 400 hours of accrued annual leave that regular nonexempt and exempt faculty and staff are ordinarily able to carry into a new calendar year. Learn more in this message from UMBC Human Resources.

UMBC Together

]]> Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu. COVID-19 Health & Safety Check out this video from the CDC about proper... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/96003/guest@my.umbc.edu/268d9b4880c202f30181fee35db8b584/api/pixel covid19update 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 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:58:54 -0400 National Voter Registration Day: Cast Your Whole Vote
Dear UMBC Community,

In the next six weeks, Baltimore and the United States will elect leaders who will make decisions and take actions that affect all of our lives in profound ways. We encourage you to use this time to cast your whole vote by learning about the candidates and issues, talking and listening to each other about your views and experiences, and continuing to make our UMBC community a forum for deep, respectful engagement. 

Earlier this year we signed the Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation, committing to a goal of full participation in Election 2020 by members of the UMBC community. UMBC has a proud tradition of national leadership in voter turnout, and received a Gold Award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its 113 percent increase in student voter turnout in the 2018 election (relative to 2014).

Today is National Voter Registration Day. In Maryland, the voter registration deadline is October 13, 2020, just three weeks from now. Because of changes to the election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may need more time to complete the voting process. If you want to vote by mail, you will need to allow time for the Board of Elections to send your ballot so you can return it by Election Day. Start the process now by registering to vote (or checking your existing registration) and making a voting plan using ALL IN to Vote’s tools.

UMBC is competing with schools in the America East Conference and across the U.S. to have the most members of the campus community take ALL IN’s pledge to vote. Students, faculty, and staff can pledge and view the national leaderboard here.

As crucial as voting is, there are many other important ways to take responsibility for the future of our communities and make them thrive. Social change can happen in neighborhoods, workplaces, and everyday settings. You can work with the people around you to address issues in your own communities. Connecting and sharing stories helps people move beyond stereotypes and recognize each other’s humanity. That is what it means to cast your whole vote.

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life; Center for Social Science Scholarship; Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Graduate Student Association; Student Government Association; and other campus departments and organizations are hosting programs (some of them listed here) that bring UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni into conversations about Election 2020 and the issues affecting our lives. Please consider participating.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous
]]> Dear UMBC Community, In the next six weeks, Baltimore and the United States will elect leaders who will make decisions and take actions that affect all of our lives in profound ways. We... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95985/guest@my.umbc.edu/eb683cb528ef7b3d317deac8ef26e45b/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 5 0 true Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:19:37 -0400 Annual Leave “Carryover” Limit Raised through Calendar Year 2022
Dear Faculty and Staff,

Due to circumstances associated with COVID-19, employees may be unable to use all of their available accrued annual leave, resulting in potential loss of this leave under existing policy. In recognition of the unique circumstances and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents approved a temporary exception to the 400 hours of accrued annual leave that regular nonexempt and exempt employees are ordinarily able to carry into a new calendar year. 

Under this temporary exception, employees will be permitted to carry a maximum of 480 hours of accrued annual leave into the new calendar year. These hours will be pro-rated for leave-eligible part-time employees. This exception will remain in place through the final pay period of calendar year 2022. A link to the USM guidance around this exception, including provisions related to employees who separate or transfer from the USM during this time period, can be found here. 

While we may have had travel plans cancelled or have the unexpected role of caregiver and/or educator to our school-aged children, research shows that taking time away from our jobs can have both physical and psychological health benefits. We encourage you to work with your supervisor to schedule some well-deserved time off.

Valerie A. Thomas, Chief Human Resources Officer
]]> Dear Faculty and Staff, Due to circumstances associated with COVID-19, employees may be unable to use all of their available accrued annual leave, resulting in potential loss of this leave... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95974/guest@my.umbc.edu/74d7c0efc76c6a85ce3e7290897335cb/api/pixel covid19 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 2 0 true Tue, 22 Sep 2020 10:18:21 -0400 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:59:08 -0400 September 17: Retriever Ready Action Update Health & Wellness Tips + Fall Virtual Career and Internship
Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu.

COVID-19 Health & Safety

  • UMBC’s Public Health Dashboard was updated with new data on September 16. The dashboard provides timely data about the prevalence of COVID-19 within our main campus, based on UMBC’s on-campus testing and reported results from off-campus testing among UMBC faculty, staff, and students who are approved to be on campus this fall. The latest update includes both new data (primarily from post-Labor Day testing of residential students) and cumulative data.
  • Please review this revised COVID-19-Related Class Absences guidance.
  • Faculty & Staff: UMBC Facilities Management has assembled and distributed safety kits to faculty and staff who were approved to return to on-campus work during the fall semester. Many departments and colleges continue to request approval for faculty and staff to return to campus. If recently approved faculty and staff did not receive a safety kit and would like one, please call (410) 455-2550 to schedule a time to stop by the Facilities Management Work Control Center and pick one up.

Protect Yourself with a Seasonal Flu Shot

  • As influenza (flu) season quickly approaches, it is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of influenza. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the CDC guidance on Seasonal Influenza Prevention and Vaccination. Getting a flu vaccination is particularly important this year. It will help reduce the number of preventable hospitalizations related to flu, which will, in turn, support our nation's medical community in ensuring that persons impacted by COVID-19 receive adequate and timely medical care. It is possible to have both COVID-19 and influenza. Getting a flu vaccine helps to protect individuals, their households, and their communities from the spread of seasonal flu.

UMBC Health & Wellness Services

Claim Your Future: Attend the Fall Virtual Career & Internship Fair

  • Students: UMBC talent is in high demand, so be sure to register for the UMBC Fall Virtual Career & Internship Fair taking place on Wednesday, September 23. Connect with more than 80 employers who will be recruiting for intern and full-time positions. This event is just like an in-person career fair, but online. It's an easy and efficient way to find internships and career opportunities. Employers are already beginning to review the resumes of those who plan to attend. Registration is required. 

UMBC Together

  • Join with other UMBC community members for a town hall on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation in Our Communities on Thursday, September 24, 4-6 p.m. Learn about UMBC’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center and UMBC’s connection to a national framework addressing race equity. The Shriver Center’s Choice Program, along with community partners, will also share how structural racism has impacted youth development in Maryland and how we all can become agents of change. Please register here.
  • Visit the UMBC Together website for recent social media posts and the UMBC Together myUMBC group for information on upcoming events.
]]> Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu. COVID-19 Health & Safety UMBC’s Public Health Dashboard was updated with new... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95880/guest@my.umbc.edu/9ac57eac1723912c6fbe41134e0da4f0/api/pixel covid19update 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, 17 Sep 2020 15:45:51 -0400 September 15: Retriever Ready Action Update Peer-to-Peer Resources for Successful Virtual Learning
Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu.

COVID-19 Health & Safety

  • Wearing your mask correctly is important. Please check out this short video from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth.
  • UMBC’s Public Health Dashboard will be updated with new data on September 16. The dashboard provides data about the prevalence of COVID-19 within our main campus.

Student Ambassadors Are Ready to Answer Your Virtual Learning Questions

  • Students: Do you have questions about virtual learning? UMBC’s Student Ambassadors are ready to help! This new program connects undergraduate and graduate students with volunteer student peers who serve as a “brain trust,” sharing information and resources on how to become successful virtual learners in the time of COVID-19. Ambassadors provide information, share their experiences using effective strategies, and direct students to available resources.

Faculty and Staff: FAQs Now Available on Temporary Salary Reductions

  • Faculty and Staff: As announced last week, as part of UMBC’s revised FY 2021 budget process, the University is implementing a temporary salary reduction (TSR) plan for those staff and faculty earning $100,000 and above. The reductions will be spread across the remaining available pay periods of the fiscal year and range from 1.5 percent at the lower end of that salary range up to 15 percent. For additional information on the TSR plan, Human Resources has developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

UMBC Together

]]> Please see the latest updates on UMBC’s Retriever Ready website. Questions? Please email covid19@umbc.edu. COVID-19 Health & Safety Wearing your mask correctly is important. Please... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95813/guest@my.umbc.edu/bd4a1e5a638d444fe85f7c75ea80e5fa/api/pixel covid19update 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 Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:10:31 -0400 UMBC at the Top in Rankings and Students’ Decisions
Dear UMBC Community,

We are delighted to share news that the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings released today reflect UMBC’s continued status as a national leader in higher education. UMBC is ranked #11 in undergraduate teaching and is the #9 most innovative university in the nation, among other prominent rankings. And UMBC is the only Maryland school represented in the top ten in innovation, positioned alongside such universities as Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and Caltech.

Our University has long had a reputation for academic excellence and for being a welcoming community. That reputation has encouraged thousands of students to choose UMBC this year to begin their studies or continue working toward a degree, even during a time of uncertainty. 
 
Overall, 13,497 students are enrolled at UMBC this fall. At a time when many campuses across the nation are experiencing enrollment challenges, UMBC’s student body is down less than one percent compared to fall 2019. UMBC's current undergraduate population is 10,932 strong. The graduate student population has increased to 2,565.

We are particularly proud to share that more than 120 students have returned to UMBC to complete their degrees through the Finish Line initiative. UMBC is welcoming back some of these students after several years away from college, and we are so glad they are on track to finish their degree programs.

Thanks to UMBC’s dedicated enrollment management and marketing staff in Undergraduate Admissions, the Graduate School, and the Division of Professional Studies, and to faculty and staff across our colleges, schools, and International Education Services, for their work in these challenging times to engage and enroll new and returning students.

We are honored to be a part of a scholarly community that is committed to supporting each person’s growth and success.
 
President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous
]]> Dear UMBC Community, We are delighted to share news that the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings released today reflect UMBC’s continued status as a national leader in... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95764/guest@my.umbc.edu/2b053715b98dad88014197c533c7e379/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 Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:11:57 -0400