July 9: Retrievers Return Action Update COVID-19 Testing + Symptom Tracking Pilot, Upcoming Events
Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home order. 

The latest campus updates are posted on the Retrievers Return website. If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

Student Services and Support

Business Continuity and Staff Support

  • Effective July 1, UMBC moved from a hiring pause to a hiring freeze for all vacant regular and contingent I and II exempt and non-exempt staff positions. Departments with a critical staffing need may continue to submit a hiring exception request. Further details on the University’s hiring exception process can be found here.

Campus Access

  • UMBC’s physical campus remains closed and employees continue to work remotely. Only employees with permission from their supervisor, approved researchers, and/or approved students should be on campus. 
  • If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at (443) 677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at (410) 207-0850.

UMBC Together


]]> Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home order.  The latest campus updates are... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94214/guest@my.umbc.edu/28ff1dc65b37184dba3a78ec518ce6b8/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 1 0 true Thu, 09 Jul 2020 12:11:01 -0400 CAHSS Interim Dean Search Update
Dear Faculty and Staff, 

I am pleased to announce that the search committee for the Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, chaired by Professor Tim Nohe, has been formed and charged by the Provost to conduct a comprehensive and inclusive review of applicant materials. Further details on the timeline of the search and its engagement with the broader campus community will be announced shortly as the committee begins its work. We anticipate that the search committee will complete its work on or before July 24, 2020, with interviews and town halls occurring during the week of July 13, 2020.

I greatly appreciate the leadership of Professor Nohe in agreeing to chair this search and wish to express my sincere gratitude to all members of the search committee, listed below, for their engagement with, and commitment to, this important endeavor, especially in the light of the professional and personal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to complete this search during the summer months.

Search Committee
Timothy Nohe, Committee Chair; Professor, Visual Arts 
Shawn Bediako, Professor, Psychology
Pamela Bennett, Associate Professor, Public Policy
Tamara Bhalla, Associate Professor and Chair, American Studies
Eva Dominguez, Assistant Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Linda Dusman, Professor and Chair, Music
Jean Fernandez, Professor and Chair, English 
Felipe Filomeno, Associate Professor, Political Science
Carole McCann, Professor and Chair, Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies 
Derek Musgrove, Associate Professor, History
Ana Oskoz, Professor and Chair, Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication
Janet Rutledge, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
Mavis Sanders, Professor, Education, and Director of the Sherman Center 
James Smalls, Professor and Chair, Visual Arts
Alan Yeakley, Professor and Chair, Geography and Environmental Systems

Provost Philip Rous
]]> Dear Faculty and Staff,  I am pleased to announce that the search committee for the Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, chaired by Professor Tim Nohe, has... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94194/guest@my.umbc.edu/8e1a180b29c57479e31b8e351a4f07f7/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 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 11:08:09 -0400 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 11:08:23 -0400 Campus Response to Recent Immigration Changes Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

Yesterday afternoon the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a press release detailing changes to temporary exemptions for international students who hold F-1 and M-1 immigration status and plan to take classes fully online during the fall 2020 semester. We are writing to update you on the campus response to these changes.

This is a challenging time for our society and for many in our UMBC community. It is of the utmost importance that we affirm our commitment to the academic progress of our international students and our support for all of our international community members. We are working on a strategy to help affected students maintain their enrollment at UMBC in a manner that complies with ICE requirements.

Community members who are concerned about these changes in temporary exemptions are encouraged to contact International Education Services at ies@umbc.edu. International Education Services will hold a virtual town hall regarding the temporary exemptions on Friday, July 10, at 4 p.m. eastern time that is open to any UMBC community members who wish to attend.  The Counseling Center is also available to serve community members in need of mental health support. Please call (410) 455-2472 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., and leave a message; your call will be returned shortly. The after-hours support line is (410) 455-3230.

UMBC’s vision and core values are grounded in our inclusive culture. We greatly value our international community and are committed to helping our students navigate this situation.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous ]]> Dear Members of the UMBC Community, Yesterday afternoon the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a press release detailing changes to temporary exemptions for international students... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94176/guest@my.umbc.edu/ba3af0c2cb8f260700523174c771108e/api/pixel diversity 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 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 17:06:40 -0400 July 7: Retrievers Return Action Update Upcoming Events
Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home order. 

The latest campus updates are posted on the Retrievers Return website. If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

Student Services and Support

  • Check out this week’s virtual fitness and wellness events from UMBC Recreation.
  • The Career Center hosts the virtual workshop Ready to Launch: Alumni Advice on How to Stand Out on Wednesday, July 8, at 12 p.m. It is open to all students and alumni.
  • Fall 2020 semester and course information is available here.
  • Students can apply to be part of the SGA Executive Branch.
  • During the summer University Health Services will provide services to students, faculty, and staff weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please call (410) 455-2542 and leave a message, and a provider will contact you. The after-hours support line is (410) 455-3230.
  • This summer the UMBC Counseling Center continues to provide individual counseling for students weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please call (410) 455-2472 and leave a message, and your call will be returned shortly. The after-hours support line is (410) 455-3230.

Business Continuity and Staff Support

  • Managing a team during times of extreme uncertainty and upheaval provide unique challenges for supervisors. As we consider solutions to the challenges that we individually and collectively face, we often are served by the wisdom of our peers. Supervisor Connects is designed to be your dedicated space for this conversation. For more information, and to join the first session on Thursday, July 23, 2020, please visit the full announcement here.
  • The State of Maryland Employee Benefits Division announced new IRS provisions due to COVID-19 that allow limited mid-year benefit changes. This post includes details about new enrollments and changes to flexible spending accounts (FSA) that must be submitted by July 31, 2020.
  • View a recording of the July 1 staff town hall hosted by the Professional Staff Senate and the Non-Exempt Staff Senate here.

Campus Access

  • UMBC’s physical campus remains closed and employees continue to work remotely. Only employees with permission from their supervisor, approved researchers, and/or approved students should be on campus. 
  • If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at (443) 677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at (410) 207-0850.

UMBC Together


]]> Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home order.  The latest campus updates are... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94171/guest@my.umbc.edu/37ee312ac6e2588558f3966fbe67bfb0/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, 07 Jul 2020 15:09:10 -0400 UMBC Pilots COVID-19 Symptom Tracking and Testing Dear UMBC Community,
 
UMBC has begun the transition from fully remote operations toward limited on-campus activity. As part of this process, we are launching a pilot COVID-19 symptom tracking and testing program for the small number of faculty, staff, and students approved to be on campus this summer. Even as we plan to have a low-density campus, we know that testing and daily symptom tracking are essential to support campus health and safety.
 
University Health Services is coordinating on-campus testing for July 13 and 14, 2020, through a process developed in collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Testing will be outdoors, under tents or similar cover, to support safe physical distancing. It will involve a simple, rapid nasal swab.
 
Please note that only a small number of UMBC community members will be invited to participate in this initial testing effort. It is specifically for those who have been approved to be on campus this summer, and testing is by appointment only. All faculty, staff, and students included in the pilot will receive a personal email within the next day with additional details. 
 
We invite all UMBC community members to learn more about the Retrievers Return Roadmap. Community members seeking to report a case of COVID-19 may do so through the Retrievers Return website. Please contact covid19@umbc.edu with questions. 
 
Philip Rous, Provost
Lynne Schaefer, Vice President of Administration and Finance
Nancy Young, Vice President of Student Affairs ]]> Dear UMBC Community,   UMBC has begun the transition from fully remote operations toward limited on-campus activity. As part of this process, we are launching a pilot COVID-19 symptom tracking and... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94168/guest@my.umbc.edu/7bbe23a5d2dd2348a193b44be6efa8eb/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 1 0 true Tue, 07 Jul 2020 11:17:42 -0400 July 2: Retrievers Return Action Update Resources and Upcoming Events

Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. 


The latest campus updates are posted on the Retrievers Return website. 


Student Services and Support



Business Continuity and Staff Support


  • The next event in the Women's Center's Faculty/Staff Summer Care Series will focus on "Permission to Feel" and will take place on July 9. Participants are asked RSVP by July 7 to express their interest.

  • Effective July 1, UMBC moved from a hiring pause to a hiring freeze for all vacant regular and contingent I and II exempt and non-exempt staff positions. Departments with a critical staffing need may continue to submit a hiring exception request. Further details on the University’s hiring exception process can be found here.

  • Supervisors and Department Heads are strongly encouraged to set aside 10 minutes to read “Supporting Remote Employees: A Resource for Supervisors and Department Heads.” This guide was developed by Human Resources to help supervisors understand of the challenges employees now face and offer useful suggestions for how to address them. 


Campus Access


  • UMBC’s physical campus remains closed and employees continue to work remotely. Only employees with permission from their supervisor, approved researchers, and/or approved students should be on campus. 

  • If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at (443) 677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at (410) 207-0850.


UMBC Together



If you have questions or concerns, please email COVID19@umbc.edu. ]]> Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.  The latest campus updates are... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94106/guest@my.umbc.edu/0951d2fe3109930bf4dc182b884c4435/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 1 0 true Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:14:28 -0400 UMBC Inclusion Council Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

We are writing to update you on our campus response to addressing systemic racism in our community and nationally. 

We are grateful to all of you who shared your experiences and ideas with us over the past few weeks in town hall meetings and personally. We heard you, and we share your sense of urgency. We are committed to living out our UMBC values and to taking action.

We have consulted with campus leaders to appoint a UMBC Inclusion Council, consisting of students, faculty, staff, and alumni working with the campus community. The team’s work begins immediately, and their first meeting will be held in July. 

The Inclusion Council has been given the charge of providing advice and guidance from a variety of perspectives to the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), to act as ambassadors for the office across campus, and to provide a venue for discussion of issues as they arise. The Council will hold monthly joint meetings with the University Steering Committee (USC) and the Campus Equity Advisory Council (CEAC), a subcommittee of the USC. 

The Council will work with the campus community to identify short- and long-term goals and recommendations. In addition, they will bring many more colleagues into this work by establishing subcommittees.

The Inclusion Council includes: 

Co-Chairs
Ariana Arnold, Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion 
Keith J Bowman, Dean, College of Engineering and Information Technology

Administrative Lead
Candace Dodson-Reed ’96, President’s Chief of Staff and Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion

Members
Keisha Allen, Assistant Professor, Education
Shannon Ashley ’21, Mathematics and Psychology
Tamara Bhalla, Associate Professor and Acting Chair, American Studies 
Nadia BenAissa ’20, Founder, We Believe You
Rob Bennett, Lecturer, English
Carole McCann, Professor and Chair, Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
Mehrshad Fahim Devin ’22, Biology and Physics, SGA President 
David Di Maria, Associate Vice Provost, International Education
Eric Ford, Director, Choice Program
Chris Hawn, Assistant Professor, Geography and Environmental Systems
Loren Henderson, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health
Tammy Henderson, Lecturer, Africana Studies 
Michael Hunt ’06, M13, Doctoral Student, Language, Literacy, and Culture, and Director, McNair Scholars Program
Thomas Jasmine ’20, Chair, Black Student Union
Jasmine A. Lee, Director of Inclusive Excellence, Student Affairs 
Christine Mallinson, Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture, and Director, Center for Social Science Scholarship  
Marcela Mellinger, Associate Professor, Social Work
Teresa Michel ’04, Admissions Specialist, Graduate School
Ashley Minner, Professor of the Practice, American Studies
Jess Myers, Director, Women’s Center
Autumn Reed, M.A. ’08, Ph.D. ’14, Assistant Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs, and Director, STRIDE
Chris Steele, Vice Provost, Division of Professional Studies
Nicole Telfer, Doctoral Student, Applied Developmental Psychology, and Founder, Black Graduate Student Association
Shelly Wiechelt, Associate Professor and Chair/Associate Dean, Social Work
Melody Wright, Academic Business Specialist, Biological Sciences, and President, Non-Exempt Staff Senate

We will continue this open dialogue and invite all to share thoughts by emailing the Office of Equity and Inclusion at oei@umbc.edu. We are committed to inclusive excellence in action and have a variety of resources available on the OEI website. 

We realize there is much more work for us to do and that it impacts us all. Thank you for your commitment to listening together, learning together, and working together to create lasting change.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous ]]> Dear Members of the UMBC Community, We are writing to update you on our campus response to addressing systemic racism in our community and nationally.  We are grateful to all of you who shared... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94073/guest@my.umbc.edu/6949622026fe3606a31b01082c8be3fe/api/pixel diversity 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 6 0 true Tue, 30 Jun 2020 18:37:59 -0400 June 30: Retrievers Return Action Update Reminder: Faculty and Staff Town Halls
Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. 

The latest campus updates are posted on the Retrievers Return website. If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

Student Services and Support

Business Continuity and Staff Support

  • The Faculty Senate is hosting a town hall on Tuesday, June 30, at 3:30 p.m., and the Professional Staff Senate and the Non-Exempt Staff Senate are hosting one on Wednesday, July 1, at 4 p.m. Log in information and the opportunity to submit questions in advance for the faculty and staff town halls is available here.
  • Join us for Parenting/Caregiving Strategies During Challenging Times: A Round Table Discussion, on July 1 from 2-3 p.m. Presenters are Fritzie Charne-Merriwether, Student Affairs, and Lisa Gray, Mosaic, Interfaith and Pride Centers. From images of violent policing and racial justice uprisings to the deaths of loved ones and the stress of isolation due to COVID-19, it’s a lot for anyone to grasp right now. As a parent or caregiver for children, it is especially challenging. Spending consecutive days inside trying to balance it all – work demands, child care, homeschooling – all while keeping your own and your child’s worries and stress under control can be daunting. We invite parents and caregivers to join us for a roundtable discussion on coping strategies during these challenging times. This discussion will be informal yet supportive and will offer a guided opportunity for parents and caregivers to share their challenges, fears, victories and inspirations with fellow colleagues within the division. To join us for this conversation, please email Fritzie Charne-Merriwether (charne@umbc.edu) to reserve your space.

Campus Access

  • UMBC’s physical campus remains closed and employees continue to work remotely. Only employees with permission from their supervisor, approved researchers, and/or approved students should be on campus. 
  • If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at (443) 677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at (410) 207-0850.

UMBC Together


]]> Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.  The latest campus updates are... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94066/guest@my.umbc.edu/419c7fadaaf8252954c4d05706b21603/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, 30 Jun 2020 14:59:02 -0400 Updates on Return to On-Campus Work planning
As UMBC plans to welcome a limited number of students, faculty, and staff back to our physical campus this summer and into the fall, the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee has created a Return to On-Campus Work Plan. This plan lays out several phases and provides departments tools to request campus access for vital services. We anticipate remote work continuing for the majority of employees for the foreseeable future.  

We know that this continues to be a challenging time for many in our community and their families. This plan has been designed to prioritize the well-being of employees and the safety of the work environment. In addition, the plan will be adapted as our understanding of COVID-19 evolves.
The plan emphasizes several core concepts for moving forward:
We are currently in Phase 1 of the plan – Summer Pilot Research Activities and Preparation for Limited Return to Campus (June 15 - August 2, 2020). During Phase 1, employees who can effectively work remotely will continue to do so. A limited number of employees are working on campus, including some faculty who have been approved to return to work on campus for research and creative achievement purposes. Visitors and students not approved to be on campus are strongly discouraged from coming to campus.  

Phase 2 will begin on August 3, 2020. During Phase 2, most employees will continue remote work. A limited number of faculty and staff will work on campus to offer specific services that support the student experience, research and creative achievement, and campus operations. Only those employees who have received the necessary return to on-campus work approval will be permitted to work on campus.

Please visit the updated Employees section of the Retrievers Return website to view the plan in its entirety. The site includes information on the process supervisors and department heads can use to create and submit a Return to On-Campus Work application. It also provides information on safety standards that will be required of departments with returning employees, as well as accommodation processes for employees who may be unable to return to campus. We will be updating the website regularly and adding additional information on health and safety precautions and resources. There are also a variety of supports and resources available on the website for employees and their families. 

Next week, shared governance groups are hosting two town halls with members of the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee. The Faculty Senate is hosting a town hall on Tuesday, June 30, at 3:30 p.m., and the Professional Staff Senate and the Non-Exempt Staff Senate are hosting one on Wednesday, July 1, at 4 p.m. Login information for both is available here.

If you have questions about this plan and your individual situation, we encourage you to first reach out to your supervisor to discuss your concerns and understand their future plans for your team. If you have additional concerns, or wish to discuss a situation confidentially, please reach out to Human Resources.

Provost Philip Rous and Lynne Schaefer, Vice President for Administration & Finance
Fall Planning Coordinating Committee Co-chairs
]]> As UMBC plans to welcome a limited number of students, faculty, and staff back to our physical campus this summer and into the fall, the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee has created a Return... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94015/guest@my.umbc.edu/9284c4578b1e95d3032d4daeb6c76015/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 1 0 true Fri, 26 Jun 2020 14:09:21 -0400 Recent Immigration Actions and Travel Updates In recent weeks, there have been a series of developments related to immigration and international travel policies that affect our community. We wish to take this opportunity to provide an update, resources for those affected, and affirm our university value of welcoming inspiring and inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.

Recent Developments
We were heartened that the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security could not dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which permits qualified people who arrived in the United States as children to work, study, and remain in the U.S. on a renewable permit. Our commitment to helping these students succeed is unchanged.

In addition, there have been a series of executive actions aimed at reducing access to the U.S. for international community members and their families. A Presidential Proclamation issued on June 22 prohibits those seeking H, J, and L visas from entering the U.S. with certain exceptions. International Education Services (IES) has compiled information regarding this and other relevant executive actions on its website and is available to answer specific questions from students, faculty, and staff. International students, faculty, and staff are an essential and treasured part of our UMBC community and we are looking forward to continuing that connection in the fall, even as the current pandemic is requiring physical distance between us. 

Community Support
We know that this is a stressful time for those who are impacted by these decisions and we encourage you to seek support. IES will be hosting a virtual town hall on Monday, June 29, at 3 p.m. eastern for anyone in the UMBC community who would like more information about these decisions.  

Students in need of emotional support are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center. Community members in need of a safe space for advocacy and relationship-building are encouraged to contact the Mosaic Center. Faculty and staff can access individual support through our Employee Assistance Program. If you feel you have been affected by racism, discrimination, or xenophobia, please know that the Office of Equity and Inclusion is available to support you.

Travel Updates
Given recent U.S. and foreign government policy actions regarding immigration matters, reduced availability of commercial flights, and the changing spread of the virus, ongoing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines will continue to make travel to and from other countries risky and difficult. Following guidance from the Governor, all University-related out-of-state travel for faculty, students, and staff is currently suspended.  For safety purposes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend against all nonessential international travel. Considering all of these circumstances, we caution our community against personal international travel at this time in order to avoid problems with reentry. ]]> In recent weeks, there have been a series of developments related to immigration and international travel policies that affect our community. We wish to take this opportunity to provide an update,... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/93983/guest@my.umbc.edu/3771784c73cafe8a279c6d3743108300/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 2 0 true Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:37:57 -0400