DOIE January 2026 Highlights

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:41:39 -0500
connect, diversity, inclusion, training

This January, the Division of Institutional Equity has the following lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here's how you can get involved!

Start by Believing: Supporting Disclosures of Sexual Violence
January 14 | 12 pm - 1 pm | Virtual

This is a virtual interactive workshop in collaboration with UMBC police. The workshop is designed for faculty and staff who may be the first person a survivor confides in. Participants will learn about the start by believing campaign, build confidence in responding to disclosures of sexual violence, and strengthen our trauma-informed, survivor-centered campus community. Please use this link to register for the workshop.

Accessibility Made Easy
January 6 - 27 | 11 am - 12 pm | Virtual

Faculty are invited to schedule one-on-one practical sessions with members of SDS throughout January for hands-on support to improve ally score from red to green. SDS members Tori Jakpa and Michael Canale would also provide support on accommodations, working with students with disabilities, and general digital accessibility concerns. Please use this link to schedule a session.

Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks, and Resources
January 28 | 12 pm - 1 pm | In-person

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill". Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/148914

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX
January 12, 23 & 30 | Virtual

These virtual training sessions will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR), what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. The training session will last for approximately 50 minutes, and the WebEx link will be sent to registrants within 24 hrs of the training time. Please use these links to register for a session: January 12, January 23, and January 30.

SDS Open House
January 28 | 12:00 pm | Mathematics/Psychology: 222 | in-person

Students, staff, and faculty are welcome to visit the department and meet SDS & ADS staff, tour the office and testing areas, ask questions about disability access and the accommodation process, and connect with helpful resources. Come by and enjoy treats and make some social connections!

UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all. To request accommodation(s) or to inquire about event accessibility, please contact us via disability@umbc.edu with "SDS Open House" in the subject line.

The Dialogue Symposium: Bringing College and Communities Together
January 29 | 8:30 am - 4:30 pm | UC Ballroom | In-Person

This year's symposium creates a powerful space to explore how dialogue deepens connection, fosters inclusion, and transforms collaboration across campuses and communities. Expect interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, peer-led exchanges, and an opening keynote fishbowl conversation that promises to set the tone for everything to come.

Featuring:

Bridget Turner Kelly, PhD, Associate Professor in Student Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Rhonda Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute.

Felipe Filomeno, PhD, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Global Studies Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Brighid Dwyer, PhD, Vice Dean for Academic Excellence & Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences and Vice Chair of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center Board.

Register here: https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qT4mFIw7bWNZFY

Mandatory Annual Title IX Student Training

UMBC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that is free from sex discrimination, including both sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. To help meet these goals, UMBC requires all students to complete an online educational program on topics including consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, and related topics. All students are required to complete this training at the start of each academic year. The online training can be accessed at UMBC's Vector Solutions login page. For questions, please see the Student Training FAQ page or email ecrtraining@umbc.edu.

Note: All programs, events, and opportunities are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and University nondiscrimination policies.