Interested in learning how UMBC developed their parking policy? Want to discover how the general education program emerged and why we have the current degree requirements? How about how the campus handled the turbulence of the late 1960s?
Come explore the records of the University Senates, housed at UMBC’s Special Collections. The University Senates records include the papers of the UMBC Assembly, UMBC Senate, Faculty Senate, Student Government Association (SGA), Undergraduate Council, Professional Associate Staff Senate (PASS), and Classified Staff Senate (CSS). The collection, which is 54.5 linear feet (or almost 20 3' shelves), features records from the University’s founding in 1966 through 2006 and it will continue to grow as more records are transferred. Records available include meeting minutes, transcripts, agendas, correspondence, bylaws, recommendations to the UMBC administration, committee reports, budgets, and election materials. These records will help reveal the various conflicts involved in the University’s transition from a small satellite campus to a modern research university.
Of special interest to students may be the records of the SGA and Undergraduate Council. Topics covered in the SGA series involve student clubs, academic programs, parking, Greek life, student conduct, and governance. Topics addressed in the Undergraduate Council series include the academic departments, changes in undergraduate degrees, and degree requirements and majors, curricula.
Interested in learning more? You can now browse the finding aid for the University Senates records online!
Want to come look at the records yourself? Contact Special Collections to set up an appointment at x52353 or speccoll@umbc.edu
Written by Johanna Schein, June 2012. Special Collections staff would like to thank graduate assistants Homira Pashai and Johanna Schein for all of their dedication and hard work in processing this collection. Image courtesy of the University Archives, "Students at the African American (AFAM) Center, 1973." UARC Photos-09-024. Available at http://contentdm.ad.umbc.edu/u?/UARCphotos,47
