Want to be considered for GSotW? Fill out This Survey
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Please join the GSA and the AOK Library to create and learn about writing accountability groups! Create groups to make regular writing time more productive and consistent.
This kick-off meeting will take place on Webex on Tuesday, February 22nd, 8-9 PM.
WebEx link for the WAG Kickoff:
Join Webex meeting:
ID: 26225334200
Password: VFnxyjAP235
What are Writing Accountability Group, or WAGs at UMBC?
What: Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs) are voluntary and facilitated by fellow UMBC graduate students
Who: WAGs are comprised of a group of graduate students (usually 4-8 participants per group) interested in developing writing habits and accountability
Why: Develop habits of writing every day for a short, manageable period of time by setting goals and being accountable to WAG peers
When: WAG groups meet once a week for 60-90 minutes for 10-12 weeks. The group finds a weekly time mutually convenient to all group members.
Where: The group decides on a mutually convenient location to meet, whether in person or online via WebEx or other video conferencing platform
Want to Learn More?
AOK Library’s Faculty has created a guide for facilitating Writing Accountability Groups. Visit here for more: https://lib.guides.umbc.edu/wags
WAGs were developed by Dr. Kimberly A. Skarupski, Ph.D., MPH. Visit here for more: https://www.wagyourwork.com/
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]]>With the semester really kicking into gear, it’s time to start writing again! If you feel stuck on a writing assignment, are having trouble getting started, or just want to polish up what you already have, then come see me, Ivan “Blue” Perez, GSA’s Writing Advisor! I am available on select hours Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to graduate students of any discipline for virtual tutoring sessions.
A little bit about myself: I earned my Bachelors’s Degree in English Literature, along with a minor in Writing and another in Ancient Studies, here at UMBC in the Spring of 2021. I worked at the UMBC Writing Center for about three years and have been continuing that work with you all. In my free time, I like to play video games, watch TV, read (I particularly enjoy Fantasy), and write. My favorite book is I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, my current favorite TV show is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and my favorite color is, unsurprisingly, blue.
You can bring any writing at any stage of the writing process to an appointment. That means you can come to me with a rough draft, a polished draft, an outline, or even just an idea. Are you working on your thesis? Book an appointment early and we can start planning it out, with follow-up meetings throughout the semester. Have another assignment or piece of writing that you want to work on? That’s fine too! Bring it in and I will help you get your writing to where you want it to be.
Appointments are free and function on a first-come, first-serve basis. Appointments are an hour long and can currently be done online either synchronously or asynchronously. Each appointment has a 10-page, double-spaced limit. Visit https://gsa.umbc.edu/writing-advisor/ for more information and to book an appointment. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you!
Grad Students and Postdocs: if you are interested in teaching and want a starting point for understanding the origins of racism in educational environments and how you can actively work against that history to create a more inclusive and equitable learning space for your students, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU. Certificate upon completion (and we will work with you on having this also count toward a CIRTL certificate as well - contact us if you are accepted into the program). Details below!
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From USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation:
Faculty and staff have an important role to play in creating environments and contexts where all students can learn and thrive. At the same time, systemic forms of racism and bias work against the promise of inclusive and equitable learning environments. Many faculty and staff want to take a more active stance in redressing inequities in their daily interactions with students, but may ask, “Where do I start?”
The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation has partnered with Lumen Learning to pilot Exploration of Belonging for Educators: Creating a Sense of Belonging to Support Student Success and Well-Being -- a set of virtual, self-paced professional development modules focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). The modules are designed to help participants foster a sense of belonging so that students feel valued and respected. The modules invite participants to examine their own personal journey with DEIB by exploring identity, bias, power, and how these factors come into the educational environment.
The Kirwan Center is pleased to be able to offer members of the USM community the opportunity to participate in the pilot this spring. Access to the modules is being made available to participants at no cost to them or their institutions -- all fees associated with the pilot will be covered by the Kirwan Center.
Who Should Apply?
Eligible applicants are faculty and staff with student-facing roles at their institutions, such as instructors in any appointment involving teaching, graduate and teaching assistants, instructional designers, advisors, and student affairs and student success staff. No background in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) is necessary.
What To Expect
Working at their own pace through four modules, participants will examine:
Important Dates
Time Commitment and Expectations for Participation
Each of the four modules will take approximately 5 hours to complete, inclusive of embedded activities. Participants will be expected engage in personal reflection and to identify ways to apply the concepts and ideas presented. For the purposes of the pilot, we ask that applicants agree to work through all four modules within the time frame of February 22-June 30, 2022.
Supports and Benefits
There will be a Lumen Belonging Coach providing nudges along the way to help participants stay on track. Participants who complete all four modules by June 30, 2022 will receive a certificate of completion. Participants can also pursue earning a badge in each of the four module areas.
We invite you to learn more and apply today at https://info.lumenlearning.com/selfpaced-deib-md. Questions may be directed to Manuela Ambrosino at manuela@lumenlearning.com.
]]>Today is #UMBC’s #BlackAndGoldRush! To honor Dr. Hrabowski's 30 years of service, the bar is high to reach 3,000 donations. Halfway into the drive, UMBC is under its goal so far. Please consider making a gift to The Shriver Center during our giving days & help support our transformational work bridging campus and community! bit.ly/ShriverCenter.
Nyla Howell is a deeply Shriver Center-connected student who is a thoughtful, humble leader. She will make systems work better. Great things happen when we work together towards a common goal. Here's Nyla - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=652026169452396& ;ref=sharing
Want to support The Shriver Center in other ways? Join us for virtual trivia night on March 14 - details at shrivercenter.umbc.edu/trivia
For more info on our programs and initiatives, visit https://shrivercenter.umbc.edu/
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REPOST: Love On Our TermsQueer and Trans Love Panel |
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]]>Microaggressions Survey - Please ParticipateDue Feb 18th, $10 honorarium |
Recently, our Graduate School Dean, Dr. Janet Rutledge, wrote to you as graduate students asking you to participate in a survey about your experience of microaggressions*. The deadline for the anonymous microaggressions survey has been extended to Friday Feb 18th.
*Microaggressions are statements, actions, or incidents regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group on the basis of their racial or ethnic identity (here is a youtube video that has many examples of microaggressions in higher education and a pdf listing some general examples of microaggressions as well).
Please fill out the survey about whether or not you've experienced microaggressions as a graduate student here at UMBC and what you would like to see the Graduate School do to improve the community and climate here. The survey is short and can be completed in a few minutes, although there is an optional space for a narrative or recording to be added for you to share how microaggressions have impacted your graduate experience. Responses to the survey will be used as early as next week in a series of workshops for faculty, staff and administrators.
We understand that revisiting and reflecting on microaggressions is difficult and we thank you, deeply, for being willing to do that in order for us to amplify and learn from your experience.
In appreciation of your participation, there will be a separate link and instructions provided after completion of the survey that enables us to provide a $10 honorarium to you on your Campus Card (the anonymity of your survey responses will be protected). Thank you for helping us create a more responsive and inclusive graduate community.