Retriever Essentials disseminates an annual survey to gauge the levels of food/housing insecurity among UMBC students, staff, and faculty members. This survey assists us to measure our program awareness and refine our functions to better help the community.

Your responses will not only help us in providing essential resources to those in need, but also support us in advocating for increased food access and improved housing security for the vulnerable members of the UMBC community.

To complete the survey please click on the version that applies to you. The survey takes about 3 to 7 minutes.

Continuing Student Checklist

This checklist is for those students who have completed at least one semester while using their military education benefits at UMBC.

NOTE: Returning students need to submit the Request for Certification each semester that they are enrolled in classes.

1. Register for Classes

2. Submit your Request for Certification. You will submit this form to us with your “Certificate of Eligibility” once you have registered for classes for the upcoming semester.  It can be found at veterans.umbc.edu/forms or linked HERE

3.  If you change the number of credits that you have registered for, you will need to resubmit your Request for Certification with your updated credits. Please submit this form AS SOON AS you change your schedule to avoid debts from the VA

Spring 2021 Registration and Certification Information and Updates

As we wrap up the Fall 2020 semester and look ahead to Spring 2021, would like to take this opportunity to go over a few friendly registration and VA-related reminders and dates to help ensure your success.

Advance registration for the Spring 2021 semester has concluded. Below are some helpful resources if you still need to register or adjust your schedule.

Registration Information
Registration Deadlines
Departmental Advising Information

Please remember: VA certification requests for the semester should be submitted as soon as possible after you have registered for classes. Initial certification for books and housing will take place within 14 business days after receiving your request.

The final certification process for tuition and fees for all VA students begins following the add/drop deadline and can take up to 30 days. This does not include VA processing time to send tuition payment to UMBC which can additionally take 3-4 weeks.

Students using GI Bill® benefits wishing to register for upcoming terms with an overdue balance for the current term can contact the VA Certifying Official requesting permission to register.

Additional Information

With regards to questions pertaining to book and housing allowance payments due to COVID, law S.3503 provides the VA with temporary authority to continue GI Bill® payments uninterrupted during an emergency. The law allows the VA to pay education benefits regardless of the fact that a program has been converted from in-person to online modality. These special COVID rules have been extended to December 21, 2021.

Please be mindful that all classes taken must be required towards the degree being pursued as shown in your degree audit. You should consult with your academic advisor if you have questions regarding degree requirements. You can also contact the Registrar’s Office degree audit team.

As always, we work closely with the VA to ensure enrollments are accurately certified and processed. Should you have questions about the certification process, please reach out to our VA certifying official. Your patience during peak times is greatly appreciated. Best wishes for a safe and successful semester..

Hi Retrievers!

Retriever Essentials has an important announcement! BetweenDecember 25th-January 18th we cannot fill Campus Pantry Orders via the Campus Pantry Order Form. 

Though we cannot fill client-specific orders or complete home deliveries due to decreased staffing at this time, you can still pick up pre-prepared and nutritionally-balanced food bags and toiletry bags at the 24-hour Campus Police Station at your convenience.

Please email retrieveressentials@umbc.edu if you have any questions or concerns about finding resources during this time. You can also contact the UMBC Campus Police Station by calling 410-455-5555.

The Retriever Essentials Team 

Retriever Essentials is holding our Home for the Holidays Food Drive. The food drive will be running from Monday, November 9th to Friday, November 20th. If you are interested in supporting our community and would like to donate, we are accepting the following items:

• Canned yams

• Canned cranberry sauce 

• Stuffing 

• Boxed instant mashed potatoes

• Canned potatoes

• Canned or boxed instant gravy

• Coffee/Tea (please no Keurig cups)

• Hot Chocolate

• Apple Sauce

• Instant Pudding 

• Canned fruit

• Rice-or-roni

• Can openers 

• Self stable milks (soy, dairy)

• Travel-sized shampoo and conditioner & lotion

• Regular-sized shampoo and conditioner

• Vegetarian soups

• Chapstick

• Toilet paper

• Deodorant 

• Jellies

We kindly ask that you donate only items from this list, as these are our highest priority needs. 

We are also accepting $25-50 gift cards to support families' needs for perishable items (pies, butter, turkeys, eggs, vegetables, etc.) that unfortunately we cannot provide through the pantry.

Donations can be taken to the 24-hour UMBC Campus Police Station or delivered contactlessly via our Amazon Wishlist. Please use the following contact info and address when ordering through Amazon:

Deveraux Smith

Retriever Essentials

Sherman Hall 205

University of Maryland Baltimore County

1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21250

 Thank you so much!

Retriever Essentials, UMBC's food pantry, is excited to share that we are offering FREE Thanksgiving Meal Bags to community members in need. If you or your family are in need of Thanksgiving dinner items, please fill out this formby Monday, November 16th. The bags will include some easy-to-prepare, non-perishable, Thanksgiving meal items. The bags will be available for pickup at the 24-hour Campus Police Station between November 23rd and November 25th. *Please email retrieveressentials@umbc.edu if you have any questions or concerns, or if you cannot pick up your Thanksgiving Bag for any reason. We may be able to coordinate home delivery on a case-by-case basis*

The Home for the Holidays Food Drive will be running from Monday, November 9th to Friday, November 20th. If you are interested in supporting our community and would like to donate, we are accepting the following items:

• Canned yams

• Canned cranberry sauce 

• Stuffing 

• Boxed instant mashed potatoes

• Canned potatoes

• Canned or boxed instant gravy

• Coffee/Tea (please no Keurig cups)

• Hot Chocolate

• Apple Sauce

• Instant Pudding 

• Canned fruit

• Rice-or-roni

• Can openers 

• Self stable milks (soy, dairy)

• Travel-sized shampoo and conditioner & lotion

• Regular-sized shampoo and conditioner

• Vegetarian soups

• Chapstick

• Toilet paper

• Deodorant

• Jellies

We kindly ask that you donate only items from this list, as these are our highest priority needs.

We are also accepting $25-50 gift cards to support families' needs for perishable items (pies, butter, turkeys, eggs, vegetables, etc.) that unfortunately we cannot provide through the pantry.

Donations can be taken to the 24-hour UMBC Campus Police Station or delivered contactlessly via ourAmazon Wishlist. Please use the following contact info and address when ordering through Amazon:

Deveraux Smith

Retriever Essentials

Sherman Hall 205

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Retriever Essentials would also like to invite you to our Home for the Holidays Virtual Community Dinner. This will take place on Thursday, December 3rd at 7 PM viaGoogle Meet. Please RSVP on ourmyUMBC page.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday season,

The Retriever Essentials Team