In a recent survey of Ultra users last semester, faculty and students expressed satisfaction with Ultra. During the Fall 2022 semester, faculty increased their use of Ultra in greater numbers. The top five departments with the highest Ultra adoption included:

• Theatre - 100%

• Emergency Health Services - 95.45%

• Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication - 86.76%

• Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering - 81.25%

• Education - 80%

Additionally, several programs including freshman composition and IHU courses have leveraged Ultra templates to deploy content across multiple course sections. Departments interested in using a customized Ultra template or receiving the UMBC Ultra template should open an RT ticket to consult with an Instructional Technology Specialist. Our staff will work with you to determine the next steps and design an appropriate timeline for your department to make the transition. 

In a recent survey of faculty who used Ultra during the FA2022 semester, 86.5% of faculty who responded said they would use Ultra again, citing its ease of use and consistent experience for students. 

"It's easier to use in general," said one instructor, "and I find that I can prep and roll out my course faster and faster each semester as I learn more and adapt to the tools." Another instructor noted, "I'm anxious for ALL classes to be on Ultra so students can have a more consistent experience." 

Likewise, 87.45% students are also satisfied with Ultra, also noting ease of use as well as its clean interface and tools to track course progress. The response is consistent with previous student surveys (SP2021, FA2019).

Well organized Ultra courses were also praised by students. "Ultra shows all relevant content right away," said one student. "It's tuned for a better learning environment." Another student agreed, "It's my favorite course to log into because I love the interface." 

For more information about Ultra, please visit umbc.edu/go/ultra.

For employees enrolled in the MD State Retirement & Pension system, the schedule of Pre-Retirement seminars and webinars is now available for January – June 2023.

These seminars are a valuable planning tool for all eligible members and their spouses, provided by the MD State Pension Agency via the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). Employees who attend should be within 8 years of retiring.

Please register for an in-person seminar or webinar using this link: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-state or by calling 443-840-5059. Please provide the course number when registering. 

*NOTE: all in-person seminars and webinars run from 9:00am - 4:00pm.

Webinar Dates:

• January 24 (CRN 37246) 
• February 14 (CRN 37249)
• March 14 (CRN 37278)
• March 30 (CRN 37275)
• April 13 (CRN 37254) 
• April 26 (CRN 37256)  
• May 18 (CRN 37263) 
• June 6 (CRN 37258)  

IN-PERSON seminar dates: 

• February 10 – CCBC Essex Campus (CRN 37161)
• March 15 – Anne Arundel Health Department (CRN 37280)
• April 14 – Salisbury University (CRN 37440)
• April 25 – Salisbury Government (CRN 37455) *Law Enforcement Officers Only (LEOPS)
• April 28 – Harford Community College (CRN 37257)
• May 2 – CCBC Owings Mills Center (CRN 37442)
• May 17 – Maryland School for the Deaf Columbia Campus (CRN 37444) *ASL provided
• June 15 – Hagerstown Community College (CRN 37259)
• June 22 – CCBC Catonsville Campus (CRN 37245)

To register for a seminar or webinar, please go to: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-state

This link includes directions for registering by phone if you encounter difficulties registering online. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Sarah Moore at scullip@ccbcmd.edu. 

These faculty join nine who have earned QM Certification since 2021: 

• AGNG 355 - The Experience of Dementia (Louise Murray)
• CHEM 101 - Principles of Chemistry 1 (Sarah Bass)
• EDUC 667 - Structure of English for TESOL (Mary Tabaa)
• ENCH 300 - Chemical Process Thermodynamics (Mariajose Castellanos)
• PBHL 100 - Survey of the US Healthcare System (Katie Birger)
• GWST 210: Intro to Critical Sexuality Studies (Kate Drabinski)
• SOCY 351: Health, Illness, and Medicine (John Schumacher)
• EHS 115: Medical Terminology (Gary Williams)
• CMSC 104: Problem Solving & Computer Programming (Chris Marron)

In partnership with the Provost's Office, the QMI pilot  launched in FA2021 as an extension of the  award-winning PIVOT program to recognize exemplary course design. A QM Official review provides independent validation of quality, learner-focused course design. 

As of December 2022, 12 of the 17 QM certified courses in the University System of Maryland are from UMBC. QM certifications are valid for five years. A course achieves QM Certification when it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85% threshold or better and meets all Essential Standards. The newly certified courses are eligible to display the QM Certification Mark, an internationally recognized symbol of online and blended course design quality, on the syllabus or within the course. The QM Certification Mark represents these instructors' ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide students with a clear pathway to success. 

DoIT's Instructional Technology team manages the formal review process and facilitates the fully online, asynchronous Applying the Quality Matters Rubric workshop designed to help instructors prepare for a formal course review.