Full Title: UMBC and Social Security Administration (SSA) Partner to Deliver Graduate Courses and Training at SSAApril 20, 2010 CONTACT: Eleanor Lewis Senior Director, Communications (410) 455-2065 elewis@umbc.edu Baltimore, MD - UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski and the Social Security Administration Commissioner, Michael Astrue, recently announced the creation of the SSA University Partnership Program. Beginning this fall, UMBC will offer graduate courses at the SSA, while UMBC Training Centers will begin offering non-degree training from the SSA headquarters campus this spring. "We are excited about building a strong partnership with the Social Security Administration,” said Hrabowski. “Most of us have grown up hearing about Social Security from our parents or grandparents. In fact, few people know that the Social Security Act was signed into law 75 years ago as a way of supporting vulnerable families and older citizens. It is our honor to provide education for employees at Social Security as they work to help fellow Americans." The partnership provides a unique opportunity for SSA employees to conveniently earn graduate credits at work, delivered by some of UMBC’s top research faculty. Qualified students who take these courses can apply for admission to full degree programs at UMBC if they choose to do so. SSA is partnering with other local colleges, universities and vendors in addition to UMBC.