Samantha Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H., CHES., director of the Office of Health Promotion was recently interviewed for the February 2023 Baltimore Sun Education supplement story, "Health and wellness initiatives create strong sense of community on campus." Smith discussed Community Conversations, a collaboration between the Office of Health Promotion and Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b). Smith developed the program with Jasmine A. Lee, M.S.W., Ph.D., director of inclusive excellence and of i3b.
Community Conversations advances health equity by embedding mental health prevention efforts within identity-based spaces. An interactive event that helps students understand the role of community in supporting their well-being and mental health, the conversations also highlight what it means to "show up" for others.
"When Smith was working on her doctoral dissertation, she recalled gaining an understanding that people were not getting a lot out of mental health, particularly in marginalized communities. To address that, Smith says she wanted to take the table to places where people were not offered a seat. She worked with i3b to bring deep conversations with 'radical levels of intensity' to students who come from marginalized backgrounds due to race, gender and sexual orientation."
Smith's interview begins on page 7 of the Education supplement.
David Hoffman, J.D., Ph.D. '13, director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life was recently interviewed for the February 2023 Baltimore Sun Education supplement story, "The importance of experiential learning." Hoffman discussed Alternative Spring Break, during which students spendsix days exploring the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore and identifying pathways to long-term community engagement.
Hoffman explains that "'students get to know Baltimore on a human and systemic level to get a deep understanding on the issues in the area....This year's topics are disability justice and the impacts of structural inequities on people with disabilities in Baltimore City; educational justice for youth impacted by intimate partner violence and the barriers to academic success resulting from IPV; and the racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care in Baltimore. Students will meet with various non-profits, residents, activists and city government officials to not only better understand the issues but also work collaboratively on solutions. 'We are fortunate that UMBC has the Shriver Center, so we already have various strong partnerships in place.'"
Hoffman's interview begins on page 1 of the Education supplement.
Families are an important part of UMBC's community, and keeping them informed, engaged, and supported is the goal of Student Affairs' Family Engagement Program. The program's success was recently highlighted at the national Campus ESP conference on family communications and in the October 2022 Baltimore Sun Education supplement.
Fritzie Charne-Merriwether, assistant to the vice president of student affairs and director of parent/family engagement, has led family programming at UMBC for 12 years. "'Research shows that college students are increasingly engaged with their families through Zoom, FaceTime, emails, and texts. Families can be incredible motivators for our students and great allies and partners for us. If there is a critical deadline looming or information that students need, if we put that information in front of family members, they will increase the likelihood that students will be successful,' Charne-Merriwether says. She adds that parents know their children best and can see when 'something seems off' with their child and help their child tap into resources for help at UMBC."
The Family Advisory Board, begun in fall 2017 with five volunteers, has grown to over 60 volunteers who regularly participate in board meetings and outreach events, and share invaluable feedback with Student Affairs staff. In collaboration with Student Affairs leadership, staff, and campus partners, Charne-Merriwether developed approximately 15 new virtual family programs since 2020, covering such issues as COVID-19, campus life programming, and student well-being. Families are attending move-in weekend and Homecoming family events in increasing numbers, and new campus partnerships are developing, including one with the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program.
Launched in fall 2021, the new Family Connection portal provides over 14,800 UMBC parents and family members, including over 2700 parents and families of incoming students, with increased engagement via weekly news updates, events, and resources. Of the total subscribers, over 10,000 are active users in the portal. Family Connection is now being used as the model platform by Campus ESP staff as they recruit and manage family communications for other institutions nationwide. The company recently invited Charne-Merriwether to speak at its annual conference on family engagement.
UMBC's family portal engagement numbers are higher than what Campus ESP has seen at other institutions. The average email open rate for UMBC families during FY 23 is 69%, with key communities such as First Generation and First-Year Families over 75%. In December 2022, the open rate for parents and families of incoming students was 96%, and since January 2023 the open rate for all members has ranged from 65 to 70%.
Increased family engagement has also helped to boost family donor participation. The number of parents donating to UMBC for its annual Black and Gold Rush giving day has increased from 295 parents in 2019 to 478 in 2022.
UMBC Family Advisory Board Member Sally Gaines says,"I'm excited that the growth of the Student Affairs family program is providing more support and connection than ever, from the new Family Connection portal and resources, events, and webinars to the individual support that the office gives parents and families when they are in need. These actions demonstrate to parents and family members that they are part of a caring community. I am also grateful for the commitment and dedication that Fritzie brings to this work every day."
UMBC departments and offices are invited to share news and events with families via the Family Connection portal. Information from the UMBC community is shared with families throughout the calendar year.
On March 1-2, 2023, we call upon Retrievers everywhere to join us for Black & Gold Rush, 36 Hours of Giving, by making a gift of any size to support any area that means the most to you. Our goal this year is ambitious -- 3,000 donors in 36 hours -- and every donation helps UMBC provide students with the tools they need to become leaders and to reach their full potential.
Retriever Integrated Health - Your gift helps support programs that help students, faculty, and staff to respond to student mental health needs, and programs to support student health and well-being. Please write in UHS and Counseling on the donation form. You can also donate at https://bit.ly/RetrieverIntegratedHealth23 .
In addition, please consider making contributions to other programs and initiatives with the Division of Student Affairs that support student health and well-being, help students become involved, and help students develop skills for leading others. We want every student to thrive at UMBC and as alumni.
Division of Student Affairs departments work together and with campus partners to support student health and well-being, including helping students to become involved, develop skills for leading others and creating a group of friends and community. We want every student to thrive at UMBC and as alumni.
As we return to the physical campus, we want to strengthen our community and ensure students have the support they need. This means finding ways to rebuild and expand our resources and programs.
What can we do in 36 hours? Contribute to #UMBC #BlackAndGoldRush and see what's possible when we work together. Here are a few of the ways you can support students:
Other Funds that Support Health and Well-Being
Peer Health Educators - Your gift helps support an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students to become nationally certified in health-related topics and provide programs for the UMBC community, especially students. Please write in Health Promotion on the donation form.
Retriever Essentials -Your gift helps eliminate the burden of food insecurity for UMBC members and connects them to ongoing support networks, in order to enhance their academic retention and career success.
Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund - Your gift helps provide short-term financial assistance (tuition and fees) for current UMBC students who find it difficult or impossible to continue their education due to an emergency or sudden unforeseen circumstances.
Funds that Help Build Community
Campus Life Student Organizations- Your gift will help provide opportunities to promote student engagement through club and organization development and student leadership training.
Center for Democracy and Civic Life - Your gift will support students' participation in experiences that empower them to be effective and collaborative leaders and changemakers in their communities. These experiences include STRiVE and Alternative Spring Break.
Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b) - In addition to supporting students finding belonging in identity-based spaces across campus, your gift will fund programs that help students develop the skills needed to dialogue across differences and become more equitable and inclusive community leaders. When you give to the i3b fund, you support programs like Interact Dialogues Program, Your Story Belongs Here programming, and annual graduation celebrations like the Lavender Graduation & Scholarship and the Multicultural Graduation Celebration.Individuals can also specifically support LGBTQ Outreach support and programming by giving to the LGBTQ Outreach fund.
On March 1-2, 2023, we call upon Retrievers and our community everywhere to join us for Black & Gold Rush, 36 Hours of Giving, by making a gift of any size to support our campus community. Every donation helps UMBC provide students with the tools they need to become leaders and to reach their full potential.
The Office of Health Promotion uses public health approaches and strategies to contribute to our campus community's well-being and to offer applied learning experiences, such as the Peer Health Education Internship Program. We sincerely encourage you to give to the Office of Health Promotion. Your gift directly supports our ability to provide experiences and resources for our Peer Health Educators as they contribute to the well-being of our campus community through programs and events.
In addition, please consider making contributions to other programs and initiatives with the Division of Student Affairs that support student health and well-being, help students become involved, and help students develop skills for leading others. We want every student to thrive at UMBC and as alumni.
]]>On March 1-2, 2023, we call upon Retrievers everywhere to join us for Black & Gold Rush, 36 Hours of Giving, by making a gift of any size to support any area that means the most to you. Our goal this year is ambitious -- 3,000 donors in 36 hours -- and every donation helps UMBC provide students with the tools they need to become leaders and to reach their full potential.
Division of Student Affairs departments work together and with campus partners to support student health and well-being, including helping students to become involved, develop skills for leading others and creating a group of friends and community. We want every student to thrive at UMBC and as alumni.
As we return to the physical campus, we want to strengthen our community and ensure students have the support they need. This means finding ways to rebuild and expand our resources and programs.
What can we do in 36 hours? Contribute to #UMBC #BlackAndGoldRush and see what's possible when we work together. Here are a few of the ways you can support students:
Funds that Support Health and Well-Being
Peer Health Educators - Your gift helps support an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students to become nationally certified in health-related topics and provide programs for the UMBC community, especially students. Please write in Health Promotion on the donation form.
Retriever Essentials -Your gift helps eliminate the burden of food insecurity for UMBC members and connects them to ongoing support networks, in order to enhance their academic retention and career success.
Retriever Integrated Health - Your gift helps support programs that help students, faculty, and staff to respond to student mental health needs, and programs to support student health and well-being. Please write in UHS and Counseling on the donation form.
Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund - Your gift helps provide short-term financial assistance (tuition and fees) for current UMBC students who find it difficult or impossible to continue their education due to an emergency or sudden unforeseen circumstances.
Funds that Help Build Community
Campus Life Student Organizations- Your gift will help provide opportunities to promote student engagement through club and organization development and student leadership training.
Center for Democracy and Civic Life - Your gift will support students' participation in experiences that empower them to be effective and collaborative leaders and changemakers in their communities. These experiences include STRiVE and Alternative Spring Break.
Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b) - In addition to supporting students finding belonging in identity-based spaces across campus, your gift will fund programs that help students develop the skills needed to dialogue across differences and become more equitable and inclusive community leaders. When you give to the i3b fund, you support programs like Interact Dialogues Program, Your Story Belongs Here programming, and annual graduation celebrations like the Lavender Graduation & Scholarship and the Multicultural Graduation Celebration.Individuals can also specifically support LGBTQ Outreach support and programming by giving to the LGBTQ Outreach fund.