The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is seeking undergraduate students to play leading roles in its 2022-23 programs as affiliates of the Center. Affiliates include Alternative Spring Break leaders (up to six positions), ConnectionCorps facilitators (up to eight positions), and STRiVE coaches (five positions).
Applications for all three positions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022. Apply here.
Alternative Spring Break leaders
Each leader works with a co-leader and as a member of a leadership team organized and trained by Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff during weekly meetings in the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. Together the leaders develop plans for a holistic, empowering ASB experience for all participants during the week of UMBC’s Spring Break, March 19 - 24, 2023.
The overall time commitment is approximately 100 hours over the course of the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. For specific dates, see the application.
Leaders receive a $1,000 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcripts for winter and spring 2023. Leaders also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.
All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in ASB or a similar multi-day experiential learning program.
ConnectionCorps facilitators
The ConnectionCorps is an initiative through which UMBC students learn to foster democratic participation and authentic connection among participants in the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s workshops and programs (e.g., Change Makers Dinner, Changing Maryland, and Dinner with Friends). ConnectionCorps facilitators participate in bi-weekly and ad-hoc training sessions to build community, develop skills, and prepare to facilitate.
The overall time commitment is approximately 30 hours in each of the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. For specific dates, see the application.
ConnectionCorps facilitators receive a $400 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcripts for spring 2022. They also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.
All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in Center for Democracy and Civic Life workshops or programs.
STRiVE coaches
The overall time commitment is approximately 100 hours over the course of fall 2022 semester and winter 2023 term. For specific dates, see the application.
STRiVE coaches receive a $1,000 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcript for winter 2023. They also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.
All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in STRiVE or a similar multi-day experiential learning program.
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Use this form to apply to be an Alternative Spring Break leader, ConnectionCorps facilitator, or a STRiVE coach for the 2022-23 academic year. Again, applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022.
If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at civiclife@umbc.edu.
Link to the Kaplan Scholarship application on Scholarship Retriever.
This scholarship is awarded to deserving undergraduate students at UMBC who have achieved a minimum 3.0 grade point average, have junior or senior status, have made contributions to the community, and who demonstrate financial need.
The Louis L. Kaplan Scholarship was established November 24, 1981, by the Student Government Association at UMBC in recognition of Dr. Kaplan’s contributions to UMBC during his tenure as Interim Chancellor. It was Dr. Kaplan’s wish, when the fund was first established, that students who displayed academic promise be assisted financially in order to continue their education at UMBC.
Reflecting Retrievers: Graduate Student Support Group is a semester-long group geared towards students in masters’ and doctoral programs. This group is designed to provide a safe and confidential environment for graduate students to discuss the stress and challenges they’re facing being in grad school. Members will also have space to find support related to personal difficulties they may be experiencing. We hope that the group cultivates deep and meaningful conversations and contributes to group members’ emotional wellbeing.
Students must be located in the state of MD during group time. To join, students should call RIH at 410-455-2542 to complete a triage and a pre-group meeting appointment.
During your triage appointment please tell your provider that you are
interested in joining a group, and which group you are interested in joining.
For general group questions, please secure message our Group Coordinator Lauren Mirzakhalili,
LCSW-C via the patient portal: http://myretrievercare.umbc.edu/.
Day and Time: Tuesdays, 3PM-4:15PM
Tess McRae has been appointed co-chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Student Civic Leaders Committee (SCLC) for the spring 2022 semester. The SCLC was established in 2020 in response to the Board of Regents’ acknowledgement of the continuing importance of civic education and civic engagement to the mission of the University System of Maryland. Student leaders from USM institutions and USM System Office staff members comprise the SCLC’s membership. The SCLC supports civic engagement and education efforts within and between USM universities.
In her role as co-chair, McRae will help to plan and facilitate convenings of the committee and identify civic engagement and education priorities for USM. She has served on the committee as a representative for UMBC since it was established. The other co-chair is Delanie Blubaugh, a student at Frostburg State University. Dr. Nancy Shapiro, USM’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Education and Outreach, and Dr. Joann Boughman, USM’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, convene the committee and support its work.
McRae serves as senior intern for civic design and engagement in the Center for Democracy and Civic Life.
To learn more about civic engagement and education work at the system level, click here.