The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Academic Innovation and Transformation Monthly Newsletter for January 2022 identified the Center for Democracy and Civic Life's work as an example of how higher education can support civil dialogue in a time of deep divisions:

"Our campuses must model for a society in turmoil what respectful disagreement, civil debate, and peaceful protest can look like. There are many AASCU members who are modeling the way. […] The University of Maryland Baltimore County through its Center for Democracy and Civic Life fosters healthy civic relationships in the campus and community."

The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Undergraduate Student Conference is an annual two-day symposium for undergraduates considering graduate school or employment in the student affairs field. This year's conference, held virtually on March 19 –20, is a great opportunity for current undergraduates to learn more about the field while networking with peers and engaging with current practitioners around the country.

The NASPA conference committee will be hosting two information sessions to help students learn more about the conference and get to know some of their fellow participants. The two sessions will be:

-Wednesday, January 19, 5–6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

-Tuesday, February 8, 8–9 p.m., Eastern Standard Time

To RSVP,  please go to: https://bit.ly/3n1u0wK. You will receive a link to the session for which you have RSVP'd closer to the event.

On November 4, Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life David Hoffman Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), Emily Paul ‘21, Felipe Filomeno, Nic Nemec ‘21, Assistant Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life Romy Hübler ‘09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ‘11, intercultural communication, Ph.D. ‘15, LLC, and Shannon Cheek ‘21 led a two-hour gathering of the PLACE Collaboratory, a national network of higher education leaders and community partners convened by Bringing Theory to Practice. The UMBC team reported on the Baltimore PLACE project, which has connected UMBC faculty, staff, and students with students and teachers at Ben Franklin High School in the Brooklyn/Curtis Bay neighborhood to develop community-driven plans to enhance students’ well-being. The team shared a photovoice exhibit featuring images and text created by Ben Franklin students to illuminate issues and opportunities relating to their mental health. Team members also reflected on themes that have emerged over the past two years of the project, and facilitated breakout sessions focused on approaches to developing undergraduate students’ civic agency and pursuing humanities research projects that center and amplify community voices.

On November 18, Hoffman and Hübler participated in a Kettering Foundation research exchange, the latest in a series of conversations among higher education leaders exploring approaches to Educating for Civic Professionalism. Building on pedagogical experiments led by the participants during the 2020-2021 academic year, participants shared their research findings and considered new possibilities. The project Hoffman and Hübler led at UMBC featured interviews with alumni reflecting on how their UMBC experiences helped prepare them to enact their civic values in their professional roles. The project also involved facilitating Meaningful Careers Workshops and observing how students responded to the terms, ideas, and activities they introduced.

The opening of the Center for Well-Being in September 2021 was an exciting moment for UMBC and for our work in public and community health. The Center is a symbol of our campus' commitment to our community's collective well-being and our students' ability to succeed in all aspects of their lives. We know that when there is community and connection, people and interpersonal relationships that are authentically supportive, people thrive. 

Located on Center Road between Chesapeake and Susquehanna Halls, The Center for Well-Being includes Retriever Integrated Health (University Health Services, the Office of Health Promotion, and the Counseling Center); Student Conduct and Community Standards; and the Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. It also includes the Mind Spa—a student space equipped for the practices of mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation—and an informal student meeting/lounge space.

The everyday life of a college student can be stressful, and multiple current public health crises—including the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, and violence—also contribute to stress and trauma. Undergraduate and graduate students have told us about the obstacles and challenges they are facing, both at home and on campus. The Center for Well-Being provides an opportunity for our entire community to collaborate on ways to create a campus culture dedicated to well-being where every student thrives. 

Well-being encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual health. At The Center for Well-Being, students have the opportunity to:

• Gain access to quality health care,

• Participate in practices that heal and lift up community,

• Investigate and understand personal identity,

• Obtain resources for daily living, and

• Connect with other students.

We hope you will help us to focus our campus culture towards connection, belonging, and community. Please reach out to The Center for Well-Being staff and all of our Student Affairs colleagues to collaborate and promote well-being in the Center and throughout our campus culture.

Vice President for Student Affairs Nancy Young, Ph.D. was quoted in the October 1, 2021 Baltimore Sun story, “Universities find mandates effective in convincing Maryland students to get COVID vaccines, feel safer on campus.” Young shared the factors that helped contribute to high compliance rates, including UMBC’s 99% vaccination rate among students.

The new Center for Well-Being was featured in “Health, wellness and community: Colleges address health eating, mental health, and a sense of belonging” in the Baltimore Sun’s October 2021 Education Supplement. In the article, Young shared that the building is a response to the increasing numbers of students experiencing anxiety, depression, and other issues, as well UMBC’s commitment to addressing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of undergraduate and graduate students. The Center for Well-Being is home to Retriever Integrated Health; Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging’s Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being; and Student Conduct and Community Standards.

In addition, Young has served as an expert consultant for the Times Higher Education’s 2021 international Student Success Forum and was part of the 2020 panel discussion on student affairs. She also provided input for the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Oct. 2021 Intelligence Report on student success.