As part of the 2nd Annual HDR Machine Learning Challenge, UMBC's iHARP project, along with other NSF HDR Institutes, is hosting a kick-off virtual hackathon on December 18th (2 - 5 PM EST) that will take palce in Gathertown.

They invite students, researchers, and practitioners of ALL levels to join in. See flyer here. Interested students and faculty can register here to receive participant details. Teams/Groups are welcome! 

UMBC's IHARP team looks forward to seeing you in Gathertown for the virtual hackathon on December 18.

As we prepare for Winter 2026, we need to update the campus on our transition from Panopto to YuJa as UMBC's new video capture and hosting platform. While you can begin using YuJa for recording and hosting video content now (via Blackboard or your myUMBC login at umbc.edu/go/yuja), the bulk migration of all UMBC content from Panopto to Yuja will likely not be ready for the start of Winter 2026 classes. We expect it to be completed in mid-January. 

First and foremost, I want to apologize to faculty for the angst this may cause in preparing for Winter or Spring 26 courses. We know the timing of this transition – and now this delay – is challenging. However, I want to keep you informed of a change we're making as a result: 

Access to Panopto Inside Blackboard

• The Panopto tool/link inside Blackboard will remain enabled until our license ends on March 23, 2026. Originally, DoIT announced it would be disabled on December 22nd, in part so as to not confuse faculty about which tool to use afterward (Panopto vs. Yuja).
• However, DoIT strongly recommends that faculty only use this tool for linking to existing Panopto videos and only creating new videos or editing existing ones in Yuja.

• Also, if you grade embedded quizzes with Panopto, the grade may disappear when our license ends after Spring Break. We are investigating this, but recommend that faculty download their Spring 26 Panopto grades to date beforehand. 

• Faculty and staff with small video collections (especially those without complex edits or quizzes) can self-migrate their own content at any time. It is not required or difficult, but it may be helpful to ensure your content is available for winter classes.

Campus Migration of All Panopto Content

Panopto is allowing for a free, one-time bulk migration of all existing video content to YuJa.

• Migration Timeline: The process began in late November, and we estimate it will conclude around mid January, allowing for the holiday break and technical delays. 

• Phase 1 (Panopto Export): Compiling a list of videos to migrate including associated metadata (titles, captions, edits, quizzes). 

• Phase 2 (YuJa Import): Importing and processing video content. Once YuJa has the list of videos from Panopto, we will notify the campus that import has started. 

• Access During Migration: You do NOT need to wait for the entire migration to finish. If you self-migrate before the bulk migration (Phase 1) begins, your imported Panopto content will simply be duplicated in your YuJa Media Management page. 

IMPORTANT: If you choose to create new videos in Panopto during or after the bulk migration, you will need to move your media to YuJa once the media is restored, and before our Panopto license expires, as there will not be a second bulk migration.

When Will Panopto Access End?

• Blackboard and myUMBC Access will end March 23, 2026 to download and move any remaining video content.

• Final Decommission: UMBC's contract with Panopto ends on March 25, 2026.

Training and Support

Instructional Technology is offering workshops and labs to help you get started with YuJa. Please review our upcoming schedule on myUMBC to register for an event.

• Log into YuJa: umbc.edu/go/yuja

• Review Documentation/FAQs:umbc.edu/go/yujafaqs

• Submit a Request Tracker (RT) support ticket: help.umbc.edu

Again, I want to acknowledge the challenge this transition has caused, but also thank you for patience as we work to complete it. If you have any questions or concerns not addressed above, please let me know.

Sincerely,

John Fritz, Ph.D.
Assoc. Vice President, Instructional Technology
Division of Information Technology (DoIT)

DATE:           12/09/2025

TO:               Business Managers/Department Chairs/Center Directors/Faculty

FROM:          Michael T. Walsh, Director, Office of Sponsored Programs

RE:               OSP Winter Break Deadlines: Dec. 24, 2025 - Jan. 2, 2026

________________________________________________________________

This is a special announcement concerning the OSP schedule for reviewing/approving proposals with deadlines to Federal, State, and Other Agencies that occur during UMBC's Winter Break this year. 

Please note the following:

1.     UMBC's Winter holiday break is currently scheduled to begin at COB (5 PM) on Tuesday December 23rd (first full day of holiday vacation is thus Wednesday December 24th)  and goes through Thursday January 1^st, 2026.   

2.  All proposals with submission deadlines occurring between Wednesday December 23rd    and Friday January 2, 2026 must be fully routed, ready for submission, and released to the OSP office for final review and submission by the close of business on Thursday December 18, 2025; and

3. All proposals with submission deadlines occurring between Monday January 5th and Wednesday January 7th, 2026  will be due to OSP by 9 AM on Monday, December 22, 2025.

This schedule is consistent with our current policy, which requires the submission of complete proposals to OSP at least three (3) FULL business days before the agency submission deadline. Since UMBC is closed during the Winter Break, OSP will also be closed and OSP personnel will not be available during the Winter Break for consultation or proposal submission(s). 

The campus closure during Winter Break traditionally has imparted a heavy workload on OSP staff. Therefore, we will enforce our current policy more consistently, with little maneuverability.   Proposals received after the OSP deadlines specified above will be reviewed on a first-come/first-serve basis and will be submitted only if time permits. 

In keeping with the deadline enforcement policy of ORCA (Division of the Vice President for Research & Creative Achievement), any proposal not fully routed and ready for submission by 9:00 a.m. of the deadline date will not be submitted to the agency.  If the deadline occurs over Winter Break, please refer to the deadline presented in #2 above.

Thank you for your understanding...and best wishes for a great Holiday season and Winter Break.

Best Regards,

Dr. Michael T. Walsh

Director

UMBC Office of Sponsored Programs

Permanent Private Room for Female – Westland Gardens

Immediate move-in.

The 2BHK townhouse is fully furnished and includes:

• Spacious living room with sofa

• Kitchen with oven, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher

• In-unit washer and dryer

• Dining table with chairs

• Central heating and cooling

Location perks:

• 1-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop

• 10-minute walk to UMBC campus

Message for details: +1 (443) 703-6282

Registration is now open for the FREE Mock MCAT and DAT event this winter! This event is designed to simulate a real test day environment, which helps you prepare for this exam.

Participants in this event must:

·      Be a current UMBC student or alum

·      Intend to apply to medical or dental school in the next cycle (2026-2027 cycle)

·      Be able to come to campus on the test date (Thursday, January 15th)

·      Secure their own full-length practice test

What can you expect from this event? Participants will check in, secure belongings, access and take the exam, use optional breaks throughout the exam as needed, and complete a survey about the event after completing the exam.

Space is limited and registration is required. The priority registration deadline is NEXT Thursday, December 18^th. Exam spots will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for the mock MCAT here or the mock DAT here.

Important: Participants MUST secure their own FULL-LENGTH practice test, which they will access via the desktop computers in ENGR 122/122a on the test day. Laptops or other devices will not be permitted. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers two free practice exams and four low-cost practice exams. Details here. Information about the full-length DAT practice test may be found on the ADA website here.

Questions about testing accommodations or other questions about the event may be directed to HealthProAdvising@umbc.edu.