From our friends in Public Policy at UMBC:

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Yeneca and I'm writing on behalf of the Mobilization & Political Economy (MPE) Program at Pitt, an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program site. 

The MPE Summer Research Program is designed to broaden participation of undergraduate students in the social sciences by training them to conduct research and support their placement in graduate studies programs. This is an 8-week summer program on Pitt's campus (June-July 2026) providing undergraduate students with training in research methods, the study of mobilization and political economy, as well as research and mentorship opportunities. 

• We are now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort, until January 15th, 2026. 
• An online information session will be held on December 9th, 2PM ET. Register here.

If you could help us by sharing this information with your associations, sections, and colleagues, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and stay warm!

Menu Includes:

• Breakfast pastries
• Fruit
• Juices

This December, the Division of Institutional Equity has a full lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here's how you can get involved!

Office of Accessibility and Disability Services
Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks, and Resources
December 8 | 12 pm - 1 pm | In-person

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill" on December 8th. Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! 

Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/147666

Office of Equity and Civil Rights
Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX 
December 5 | 12 pm - 12:50 pm | Virtual

This virtual training session will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR),  what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. 

Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/equityandinclusion/events/147959

Note: Employees must either complete the outlined series of asynchronous modules or attend a live "Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX" training session by March 1, 2026. Instructions for completing the asynchronous training modules can be found here. 

Mandatory Annual Title IX Student Training

UMBC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that is free from sex discrimination, including both sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. To help meet these goals, UMBC requires all students to complete an online educational program on topics including consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, and related topics. All students are required to complete this training at the start of each academic year. The online training can be accessed at UMBC's Vector Solutions login page. For questions, please see the Student Training FAQ page or email ecrtraining@umbc.edu.

Community and Culture Unit
December 9 | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Virtual
Inclusive Excellence in Action 

Join us for the culminating session of this fall's Inclusive Excellence in Action series– "Applying Student-focused Microaffirmation Tools and Practices to Foster Belonging and Inclusion". This session will introduce participants to the powerful practice of microaffirmations, small but meaningful acts of recognition, active listening, and positive feedback, that consciously counter microaggressions and reinforce student belonging. Link:https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/147644

Center for Social Justice and Dialogue
Become a Social Justice Dialogue Facilitation Fellow

CSJD is hiring for the spring 2026 semester; the position is open to undergraduates and graduates.  Find more information about the position here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/posts/154817

Women's, Gender, and Equity Center (WGEC) 
Self-Care Day!
December 10 | 10 am - 4 pm | The Commons: 329

Visit the WGEC to relax and de-stress before finals. Drop by to design a self-care goodie bag, color a bookmark, decorate a mini self-care notebook, or sip some hot tea.  Link for more information: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/womenscenter/events/148434

Discussion Group Meetings

Note: All programs, events, and opportunities are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and University nondiscrimination policies.

As you wrap up this busy semester, consider of these program offerings from the Office of Grad Student Life on campus!

Week of 12/1

★  Dec 1, 10 AM, The Commons : 308, OGSL Free Coffee Mondays! 

★ Dec 2, 8:30 AM, The Commons : Sports Zone, Good Morning Commuters (GMC)

★ Dec 2, 1 PM, The Commons : Lower Flat Tuesdays, Terrariums, Tea, and Talk

★ Dec 3, 12-1 pm, Online, Translating Research for a Public Audience

★ Dec 3, 12 PM, Commons 308, GSA President Office Hour

★ Dec 4, 4:30 PM, Information Technology/Engineering 229 and online, Decoding Your Research Niche: From Broad Ideas to Focused Questions

★ Dec 5, 1 PM, Commons 331, Translating Your Teaching Skills to your Resume- Effective Teaching Series

★ Dec 5, 12 PM, Online, Generative A.I. for Graduate Students & Post Docs: an Interactive Webinar

★ Dec 5, 3 PM, Off Campus, Off-Campus Trip: Bowling at Main Event

Week of 12/8

★  Dec 8, 10 AM, The Commons : 308, OGSL Free Coffee Mondays! 

★ Dec 9, 8:30 AM, The Commons : Sports Zone, Good Morning Commuters (GMC)

★ Dec 10, 12 PM, Commons 308, GSA President Office Hour

★ Dec 12, 12 PM, Public Policy 438, Prompt-Engineering & Fine-Tuning in R, REGISTER- Lunch will be provided for registered attendees. 

Week of 12/15

★ Dec 15, 10 AM, The Commons : 308, Free Coffee Mondays! 

★ Dec 17, 12 PM, Commons 308, GSA President Office Hour

★ Dec 17, 2 PM, ticketed, online, The Introverts' Guide to Assertive Communication

Today's 2025 Service Award Celebration is an opportunity to pause and take a moment to thank those award recipients for their service. In doing that, I wanted to thank everyone in DoIT for all you are doing for UMBC. I'm very honored to be the leader of DoIT, everyday I see the dedication, caring, and knowledge that you bring to your work and by extension to UMBC. The work you do in managing complex systems, securing critical data, and advancing digital accessibility is more than technical support; it directly powers higher education by fostering a dynamic, technologically-driven environment that is essential for a leading research university like UMBC. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and for being a vital force in our mission.

Please take a minute to congratulate your coworkers on the list below for their years of service to the USM and UMBC!

5 Years

Peter Ariev, Instructional Technology and Media

Ally Hepp, IT Administration

Melissa Manthorne, OIT Business Systems

10 Years

Helena Dahlen, IT Administration

Michael Fosu, OIT Infrastructure and Support

15 Years

Eric Ludy, OIT Business Systems

Jennifer Moser, OIT Business Systems

William Schneider, IT Administration

20 Years

Carlos E. McKinney, Telecommunications

Andrew Smith, Telecommunications

Ray Soellner, OIT Infrastructure and Support

James Sonnichsen, OIT Infrastructure and Support

25 Years

Vladimir Plotkin, OIT Infrastructure and Support

Christopher Sutherin, OIT Infrastructure and Support

30 Years

John Fritz, Instructional Technology and Media

Kevin D. Joseph, OIT Business Systems

Retirees

Lance Rand, OIT Business Systems