UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni welcomed more than 200 alumni and guests for the 13th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction last month at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Baltimore. In addition to enjoying an array of delicious food, wines, and jazz, guests also contributed more than $5,425 for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund. Plus, WYPR’s own Al Spoler from “Cellar Notes” gave some welcome insight into the night’s libations.

Save the date for next year’s Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on Friday, June 7, 2019, and check here for other upcoming alumni events!

See more photos from the event here.

The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS), a museum and library in Baltimore, is pleased to offer internship opportunities for qualified undergraduate and graduate candidates within the Education Department of MdHS. Through assisting full-time staff with program development and facilitation, the internship will enable interns to gain knowledge of how a museum education department operates and be able to apply the skills learned to future professional goals.

Beginning July 1, 2018, the State of Maryland's minimum wage will increase to $10.10 per hour.  All hourly employees, including students paid on contract and Federal Work-Study, who do not meet this minimum will have their rate of pay automatically adjusted to the new State minimum.   Eligible employees will see the new wage reflected in paycheck received on 7/27/2018.

To review the MD State minimum wage schedule through 2018, please visit the HR Classification/Compensation website at http://hr.umbc.edu/compensationclassification/.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule today to delay the general compliance effective date to update the federal regulations that protect the rights and welfare of human research participants (AKA the 2018 Requirements). These updates seek to modernize, strengthen and make more effective the federal policies for the protection of human research participants. The effective date for compliance with these requirements is January 21, 2019.  

The UMBC Institutional Review Board (IRB), along with the Office of Research Protections and Compliance (ORPC) will continue preparations for the 2018 Requirements implementation. The IRB and ORPC are revising procedures and forms for UMBC investigators to comply with the January 21, 2019 effective date. 

Common Rule changes include:

• ·       What is NOT considered human subjects research
• ·       New exemption & revised exemption categories
• ·       Continuing review changes for minimal risk studies
• ·       Single IRB review for multi-site research (effective January 20, 2020)
• ·       Consent form changes

The ORPC has created a document that describes how the 2018 Requirements impacts human subjects​ ​research​  at UMBC.  Staff from the ORPC will provide educational outreach (via the IRB website, the ORPC myUMBC page as well as in-person education sessions) to provide investigators guidance about procedures and application processes and forms.

To summarize, the compliance schedule to adhere to the 2018 Requirements is as follow:

Previously approved ongoing protocols, prior to January 21, 2019

 UMBC protocols will continue to follow all pre- 2018 Requirements - current IRB protocol processes -for the duration of the approved study. The ORPC will verify with investigators the intended end-point of a study to ensure close out occurs on a timely basis.

Protocols approved on or after January 21, 2019

 UMBC protocols will follow the 2018 Requirements for all protocols submitted to or approved by the IRB on or after 01/21/2019. IRB website guidance, procedures and application forms will contain updates prior to the 2018-2019 winter break to use for new protocol submissions.

Investigators – please take note of the following:

 EXISTING FULL BOARD PROTOCOLS

Protocols reviewed by the full board and are open to enrollment or still in an intervention phase will see the fewest changes under the 2018 Requirements. At the time of the next renewal that occurs after 01/21/2019, the ORPC will request you to update the waiver and consent form to meet the new requirements.

EXISTING EXPEDITED PROTOCOLS

Most studies that originally expedited by the IRB under the pre- 2018 Requirements will now be eligible for less frequent review beginning on 01/21/2019. At the time of the next renewal that occurs after 01/21/2019, the ORPC will request you to update the waiver and consent form to meet the new requirements.

EXISTING EXEMPT PROTOCOLS

There will be no changes to these protocols. If you have an exempt study that has ended, it is important to close the study with the IRB.

For more information, please contact the ORPC staff at compliance@umbc.edu or 5-2737.