Are you interested in a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program for this Summer and have last-minute questions? Stop by our Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours from 12pm-2pm on February 28th! Pop in, chat with us, and get your questions answered!

Upcoming Program/Scholarship Deadlines:

• February 28th (TOMORROW!): The Class of 1970 Access Fund for Study Abroad

• Established in 2020 to commemorate the commencement of the Class of 1970, the first class to graduate from UMBC, this fund provides scholarship support for degree-seeking students participating in approved study abroad programs. The application is housed in UMBC’s Scholarship Retriever.

• March 2nd: Select faculty-led study abroad programs: 

• French Visual Culture in Aix-en-Provence, France

• Climate Change in Context: Experiences of Resilience and Migration in/through Oaxaca, Mexico

• Tolkien and Lewis in Oxford

• The Practice of Management: Global Perspectives in London and Paris

• Global Community Engagement and Social Change in South Africa

• March 10th: Non-Faculty-Led Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Academic Year 2025-2026 Program Applications

• View program options and begin an application through our website!

• March 6th: Gilman Scholarship 

• Up to $8000 for Pell Grant Recipients for any study abroad program! Start your application today at <https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/>.  Attend a Drop-in Advising Workshops to help you with your application! These will be on 

• Sunday, March 2nd from 1pm to 4 pm on Commons Main Street

• Tuesday, March 4th from 1pm to 4 pm in University Center 203 

• Wednesday, March 5th from 6pm to 9 pm on Commons Main Street.

• There is also a Blackboard organization to guide you through the application writing process. Email <souders@umbc.edu> to be added to the site. 

• March 15th: Bridging Scholarship

• Are you studying in Japan during the Fall 2025 semester, 2025-26 academic year or Spring 2026 and receiving federal financial aid? If so, consider the Bridging Scholarship for study in Japan. UMBC students of any major can apply for this award to assist with additional costs associated with study in Japan. 

• April 3rd: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia

• Are you planning to study in South Korea, Japan, China, or elsewhere in East or Southeast Asia? If so, apply for theFreeman Awards for Study in Asia!! Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. 

• Dr. Souders is available to review all scholarship applications before submission. You can contact him by emailing souders@umbc.edu

• Decoding the Basques: Myths, Language and Culture – led by USAC Bilbao Professor Estela Rey
  In honor of USAC’s roots, explore highlights of the mysterious and beautiful Basque country and culture. This session is available to staff and students. Friday, February 28th 1-2PM. Meeting Link (no registration required)

• National Fulbright Office Information Session
  Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2026-27 academic year. Are you graduating in May 2025, December 2025 or May 2026? If so, learn if the fully funded Fulbright Student Program to conduct research, teach English as a foreign language or earn a Master’s degree in one of 140 countries throughout the world is for you. Our next information session is on March 6, 4 to 5 pm online. This virtual session is hosted by the national Fulbright office, with a breakout session for UMBC students, hosted by Dr. Souders. Pre-registration is required: <https://apply.iie.org/register/3.06.2025-Spring-GPS-1>. Learn more at <us.fulbrightonline.org>. 

After receiving widespread feedback from the fall 2024 faculty survey and the February Listening Session, the UMBC Faculty Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence is holding an additional online listening session to solicit experiences, thoughts, and concerns of UMBC faculty regarding use of AI in the classroom. The listening session will be recorded to preserve data and no identifying information will be associated with collected data.  The outcomes of the listening sessions will be reflected in the committee’s report shared with the faculty senate.

The Ad Hoc Committee has the goals of (1) Formulating evidence-based policy recommendations to guide the ethical and responsible integration of AI technologies in teaching and learning environments and (2) Proposing guidelines, procedures, and safeguards to ensure the appropriate use of AI tools while mitigating potential risks and safeguarding academic integrity, student privacy, and equity.

Join online event, 12-1pm Wednesday, March 5