Happy Valentines Day! 

• Summer Application will close February 18th. 
• These panels also add some insight on how to approach the application:
• Crafting a Strong Application
• Interviewing with Confidence
• Matching Experience with Opportunities
• Showing Initiative
• Research Associate Program
• Roles for this program are posted based on department need on our job site. 

Announcing the "Building Equitable Workplaces: An Inclusive Hiring Series"

The Division of Institutional Equity (DOIE) and Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management (HRSTM) at UMBC are proud to present a transformative four-part series designed to empower all faculty and staff in fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging within our community.

Overview

In today's evolving landscape, fostering inclusive hiring practices is more crucial than ever. Embracing diversity, fairness, access, inclusion, and belonging, is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity.

Join us to gain the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to implement intentional recruitment, hiring, and retention practices. Aligned with UMBC’s core values of inclusive excellence, community, and equitable opportunity, the series offers a comprehensive understanding of the current hiring landscape, strategies to mitigate bias, and actionable frameworks for cultivating diverse and inclusive teams.

Session Details

1. Inclusive Hiring in the Current Context: Understanding the Landscape

   • Date, Time, Location: March 13, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Commons 329
   • Facilitators: Tanyka Barber, Vice President for Institutional Equity/Chief Diversity Officer & Lynne Adams, Associate Vice President-Chief Human Resources Officer
   • Description: Explore the pressing challenges and opportunities in higher education hiring today. Topics include aligning institutional representation with the student body, navigating the competitive landscape for diverse talent, addressing implicit biases in recruitment, understanding shifting labor market trends, and ensuring equitable access throughout all hiring stages. Participants will gain insights into how intentional hiring practices can help UMBC build a representative and thriving workforce that reflects its values of equity and belonging.
   • RSVP here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/140163

2. Fostering Fairness: Strategies to Recognize and Overcome Bias in Hiring

   • Date, Time, Location:: April 7, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Commons 329
   • Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee Associate Vice President for Community & Culture & Walter Parrish, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
   • Description: Uncover unconscious biases that can influence decision-making during recruitment and selection. Through guided exercises and reflection, attendees will learn practical strategies to mitigate bias and ensure fair and equitable hiring practices. The session will also explore how bias manifests differently between staff and faculty searches.
   • RSVP here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/140166

3. The Inclusive Hiring Toolkit: Practical Tools and Resources

   • Date, Time, Location: : April 17, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Commons 329
   • Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee Associate Vice President for Community & & Jill Wardell, Director of Talent Learning & Organizational Development 
   • Description: This workshop offers concrete tools and resources to operationalize inclusive hiring. From crafting equity-centered job descriptions to conducting inclusive interviews, it equips attendees with actionable steps to attract, engage, and retain diverse talent. Participants will also gain access to the Institutional Equity Inclusive Hiring E-Toolkit.
   • RSVP here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/140169

4. Action Planning for Inclusive Hiring: Turning Strategies into Practice

   • Date, Time, Location: : May 8, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Commons 329
   • Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee Associate Vice President for Community & Kelly Coleman, Director of Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards 
   • Description: Focus on creating personalized action plans for implementing inclusive hiring strategies within your departments and units. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, plans for review, or specific cases to explore. You will leave with a roadmap for fostering equitable opportunity and accountability in your hiring processes.
   • RSVP here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/140170

Key Takeaways

• Enhanced Understanding: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the current hiring landscape and the importance of aligning our hiring practices with our institutional value of inclusive excellence.

• Bias Mitigation: Learn to identify and mitigate unconscious biases that can influence recruitment and selection, ensuring fair and equitable hiring practices.

• Practical Tools: Acquire concrete tools and resources to implement inclusive hiring, from job description development to interview techniques.

• Actionable Strategies: Develop personalized action plans to apply inclusive hiring strategies within your specific departments and units.

By participating in this series, UMBC faculty and staff will be equipped to navigate the complexities of the current hiring environment, ensuring that our recruitment and retention practices reflect our commitment to inclusive excellence.

Registration Information

The series will be conducted in-person and seating is limited. RSVP on the MyUMBC page for each individual event. 

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This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

For Medical and Dental School Applicants, the UMBC Health Professions Evaluation Committee's (HPEC) Cohort process - which begins with exercises to help applicants prepare the materials they need to complete their professional school application, and results in a Committee Letter from the HPEC to accompany an applicant's other Letters of Recommendation - is set in motion nearly a year and half before an applicant plans to enter Medical or Dental School. 

The next HPEC Cohort, supporting applicants planning to enter Medical or Dental School in Fall 2026, is about to begin!