All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Shaping UMBC’s Future: A Strategic Planning Conversation ↗

Dear UMBC Community,
We write to invite you to join our fellow members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee as we host President Valerie Sheares Ashby for a conversation about the university’s strategic priorities. This is a key moment in our work to create the future we envision together for UMBC, and so we encourage you to join us, whether in person or virtually.
The event will be held at noon on Friday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Building. If you cannot attend in person, you may attend virtually. Please RSVP by clicking here by April 18.
At the event, President Sheares Ashby will share her thoughts on the high-level aspirations and directions that will frame the strategic plan—themes that reflect the input of the community during the Bold Conversations, input we received in last fall’s Core Values Survey, and input the steering committee is receiving as they engage with the community.
This conversation about our future closely follows another important university event that I hope you will attend, the April 23 session to hear your feedback on UMBC’s Middle States accreditation self-study. The self-study is an important part of the accreditation process, which reviews our progress and evolution as an academic institution. This review is an essential step in setting our course for the future.
We recognize there are many external factors at play that affect higher education and that policies and regulations are rapidly evolving. Those changes will not deter us from our mission or our vision for UMBC; in fact, this work is more urgent and valuable than ever, and we are eager to advance toward our shared goals for the university. We look forward to doing so in this special session with President Sheares Ashby on April 25. See you there!
Sincerely,
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Renique T. Kersh
Vice President for Student Affairs

Charissa Cheah
Professor of Psychology and Special Assistant to the Provost for Strategic Planning

Campus Message on International Travel

Dear Campus Community,
I am writing to address ongoing questions and concerns received from students, faculty, and staff regarding international travel.
First, it is important to acknowledge that each traveler’s circumstances are different. As has always been the case, individuals must seek to understand their own circumstances and potential risks prior to traveling.
Second, the information contained in this communication is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. If you have specific legal questions about your own immigration status, please seek assistance from a private immigration attorney.
1. Carry and make copies of valid immigration documents
Whether you are traveling to the U.S. or another country, it is imperative that you understand both entry and exit requirements for that country as well as any requirements for conducting your intended activities, such as study or research. Travelers are strongly advised to check with the embassy of the country to which they are traveling, or transiting through, prior to departure.
U.S. immigration law requires nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents, 18 years of age and over, to carry evidence of their immigration status at all times. This is particularly important to note as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has called on all state and local authorities to assist with enforcement of immigration laws.
2. Expect processing delays when applying for a new visa to return to the U.S.
Due to an increase in the number of visa applicants requiring in-person interviews, the introduction of enhanced vetting and screening as well as an ongoing federal hiring freeze, visa processing may take longer than travelers experienced in the past. Further complicating this matter is the fact that the U.S. Department of State has apparently ceased updating visa appointment wait times at various consular posts. Please note that, as a result, the Center for Global Engagement is not currently able to assist travelers with projecting U.S. visa processing times. 
Travelers needing to obtain a new visa or renew their current visa in order to reenter the U.S. should ensure they have an in-person visa interview appointment date confirmed, if required, prior to departing the U.S.
3. “Enhanced vetting and screening” practices may increase your chances for secondary inspection
The Trump administration’s reintroduction of enhanced vetting and screening practices at U.S. consulates and ports of entry significantly increase the risk that international travelers may experience greater scrutiny of visa applications, prolonged visa processing times, and more intense questioning when seeking to enter the U.S.
Travelers should seek to identify and weigh the risks associated with international travel based on their personal circumstances. Failure to carry proper documentation, evidence of prior legal issues, including certain traffic violations, and prolonged stays outside of the U.S. may all result in issues for travel. If travelers have questions about their specific circumstances, then they should contact a qualified immigration attorney.
4. Expect inspection of personal property without a warrant at U.S. ports of entry
At U.S. ports of entry, such as international airports and border crossings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has broad authority to both search and seize travelers’ personal possessions, including electronic devices, without a warrant. Specifically, CBP may perform the following:
  • interrogate any person seeking to enter the U.S. to determine their eligibility for admission;
  • search the property of any person seeking to enter the U.S.; and
  • copy data for further inspection.
While the above focuses on the U.S., other countries have similar authority that may even permit government officials to conduct warrantless searches far beyond the regular customs enforcement area.
Considering the sensitive nature of certain research and technologies as well as personal privacy concerns, travelers are advised to only take electronic devices and data required to perform their intended activities abroad. Additionally, travelers should understand what items are prohibited or restricted from entering the U.S. and any countries they may be visiting or transiting through. Please visit UMBC’s Office of Research Protections and Compliance’s Export Control and Travel Page for additional considerations and tips related to international travel and restrictions on transferring controlled items or technologies.
5. Understand that your social media profile and activity may be searched
Many countries, including some of the most popular tourist destinations, have lèse-majesté laws prohibiting criticisms of the host country’s government. Violation of these laws can result in fines, detention, deportation, and denial of eligibility to visit the country in the future.
Given the rise of social media, a growing number of governments have also implemented fake news laws designed to address online manipulation and news the country’s government deems to be untrue. More recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier for governments to monitor social media postings and other online content.
While freedom of speech is a core value of the United States, travelers should be fully aware of how their participation in certain activities and expressions of speech may expose them to risks that could compromise their immigration status. According to Axios, more than 300 international students had their visas revoked during the first three weeks of the U.S. government’s new Catch and Revoke initiative, which uses AI to assist with the review of social media accounts.
6. Prepare for possible travel bans
The New York Times reported on an internal Trump administration memo indicating that certain countries could soon be subject to a revised travel ban. As reported, the proposed ban would include three tiers: Red, Orange, and Yellow.
  • Countries in the “RED” category, which could face a full travel ban, may include: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
  • Countries in the “ORANGE” category, which could face higher scrutiny, may include: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan.
  • Countries in the “YELLOW” category, which would have 60 days to address concerns from the administration or risk being elevated to one of the two higher categories may include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Turkmenistan, and Vanuatu.
It is currently unknown when or if the new travel bans will be implemented. Still, there remains a very real risk that nationals of the listed countries who are outside the United States when the ban is announced may be unable to return, even with a valid visa stamp. It is also possible that additional countries could be included.
Individuals who do not hold U.S. citizenship and who are planning to travel abroad and reenter the U.S. must assess their personal risk tolerance for international travel given the possibility that they may be unable to reenter the U.S. as a result of a future travel ban. Moreover, such travelers should plan ahead for how they would be able to continue their studies or employment from outside of the U.S.
Summary of recommendations
  1. Ensure you carry valid immigration documents with you when you travel within the United States and abroad. It is also highly recommended that you make copies of these documents in the event they are ever damaged, lost, or stolen.
  2. If you need to obtain a new visa prior to returning to the United States and require an in-person visa interview, do not make international travel plans until you have an in-person visa appointment confirmed.
  3. Be prepared for questioning by CBP officers upon your return to the United States.
  4. Understand that CBP officers may search your personal possessions without a warrant. This includes data, such as messages, files, and photos, stored on electronic devices as well as information you have shared on social media.
  5. If upon arriving at a U.S. port of entry you are referred to secondary inspection (i.e., additional screening), remain calm and provide clear responses to the questions asked. 
  6. Assess your personal risk tolerance for possibly being unable to return to the U.S. in the event that travel restrictions are imposed and potentially change your travel plans if you feel that you may be at risk.
Resources for university travelers
The International Travel Guide, published by Business Services, is designed to assist university travelers with planning university-sponsored international travel. It includes guidelines for obtaining pre-approval and submitting reimbursement requests.
The Office of International Students and Scholars is available to consult on immigration-related travel issues for individuals holding F-1, H-1B, and J-1 immigration status.
UMBC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides employees with access to free confidential counseling and connections to attorneys who can help with a variety of issues, including immigration concerns.
UMBC’s International Travel Registry provides real-time, location specific security alerts to students, faculty, and staff traveling internationally on university business. Additionally, travelers registering their travel will be notified of how to enroll in UMBC’s comprehensive international travel insurance and assistance policy, which provides coverage for medical and non-medical issues that may arise during travel.
Sincerely,
David L. Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement

Update on UMBC’s Settlement Agreement with the DOJ

Dear UMBC Community,
As many of you know, in April 2024, UMBC entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve and expand upon our work to prevent and respond to reports of sexual misconduct and sex discrimination under Title IX. The agreement followed a lengthy investigation by the DOJ that found systemic failures in the university’s Title IX compliance between 2015 and 2020. 
The agreement, which will remain in effect through the 2028 – 29 academic year, commits us to taking many steps to strengthen our Title IX office and its work, to provide specific support for student-athletes and the Athletics Department, to expand training for all members of the community, and to provide financial relief to certain individuals, as determined and directed by the DOJ. 
We have made significant progress toward all of these aims, building on work that we began together in 2022, well before the DOJ released its findings. Today, as we approach the one-year mark in our response to the agreement, we wanted to share with you a detailed report on that progress, which is available online. To summarize the work briefly: 
  • We have hired several new staff members in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, including the inaugural assistant vice president for equity and civil rights and Title IX coordinator;
  • We have made meaningful improvements in our policies and protocols related to Title IX compliance, including the development of a new university Title IX policy;
  • We have launched new, improved mandatory training for all students and all employees;
  • We have fulfilled the provision for financial relief for individuals as determined by the DOJ.
As president, I am deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of everyone involved in this response, most especially my co-author on this message, Tanyka Barber, our vice president for Institutional Equity and chief diversity officer. The work she is leading, the team she has built, and the collaboration she is fostering across campus are fundamentally transforming our efforts to prevent and respond to sex discrimination and harassment. We are also grateful for the work of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights staff, whose dedication to this work is evident every day.
Our commitment in this work is not only to the agreement, but, more importantly, to all of you, and to all who will join this community in the years to come. Nothing is more important than your well-being, and we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards of care, safety, integrity, and accountability. 
Thank you all for your ongoing support of this work and your dedication to UMBC. 
Sincerely,
President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Tanyka M. Barber, Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer  

An Update on Our Response to Federal Actions and Orders

Dear Faculty and Staff,
This week, the world marked the five-year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. As we reflect on that global crisis—remembering all the lives lost, honoring the heroes who were on the front lines of care, and considering lessons learned and implications for our future—it is worth recalling the uncertainty and anxiety of the early days of that crisis. 
Today, in higher education, the uncertainty brought on by recent and ongoing changes at the federal level is creating anxiety that feels in some ways similar to what we felt five years ago, with questions about what the specific impacts will be—and how widespread and long-lasting—and how we will continue to care for our communities and advance our public-serving educational and research missions. It is worth remembering what we did in those early days of the pandemic, as well: We came together; we adapted; and we made decisions that were grounded in our values and based on the best information we had. 
To be clear, higher education is not confronting a pandemic today. But we are, as a sector, facing tremendous challenges, including recent and potential changes in federal funding policies and practices that could devastate our country’s research capacity and cuts in education spending and other areas that could significantly affect educational institutions and the states and communities in which they are located.
I want to acknowledge the concerns. I know they may be heightened as you read of austerity measures being announced at other institutions, including some in Maryland, whose research funding has already been cut significantly and/or whose institutional budgets rely heavily on federal funding. No institution, not even the wealthiest, could replace federal research dollars out of their own budgets or with state funds or philanthropy. A loss of federal research funding on the scale that has been proposed would fundamentally change our nation’s academic research enterprise, and it would, inevitably, change the role of research in higher education and the teaching and learning that occurs on our campuses. 
We simply do not know yet what the scale of impact will be, whether on research or any other aspect of our work. Nor do we know how federal changes will affect our state and its budget—though we know that more than one-third of the state’s budget comes from federal sources and that we were already anticipating (and prepared for) a reduction in state funding this year. What we know is that there will be impacts, and they are likely to be significant. 
As the state funding picture becomes clearer, and as court rulings, congressional actions, and other efforts hopefully provide more clarity on federal funding, we will keep you informed and communicate with you about any steps the university may need to take to adapt to changing circumstances. Our core team continues to meet frequently to assess real and potential impacts of federal orders and actions. Please visit our related website for up-to-date information and communications concerning these issues. 
I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had over the last few weeks to meet with you and hear your concerns and questions on a variety of issues related to federal orders and actions, including in recent meetings with academic chairs, directors from across the university, and shared governance, whose leadership I greatly appreciate. In all of these conversations, the concerns I hear speak to our shared values and our shared vision for UMBC. 
As we head toward spring break, I hope you all will find some time to rest and renew. I hope, as well, that we reflect on the importance of UMBC and its mission and that you know how much we value your dedication to this community and its work. 
Sincerely, 
President Valerie Sheares Ashby 

Today’s shooting at the Baltimore County Police Station

Dear UMBC Community, 

As you know, this afternoon, a Baltimore County Police officer was injured in a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of the Baltimore County Police station on Wilkens Avenue. This was a shocking incident of violence, especially because of its proximity to our campus. I want to assure our UMBC community that there is no imminent or ongoing danger to our community, and the shooting has been determined to have been an isolated incident. The suspect was taken into custody immediately following the incident, and the Baltimore County officer is in the hospital in stable condition. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office Independent Investigations Division and the Baltimore County Police Department are investigating. 

I want to commend our UMBC Police Department for its exemplary work throughout today’s incident. Our officers were among the first to arrive on the scene, and I am grateful for their swift and professional actions, and for their leadership in keeping us informed and staying closely connected to Baltimore County Police. Our thoughts and support go out to the injured officer and his family and to the Baltimore County Police Department in this difficult time. 

I want to remind you that resources are available for faculty, staff, and students who may need support. Please do not hesitate to seek out resources for support should you need them. 

For students:

Retriever Integrated Health

Retriever Care 

For employees and their households:

Employee Assistance Program 

Immediate assistance and 24/7 support resources are also available

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby


A Message of Support for Graduate Students ↗

Dear Graduate Students, 

As interim vice provost and dean of the graduate school, I want to acknowledge the anxiety, uncertainty, and perhaps confusion that many of you may be feeling in light of numerous federal executive orders and actions related to higher education. I am particularly aware of concern  throughout the sector about both short- and long-term impacts on higher education’s ability to pursue its educational and research missions. 

Today, I write to acknowledge your concerns and express my support, and also to highlight some information and resources available to you. You likely have seen numerous messages to the community related to the changes coming out of Washington, but it’s worth referencing a few that are especially relevant to our graduate student community. 

Most recently, Karl V. Steiner, our vice president for research and creative achievement, sent a campus message regarding UMBC’s response to a stop-work order received from a federal agency. That message includes helpful information, as well as links to further resources, about how the university is responding to such orders. Importantly, in this case, the university’s position is that the research in question should continue at UMBC. 

Tanyka M. Barber, UMBC’s vice president for institutional equity and chief diversity officer, communicated to campus recently as well, responding to the most recent of many efforts by the federal government to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts—the latest being a “Dear Colleague Letter” from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Vice President Barber’s message was clear that the Dear Colleague Letter does not carry the force of law and that UMBC continues to abide by existing law. The Department of Education has since shared additional guidance.

I would also point you to the message earlier in February from David Di Maria, senior international officer and associate vice provost for international education, which provided resources for international students and shared a link to a new website that the Center for Global Engagement has created to provide the latest updates on immigration policies, including those related to visa renewals. 

The pace of news is so rapid that it can be overwhelming just to stay informed. I hope you will bookmark and visit often the university’s central hub for updates and information regarding federal orders and actions. All related campus messaging, as well as a helpful collection of internal and external resources, can be found there. 

Should you have specific questions or concerns related to your work or experience as a graduate student at UMBC, please be in touch with your principal investigators and department chairs, and please continue to avail yourself of the support of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and of my office. The core team that is meeting frequently to consider the many issues and potential impacts of the activity in Washington is consulting with us and keeping us informed of its work. 

To all of our graduate students:  We are honored to have you as part of our community. You belong here; you are woven into the fabric of our research, creative activities, the pursuit of knowledge, and the academic life of this community. You and your contributions to our mission are deeply valued, and we will continue to do all in our power to support you and your work. 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Halverson
Interim Vice Provost and Dean, The Graduate School
Professor, Geography and Environmental Science

Statement on International Travel During Spring Break

UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement wishes to remind all international employees and visiting scholars planning international travel during Spring Break to review their travel documents ahead of their departure.

J-1 Exchange Visitors

Individuals holding J-1 Exchange Visitor status (including J-1 Professors, Research Scholars, and Short-Term Scholars) must check the validity of the travel validation (signature) on the front of their Form DS-2019. Travel validations remain valid for one year for most J-1 categories, but are only valid for six months for Short-Term Scholars. Additionally, travelers must ensure that their J-1 visa remains valid through the date that they plan to return to the U.S. and passports should be valid for at least six months after the date of reentry.

H-1B Employees

Employees holding H-1B status must confirm that their H-1B visa will be valid on the date of their planned reentry into the U.S. If employees obtained H-1B status by changing from another nonimmigrant status from within the U.S., then it is important to remember that an H-1B visa is required for reentry to the U.S. after international travel. Additionally, travelers must ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months after the date of reentry.

In-person Interviews for Visa Applicants

As we have shared on our Immigration Policy Updates page, the U.S. Department of State recently made changes to its in-person interview policy. The Department’s new policy makes the requirement for an in-person interview a discretionary decision by consular officers; travelers should not assume that their in-person interview will be waived.The in-person interview may add to the time to process a visa renewal. Additionally, visa appointment wait times can fluctuate drastically without warning.

For these reasons, anyone whose visa has expired should carefully consider these factors in planning any potential international travel. Before departing the U.S., travelers without valid visas should work with the U.S. embassy or consulate in their travel destination to determine if they are required to appear for an in-person interview. If an in-person interview is required, travelers should secure an appointment before departing the U.S. We strongly recommend that travelers seek an appointment during the early part of their trip, since there can be unexpected delays in the visa renewal process. Anyone who departs the U.S. with an expired visa will not be able to return until they are issued a new visa.

Future Communications

International employees and scholars should monitor their UMBC email account closely for important messages from the Center for Global Engagement as this is how we will send alerts of any changes in U.S. immigration policy.

Anyone who has questions about their individual travel plans should contact me prior to travel. We wish a safe journey to those choosing to travel during Spring Break, and we hope that all members of our community enjoy the break and come back refreshed and ready to finish out the semester. 

Diane Zeenny Ghorayeb
International Scholar Coordinator
Center for Global Engagement

Celebrating Jack Suess

This message was shared with the campus community to announce the future retirement of Jack Suess ’80, M.S. ’95, UMBC’s longtime leader of the Division of Information Technology.

* * * * *

Dear UMBC Community, 

With deep gratitude for his extraordinary career of service to UMBC, I write to share with you the news that Jack Suess ’80, M.S. ’95, will be retiring from his role as vice president for information technology and chief information officer. We do not have an official retirement date for him yet because he has graciously agreed to stay on until a search for his successor is completed.

portrait of a white man in a blue suit

In conversations about UMBC’s strategic plan and a vision for the future, Jack and I determined together that this would be the right time for a transition in leadership in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). A new leader will join at an opportune time, able to align the division with a new set of strategic priorities for the university and contribute meaningfully to advancing those goals. I am grateful to Jack for his characteristically unselfish thinking about how best to position DoIT to lead us toward our vision for the university, in service to our mission and our students, staff, and faculty. 

Jack has always had the best interests of UMBC in mind, and he personifies the spirit of this community’s devotion to one another and to UMBC. He has served in his current role since 2005 and has led the division since 1997, but his affiliation with the university goes back much longer. 

Jack came to UMBC as a first-generation college student in 1976. He studied mathematics and computer science, but it was a student job in information technology that would set the course of his life. In 1980, when he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in math, his student job became a full-time role that blossomed into a career of leadership and service at UMBC. He is a big part of why UMBC is known as an innovator; he and the university were among the early adopters of Internet2 in 1997, and he has spearheaded initiatives in advanced networking, cloud computing, and more. His email address—jack@umbc.edu—screams “early adopter,” but, more than that, it conveys a big part of who he is. Jack, at UMBC. 

He did not want this message to be all about him, of course. He wanted it to be about the culture of service and partnership that permeates DoIT, and about UMBC’s active—often leading—voice in national conversations and collaborations concerning technology in higher education and research. 

As to the former, Jack is proud of the work of his team in advancing the research enterprise at UMBC, in helping faculty leverage technology in their teaching, and in supporting the administrative functions of the university. He also is gratified by the role that many DoIT staff members have played in the life of the university, including serving in shared governance roles. He set a good example and a high bar for such participation, serving on many UMBC planning groups, steering committees, and advisory boards over the years. For his outstanding service, Jack has been honored with both a UMBC Alumni Award and a Presidential Staff Leadership Award. Nationally, Jack has been honored with the prestigious EDUCAUSE Leadership in the Profession award and the Internet2 Presidential Leadership in the Community award. 

Today, Jack’s own experience as a student-employee-turned-staffer is one among many stories of alumni whose successful career arcs—at UMBC and around the world, at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and many more—began as student employees in DoIT. 

As to UMBC’s leading role in technology in higher education nationally, there is much to celebrate. Going back to 1997, UMBC was among the first 50 universities to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) high-speed network program, vBNS. Decades later, in 2014, it was among 100 universities selected for NSF’s CC*IIE program to advance 100Gb technology. Jack was the principal investigator (PI) on both of those NSF grants, and he has been a co-PI on an NSF grant to increase the representation of women in information technology. He and others in DoIT have served in numerous leadership roles in national information technology groups, including InCommon, Internet2, and EDUCAUSE. 

That combination of service and innovation is at the heart of the division that Jack has led for three decades, and UMBC is all the better for it. We will share more about a search for Jack’s successor soon. Today, please join me in congratulating Jack on his remarkable career and in thanking him for his immeasurable contributions to our beloved UMBC community. 

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Update on Impact of Executive Orders on Research and Creative Achievement

Dear UMBC Community,
I write with an update regarding the impacts of federal orders and actions on UMBC’s research and creative achievement activities.
As you may be aware, on February 21, a Maryland District Court judge issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking parts of two federal executive orders concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (“Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”). It is the position of UMBC’s general counsel that this injunction should prevent federal agencies from: stopping or modifying contracts and grants that directly or indirectly address DEI; requiring certification of non-violation of federal anti-discrimination laws for continued funding; or bringing enforcement action against grantees or contractors based on certifications of compliance with the executive orders for continued funding. The injunction is directly relevant to a situation that has developed recently at UMBC.
One day before the injunction, we received a formal stop-work order from a federal agency concerning a research project that was to be halted in response to the executive order, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” Given the nationwide injunction, UMBC has contacted the agency to confirm that the order is rescinded in light of the recent court action. As we await a response, the important work on this research project is continuing at UMBC. We are coordinating with the Office of the General Counsel and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General as we consider our legal position should further action become necessary. We remain in close contact with the principal investigator on the federal grant, as well as individuals and organizations who serve as subcontractors, keeping them informed as we move forward.
We also are in communication with colleagues across the University System of Maryland and with colleagues on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Council on Research to share information across the academic community.
While we do not anticipate communicating with the campus community about every impact we see from federal executive orders and actions, we thought it would be helpful to share with you a sense of how we are responding and what protocols we are following in such circumstances.
Please refer to my February 5 message for more information and guidance on grant-funded programs, and please visit the university’s central hub of information about recent federal orders and related actions for the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Karl V. Steiner
Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement

Celebrating Jack Suess

Dear UMBC Community, 
 
With deep gratitude for his extraordinary career of service to UMBC, I write to share with you the news that Jack Suess ’80, M.S. ’95, will be retiring from his role as vice president for information technology and chief information officer. We do not have an official retirement date for him yet because he has graciously agreed to stay on until a search for his successor is completed.
 
In conversations about UMBC’s strategic plan and a vision for the future, Jack and I determined together that this would be the right time for a transition in leadership in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). A new leader will join at an opportune time, able to align the division with a new set of strategic priorities for the university and contribute meaningfully to advancing those goals. I am grateful to Jack for his characteristically unselfish thinking about how best to position DoIT to lead us toward our vision for the university, in service to our mission and our students, staff, and faculty. 
 
Jack has always had the best interests of UMBC in mind, and he personifies the spirit of this community’s devotion to one another and to UMBC. He has served in his current role since 2005 and has led the division since 1997, but his affiliation with the university goes back much longer. 
 
Jack came to UMBC as a first-generation college student in 1976. He studied mathematics and computer science, but it was a student job in information technology that would set the course of his life. In 1980, when he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in math, his student job became a full-time role that blossomed into a career of leadership and service at UMBC. He is a big part of why UMBC is known as an innovator; he and the university were among the early adopters of Internet2 in 1997, and he has spearheaded initiatives in advanced networking, cloud computing, and more. His email address—jack@umbc.edu—screams “early adopter,” but, more than that, it conveys a big part of who he is. Jack, at UMBC. 
 
He did not want this message to be all about him, of course. He wanted it to be about the culture of service and partnership that permeates DoIT, and about UMBC’s active—often leading—voice in national conversations and collaborations concerning technology in higher education and research. 
 
As to the former, Jack is proud of the work of his team in advancing the research enterprise at UMBC, in helping faculty leverage technology in their teaching, and in supporting the administrative functions of the university. He also is gratified by the role that many DoIT staff members have played in the life of the university, including serving in shared governance roles. He set a good example and a high bar for such participation, serving on many UMBC planning groups, steering committees, and advisory boards over the years. For his outstanding service, Jack has been honored with both a UMBC Alumni Award and a Presidential Staff Leadership Award. Nationally, Jack has been honored with the prestigious EDUCAUSE Leadership in the Profession award and the Internet2 Presidential Leadership in the Community award. 
 
Today, Jack’s own experience as a student-employee-turned-staffer is one among many stories of alumni whose successful career arcs—at UMBC and around the world, at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and many more—began as student employees in DoIT. 
 
As to UMBC’s leading role in technology in higher education nationally, there is much to celebrate. Going back to 1997, UMBC was among the first 50 universities to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) high-speed network program, vBNS. Decades later, in 2014, it was among 100 universities selected for NSF’s CC*IIE program to advance 100Gb technology. Jack was the principal investigator (PI) on both of those NSF grants, and he has been a co-PI on an NSF grant to increase the representation of women in information technology. He and others in DoIT have served in numerous leadership roles in national information technology groups, including InCommon, Internet2, and EDUCAUSE. 
 
That combination of service and innovation is at the heart of the division that Jack has led for three decades, and UMBC is all the better for it. We will share more about a search for Jack’s successor soon. Today, please join me in congratulating Jack on his remarkable career and in thanking him for his immeasurable contributions to our beloved UMBC community. 
 
Sincerely,
 
President Valerie Sheares Ashby

State Department Provides Update on Visa Interview Waiver Eligibility

On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance regarding which applicants for U.S. visas may qualify for a waiver of the in-person interview requirement. This update supersedes previous guidance issued in December 2023. The update lists particular visa types that are eligible for waiver of the in-person interview, including A, G, NATO and TECRO visas.

Relevant to international students and scholars, “applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application” are also eligible for an interview waiver. Additionally, such applicants must: be applying for the visa renewal in their country of nationality or residence (home country), never have been refused a visa in the past, and have no apparent or potential ineligibility issues.

Crucially, this policy update establishes that consular officers have the authority and discretion to waive the in-person interview requirement, but they “may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis or because of local conditions.” The update recommends that visa applicants “check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate’s operating status and services.”

Our advice continues to be that students and scholars should plan ahead as much as possible for any necessary visa renewals. Because the U.S. Department of State now makes the requirement for an in-person interview a discretionary decision by consular officers, applicants should not assume that their in-person interview will be waived. Moreover, visa appointment wait times can fluctuate drastically without warning.

Responding to Recent Executive Orders and Actions

Dear UMBC Community,
 
I want to express my thanks to the many of you who have reached out to me in recent days to voice their concerns and ask about the current and future state of the work of the Division of Institutional Equity in light of recent federal orders and actions. Your support is an inspiring demonstration of our shared values, most especially, inclusive excellence. 
  
As you may know, late on Friday evening, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague letter that put forth a very broad interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended race-conscious admissions. The Dear Colleague letter interprets that ruling to prohibit all race-conscious activities at educational institutions that receive federal funding—“hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”
 
A Dear Colleague letter does not carry the force of law, nor can it change existing law. We have and will continue to abide by existing laws, including through the university’s nondiscrimination policy. Higher education associations responded swiftly to the Dear Colleague letter this week, urging institutions not to overreact or try to comply preemptively with the guidance. 
 
OCR’s Dear Colleague letter followed several recent federal executive orders and other actions targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts broadly. Some of these are being challenged in the courts. Additionally, Maryland State Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, together with 15 other state attorneys general, have issued this multistate guidance on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility employment initiatives. 
 
We take seriously the direct targeting of this work, which is so central to our identity and core values. We are monitoring closely the orders and actions related to these issues and assessing as best we can the risk and potential impacts for UMBC. We also are continuing to hold UMBC to the highest standards in adhering to university policies and applicable state and federal laws. 
To that end, I want to reiterate that all of the university’s programs and activities are 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. 
Who we are as an institution demands that we continue to:
 
  • Create a community culture that values each individual
  • Protect the civil rights of all faculty, staff, and students
  • Come together across differences
  • Uphold free speech and academic freedom
 
This is not the work of a single office or division, but rather the collective responsibility of our entire campus community. Thank you again for your support, your dedication, and your partnership.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
 
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