Pres. Hrabowski Discusses Impact of Study Abroad in International Educator

May 26, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

President Hrabowski appears in this month’s edition of International Educator to discuss how studying abroad shaped his career path. International Educator is a bimonthly publication of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. In the article, Dr. Hrabowski shares about his time at the American University in Cairo. “It opened my eyes to a totally different world and everything changed,” he said. “It really put growing up in perspective and helped me understand other people.” He goes on to discuss how his semester abroad has helped him in his role as the president of UMBC. He remarked, “It allows me to relate… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Discusses Impact of Study Abroad in International Educator

Pres. Hrabowski Shares UMBC’s Response to Baltimore’s Challenges in Inside Higher Ed

May 22, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

In light of the Baltimore protests, President Hrabowski penned an essay in Inside Higher Ed about the importance of UMBC’s continued work in the community and the need for ongoing conversations with students about confronting systematic injustice and inequality. Dr. Hrabowski began by sharing his experience in the Children’s March and how it developed into his life’s work of making education accessible to all Americans. He drew comparisons to the Baltimore protests, saying that the most important work of fighting issues of poverty and injustice is yet to come. Sharing examples of UMBC’s commitment to Baltimore city through initiatives such… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Shares UMBC’s Response to Baltimore’s Challenges in Inside Higher Ed

David Hoffman, Student Life, Considers Higher Education’s Future in Zocalo Public Square

May 22, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Zocalo Public Square, a non-profit website specializing in humanities journalism, recently invited scholars to describe the ideal 21st century university. David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency, responded with an article emphasizing the need for universities to become spaces for discourse and action in order to remain relevant in society. In the article, Hoffman discussed UMBC’s response to the Baltimore protests in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death, noting that the campus teach-in focused on sharing knowledge to support construction action in a way that respected everyone’s stories and abilities to contribute. “That spirit of mutual respect… Continue Reading David Hoffman, Student Life, Considers Higher Education’s Future in Zocalo Public Square

Vote on an Icon for UMBC

May 14, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

“UMBC: An Honors University in Maryland” continues to serve the institution well, but digital media has dramatically transformed the world of communications since the wordmark’s development in 1995. The current mark sometimes limits our ability communicate the brand effectively with a consistent look. UMBC’s 50th anniversary and new campus entrance provide a great opportunity to add an icon to our graphic identity system, which will allow greater flexibility. We have spent the past year developing and testing icon options with the campus community that included early versions at last August’s University retreat and a revised set at the campus-wide Strategic… Continue Reading Vote on an Icon for UMBC

Pres. Hrabowski Discusses “Holding Fast to Dreams” on WYPR

May 11, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

President Hrabowski visited Maryland Morning on May 11 to discuss his new book Holding Fast to Dreams with host Sheila Kast. Holding Fast to Dreams was published this month and recounts Dr. Hrabowksi’s involvement in the Civil Rights movement, his journey to UMBC, the inspiration and success of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, and the continued work at UMBC with redesigned courses to encourage “inclusive excellence” for all students. In the interview, Dr. Hrabowski touched his childhood, the recent protests in Baltimore, and his passion for helping students succeed at UMBC. “What we do at UMBC, whether talking about what we… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Discusses “Holding Fast to Dreams” on WYPR

The State of Maryland Health Risk Assessment and Wellness Program

May 11, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

The State of Maryland has implemented a new Health Risk Assessment and Wellness Program for employees with Health Benefits. To avoid a surcharge of $50 (plus an additional $50 for your spouse) in 2016, it is very important that you complete the following steps by September 30, 2015: Step 1: Log into your health provider’s website and select a Primary Care Provider (PCP). Step 2: Complete an online Health Risk Assessment (20-30 minutes) and print the results. Step 3: Discuss the results with your doctor and have him or her complete a physician’s sign-off form. Note: the physician at University Health Services can complete your sign-off… Continue Reading The State of Maryland Health Risk Assessment and Wellness Program

Career-Life Balance at UMBC Initiative Launches

May 8, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

The Career-Life Balance (CLB) inititative launched at UMBC on May 6 with an “afternoon coffee.” The event featured remarks from campus leaders, descriptions of the Research Acceleration Grant winners, and resources from organizations that support career-life balance and individual welleness. Renetta Tull, associate vice provost for graduate education and postdoctoral affairs, welcomed faculty, staff, and graduate students to the launch and explained the initiative’s mission of promoting career-life balance on campus. Patrice McDermott, vice provost for faculty affairs, gave background on UMBC policies that contribute to career-life balance and introduced the Research Acceleration Grant, which was created to help faculty… Continue Reading Career-Life Balance at UMBC Initiative Launches

Amanda Knapp Featured in AMA’s Get Women Riding Campaign

May 8, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

During the month of May the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is launching the Get Women Riding Campaign. The program promotes motorcycling to women and girls. As part of this national campaign, Amanda Knapp, assistant vice provost of academic standards and policy administration, is featured on the AMA website alongside inspirational women of motorcycling. Serving as a positive advocate for the sport, Knapp continues to inspire young girls and women to get out and ride, “overcoming the societal stereotype that motorcycling is something for men only.” Click here to see Knapp’s profile on the American Motorcyclist Association’s website.

Pres. Hrabowski Featured in SmartCEO Magazine

May 5, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

SmartCEO’s May issue features a cover story about President Hrabowski’s leadership at UMBC with STEM education and entrepreneurship. SmartCEO publishes a bimonthly magazine about leading businesses in four major markets: Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. The story highlights Dr. Hrabowski’s leadership at UMBC and the university’s transformation into “an innovation hub and national education powerhouse.” Dr. Hrabowski also shares ideas for collaborative leadership, drawing on his experiences working with UMBC’s faculty senate, as well as corporate and government partnerships. “The more people see that what you say you’re going to do, you do, and the more you consult… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Featured in SmartCEO Magazine

Shared Services Center Work Groups Announcement

May 4, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

The Shared Services Center Work Groups have been making major progress over the last six months. We are excited to share some highlights below: Phase I Shared Services Centers (SSCs) will begin a “soft launch” as of May 29, 2015. The centers will serve Academic Affairs Other Units (AAOU) and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS). The SSCs will begin with 2-4 staff members each, and will be located in the Shared Services Centers space adjacent to the Dean’s Office in CNMS. (AAOU will move to different space to be determined at a later date.) With the assistance… Continue Reading Shared Services Center Work Groups Announcement

UMBC in Times Higher Education’s “100 Under 50” 2015 Rankings

Apr 29, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

UMBC has been named to the Times Higher Education “100 Under 50” ranking for the fourth consecutive year — one of seven U.S. universities to be recognized on this year’s list. THE’s “100 Under 50” ranks the top 100 universities worldwide under 50 years old. “So many universities in this ranking have shown they can match the ancient global elite and have proven that with the right drive, what others have developed over centuries can be achieved in a matter of decades,” said Phil Baty, editor of THE. “They are a truly exciting and dynamic group of institutions which should serve as a… Continue Reading UMBC in Times Higher Education’s “100 Under 50” 2015 Rankings

Challenging Times

Apr 29, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

To: The UMBC Community From: Freeman Hrabowski and Philip Rous We hope you have read our note from earlier today providing guidance to the campus regarding the recent events in Baltimore. We write now to encourage our community to continue to engage in thoughtful reflection, dialogue, and service around the complex social and economic challenges facing our Baltimore community—and communities across the nation. Freddie Gray’s family has suffered a tragic personal loss, and we send them our sincere condolences. This event stands as a reminder of systemic issues of social injustice and inequality. These difficult times mark an opportunity to… Continue Reading Challenging Times