New Book Highlights UMBC Leadership in Business-Higher Ed Partnerships

Feb 24, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

STEMconnector’s STEM Higher Education Council recently released Advancing a Jobs-Driven Economy, a book that explores partnerships between educational institutions, businesses, and non-profits. The book highlights UMBC’s partnerships with corporations, government agencies and laboratories, and other colleges and universities as ways to support student learning and enrich the academic environment. It also praises UMBC’s innovations in course redesign, including more group learning and hands-on work to address real-world problems as evidence-based ways to encourage student success. In the preface of the book, President Hrabowski states, “We must ensure that we are effectively connecting students with internships, jobs, and careers… We argue that quality is… Continue Reading New Book Highlights UMBC Leadership in Business-Higher Ed Partnerships

Swimming and Diving Teams Win Championships

Feb 23, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Last week, the women’s swimming and diving team won the 2015 America East Championship with 791 points. The men’s swimming and diving team became the 2015 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) champions several days later. This year marks the fourth year in school history that the UMBC women’s swimming and diving team has won the America East Championship. Sophomore Emily Escobedo won the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet award and Coach Chad Cradock, as well as assistants Chris Gibeau, Brandt Nigro, Rob Bellamy and diving coach Petar Trifonov, earned Coaching Staff of the Year. At the CCSA Championship, Nikola… Continue Reading Swimming and Diving Teams Win Championships

Online Comment Period for Mid-Year Interim Reports Ends Feb. 28

Feb 16, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

TO: UMBC Campus Community FROM: Provost Philip Rous, Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Steering Committee Bruce Walz, Chair, Academic Planning and Budget Committee, Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Steering Committee RE: Online Comment Period for Mid-Year Interim Reports Ends Feb. 28 The strategy groups and Foundations Work Group mid-year interim reports describing work to date, key findings, and emerging themes are now available online to the campus community. We encourage you to take a moment to review them and share your thoughts and comments. The reports will be available for comment through Saturday, February 28, 2015. This is an important opportunity for campus engagement… Continue Reading Online Comment Period for Mid-Year Interim Reports Ends Feb. 28

The Business Journals Ranks UMBC Among Top 100 Public Colleges

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

The Business Journals released their 2015 list of top U.S. public colleges today, ranking UMBC at No. 78. The list identifies public universities and colleges that offer the best educational experiences to their students. Universities were ranked according to selectivity, retention and graduation rates, reputation, tuition and housing cost, and diversity. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the 2012 American Community Survey helped inform the rankings. UMBC scored especially high marks in selectivity, advancement, diversity and community. Communications director Dinah Winnick shared, “UMBC’s distinctive combination of innovative teaching, leading-edge research, and supportive community empowers and inspires students.… Continue Reading The Business Journals Ranks UMBC Among Top 100 Public Colleges

Supporting Academic Success of Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings (2/25)

Feb 10, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will host “Supporting Academic Success of Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings” at UMBC on February 25, 2015, in partnership with the Choice Program at UMBC and the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Speakers from the US Department of Education, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, The Choice Program at UMBC, and the University of Maryland School of Social Work will discuss how to support the development and success of young people in the juvenile justice system. Community members who are interested in attending the event can… Continue Reading Supporting Academic Success of Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings (2/25)

Campus Strategic Planning Interactive Gallery, Feb. 9

Feb 6, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee invites faculty, students, staff, and alumni to an informal, interactive gallery on Monday, February 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m., in the UC Ballroom. Participants will have the opportunity to speak with leaders of the strategy groups focused on Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy; The Student Experience; Collective Impact in Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement; Community and Extended Connection; and the Foundations Work Group. Participants are invited to tour posters documenting the early planning work and discuss the research and emerging themes with strategy and foundations group members. Participants may also provide feedback through online polling and comment opportunities… Continue Reading Campus Strategic Planning Interactive Gallery, Feb. 9

Gib Mason, Training Centers, Discusses Entrepreneurship in the Baltimore Business Journal

Feb 6, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Today the Baltimore Business Journal features a new interview with Gib Mason, chief operating officer of UMBC Training Centers, focusing on his experiences both as an educator and entrepreneur. In the interview, Mason shares lessons he learned working as the chief operating officer at Big Bang, a Baltimore sportswear company that popularized foldable wraparound ear warmers. He also discusses his passion for teaching about entrepreneurship, and how he helps students understand the essential role of failure in entrepreneurship. “Be open to the perspective of the people around you,” he advises. “Don’t ever believe you have it all figured out.” Click here to read “How UMBC professor… Continue Reading Gib Mason, Training Centers, Discusses Entrepreneurship in the Baltimore Business Journal

10th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction Scholarship Fundraiser (4/24)

Feb 5, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Isn’t life grand! Join fellow UMBC colleagues, alumni, and guests for an elegant evening filled with jazz, excellent company, delicious food, and fine wine. Your attendance and participation in the silent auction will benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship for current UMBC students. For more information about the event and to register for tickets, click here. If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor or donating items for the silent auction, please contact Jessica El-Zeftawy ’08, ’12 in the Office of Alumni Relations at jbard1@umbc.edu or by calling 410-455-1678. Please note: early-bird pricing ends February 28.

UMBC’s Division of Professional Studies Appoints Two New Graduate Program Directors

Jan 28, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

The Division of Professional Studies at UMBC has appointed Thomas Moore to lead Systems Engineering Graduate Programs and Krystl Haerian to lead the Health Information Technology Master’s Program (umbc/hit). Both appointees bring with them extensive industry experience, aligning with the Division’s mission to deliver relevant graduate programs that are responsive to the needs of working professionals. Systems Engineering Master’s and Certificate Programs will benefit from Moore’s 25 years of experience designing, developing and testing products. Most recently, Moore served as the Director of Systems Engineering and Logistics for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. Moore received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees… Continue Reading UMBC’s Division of Professional Studies Appoints Two New Graduate Program Directors

Announcing Critical Social Justice 2015 (2/16-2/20)

Jan 23, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Departments, student groups, and individuals from across the UMBC campus and community have organized a week full of exciting programming for the 2nd annual Critical Social Justice campaign. This year’s theme is “Creating Brave Spaces,” inspired by the essay “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces” by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens. Our keynote speaker will be comedian and social justice blogger Franchesca Ramsey (a.k.a. Chescaleigh), who’s perhaps best known for her viral parody video on racial microaggressions “Sh*t White Girls Say…To Black Girls.” Franchesca Ramsey’s keynote lecture “Your Powerful Online Voice: Social Media for Social Change” will be Tuesday, February… Continue Reading Announcing Critical Social Justice 2015 (2/16-2/20)

David Hoffman, Student Life, Publishes Chapter in Democracy’s Education

Jan 23, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency, wrote a chapter in the recently published Democracy’s Education: Public Work, Citizenship and the Future of Colleges and Universities. The book challenges educators to rethink the meaning of citizenship and education. Hoffman’s chapter, entitled “Fostering Civic Agency by Making Education (and Ourselves) ‘Real,’” describes the philosophy of BreakingGround, a collaborative approach to innovative campus and community engagement at UMBC. Hoffman draws on his research and experience at UMBC, focusing on students who gained civic agency by causing meaningful change on campus through launching new organizations and engaging in purposeful conversations.… Continue Reading David Hoffman, Student Life, Publishes Chapter in Democracy’s Education

Michele Wolff, Shriver Center, and Stephen Freeland, INDS, in The Catonsville Times

Jan 22, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Michele Wolff, Shriver Center, and Stephen Freeland, interdisciplinary studies, were featured in an article about UMBC’s new Summer Enrichment Experience in The Catonsville Times. The Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) is a commuter day program through the Shriver Center which offers academic courses for middle and high school students. Wolff shared her goals for the program, saying, “The idea is to give the middle and high school students the opportunity to be on a college campus, but also the opportunity to have an interesting and exciting way to learn about the sciences or arts and humanities based content.” Freeland, who will… Continue Reading Michele Wolff, Shriver Center, and Stephen Freeland, INDS, in The Catonsville Times