Choice Program Director LaMar Davis Speaks Out on Youth Violence through WYPR, Baltimore Sun

Sep 15, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

LaMar Davis, director of The Choice Program at UMBC, visited Midday with Dan Rodricks on September 11 to remember four Choice Program participants who were killed in Baltimore this year and discuss youth violence. The Choice Program works with youth who have been in contact with the juvenile justice system, providing intensive mentorship and teaching job skills. In the interview, Davis reflected on the tragic deaths of Najee Thomas, 14, Keith Powell, 17, Timothy Hall, 15, and Adrian Gilliard, 17, remembering their lives and dreams, and describing their involvement with The Choice Program. He also discussed the systematic social and… Continue Reading Choice Program Director LaMar Davis Speaks Out on Youth Violence through WYPR, Baltimore Sun

Diane Lee, Dean of Undergraduate Education, Discusses How UMBC Supports Transfer Students in The Baltimore Sun

Sep 11, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

A recent article in The Baltimore Sun examines the increased number of students transferring into Maryland colleges and universities. Diane Lee, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, spoke to the Sun about how UMBC supports transfer students, including new efforts enabled by a major grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eliminate some of the major challenges these students face, such as with transferring credits necessary to fulfill degree requirements.Lee explained how UMBC’s close partnership with community colleges plays a major role in this work. For example, UMBC officials have interviewed local community college faculty to learn… Continue Reading Diane Lee, Dean of Undergraduate Education, Discusses How UMBC Supports Transfer Students in The Baltimore Sun

UMBC Hosts College Affordability Roundtable with Senators Cardin and Mikulski

Sep 9, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

President Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC experts, and several current undergraduate students met with Maryland’s U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski on Thursday, Sept. 4 to discuss the ways loan debt impacts students’ college experiences, future plans, and careers. The College Affordability Roundtable, hosted by UMBC, gave the Senators an opportunity to hear directly from students about how they are financing their education, their experiences with financial aid programs and services, and the challenges of course and graduate completion related to accumulated debt. Throughout the event’s open—and often candid—dialogue, UMBC students shared their stories about financing their higher education and explained… Continue Reading UMBC Hosts College Affordability Roundtable with Senators Cardin and Mikulski

Pres. Hrabowski Discusses Degree to Career Pathways in The Washington Post

Sep 2, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Many in the U.S. see focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education as a way to encourage innovation and improve American competitiveness. However, a recent study found that most STEM graduates work in other fields. This has fueled discussion around whether there is a shortage or surplus of STEM workers. President Hrabowski commented on the debate, saying that the report ignores the realities of the job market. He emphasized the importance of looking at how STEM graduates use their degrees in various fields, stating that many UMBC students receive job offers before graduation because of shortages in fields… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Discusses Degree to Career Pathways in The Washington Post

UMBC Welcomes New Retrievers at 2014 Convocation

Aug 28, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

On Tuesday, April 26, faculty, staff, administrators and current students welcomed new students to the UMBC community at Convocation 2014, beginning with an applause-filled parade through campus and concluding with celebratory remarks in the RAC. Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Diane Lee, Presidential Teaching Award Recipient Marie desJardins and President Hrabowski spoke about UMBC’s supportive campus culture. “This is a university where people care about each other,” Dr. Hrabowksi said. Student leaders provided advice to incoming Retrievers. Student Government Association President Ganesh Mysore and Caroline Taylor ’16, HAPP, shared stories from their college experiences, encouraging their fellow students… Continue Reading UMBC Welcomes New Retrievers at 2014 Convocation

Pres. Hrabowski Interview on EvoLLLution Focuses on Supporting First-Generation College Students

Aug 28, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

President Hrabowski examines college accessibility issues for first-generation students and how universities can help them succeed in a new interview on EvoLLLution, an online newspaper focusing on continuing education. Many first-generation students struggle with the application process, Dr. Hrabowski notes, because they may not have someone in their household who can guide them through the system, knowing what it takes to be successfully admitted to and enrolled in a university. In the interview, Dr. Hrabowski emphasizes how universities must adapt to more effectively support these students, saying, “Part of innovation means looking in the mirror and understanding that the world… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Interview on EvoLLLution Focuses on Supporting First-Generation College Students

UMBC, Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business Establish Kiva U Chapters With Grants from OneMain Financial

Aug 26, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

UMBC and Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management are establishing Kiva U microfinance programs, made possible by grants from OneMain Financial, that will offer loans to local and global communities in need. The $25,000 grants will make UMBC and Loyola’s Sellinger School the first two formally designated Kiva U chapters in Maryland. Kiva U seeks to engage students and educators in a global effort to expand financial inclusion, foster community, and have a tangible positive impact on issues that matter to them. UMBC is quickly building a national reputation as a hub for scholars committed to making… Continue Reading UMBC, Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business Establish Kiva U Chapters With Grants from OneMain Financial

UMBC Ranked Among World’s Top Universities

Aug 19, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) has released its annual list of the top 500 universities in the world, including UMBC as one of 146 American universities recognized. The list features prominent universities from around the globe, including many in Great Britain, Germany and China. The ARWU is produced by the Center for World-Class Universities (CWCU) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. It is based on six indicators, including prestigious scholarships (number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals); influence and citations (number of highly cited researchers and number of articles indexed in Thomson Reuters… Continue Reading UMBC Ranked Among World’s Top Universities

UMBC Profiled in Princeton Review’s 2015 “Best Colleges” Book

Aug 5, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

The Princeton Review profiles UMBC in The Best 379 Colleges: 2015 Edition, published today. The book’s reviews are based on a survey of 130,000 students, measuring eight categories, such as academics, admissions selectivity, quality of life and financial aid. The colleges and universities in the book are not ranked overall, but are included based on outstanding academic programs. The book highlights UMBC’s strengths in academics. One student quoted in the profile says, “UMBC is a place where it is cool to be smart, and everything about the campus, including the students, exudes ’nerd-chic.’” Undergraduates also expressed enthusiasm for the “academic… Continue Reading UMBC Profiled in Princeton Review’s 2015 “Best Colleges” Book

Katie Cano ’16, Political Science, Selected as MHEC’s Student Commissioner

Aug 4, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Governor Martin O’Malley has appointed Katie Cano ’16, political science, as the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC) student commissioner for the 2014-2015 school year. Cano will be the third UMBC student to hold this position in the past eight years. Cano is actively involved in many organizations at UMBC. She is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and received a BreakingGround community program grant for a partnership between the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents-Baltimore (RICA-Baltimore) and UMBC’s Shriver Living Learning floor. She has served as president of her residence’s community action board, an orientation peer advisor, and an Introduction to… Continue Reading Katie Cano ’16, Political Science, Selected as MHEC’s Student Commissioner

Pres. Hrabowski Speaks at Campus Technology Conference

Aug 1, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

President Hrabowski gave the keynote address at the Campus Technology 2014 annual conference in Boston this week. The conference focuses on the use of innovative technology in higher education. Dr. Hrabowski addressed the large volume of data available in higher education today and how institutions must work to develop stories with meaningful context around the numbers, to more effectively interpret them. He also mentioned areas on UMBC’s campus that allow technology to be integrated into the classroom, saying, “We need to be rethinking our spaces on campus to stimulate active learning through the technology students bring with them.” Dr. Hrabowski… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski Speaks at Campus Technology Conference

Lynne Schaefer, VP for Finance and Administration, in College Planning and Management

Jul 31, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Lynne Schaefer, vice president for finance and administration, spoke to College Planning and Management about best practices for contracting housekeeping, dining, grounds maintenance and other services in higher education. College Planning and Management is a monthly journal focusing on campus safety, facilities, technology and more. Schaefer discussed the lessons she has learned from her time at UMBC working with campus vendors and ensuring student satisfaction. She recommended establishing contracts that are descriptive and performance-based rather than prescriptive, saying, “If you are going to use outside experts then rely on their expertise.” Click here to read the article titled “Let It… Continue Reading Lynne Schaefer, VP for Finance and Administration, in College Planning and Management