Dear Colleagues, 

August is one of my favorite times of the year! The campus comes alive with anticipation as we welcome our new and returning undergraduate and graduate students to campus. I want to share with you a welcome message that I sent to all students about how to get involved on campus, including information about our Welcome, Retrievers program (formerly Welcome Week) as well as resources to support their health and well-being. 

With this in mind, I also invite you to participate in three key special events that will occur as part of Welcome, Retrievers: 

Students and their families will be stopping by Erickson Field to connect with campus offices, departments, and off-campus partners from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us at the family and hospitality tent, which includes campus resources, opportunities to meet staff and students, and have fun! There will be music, face painting, and tabling by the Family Advisory Board. We will also highlight athletics, student entrepreneurs, and more! Chartwells will host A Taste of UMBC, featuring delicious food options, and the Bookstore will be promoting new UMBC gear. 

Immediately following Convocation, we will gather as a community on the Quad to enjoy a delicious cookout as we head into the new academic year. Meet new students and catch up with fellow faculty and staff. Please bring your campus ID. 

This annual event is a wonderful way for the UMBC community to meet and connect with our Arbutus neighbors and our commuter students who will live in their community. The cookout, along with games and fun activities, will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on the campus green space at the corner of Linden Avenue and Shelbourne Road. 

If you are interested in volunteering to help with Welcome, Retrievers programming, sign up for a time here. To sign up to volunteer during move-in days on August 23 and 25, sign up here. 

Please share the UMBC events calendar with students, too, to encourage them to participate in all that UMBC has to offer throughout the year. 

We want every student that steps onto our campus to know that we are ready for them. They will undoubtedly be looking for our help and our guidance as we welcome them to campus, so let’s make it easy for them to find us. I encourage you to wear your UMBC gear during the first week, look out for students who may be lost or in need of guidance, and show your excitement as we welcome students back to campus! 

Finally, we know that as the academic year progresses, students may face a number of challenges, and I want to ensure that you are well-prepared with the available resources to support student’s health and well-being. If you find that students need health, wellness, or basic needs support, Retriever Support Services and Retriever Integrated Health are both important available resources. 

With that, we are ready! Let’s get excited, get ready, and create a vibrant and supportive learning environment where all UMBC students can thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Thank you for your partnership and your energy. If you have any questions, please contact me at studentaffairs@umbc.edu. 

In partnership, 

Hello Retrievers!

The summer has been quiet around campus, and the Division of Student Affairs staff and I are so excited to welcome you to campus in just a few short days. We have been working with our campus partners to plan a host of fun and engaging events to celebrate the start of the semester and to help you get connected on campus! 

As you prepare for the semester ahead, I want to be sure you are aware of several resources and opportunities:

Get involved! With over 200 student organizations on campus, you will have plenty of options. Be sure to drop by Involvement Fest on September 3 to meet student organization leaders, learn more about how to get involved, and grab some goodies along the way. If you are looking for ways to actively participate during the year, be sure to bookmark events.umbc.edu to stay up to date on programs and activities occurring across campus.

In addition to Involvement Fest, there are tons of events happening over the next several weeks as part of our Welcome, Retrievers program. Check out our Welcome, Retrievers myUMBC group to get up-to-date information. This is a great way to learn about resources and connect with other students—there is definitely something for everyone!

Stay healthy! We care about your health and well-being and want to ensure you are aware of the resources available to you. From massage therapy and acupuncture to health services and staying active in the Retriever Activities Center, you will find plenty of ways to stay healthy over the course of the year. If you require basic needs support or if at any point during the semester you are struggling socially or emotionally, Retriever Integrated Health offers counseling services that are free to you, and Retriever Support Services provides a number of resources for emotional support and basic needs. It is okay to ask for help, so please take advantage of the many resources available to you throughout the year. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you on campus, whether during Welcome, Retrievers events, at an athletic event, or just walking around in between classes! It’s going to be a great year! Go Dawgs!

Best,