Update: Merit and Wage increases for AFSCME-Represented Employees

Dear UMBC Community,

On September 1, Governor Wes Moore and the University System of Maryland announced an agreement for FY27 to pay AFSCME-represented employees a 2.5 percent merit increase, retroactive to July 1, 2026, and a flat $500 wage increase, effective January 1, 2027. This is directly related to the consolidated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USM and AFSCME. 

We want to acknowledge the valuable and essential contributions of every member of our staff that enable UMBC to fulfill its vision and mission. We also want to acknowledge that compensation increases for some staff and not others can be disappointing for those not receiving the increase. 

As we have shared with the UMBC community, the FY27 budget does not currently contain any direct cuts to our institution following the budget cuts made in FY26, and we are maintaining a flat operating budget for FY27. These increases were not included in UMBC’s FY27 budget. We are working within USM guidance to address the cost in FY27 while also considering how these additional compensation costs can be supported on an ongoing basis. As we manage FY27 and plan for FY28 and beyond, we will continue our work to strengthen UMBC’s budget-planning approach to ensure that our resources are aligned with the university’s priorities and long-term financial sustainability.

We remain committed to supporting and recognizing our entire campus community and keeping you informed about financial matters that affect UMBC as we manage the university’s financial priorities. Thank you for all you do for our students and the UMBC community.

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Manfred van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Gamze Zeytinci
Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer