We write to invite you to join our fellow members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee as we host President Valerie Sheares Ashby for a conversation about the university’s strategic priorities. This is a key moment in our work to create the future we envision together for UMBC, and so we encourage you to join us, whether in person or virtually.

The event will be held at noon on Friday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Building. If you cannot attend in person, you may attend virtually. Please RSVP by clicking here by April 18.

At the event, President Sheares Ashby will share her thoughts on the high-level aspirations and directions that will frame the strategic plan—themes that reflect the input of the community during the Bold Conversations, input we received in last fall’s Core Values Survey, and input the steering committee is receiving as they engage with the community.

This conversation about our future closely follows another important university event that I hope you will attend, the April 23 session to hear your feedback on UMBC’s Middle States accreditation self-study. The self-study is an important part of the accreditation process, which reviews our progress and evolution as an academic institution. This review is an essential step in setting our course for the future.

We recognize there are many external factors at play that affect higher education and that policies and regulations are rapidly evolving. Those changes will not deter us from our mission or our vision for UMBC; in fact, this work is more urgent and valuable than ever, and we are eager to advance toward our shared goals for the university. We look forward to doing so in this special session with President Sheares Ashby on April 25. See you there!

Sincerely,