Dear UMBC Community,

As we return from Spring Break, I want to thank the many members of our community who helped welcome the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) evaluation team earlier this month. It was a busy few days of conversations for the visitors, who hosted open sessions with faculty and staff and met with students and many others across campus as part of the extensive process to reaffirm the university’s accreditation.

While we will receive a final report later this spring, I am happy to share that the visit went very well. In their conversations across the university, the team experienced what so many of us see every day: the clarity of our vision, the excellence of our work, our commitment to inclusive excellence, and our shared dedication to student success and to advancing knowledge through research. It was equally as helpful to hear the areas where we can continue to grow and improve, and we look forward to that work together.

One part of the visit that brought me particular pride was the time the visitors spent with our students. They showed up exactly as they are—thoughtful, authentic, kind, curious, and engaged—and they represented themselves and UMBC so well.

Finally, I would like to recognize and thank the members of our Self-Study Steering Committee and its co-chairs, Associate Vice Provost Connie Pierson ’90, M.A. ’92, Professor Orianne Smith, and Provost Manfred van Dulmen, as well as the members of the core team and the many colleagues whose leadership and preparation made the visit a success.

Sincerely,