The Chronicle of Higher Education has just named UMBC one of the nation’s top academic workplaces for the eighth year in a row. UMBC is one of 18 large universities from across United States to be recognized on the “Great Colleges to Work For” list, and one of just ten large universities to be featured on the distinguished “honor roll” for institutions that excel in nearly every measured category.

The Chronicle develops its list annually based on workplace policies and findings from a robust survey that asks faculty, staff, and administrators to rate their workplaces on a variety of factors. The publication’s 2017 survey received responses from more than 45,000 employees of 155 four-year and 77 two-year institutions nationwide (see methodology).

This is the sixth consecutive year that the Chronicle has featured UMBC on its prized “honor roll” list, thanks to UMBC’s high ratings in the following categories:

• Collaborative Governance
• Compensation & Benefits
• Confidence in Senior Leadership
• Facilities, Workspace & Security
• Job Satisfaction
• Professional/Career Development
• Respect and Appreciation
• Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship
• Teaching Environment (Faculty Only)
• Tenure Clarity & Process (Faculty Only/4-year Only)
• Work/Life Balance

This recognition affirms that “UMBC is a community that truly cares about people,” says President Freeman Hrabowski. He shared with the Chronicle:

Our faculty, staff, and students believe that excellence and inclusiveness can — and must — go hand in hand. That conviction forms the core of our teaching-and-learning philosophy and has made us one of the most innovative universities in the country. People know that they can take risks because even if they fail, this community will be supportive.

In other recent rankings news, both Forbes and Money magazines also just recognized UMBC as a “great investment” for students. 

Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Both Forbes and Money magazines have again recognized UMBC as one of the top value universities nationwide, providing one of the best investments that students and their families can make in higher education.

The Forbes 2017 Best Value College ranking assesses which schools “deliver the best bang for the tuition buck based on tuition costs, school quality, post-grad earnings, student debt and graduation success,” using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the PayScale salary database. Forbes ranks UMBC as one of the top 200 of all universities nationwide and one of the top 75 public U.S. universities in value.

UMBC’s Forbes profile highlights the university’s unique programs in game development, Asian studies, and naval science. It also notes UMBC’s strengths across a wide diversity of fields, from a major research partnership with NASA to the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture.

Money’s 2017 Best Colleges for Your Money ranking, released this week, evaluates 2,400 U.S. colleges and universities across 27 factors, and names UMBC one of the nation’s top 300.

Jeffrey Selingo writes in The Washington Post, “Money magazine was one of the first to use data on the employment outcomes of graduates, and its rankings remain among the best for students and parents to consider.” The measure assesses educational quality, affordability, and alumni success to identify schools that represent a “great investment.”

UMBC “is a young school, but it has built an impressive record since its founding in 1966,” Money’s profile of the university notes. It emphasizes, “UMBC prides itself on its diverse campus and student body.”

Like Forbes, Money highlights UMBC’s diverse array of academic offerings, including graduate programs in human-centered computing, atmospheric physics, and interdisciplinary language, literacy, and culture, and particularly popular undergraduate programs in biology, computer science, and the social sciences. It also highlights the bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park’s strengths in the life sciences, clean energy, and cybersecurity; over a dozen research and academic centers across technology, science, policy, and the arts; and a number of living-learning communities for students.

“Professors at UMBC are truly passionate about what they teach and make it a point to help the students understand each and every topic,” notes one student, in the Money profile. Another student calls academics “really where this school shines,” commenting that at UMBC “professors are absolutely great” and the “variety of courses here is unbelievable.”

One student comment focuses specifically on UMBC’s sense of community, sharing, “This school is very much like a cultural melting pot. There are so many different events/organizations to get involved with. This university is very academically focused, however it can also be a lot of fun.”

They also note, “The brightest students in the area come to this school, which is great because you can have meaningful dialogue with people here. […] It’s easy to network and make connections with people within the school, and companies/organizations in the area (we have a great reputation).”

UMBC is joined in Money’s top 300 by three other University System of Maryland schools: Towson University, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland, College Park.

The Washington Post has honored UMBC double-alumnus Sean Pang as its 2017 Teacher of the Year in recognition of the supportive connections he makes with Rockville High School students as an educator, tutor, coach, and mentor.

The honor is tremendously meaningful for both Pang and UMBC’s education programs, particularly following last year’s recognition of Shalonda Holt ’07, biological sciences, teaching certificate in education, as 2016 Washington Post Teacher of the Year.

Sean Pang ’09, English, M.A. ’11, education, has taught ninth-grade English, creative writing, TV production, and an academic intervention course since he began working at Rockville High School in 2011, but he didn’t always realize he had a passion for writing and language arts. Pang arrived in the United States from Hong Kong at age 6, and his love of English literature grew over time, particularly through his undergraduate years.

“UMBC was not only my home for six years during both my undergraduate and graduate pursuits, but I identify with this university as the place I found my calling,” says Pang. “As an undecided and nervous freshman, I had no clear line of sight for my career path. But, through my amazing teachers and mentors who inspired me to be my best on a daily basis, I soon realized the answer to my worries was always in front of me; I wanted to teach.”

In particular, Pang thanks his UMBC mentors Sally Shivnan, senior lecturer in English and associate director of writing and rhetoric, and Jim Thomas, lecturer in philosophy, for inspiring his teaching career and guiding him on that career path.

“The first thing I did when I heard about my award was to visit UMBC and personally thank my teachers,” Pang shares. “Among them, Sally Shivnan was a great spark of hope, as she encouraged me through my ups and downs as my undergraduate advisor. Jim Thomas is the teacher I still always want to be. His humor and ability to captivate my interest… He genuinely had fun while he taught and Jim pretty much sealed the deal for me.”

Pang’s award comes as no surprise to his professors. Says Shivnan:

Having taught Sean Pang in English classes starting in first-year composition and all the way through to his time as editor of our creative arts journal Bartleby, I can say I am not surprised to see him win this honor. His energy and commitment were always incredibly impressive…[and] the values that won him recognition as DC-area Teacher of the Year—passion, creativity, and caring—reflect UMBC values.

Cheryl North, clinical assistant professor of education and director of secondary English education, agrees. “We are proud of Sean but not surprised that others have recognized him as Teacher of the Year,” she says. She notes it was clear early on that Sean is someone “who was knowledgeable in English, student-centered, and a leader.”

Offering a glimpse into Pang’s classroom, the Washington Post describes the space as “always abuzz with students — at lunch, before school, after hours. Some gather for club meetings or come for help with schoolwork. Others just hang out or update Pang on their lives.”

This “buzz” of activity directly reflects Pang’s teaching philosophy: “to get involved in as many ways as you can.” He applies this advice to his students and himself — encouraging students to try new things to find their passions, and working to connect with students in a wide variety of ways. He also applies it to his own professional development as a teacher, building connections with colleagues whom he sees as mentors, and constantly working to improve and grow in new directions.

“This award showed me my work has been successful, but that I also have so much to learn,” Pang says. “This award will only strengthen my resolve to push myself to become even better.”

Ultimately, he sees being an educator as a path of continual growth, always working to find what way of teaching, what approach, will connect with a particular student. “Sometimes I succeed; sometimes I fail,” he told the Post. “When something clicks, oh my gosh, it’s like opening Christmas presents.”

Photos of Sean Pang by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Corey Carter ’08, biological sciences, ’10 M.A.T., has been selected as 2016 Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Teacher of the Year. The recognition was announced during an April 20th ceremony at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson.

Carter currently teaches science and co-founded the My Brother’s Keeper Mentoring program at Old Court Middle School in Pikesville. He previously taught for three years at Rayner Brown Elementary Middle School in Baltimore.

“Corey Carter sets a wonderful example of what teaching in Baltimore County looks like,” BCPS Superintendent Dallas Dance said in a news release announcing the award. “He concentrates on the whole child and fosters relationships with each and every student who comes through his door. Not only that, but he gives students the tools and confidence they need to be in charge of their own learning, and places an emphasis on critical thinking.”

“Every day, teachers must blend life lessons, content, assessments, feedback, and a sprinkling of high-fives all in pursuit of impacting a young life. But the true impact of educating others is as much about sharing knowledge as it is learning from them,” Carter said in the news release. “In fact, teaching has been most rewarding when showing others what they have taught me. My students push me to listen more, celebrate more, and to show them why I love what I do.”

At UMBC, Carter was a Sherman Scholar and is an active alumnus and member of the Sherman Program Alumni Advisory Board. As BCPS Teacher of the Year, he will compete for the honor of Maryland State Teacher of the Year.

“Corey’s journey is a wonderful example of why the support provided by the Sherman Scholars Program, both during a student’s time at UMBC and during their first few years teaching, is so important,” explained Rehana Shafi, director of the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program.

For more information, read “Baltimore County names Teacher of the Year” in The Baltimore Sun.

Earlier this month, Shalonda Holt ’07 biological sciences, teaching certificate in education, was named the 2016 Washington Post Teacher of the Year and Howard County Teacher of the Year.

Update: Carter was featured in an Education Post article on June 6, 2016. Read the full article “Here’s a Baltimore teacher who champions students inside and outside of the classroom.”  

The Washington Post has named UMBC alumna Shalonda Holt its 2016 Teacher of the Year. The recognition comes after Holt was named Howard County Teacher of the Year in February.

Holt ’07, biological sciences, teaching certificate in education, teaches biology at Centennial High School in Ellicott City, where she began her teaching career after graduating from UMBC.  A panel of experts, educators, and parents chose Holt out of 19 finalists from school systems in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. for The Washington Post Teacher of the Year honor.

A Post feature story published on April 7 describes Holt’s childhood, when she first developed a passion for education and learning: “She became a dedicated student inside the classroom and out, spending her weekend nights reading books while other kids looked for parties.” In describing her current teaching position, the article notes “her peers consider her a model educator and her students regard her as an ideal mentor.”

“Shalonda has such a powerful impact on her students and fellow teachers,” said HCPSS Superintendent Renee A. Foose in a Howard County Public School System press release announcing the recognition. “She is a dedicated educator who truly cares about her students and strives to improve the education experience. I am extremely proud of her and this accomplishment.”

In a Career Q&A on UMBC’s Alumni Blog, Holt discusses her innovative teaching methods and provides more background about why she decided to enter the education profession. Read more about her work in a Baltimore Sun article announcing her recognition as Howard County Teacher of the Year, and learn more about Holt in a Howard County Public School System “Staff Focus” video below.

Image: Shalonda Holt ’07, named 2016 Washington Post and Howard County Teacher of the Year. Photo by Nicholas Griner, Howard County Public School System.