Dear UMBC Community,

UMBC remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where every voice is heard and valued. The campus climate shapes the lives of us all, and understanding our community's diverse experiences is crucial to ensure we are upholding our core value of inclusive excellence.

Last spring, our community took part in a Community, Engagement, and Belonging survey, led by the Division of Institutional Equity and its vice president, Tanyka Barber. We hope you will join us and the Rankin Climate team to hear results from the survey on Monday, February 9. The presentation will highlight what we are doing well and where challenges remain, helping us better understand the perceptions of our learning, living, and working environments related to sense of community, engagement, and empowerment across faculty, staff, and student bodies. The presentation is an important step in ensuring our university continues to be a place where all individuals feel supported and able to thrive.

Join in-person: Fine Arts Building Recital Hall, Room 118, 12 – 1 p.m.
Join online: Livestream available for the full campus community

Registration is required. 

This will be an opportunity to learn, reflect, and ensure your voice is part of our collective effort toward a more inclusive UMBC.

Best wishes,

Join Us at the Dialogue Symposium!

We are thrilled to invite you to the Dialogue Symposium: Bringing Campus and Communities Together, a unique space to explore how dialogue can deepen connection, foster inclusion, and shape the way we work together across campuses and communities. This event will feature interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, peer-led exchanges, and kick off with a dynamic keynote fishbowl conversation you won't want to miss. Register today!

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

We're honored to present a distinguished group of leaders whose work advances dialogue, inclusion, and community engagement:

• Dr. Felipe Filomeno — Professor of Political Science and Director of the Global Studies Program at UMBC. His interdisciplinary work on immigration, civic engagement, dialogue, and human development brings a global and community-centered lens to the conversation

• Dr. Bridget Turner-Kelly — Associate Professor in Student Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Turner-Kelly's expertise in student development and campus community building highlights how dialogue supports belonging and transformational learning.

• Rhonda Fitzgerald — Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, where she brings decades of leadership to efforts empowering campuses and communities to use sustained dialogue for conflict transformation and inclusive engagement.

• Dr. Brighid Dwyer — Vice Dean for Academic Excellence & Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences and Vice Chair of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center Board. Dr. Dwyer brings decades of leadership in higher education and intergroup dialogue, offering insight into structural and educational approaches to inclusive campus climates.

What Makes This Keynote Special?

Instead of a traditional panel, our keynote will be presented as a fishbowl conversation — a structured, participatory dialogue method in which a small group discusses key questions in the center while others observe and engage. This format allows for vibrant, inclusive exchange and reflects the very principles of active listening and shared meaning-making that dialogue advocates. 

Whether you're new to dialogue or an experienced practitioner, this conversation will offer rich insights into the benefits and challenges of dialogue as a campus and community approach, and create space for reflection, connection, and shared learning.

Don't Miss Out — Register Today!

Spaces are limited, and interest is growing. Whether you're an administrator, educator, student, facilitator, or community member, this symposium offers opportunities to build skills, connect with peers, and be part of shaping dialogue practice across our region.

Register now and be part of this engaging, thought-provoking event! Link to register: https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qT4mFIw7bWNZFY

We look forward to seeing you there — ready to listen, share, and learn together!

This January, the Division of Institutional Equity has the following lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here's how you can get involved!

Start by Believing: Supporting Disclosures of Sexual Violence
January 14 | 12 pm - 1 pm | Virtual

This is a virtual interactive workshop in collaboration with UMBC police. The workshop is designed for faculty and staff who may be the first person a survivor confides in. Participants will learn about the start by believing campaign, build confidence in responding to disclosures of sexual violence, and strengthen our trauma-informed, survivor-centered campus community. Please use this link to register for the workshop.

Accessibility Made Easy
January 6 - 27 | 11 am - 12 pm | Virtual

Faculty are invited to schedule one-on-one practical sessions with members of SDS throughout January for hands-on support to improve ally score from red to green. SDS members Tori Jakpa and Michael Canale would also provide support on accommodations, working with students with disabilities, and general digital accessibility concerns. Please use this link to schedule a session.

Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks, and Resources
January 28 | 12 pm - 1 pm | In-person

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill". Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/148914

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX 
January 12, 23 & 30 | Virtual

These virtual training sessions will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR),  what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. The training session will last for approximately 50 minutes, and the WebEx link will be sent to registrants within 24 hrs of the training time. Please use these links to register for a session: January 12, January 23, and January 30. 

SDS Open House
January 28 | 12:00 pm | Mathematics/Psychology: 222 | in-person

Faculty are invited to meet one-on-one with SDS staff members Tori Jakpa and Michael Canale for hands-on support to help move your Ally score from red to green. Sessions are practical, supportive, and designed to leave you feeling accomplished.

We're also happy to answer questions about:

• Accommodations

• Working with students with disabilities

• General digital accessibility concerns

Webex Details: 

• Dates: January 6–27
• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (daily)

Please use this link to schedule a session.

This December, the Division of Institutional Equity has a full lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here's how you can get involved!

Office of Accessibility and Disability Services
Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks, and Resources
December 8 | 12 pm - 1 pm | In-person

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill" on December 8th. Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! 

Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/147666

Office of Equity and Civil Rights
Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX 
December 5 | 12 pm - 12:50 pm | Virtual

This virtual training session will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR),  what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. 

Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/equityandinclusion/events/147959

Note: Employees must either complete the outlined series of asynchronous modules or attend a live "Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX" training session by March 1, 2026. Instructions for completing the asynchronous training modules can be found here. 

Mandatory Annual Title IX Student Training

UMBC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that is free from sex discrimination, including both sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. To help meet these goals, UMBC requires all students to complete an online educational program on topics including consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, and related topics. All students are required to complete this training at the start of each academic year. The online training can be accessed at UMBC's Vector Solutions login page. For questions, please see the Student Training FAQ page or email ecrtraining@umbc.edu.

Community and Culture Unit
December 9 | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Virtual
Inclusive Excellence in Action 

Join us for the culminating session of this fall's Inclusive Excellence in Action series– "Applying Student-focused Microaffirmation Tools and Practices to Foster Belonging and Inclusion". This session will introduce participants to the powerful practice of microaffirmations, small but meaningful acts of recognition, active listening, and positive feedback, that consciously counter microaggressions and reinforce student belonging. Link:https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/147644

Center for Social Justice and Dialogue
Become a Social Justice Dialogue Facilitation Fellow

CSJD is hiring for the spring 2026 semester; the position is open to undergraduates and graduates.  Find more information about the position here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/posts/154817

Women's, Gender, and Equity Center (WGEC) 
Self-Care Day!
December 10 | 10 am - 4 pm | The Commons: 329

Visit the WGEC to relax and de-stress before finals. Drop by to design a self-care goodie bag, color a bookmark, decorate a mini self-care notebook, or sip some hot tea.  Link for more information: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/womenscenter/events/148434

Discussion Group Meetings

Note: All programs, events, and opportunities are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and University nondiscrimination policies.

"Looking behind, I am filled with gratitude. 
Looking forward, I am filled with vision. 
Looking upwards, I am filled with strength. 
Looking within, I discover peace." - Quero Apache prayer

The DOIE staff are embracing a season of gratitude. We invite you to read the heartfelt expressions below from staff about what they value and join us in recognizing the many ways our campus community fosters belonging, connection, and inclusive excellence. Have a restful break!

________

"I am thankful to be a part of such a strong group of like-minded humans who have all been welcoming and kind. I am thankful to learn from each of you in different ways that inspire me to further educate myself and those around me, also inspiring me to be better each day."
Sunny Warden
she/her
Testing Manager

"health, friends, family (especially my nieces), meaningful work, fun hobbies, travel, a cozy home, my supportive partner"
Wendy Low
she/her
Coordinator, Center for Social Justice Dialogue

"the amazing people in my life"
Selena Benitez- Cuffee
she/her
Deputy Title IX Coordinator

"I am so thankful to work with amazing students, co-workers, and division leaders who care about and are invested in making the world a better and more loving, and just place."
Zoe Brown
she/her
Assistant Director of the WGEC 

"I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in the division of institutional equity, my supportive supervisors, and the learning opportunities this role provides"
Deborah Dada
she/her
Graduate Assistant, Community & Culture

"My supportive team members!"
Reilly Metzger
she/her
ECR Training and Prevention Manager

"I'm thankful for all of the intelligent, compassionate and hard-working individuals that joined the team in the last year!"
Caleb Adrian Ruck
he/him
Graduate Assistant, CSJD

"I am thankful for my colleagues and our incredible partners in the campus community who understand and support our mission of equal access to learning!"
Cassie Kilroy Thompson
she/her
Assistant Director, SDS

"I'm very thankful for the learning opportunities presented in my practicum placement and the engaging events we are able to host for students, faculty, and staff. I really enjoy how much student engagement is a priority and the intentionality around creating events."

Chloe Kastner
she/her
MSW Intern

"I'm thankful for a staff who shows up with heart, integrity, and commitment every day. Their passion for supporting students, faculty, and staff, and advancing equity, makes our work meaningful and reminds me why I love what we do."
Lauren Allen
She/Her/Hers 
Senior Director of the Women's, Gender, & Equity Center 

"This semester, the C&C team hired several new professional, graduate, and undergraduate staff. I have so much gratitude for the skills, experiences, passion, and joy they bring to our work."
Jasmine Lee
she/her
Associate Vice President for Community & Culture/Co-Director, Center for Social Justice Dialogue

Dear UMBC Community,

As we continue to rely on digital platforms for teaching, learning, and administrative functions, digital accessibility has been a core component of that commitment. UMBC has been dedicated to making our information technology and digital content accessible so that everyone has the opportunity to make use of the university's knowledge, ideas, and resources.

We are updating and expanding our digital accessibility initiatives to meet new federal requirements. On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), defining clear technical standards for digital accessibility to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A (minimum) and Level AA (enhanced) for images, sound, video, documents, and text. As content for courses, research, and the public is constantly created, this will be an ongoing effort requiring everyone to do their part for the benefit of others.

To support this ongoing effort, UMBC has launched the Digital Accessibility Steering Committee (DASC) led by vice presidents Tanyka Barber and Jack Suess. This group is charged with developing, tracking, and evolving our compliance efforts by focusing our resources on the efforts that can achieve the greatest impact.

The DASC has started meeting and will begin reaching out to campus departments and constituencies to communicate and seek feedback on our plans and efforts that are underway. This work affirms our university's deep and ongoing commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all our members. Together, we can use this effort to create a more accessible digital environment that truly works for all members of our community.

Additional digital accessibility information and resources are available on both the UMBC Digital Accessibility website and the USM Digital Accessibility website.

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

Jack Suess
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

To view the original post click this link: 
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/announcements/posts/154649

UMBC is one of just 10 universities nationwide to be invited to join the 2025-26 Advanced Campus Pluralism cohort, a collaboration between Interfaith America and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). UMBC has received $25K to create a strategic plan to develop practices that lead to deeper engagement across differences, and integrate practices into the university's work in inclusive excellence. It will include partnerships between the Divisions of Student Affairs and Institutional Equity, as well as the Provost's Office and Academic Affairs, with input from campus leadership and stakeholders.

"We are thrilled to be joining this cohort of public universities committed to engaging civic pluralism on their campuses," said Matt Hoffman, director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism in the Division of Student Affairs. "This grant will serve as a moment to intentionally pause and chart a course for how civic pluralism and the work of supporting religious and spiritual diversity can be a core part of UMBC's larger value of inclusive excellence. Through strategic partnerships, our planning team will be seeking out innovative ways to lift up the work already being done and seek outcomes that will impact our entire campus community."

Civic pluralism focuses on mutual dignity, shared responsibility, and principled engagement across lines of difference and emphasizes deep relational commitments to equity, belonging, and democratic coexistence. In the past few years, UMBC has expanded and invested in the shifting and growing needs of its campus religious and spiritual communities, building on an institutional commitment to inclusive excellence. The university is committed to creating spaces and resources for students with closely held religious and spiritual identities to find belonging on campus. 

UMBC's strategic plan will inform and guide how the university community will relate, learn, and build community across the diverse institution. Building a robust strategic plan for advancing pluralism on campus allows UMBC to continue to be responsive to the changing demographic needs of students, staff, and faculty as well as UMBC's historic commitment to "welcome and [inspire] inquisitive minds of all backgrounds." 

Dr. Jasmine Lee, associate vice president for community and culture and co-director of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue in UMBC's Division of Institutional Equity, said, "The beauty of this grant opportunity is that we get to receive funding to support work that is already happening on our campus. At UMBC, we are not new to civic pluralism - we call it inclusive excellence. The funding and principles driving the work of advancing civic pluralism through AACSU and Interfaith America are directly aligned with our vision of inclusive excellence at UMBC and will help us continue to bolster the meaningful work taking place."

UMBC will also use the grant funds to develop plans under three commitment areas: Capacity Building, Co-curricular Engagement, and Curricular Experiences. Staff who will be leading aspects of this work include Hoffman and Dr. Lee, with Dr. Renique Kersh, vice president for student affairs, as the executive sponsor.

Capacity Building will focus on updating a definition for inclusive excellence and how it incorporates and overlaps with civic pluralism; expanding the role of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism and creating a partnership with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, as well as building out the existing collaborations with the Center for Social Justice Dialogue and the institutionalization of restorative practices. Additionally, capacity building will focus on amplifying opportunities for faculty, staff, and students alike to develop and practice competencies and skills for dialoguing across difference, resolving conflict, and building bridges to collaborative solutions. 

Curriculum and Scholarships will focus on inventorying existing pluralism work on campus; creating a micro-credentialing and/or certificate program in civic pluralism; and developing opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to engage in transformative experiences and collaborations through existing or new programming.

Co-Curricular Engagement will focus on ongoing pluralism programming and student fellows, providing leadership opportunities, and reinforcing UMBC's commitment to pluralism beyond the classroom.

The grant will also fund The Dialogue Symposium: Bringing Colleges and Communities Together at UMBC on January 29, 2026. The symposium aims to highlight and strengthen dialogue practices that make campuses more connected, inclusive, and resilient. Grounded in the work of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center, this year's theme, "Dialogue as a Campus and Community Approach," explores how institutions and organizations can embed dialogic practices across curricular, co-curricular, and administrative spaces.