As the semester begins, know that we are here for you - all our students, faculty, and staff - during this challenging time. 
In this first of a series of updates, we’ll give a brief description of what Salesforce is, provide an overview of UMBC’s goals for the project, and summarize what we’re currently working on and what’s next.
Salesforce is a market-leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform. Companies and nonprofits use CRMs to advertise and build relationships with, and track the contact they have with, their customers and patrons. In higher education, Salesforce is used to support recruitment, admissions, student success, and alumni relations.
UMBC has started an exciting, large, multi-year project to use Salesforce to help us in all of those areas. In the first phase, we’re customizing and implementing the portion of the platform that helps with the recruitment of both undergraduate and graduate students using the Marketing Cloud component. Marketing Cloud helps us provide potential students with a better, customized, experience and uses new digital marketing campaigns to show the value of a UMBC education. It helps admissions staff identify who our potential students are and what information might be of most use to them.
We’ve just finished mapping out the different processes we use to recruit and admit students so that we can improve and automate them in Salesforce and the Marketing Cloud. Our Admissions, Digital Marketing, and SA Teams have been hard at work in support of the project. The next step involves customizing Salesforce for UMBC.
We’re projecting a “go-live” date for the first phase in the Spring of 2021. Go-live includes demonstrating the platform and training our staff to get the greatest return on our investment and better serve our prospective students and families.
Salesforce is an exciting and important part of UMBC’s Strategic Plan and Strategic Enrollment Plan. We’re delighted to let you know about it, and that it’s proceeding on schedule.
Robert Carpenter
Deputy CIO, Division of Information Technology
Associate Provost, Division of Academic Affairs
]]>A message from our colleagues at the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Original post here.
Balancing Inclusion and Free Speech
Wednesday, January 27
4pm, via Webex
What is our role in protecting free speech as a public university?
What should I do if I see or hear content that does not align with my values?
What is the difference between free speech and hate speech?
Is hate speech protected?
Can I be disciplined for my speech online? What about in a classroom?
Help us start a community discussion about the challenges of balancing our shared commitments to free speech and equity and inclusion.
Please share your thoughts and questions when you register for the event.
Dear Student Leaders,
As you know, Monday, January 18, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is not only intended to commemorate the accomplishments of a national hero but also to mark a day of service. MLK Day is a day to connect to our communities and to give back.
It would be hard to imagine a more challenging and difficult moment in our history. We are taking this opportunity to offer some ways you might honor Dr. King’s memory and legacy.
Reviewing and/or participating in Americans of Conscience activities
Social Justice Volunteer Opportunities in the area
Joining the Inauguration Day of Dialogue
We stand at a most critical and significant moment in American history. What we do, what we say, what we think and believe matters. It is particularly appropriate for all of us to appreciate and reflect on the best role models our American history has to offer.
Congressional Innovation Scholars is recruiting now! This program places technologically oriented graduate students (graduating with a Masters or PhD by June 2021, or done with their graduate coursework by June 2021) to serve as tech policy advisors to top Members of Congress (including offices like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.)
Work with Members of Congress and Congressional Committees in order to build capacity in Congress, train cross-sector leaders -- who can understand the challenges of government and in the technology community -- and keep Congress up to date about the latest challenges and opportunities relating to technology.
The program pays a $60,000-annual equivalent stipend and fellows have done impactful work like:
They're recruiting through 2/5/21 and here's the details about the program. There's also an upcoming informational call about the program on Jan 27.
The National Day of Racial Healing is on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. This annual observance was first introduced by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on January 17, 2017 and has been celebrated every year since. The goal of the day is to promote racial healing and equity through collective action. To learn more click HERE.
As a Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center, we are honoring the day by welcoming you to join our letter writing campaign regarding the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Congressional Resolution, also known as S. Con. Res. 50. Introduced by Senator Cory Booker, this concurrent resolution calls for the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT).
Through our letter writing campaign, we encourage you to voice your thoughts on the TRHT resolution by writing letters to your senators. During the first hour of the event, you will have the chance to learn more about the resolution as well as the TRHT work that is happening on campus and in the surrounding community. The last 30 minutes will be an optional space for you to work through the thoughts and experiences that you would like to include in your letter with the facilitators.
Event details:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 @ 12:30-2pm on Webex
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
Update on Library Services for Spring 2021
Updated 1/12/2021
The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery will provide virtual and contactless services for the Spring 2021 semester. The Library and Gallery building will remain closed to users to ensure the safety of our staff and community.
We will continue to offer the following services and resources for our users:
Virtual research appointments and “Ask a Librarian” chat service with our Subject Librarians and Archivists.
Virtual information literacy and library instruction sessions and research workshops. Please contact a Subject Librarian to discuss your instructional goals and options for how to reach them. Use the Instruction Request Form to schedule a session for your class, or request a Special Collections Instruction session.
A robust collection of electronic resources, including ebooks, databases, journals, research guides, and more, all available from your device. Get started with this guide.
Purchasing additional electronic books and streaming media. Contact your Subject Librarian or send a request directly to libraryacq@umbc.edu.
Providing electronic Course Reserves, with scans of book chapters, journal articles, and archival materials from UMBC Library collections. Visit this page for information on how to submit your requests via Blackboard.
Scanning of book chapters, journal articles, and archival materials from UMBC library collections, as well as purchasing individual journal articles, all for electronic delivery. Submit your request via Interlibrary Loan. Chapter and article delivery from partner libraries may vary as conditions change.
Contactless checkout and return of books and media, including physical library materials from UMBC and, to as great an extent as possible, from our library partners in the University of Maryland System. Learn more about how to place a request or view a map of book return bin locations on campus.
Interlibrary borrowing for books and media from partners outside of USM will continue and/or resume as conditions permit.
Contactless checkout and return of digital media equipment, laptops, and accessories. Details available at the main curbside pickup page.
We’ve added a Virtual Study Room where you can work alongside fellow Retrievers for a focused study environment
For up to date information on our services and resources, consult the Library & Gallery website or our myUMBC page.
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