The Graduate Student Association is seeking graduate student representatives to serve on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee (GAAC) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The GAAC is responsible for providing a platform specifically for GA’s to voice their concerns. We strive to work productively and coordinate with administrators to maintain a positive work environment and bring about positive changes for graduate assistant students. 

We are looking for:

1 representative from CAHSS

1 representative from CNMS

1 representative from COEIT

📅 Position Start Date: Aug 20, 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will begin immediately. Positions will be filled on a first-qualified, first-served basis, so we encourage interested students to apply as soon as possible.

This is a great opportunity to:

• Gain leadership and service experience
• Contribute to graduate assistants' betterment 
• Work closely with the GSA to support your graduate student community
• Earn a stipend for your time.

If you're interested in serving on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee, submit your application today! (https://forms.gle/UXVtCcYR3UhieTDD7)

We look forward to welcoming our new GAAC members!

AOK Library has a trial subscription to Schlager Digital Library through September 21, 2026. 

Schlager Digital Library is a curated and annotated primary source collection that provides opportunity for curriculum integration and study across the following areas:

• American Studies
• Business and Economics
• Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies
• History & Historical Studies
• Philosophy
• Political Science & International Relations
• Religious Studies

Schlager Digital Library is included on our Database List and can be accessed using this direct link to the collection. If you use it, please provide feedback on your experience with our E-Resources Trial Feedback Survey. 

Are you a faculty member teaching a course and need to make materials available for your students? Did you know the library can scan, find, purchase, and link materials for you through Course Reserves? Course Reserves is available as a link on your Blackboard course. Look for “Library Reserves Home.” This link can be moved or added anywhere on your course via the Content Market.

Have you checked to see if your required course materials are available at the library? Articles, book chapters, and some ebooks and streaming media can be made available online within Blackboard (within copyright rules). Books, DVDs, and other physical materials can be held at the Check Out desk for the semester and made available to students for individual, short-term use. You may also temporarily lend us your own materials to scan or check out to students.

We strive to provide accessible materials through Course Reserves. We strongly encourage all instructors to consider accessibility when choosing course materials. Some things to consider:

• Are there born-digital versions available for your requested materials?
  • You can check OneSearch or reach out to your subject librarian for assistance.
• Are the scanned digital documents you are reserving accessible? Is there a born-digital alternative you could replace it with that’s more accessible? If not, we will do our best to remediate the file and rescan if needed.
• Can you ask the publisher for a more accessible version?
• If you’re using an ebook, how many users are allowed to simultaneously access it?

For more information, see the Library's Faculty Guide to Course Reserves. If you have any questions, please contact us at reserves-group@umbc.edu or 410-455-2234.

If you are looking for materials for personal use instead of for a course, please submit an Interlibrary Loan request or a purchase suggestion. For any questions, please contact illcm@umbc.edu.

Get ready to lock in and boost your research and writing skills! Join us during any of the following library workshops that are scheduled throughout the semester. From citation management and grad student resources, to tips on how to give your academic research poster the ultimate glow up, you’ll find the tools you need to succeed and ace your semester! 

Follow us on the AOK Library's myUMBC page for updates on registering and more info on our events!  

• Monday, August 31, 12pm–1pm: Library Services for Graduate Student Success

• Wednesday, September 2, 12pm–1pm: Navigating the UMBC Library: Resources and Support for International Students

• Tuesday, September 15, 4pm–5pm: How to Prepare a Social Science/Humanities Literature Review 

• Monday, September 21, 12pm–1pm: How to Write a STEM Literature Review (Introduction) 

• Tuesday, September 22, 4pm–5pm: Skills for Graduate Students: Technical Writing

• Monday, September 28, 12pm–1pm: Using Citation Management Tools for Your Research and Writing

• Monday, October 5, 12pm–1pm: Creating an Academic Research Poster Using Canva

• Thursday, October 8, 12pm–1pm: How to Write a STEM Literature Review (Advanced)

• Monday, October 19, 4pm–5pm: Navigating the Use of AI Tools in the Research Process

• Monday, October 21, 12pm–1pm: Skills for Graduate Students: Advanced Research Strategies

• Monday, October 26, 12pm–1pm: Creating an Academic Research Poster Using Google Slides

• Tuesday, November 10, 4pm–5pm: Skills for Graduate Students: Managing and Organizing Your Research 

These workshops are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University’s nondiscrimination policy.

Graduate Student Association (GSA) is excited to introduce a new Marketing Request Form designed to make it easier for graduate students, committees, departments, and campus partners to promote events, programs, and announcements across the UMBC community.

Whether you're hosting an event, sharing an opportunity, or looking to increase visibility for your initiative, GSA can help amplify your message through multiple communication channels.

What You Can Request

Through the Marketing Request Form, you can:

• Request a new myUMBC post
• Submit a myUMBC calendar event
• Request reposts of existing content
• Promote content through GSA social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, and X)
• Request flyer design assistance

Turnaround Times

To help ensure timely promotion, please keep the following timelines in mind:

• Reposts: Within 24 hours
• New myUMBC posts and calendar events: Within 48–72 hours
• Flyer design requests: May require an additional business day

Submitting complete information as early as possible helps us process your request efficiently and maximize visibility for your event or announcement.

Before You Submit

Please make sure key details—especially event locations, room reservations, and scheduling information—are finalized before submitting your request. Changes after promotional materials have been created may require rework and could delay publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to email GSA after submitting the form?
No. Once you submit the form, no follow-up email is required. A member of the GSA Communications team will reach out if additional information is needed.

Are turnaround times guaranteed?
We strive to meet the timelines listed above whenever possible. Please note that university holidays, campus closures, and official UMBC closures are not included in these estimates.

When should I submit a repost request?
For same-day event promotion, please submit repost requests at least one day before your event.

Can GSA attend and cover my event?
Yes. If you would like event coverage, photos, stories, or social media support, please include this request in the "Anything else you would like us to know? / Custom Requests" section of the form.

Submit Your Request

Use the GSA Marketing Request Form to get started and help us share your news with the UMBC graduate community.

Questions? Contact gsacommunications@umbc.edu.

Summer can be a great time to work on the skills that support your academic work. AOK Library’s spring workshop recordings are available for students who want to learn more about research strategies, writing, citation management, AI tools, and related topics.

We will not be offering live workshops this summer, but you can still access the recordings anytime.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@umbclibrary/videos 

Need one-on-one research help this summer? Make a research appointment with a subject librarian. 

All interviews have been conducted; candidates who did not hear from us will be considered for other open positions.

The Graduate Student Association is seeking graduate student representatives to serve on the Grants Review Panel (GRP) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The GRP is responsible for reviewing Professional Development grant and Research grant applications, helping ensure a fair, transparent, and timely allocation of GSA funding.

We are looking for:

• 2 representatives from CAHSS

• 2 representatives from CNMS

• 2 representatives from COEIT

📅 Position Start Date: July 27, 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will begin immediately. Positions will be filled on a first-qualified, first-served basis, so we encourage interested students to apply as soon as possible.

This is a great opportunity to:

• Gain leadership and service experience

• Contribute to graduate student funding decisions

• Work closely with the GSA to support your graduate student community

• Earn a stipend for your time.

If you're interested in serving on the Grants Review Panel, submit your application today!

We look forward to welcoming our new GRP members!

The Graduate Student Association (GSA), in collaboration with SABSC, is currently working to revamp the Professional Development and Research Grant processes to make them more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly for graduate students.

We're excited to introduce several improvements, including:

• A simpler, more intuitive application form

• Clearer and easier-to-understand grant cycles and timelines

• The ability to apply up to 180 days before your travel, allowing approved funding to be used more effectively for planning and booking

To implement these updates, grant applications will be temporarily paused during the month of August while the new system is put into place.

What this means for you:

Students who submitted applications during the current cycle (through July 15th and, as a one-time exception, through July 24th) will receive their decisions during the first week of August, following the normal review timeline.

No new grant applications will be accepted during August, and there will be no September decision cycle, as we transition to the new process.

Applications will reopen on September 1 using the updated system.

We appreciate your patience as we make these improvements. Our goal is to create a grant process that is easier to navigate, more predictable, and better supports graduate students in planning their professional development and research activities.

Stay tuned for additional announcements with the new application form, updated guidelines, and grant cycle information. We can't wait to share these improvements with you!

Questions? Email gsagrants@umbc.edu

The UMBC Career Center is looking for CAHSS and CNMS graduate students to provide feedback on the Career Center website.

The goal is to ensure the website’s content and user experience are tailored to the unique needs of graduate students. The Career Center is hosting in-person focus groups on the Catonsville campus to gather your input on usability and resources.

Focus Group Details:

• When: To be announced, seats going fast, sign up!

• CNMS : 7/22 2:30 pm

• Time Commitment: 60–90 minutes

• Where: In-person.

• Perks: Food and beverages will be provided, and all participants will be entered into a raffle for a $75 UMBC Bookstore gift card!

If you are a graduate student in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) or the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), we want to hear from you.

Sign up here!

If you have any questions about this project, please reach out to kelseyj2@umbc.edu or Dr. Rowena Winkler at rbwinkler@umbc.edu.

Sincerely,

UMBC Career Center

GSA is sharing this announcement on behalf of the UMBC Career Center

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has opened a second round of nominations to fill vacant Senator positions for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year. This is an opportunity to advocate for your peers, participate in university-wide committees, and strengthen the graduate student voice at UMBC.

Open Positions

• Student Affairs Senator

• CAHSS Senator (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences)

• CNMS Senator (College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences)

Role Responsibilities: GSA Senators represent graduate student concerns, communicate GSA updates, participate in Senate meetings, and contribute to university committees and graduate student initiatives.

How to Nominate: You may nominate yourself or another eligible graduate student. All nominees will be contacted to confirm their interest and eligibility before the election.

• Nomination Deadline: Friday, August 7, 2026

• Submit a Nomination: GSA Nomination Form