A Message from Chancellor Perman on the UMBC Transition
August 26, 2021
To the UMBC Community:
As you know, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski yesterday announced his intention to retire following the 2021–22 academic year. As you also know, it’s impossible to overstate Dr. Hrabowski’s influence on UMBC and on you—its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Over an incredible 34 years at UMBC—30 of them as president—Dr. Hrabowski has led your university to national and international acclaim. UMBC is widely considered one of the country’s most innovative universities and is consistently ranked among the top colleges nationwide for undergraduate teaching. Your six-year graduation rate has climbed nearly 14 points in only a decade. Just this year, UMBC was asked to join the University Innovation Alliance, whose 11 select member institutions are dedicated to increasing the number and diversity of U.S. college graduates.
In fact, it’s UMBC’s commitment to the achievement of every student, and its work in cultivating a diverse corps of scholars and leaders, that has marked your university as one of the most respected (and emulated) pioneers in American higher education. Among baccalaureate institutions, UMBC is the nation’s top producer of Black graduates who go on to earn a PhD in the natural sciences and engineering; the top producer of Black students who earn an MD/PhD degree; the top producer of Black students who earn doctorates in math, computer science, and the life sciences. That success has its roots in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which has set the standard for preparing underrepresented students for advanced STEM degrees, and whose principles have been applied to disciplines across academia.
Under Dr. Hrabowski’s leadership, the university’s R&D expenditures have grown more than eightfold to $84 million annually, ranking UMBC among the country’s top 100 public universities in federal research funding. Your graduate programs in public policy, psychology, statistics, physics, computer science, chemistry, fine arts, and more are regarded as some of the nation’s best.
And the Community Engagement Classification you earned from the Carnegie Foundation proves your fidelity—your devotion—to your public purpose: It marks you as an institution that invests its time, assets, and expertise in strengthening communities and dismantling the barriers to opportunity that have calcified over time.
Of course, Dr. Hrabowski is central to these successes. With three decades of leadership at UMBC, his name is virtually synonymous with the university’s. And he has long been a fixture on the national stage, talking about UMBC’s culture of inclusive excellence, sharing what the university and its students have achieved, and showing fellow leaders how to replicate your success.
And yet in The Empowered University, Dr. Hrabowski writes that it isn’t about him; it’s about “us”—it’s about what’s possible when students, faculty, staff, and administrators work together to continually improve an organization’s culture, climate, and outcomes, and sustain a tradition of achievement. This commitment to collaborative leadership is every bit as important to the university’s story as Dr. Hrabowski is. His legacy—for UMBC, for the University System, for Maryland as a whole—is the people who will continue his pioneering work and hold fast to his conviction that “success is never final.”
The USM Board of Regents will soon launch a
national search for UMBC’s next president.
Regent Michelle Gourdine will chair the UMBC President Search and Screening Committee, and the committee itself will reflect the UMBC community, with representation among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and university stakeholders. National executive search firm
Isaacson Miller will facilitate the work of the committee, whose members will screen and interview presidential candidates and submit for the Board of Regents’ consideration a short list of those best-suited for the job.
It’s deeply gratifying to me that UMBC has such a strong culture of collaborative leadership and is so deeply dedicated to shared governance. To honor that commitment, I’ll host a town hall on campus, open to everyone, on Friday, Sept. 17, so that I can hear the kind of background and experience—the character, qualities, and perspectives—that you want in your next leader. More information on the town hall will come soon. In addition to the town hall, I plan to meet with leaders of the Student Government Association, Graduate Student Association, Faculty Senate, Professional Staff Senate, Nonexempt Staff Senate, and the President's Council.
You are welcome to nominate individuals to serve on the search committee by emailing
umbc-presidential-search@usmd.edu. Please include the name, university affiliation, and email address of suggested search committee members. The nomination deadline is
Monday, Sept. 20.
You may also engage the search committee once it’s been appointed. Use this
link to nominate an outstanding individual you’d like to be considered as UMBC’s next leader, as well as take a short
survey to provide input on what you believe should be the leadership qualities and priorities of the incoming president.
Without question, it will be difficult to say goodbye to President Hrabowski, difficult to replace him. His commitment and compassion, his national stature, his unique ability to inspire and to inspire excellence—all have earned him influence that’s deeply felt. But I look forward to working with Regent Gourdine, with the search committee, and, of course, with the UMBC community to install a president as devoted to the university as Freeman Hrabowski, as dedicated to its mission and its people, and as capable of leading UMBC to even greater prominence.
Sincerely,
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To the UMBC Community: As you know, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski yesterday announced his intention to retire following the 2021–22 academic year. As you also know, it’s impossible to...
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Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:42:48 -0400
Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:43:49 -0400
UMBC Remembers 9/11
Dear UMBC Community,
This Saturday will mark the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We encourage all in our community to find a way to observe this anniversary, with an emphasis on reflection, learning, and connection. We also remember our community member Angela Houtz ’96, who was lost at the Pentagon.
We hope you will join University leadership for a virtual event, Pivotal Moments: Memories of UMBC’s Response to 9/11, at noon on September 9. Faculty, staff, and alumni who were at UMBC in 2001 will share memories of how our community pulled together and responded in the days and weeks following the attacks. These recollections will help us reflect on the lasting legacy of September 11, 2001, and how it changed our community and our nation. This event is being hosted by UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life, in partnership with Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b), Off-Campus Student Services, and the Wisdom Institute.
UMBC will also observe the occasion on Friday, September 10, with a flag ceremony and moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. and available reflection space in the Fireside Lounge. More information is available here. As you practice self-care, remember that students in need of emotional support can contact Retriever Integrated Health/Counseling Center at (410) 455-2472 on weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or the after-hours support line at (410) 455-3230. Faculty and staff can access support through the Employee Assistance Program.
We encourage you to find a moment on September 11 to honor the lives lost on that day and the importance of community, connectedness, and difficult dialogues. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers a variety of resources for reflection and further learning.
President Freeman Hrabowski
Provost Philip Rous
Mehrshad Devin, President, Student Government Association
Orianne Smith, President, Faculty Senate
Joel Tyson, President, Graduate Student Association
Melody Wright, M.A. '21, President, Non-Exempt Staff Senate
Jess Wyatt, President, Professional Staff Senate
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Dear UMBC Community, This Saturday will mark the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We encourage all in our community to find a way to observe this anniversary,...
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Wed, 08 Sep 2021 10:39:58 -0400
Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:26:11 -0400
Classroom Safety Updates for Fall 2021
A message to faculty
Dear Colleagues,
Next week many of us will be returning to campus to teach for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. It will be wonderful to reconnect with our students and the other members of our UMBC community even as we learn to navigate the safety precautions and protocols that have been put in place to keep us all healthy and safe.
Below are some guidelines to help us prepare for this significant transition back to in-person instruction.
Classroom Safety
Face coverings or masks are required to be worn in buildings. If you are alone in your office you may remove your mask, but you must wear a mask when you are indoors around other people. Masks are not required outdoors unless you are participating in an activity or event that requires them. More information on UMBC’s masking protocol and how to handle compliance issues in the classroom is available here.
There are three locations available for people who come to campus and need a mask: the check-in desk at the RAC, the Library circulation desk, and the campus information desk in Commons.
In addition, Facilities Management distributed one thousand masks to each college. Faculty and students in COEIT and CNMS can pick up masks from their departments’ main offices. Faculty in CAHSS should ask their department Administrative Assistants or their Chairs about where to pick up masks. Masks may also be picked up in the ESAS Dean's Office.
Suggested Language for Syllabi on Safety Protocols and Compliance
Faculty teaching in-person classes or hybrid classes with an in-person component should consider including the following language in their syllabi in addition to any specific expectations they have with regard to the management of their classrooms:
“UMBC has set clear expectations for masking while on campus that include the requirement that you must wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth in all classrooms regardless of your vaccination status. This is to protect your health and safety as well as the health and safety of your classmates, instructor, and the university community. Anyone attending class without a mask or wearing one improperly will be asked by the instructor to put on a mask or fix their mask in the appropriate position. Any student that refuses to comply with this directive will be asked to leave the classroom immediately and failure to do so will result in the instructor requesting the assistance of the University Police. Students who refuse to wear masks may be referred to Student Conduct and Community Standards and may face disciplinary action for violations of the Code of Student Conduct, specifically, Rule 2: Behavior Which Jeopardizes the Health or Safety of Self or Others and Rule 16: Failure to Comply with the Request of a University Official. UMBC’s on-campus safety protocols, including masking requirements, are subject to change in response to the evolving situation with Covid-19.”
Covid-related Classroom Absences
Class absences may take the form of not attending an in-person class or a scheduled synchronous online class; or not participating in online class activities (synchronous or asynchronous). Students who are absent from class due to COVID-19-related situations are expected to communicate directly with the course instructor. Students should submit notification of the absence in writing to their instructor either prior to the absence or as soon afterwards as possible. If the COVID-19 related absence coincides with graded work (e.g., homework, in-class activities, quizzes, presentations, activities, etc.), students should work with the instructor to arrange for an academic accommodation.
It is important to affirm that class absences, COVID-19-related or not, do not alter the academic requirements of any course and students remain responsible for information and material missed during the absence. Additionally, COVID-19-related absences are not considered a “disability” and as such do not require that students seek accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services.
More information on Covid-related Classroom absences is available here.
Classroom Management
Since physical distancing is a key campus safety measure, classrooms have capacities that limit attendance to allow for distancing. The occupancy limit will be posted outside the classroom. Instructors may distribute students within the classroom or rearrange the furniture for pedagogical purposes as long as occupants can maintain a minimum of three feet of physical distancing. If furniture is moved it should be returned to its original location for the next class. Additional information on UMBC’s guidance on physical distancing is available here.
Cleaning supplies will be available in each classroom. These supplies include disinfecting wipes or spray bottles with paper towels. The wipe dispensers have stickers on them with the work control number for Facilities Management so that faculty can call if there is any problem with the dispensers. They will also be checked on a daily basis. Instructors should encourage students to wipe down their seats and work surfaces before the class begins. If there are concerns about chemical sensitivity to the classroom cleaning materials, please reach out to the Office of Environmental Safety and Health.
Classroom windows should not be opened as this has the potential to disrupt the operation of the building HVAC system.
Additional information on classroom safety can be found here.
Technology Resources
The Division of Information Technology has upgraded classrooms and has added a variety of mobile carts specifically designed to support synchronous lecture capture. More information about these upgrades, including the conversion of the University Center (UC) Ballroom into a hub for 25 large-enrollment lecture courses, and the new technology resources for faculty is available here.
Class Modality
Students who are enrolled in in-person and/or hybrid classes with an in-person component were informed prior to registering that they are expected to attend on-campus sessions in person.
On-Campus Study Spaces
- Sondheim 2nd floor: rooms 203-209 (160 seats)
- Engineering: rooms 104-104a; 333, 336, first and second floor atriums (150 seats)
- Library: The Retriever Learning Center and floors 2-7 have 450 seats, including study spaces.
Continuity of Classroom Instruction
Instructors teaching in-person classes this semester should have a plan in place to ensure continuity of classroom instruction if they or a dependent test positive for Covid-19 or must quarantine because of exposure to someone with Covid-19.
Wellbeing and Mental Health
The University recognizes that this has been an incredibly difficult time for us and our students. UMBC’s Counseling Center has compiled a list of resources that may be useful in helping us work with students who are experiencing anxiety or depression as well as those who may have lost a loved one to covid. You should also review the UMBC Faculty and Staff Guide for Helping a Person in Distress.
Supporting Students with Disabilities
Faculty will receive a letter from Student Disability Services (SDS) if an accommodation is required for a student to have equal access in their course due to a disability. If a student is seeking classroom accommodations due to the impact of a documented disability, please refer them to SDS for an intake discussion (sds.umbc.edu).
These guidelines may change to reflect the evolving situation with Covid-19. The University follows the guidance of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local government officials and the University System of Maryland.
Thank you for your commitment to UMBC, our mission, and your students. We look forward to seeing you this semester.
Philip Rous, Provost
Orianne Smith, Faculty Senate President
The COVID-19 Academic Coordinating and Planning Committee
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Dear Colleagues, Next week many of us will be returning to campus to teach for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. It will be wonderful to reconnect with our students and the...
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