UMBC's Retriever Essentials and Parking Services are working together once again for our second Food for Fines campaign.
What is Food for Fines? A program created to collect food and toiletries for UMBC students facing food insecurity. The program runs from April 3-14 with a goal of helping as many students as possible.
How does it work? From April 3-14, simply bring in five or more items from the most needed items list (attached) and we will reduce one active citation to a warning (the citation must be $40 or less). Previously paid citations are not eligible. All donations must be made at the Parking Services offices from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by April 14.
Don't have any citations? We are happy to accept any and all donations. We just ask that your items be unopened and non-expired.
College is hard enough to manage without dealing with hunger. Your help can mean so much.
A little bit can help so many! Questions? Contact Parking Services at 410-455-2551 or email us at parking@umbc.edu
]]>Welcome to April and all the signs of Spring! With warmer days, members of our community spend more time outside and a vibrancy emerges along with the spring flowers. We are over halfway through the semester, with LOTS of great opportunities left to unite and learn together. April brings a focus on change, stress, and mindfulness.
April is Stress Awareness Month. Instead of one Wellness Wednesday session, we will be holding a session each Wednesday in April (10:30-12:00) for an exploration of Stress Awareness: causes & impacts, stress management, stress at work, and creating a stress management plan. Come for as many as you are able.
Spring brings changes and transitions to our physical environment that we can see all around us. Change in our professional and personal lives aren't always as welcomed and our feelings about change can add to our stress. In April and May we lean into change and our reactions to it with two book discussion groups. First, we have a group based on the book Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change, that is focused on "the human side of organizational change". This discussion is for managers and leaders and is led by Lynne Adams, CHRO, and Jill Wardell, Director of Workplace Learning, OD & Wellness. Second, we have a group based on the book Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond Fear of the Unknown and Making Change Work for You. This group is for anyone wanting to learn more about moving through uncertainty and welcoming change. This discussion group is led by Melody Wright and Monique Conelius of the Workplace Learning, OD & Wellness team.
Mindfulness is a great resource to combat stress and uncertainty. Attached is a flyer announcing Community Mindfulness for Mental Health; mindfulness opportunities throughout April and May on Tuesdays and Fridays. These sessions are presented by a partnership between Human Resources and Retriever Integrated Health and are open to anyone in our community (students, faculty, staff). Registration for each session is individual, so sign up for those sessions that fit your schedule.
Other highlights this month include: two sessions of Violence Prevention: Behaviors of Concern; PMP Training for Supervisors; Effective Delegation; and Unconscious Bias.
Save the Date:
HR WEEK is coming the week of May 8th! Join members of Human Resources for sessions throughout the week. Topics include: recruitment and retention; benefits; giving effective feedback; work-life balance; leading hybrid teams, payroll topics, and more! Everyone will also have the opportunity for a virtual meet and greet with all of the HR staff so you can put a face with the name.
Retriever Talks 2023 is coming in May! Save May 17th 10:00am-12:00pm with a reception following from 12:00-1:00. More info will be forthcoming.
Please share this information with all that we may be able to serve.
Happy Learning!
Jill Wardell, Monique Conelius, and Melody Wright
UMBC Workplace Learning, OD & Wellness
]]>Suicidal thoughts are more common than people realize, with suicide being the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide rates have also been on the rise since 2021 and student mental health needs have been steadily increasing. In order to support the campus community, Retriever Integrated Health is offering a new 1-hour training option for supporting our students who experience suicidal thoughts.
The Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training is an evidence-based program that will help you learn the signs that someone might be thinking about suicide, how to talk to them about their mental health, and how to refer them to a mental health professional to get help and support. With these skills, YOU have the power to help save a life.
You can join our virtual QPR sessions on Thursday, April 13 from 1:30-2:30 PM or Wednesday, May 10 from 3 - 4 PM by RSVPing on myUMBC. Please email Stephanie Will (swill1@umbc.edu), assistant director of outreach and mental health promotion, with any questions.
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