Recruiting McNair Scholars!

The McNair Scholars Program focuses on the preparation of undergraduate students (who qualify as either low-income/first-generation college students or members of groups underrepresented in graduate education) to pursue doctoral degrees.

The program offers a number of benefits, such as summer and academic year research funding, assistance connecting with faculty research mentors, hands-on guidance and navigation through the graduate school application process, first-hand exposure to individuals who have earned Ph.D.’s in their field of study, and the opportunity to attend research conferences (fully funded).

Note: Rising Seniors & Rising Juniors must have had research experience and one of their recommendations must be from a faculty member (not necessarily from UMBC) who mentored them in their research experience. 

McNair Open Houses/Informational

For any students interested in the UMBC McNair Scholars Program, attend one of the open houses on Nov 18th, Dec 4th, January 29th, 12 pm - 1 pm, Sondheim 101. Missed the event(s)? Please reach out to staff mcnairs@umbc.edu to set up a 1on1 meeting.  Sign up now on the Interest Form to receive updates (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2Mj0Bd9kiunv_S7i-ERwd3x8YoNTxqdQIfCngPzcol3Rtxg/viewform)

Become a McNair Mentor or Faculty Research Mentor

UMBC faculty and staff are invited to mentor a McNair Scholar. There are two options: McNair Mentor and McNair Research Mentor. For details, please read the attached Mentor Informational for McNair Scholars Program, open to UMBC faculty and staff who have a graduate degree. To apply to be a mentor, please complete the form at www.tinyurl.com/mentorsumbcmcnair.

For more info, review the attachments and the website link below:

The Basics

The Choice Program's AmeriCorps Member position is a one-year, paid, service-learning opportunity through UMBC's The Choice Program and The Shriver Center. Our AmeriCorps Members serve as advocates and work to connect families to self-identified, needed resources and reinforce a strengths-based, anti-racist, approach to youth development.

The Choice Program’s guiding principle is anti-racism, which we uphold through our accountability to the following values: 1) being youth-centered, 2) dismantling hierarchies, 3) practicing holistic development, and 4) believing in humanity. AmeriCorps Members collaborate on teams that serve youth through individualized, strengths-based services and focus on restorative practices.

Choice has served Maryland’s youth for over 30 years and currently has several exciting service opportunities based in the Greater Baltimore area, Prince George's County, Howard County, and Montgomery County.

What You’d Do

Serving within a team model, AmeriCorps members share case management responsibilities for program youth, including welcoming them into the program through intake meetings, helping them to set goals for their time with Choice, checking in with them along the way through service plans, connecting them with community resources, and offering classroom and/or legal support. You’ll make meaningful connections with the young people you serve, offering informal counseling/mentoring on recreational outings, community service activities, arts programming, home visits and beyond.

To us, youth development means: being available to our youth consistently, often making visits to meet with them on a daily basis; using a strengths-based approach to promote positive self-image; using a holistic approach to honor every aspect of a person’s life; developing high expectations and holding youth accountable to their own progress on goals; forming a mentoring relationship that is built on trust and rapport; engaging with families and assisting as a communication link; fostering self-sufficiency by building life-skills; providing opportunities for meaningful engagement through structured after-school, weekend and summer activities.

Service is completed collaboratively at Choice, from case management of youth to organizational decision making. In addition to day-to-day case management responsibilities, you’ll participate in cooperative projects, team-based decision making, and organizational committees.

Due to the nature of the workflow and youth needs, AmeriCorps members must be flexible with their schedules. Members should expect some weeks to include serving hours beyond a 40-hour week.position is a one-year, paid, service-learning opportunity through UMBC's The Choice Program and The Shriver Center. Our AmeriCorps Members serve as advocates and work to connect families to self-identified, needed resources and reinforce a strengths-based, anti-racist, approach to youth development.

The Choice Program’s guiding principle is anti-racism, which we uphold through our accountability to the following values: 1) being youth-centered, 2) dismantling hierarchies, 3) practicing holistic development, and 4) believing in humanity. AmeriCorps Members collaborate on teams that serve youth through individualized, strengths-based services and focus on restorative practices.

Choice has served Maryland’s youth for over 30 years and currently has several exciting service opportunities based in the Greater Baltimore area, Prince George's County, Howard County, and Montgomery County.  

For more info, and/or how to apply, go to:

The Global Studies Program is offering a unique opportunity for the spring 2020 semester!  Dr. Christopher Brown, our new GLBL faculty member, will lead a small group, independent study research opportunity for GLBL majors. Students can enrol in his GLBL 401-04 (by instructor permission) and bring to it a research topic on which you are already working or an idea that you would like to jumpstart over the course of the semester. He will work with registered students in small group settings and also provide one-on-one mentorship. 

This is an excellent way to get on track for an Undergraduate Research and Presentation Day (URCAD) presentation for either this spring or one in the future.  We have found that our majors who participate in URCAD have greater success with internships during and after college and with the post-graduate job search.  UMBC is known for undergraduate research and GLBL majors should graduate with a credential in this area on their resume.  Students interested in research and graduate school are highly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity!

Students can enroll for 1 to 3 credits for the semester.  Please be in touch with Dr. Brown (cmbrown@umbc.edu) if you would like to request additional information or permission to register for this class.

The Samson, Rosetta A., and Saddie Feldman Award   $700

Again, only COMPLETE applications will be accepted until February 17th!