The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is thrilled to announce that Dave Souder has been awarded the Fall 2025 DoIT Gritty Award! This recognition celebrates Dave's exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and continuous delivery of outstanding service in the face of rapidly evolving obstacles. 

Duty Beyond Campus 

Dave recently provided extraordinary support to the President's Office for a leadership retreat at a downtown hotel, aiding in a high-profile virtual meeting. The event brought together approximately a dozen senior university leaders, participating both in person and remotely, and required a flawless technical experience under less than ideal conditions.

Preparation for this event went far beyond standard support. Dave made multiple early-morning trips downtown, meeting with event organizers and hotel staff to scout out the facility, assess connectivity options, and determine the best combination of camera and audio equipment. The meeting space presented had significant limitations, containing only a TV and not having any wired internet connection available.

Excellence Under Pressure

Undeterred, Dave worked diligently to identify the most reliable wireless connection option, conducting multiple test calls with AV staff to ensure stability and performance. 

• He coordinated closely with the President's Office, DoIT staff responsible for laptop preparation, hotel administration, and hotel IT, successfully bringing together many moving parts into a single, seamless solution.

• Once the meeting was underway, access to the room was restricted to attendees only, as the information being discussed was confidential. Even so, Dave continued to monitor the event remotely using Webex Control Hub, verifying that the connection remained stable and that the meeting proceeded smoothly from start to finish.

• Less than 15 minutes after returning, Dave was already back out the door, immediately assisting users with another live Webex meeting. 

Dave's willingness to provide professional, high-quality service in a challenging environment, outside of normal working hours and location, demonstrates a level of dedication that embodies the spirit of the DoIT Gritty Award.

We are proud to recognize Dave for this work and commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Dave, and a huge thank you for going above and beyond!

About the DoIT Gritty Award

The Gritty Award is in recognition of outstanding work within the Division and beyond. Full-time DoIT employees, DoIT student employees, and teams are eligible to be nominated for going above and beyond! Anyone in DoIT can nominate someone for the Gritty by completing this short Gritty Nomination Form. 

The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee

Erica D'Eramo
Ada Crutchfield
Andrew Shebest
Anthony Finneran
Carlos McKinney
Daniel Loftus
Dave Souder
David Toothe
Debbie Michaels
Dondre Hatef
Josh Abrams
Khalil Alston
Matt Baker
Nick Beech
Peter Ariev

Follow Joshua's story as he shares how connections made at DoIT have shaped his career aspirations. Discover the impact of friendships and networking in his journey towards becoming a cybersecurity expert.

Check out Joshua Cheeks Digital Story here!

Joshua Cheeks, a senior computer science major at UMBC, exemplifies how university experiences, particularly his role at the Division of Information Technology (DoIT)'s AV department, can profoundly shape one's career trajectory and personal growth. For two years, his work at the AV department has allowed him to apply his academic knowledge practically while building meaningful connections with colleagues and superiors, which he cites as a significant positive influence on his life, extending beyond professional boundaries. He advises new employees to actively engage with their peers and supervisors, stressing the future benefits of these relationships forged in DoIT's friendly environment.

The Division of Information Technology community extends its warmest congratulations to the exceptional Class of December 2025! This winter commencement marks a monumental achievement for all graduating students, symbolizing years of rigorous academic effort, personal growth, and dedication. We celebrate the unique contributions and relentless commitment of every Retriever reaching this milestone. Your journey at UMBC has prepared you not only with knowledge but also with the resilience and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive in your next chapter, and we eagerly anticipate the great things you will accomplish as new alumni.

A special and heartfelt congratulations goes out to the graduating students who have served as invaluable employees within DoIT. These student employees have masterfully balanced challenging coursework with the essential, hands-on work of keeping our campus technology running smoothly, whether through the TSC, desktop support, AV, cybersecurity, networks or other critical teams. The real-world experience gained in DoIT has provided a powerful complement to your academic learning, turning theoretical knowledge into practical expertise. Thank you for your incredible service, professionalism, and dedication to the UMBC mission. We wish you all the very best as you transition from UMBC students and staff to global leaders and innovators!

Congratulations to our DoIT graduates!

Pamela Adegbite

Saiteja Benkannagari

Joshua Cheeks

Jervon Drakes

Eugene Ferguson

Prudhvi Reddy Koduru

Michael Marti

Courtney Pelkey

Dereck Roman Rosario

Congratulations to DoIT New Media Studio student employee, Eugene Ferguson! He will be graduating with his Bachelors degree in Information Systems Major on December 18, 2025. 
Check out his DoIT Digital Story!

Eugene Ferguson's story highlights the value of embracing an interdisciplinary approach, successfully blending media communications and information systems (IS). Eugene realized the importance of self-reflection and adaptability, leading him to pursue a media communications certificate alongside his IS degree. A pivotal moment was joining the UMBC New Media Studio as a student employee, where he gained invaluable, hands-on experience in broadcasting, from operating cameras under the basket to capturing close-up action. This real-world exposure, combined with a collaborative studio environment, fostered essential technical skills, networking connections, and an understanding of live production workflow, ultimately leading to professional opportunities, including a role with the Baltimore Ravens.

Eugene's journey emphasizes that career success stems from curiosity, versatility, and proactiveness. He advises future professionals to "try everything" in the multifaceted media industry, be inquisitive, and value teamwork, as collaborative environments accelerate growth. Aspiring to work at the intersection of IT and media, such as in networks and video production, Eugene embodies the necessary adaptability for a rapidly changing technological landscape. His experience confirms that the ability to bridge technical and creative functions is increasingly vital, positioning him and others with hybrid skills for high-demand roles across sports, news, and corporate media.

The UMBC Instructional Technology Update is provided by the Division of Information Technology for students, faculty and staff. If you have questions or need help, please consult the Blackboard Help FAQs or directly at www.umbc.edu/blackboard/help.  You can also contact the Technology Support Center at 410.455.3838 or submit an RT (Request Tracker) ticket via the myUMBC Help Menu or directly at my.umbc.edu/help.

HEADLINES

What's New

• Yuja Migration Delayed to Mid-January
• Blackboard News
• Blackboard courses created on Nov 21, 2025
• Blackboard to Launch New FAQs in mid-December
• Blackboard Revamps Course Navigation to Streamline Workflows by Jan 9
• Three Faculty Named 2025-26 UMBC LA Fellows
• Instructional Technology team earns the Job Well Done 2025 Award
• Congratulations to Dr. Josh Abrams! New Doctoral Research on Digital Accessibility Solutions

Digital Accessibility

• A Commitment to Inclusion: UMBC's Digital Accessibility Initiative
• UMBC Faculty receive course accessibility mini-grants from Kirwan Center
• The Three-Step Framework for Accessible Documents: Reduce, Remake, Remediate
• 5 Ways to Create "Born Accessible" Course Materials
• Free Digital Accessibility Workshops from Blackboard
• The Art of the Description: How to Write Alt Text for Everyone
• Make Your Course Media Accessible: Video Captions and Audio Descriptions Support Every Learner

Training & Professional Development (recording archive | view upcoming events)

• Improve Your Blackboard Course Accessibility Score with Ally(01.08)
• Digital Accessibility Winter Camp (01.09)
• What's New in Ultra Courses for Teaching & Learning SP2026(01.13)
• Ultra Essentials: Blackboard Content, Organization, and Accessibility (01.14)
• YuJa Video Production Lab (hands-on) (01.20)
• Ultra Essentials: Create Assessments in Blackboard Ultra (01.21)
• YuJa Video Production Lab (virtual) (01.22)

In Case You Missed It: Recordings & Tips

• YuJa Migration Videos
• Recording & Sharing
• Editing
• Course Prep Checklists
• Tips to Wrap Up Your Blackboard Course for the Semester
• Effective Practices for Delivering Blackboard Tests
• Tips to Get Your Blackboard Course Ready for Next Semester

Other DoIT & UMBC News

• Important Update: Legacy Travel System Pre-Approvals Ending December 12
• Sherman Hall's Phase 1 renovation is complete, creating space for creative collaboration
• Tech Boost: Major AV Upgrades Enhance Teaching & Learning
• Tips and Best Practices for Managing Your Cloud Storage
• Declutter Your Inbox: A Guide to Cleaning Up Your Email
• Graduating Students' Access to UMBC Cloud Storage Services
• Google Career Certificates Available to Help You Gain In-Demand Skills
• Security Updates:
• Don't Take the Bait! How to Spot a Phishing Scam
• Stop! A DUO Push You Didn't Initiate
• Congratulations to the 2025 DoIT Service Award Recipients

It's that time of the semester, you're finishing finals, wrapping things up, and getting ready for break – BUT WAIT! Before you go, you should clean up your cloud storage space so you will be set for when you come back. 

During the semester, you probably created and used a bunch of documents for your classes that probably won't see the light of day again. Now is a good time to assess whether those documents are worth keeping or trashing to make room for the documents you'll use next semester. 

Check your Google Storage

To see how much storage you're using, click here:

Check my Google Storage Usage

Here are some FAQs and Resources to help free up your cloud storage

Tips and Best Practices for Managing your Cloud Storage

Take Control of Your Google Drive: A Guide to Freeing Up Space

Declutter Your Inbox: A Guide to Cleaning Up Your Email

Cloud Storage Quotas & Changes - UMBC FAQs 

Dear UMBC Community,

This is a reminder that starting Friday, December 12, UMBC will disable the ability to create new Pre-Approvals in the Legacy Travel System. All new travel pre-approvals must be submitted in SAP Concur beginning on this date.

If you are planning travel after spring break, please begin using SAP Concur now. We expect to fully retire the Legacy Travel System before the end of the spring semester.

Need support?

SAP Concur offers 24/7 assistance, including live chat, phone support, and a robust Help & Learning Center—available anytime, anywhere. Business Services is also available during normal business hours for UMBC-specific questions.

Resources

Training sessions, guides, policies, FAQs, and other support materials are available at travel.umbc.edu.

Secondary Note: Business Services & Accounts Payable Holiday Deadline

As a reminder from Business Services & Accounts Payable:

To ensure timely processing before the State of Maryland's end-of-year closure, the following items must be submitted to Business Services with all required approvals by close of business on Thursday, December 12:

• Payment Requests

• Invoices

• Travel Reimbursements

• Working Fund Requests

Items received after December 12 will be processed in the new calendar year due to State holiday processing pauses.

Thank you for your attention to these deadlines and for your cooperation.

Warm regards,
UMBC Business Services

Original Travel Post