New Way for Students to Indicate Chosen Name, Pronouns
Dear UMBC Community,
The UMBC Office of Equity and Inclusion is pleased to announce the implementation of a new self-service pathway for students to update their chosen name, pronouns, and gender identity in University systems. Students can now log into their myUMBC profile and update this information. This process is optional and voluntary. Students can also choose to share their identification as a member of the LGBTQ+ community for the purposes of support and outreach. 
Students’ chosen names are already provided to faculty and staff through University systems, such as PeopleSoft and myUMBC. In January 2021, students’ pronoun and gender identity information provided through this process will also be made available in the same way. 
The self-service process builds on prior work enabling students to indicate their chosen name in University systems, and we hope that it makes updating names and pronouns faster and easier for students. More detail on how to update your information is available on the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) website.
OEI is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University’s core values of inclusive excellence and equity. OEI has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ identity, as well as other civil rights issues. OEI is leading our campus community through this important culture change with the support and partnership of countless allies across UMBC. If you are experiencing discrimination based on your gender identity or sexual orientation, you can report it using OEI’s online reporting form.
The diversity of UMBC’s community and our commitment to inclusive excellence are among our greatest strengths. We are committed to continuing to improve and simplify pathways for alerting the University of chosen names and pronouns. While we recognize that achieving inclusion is an ongoing process, we will continue to strive to make our campus a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, including transgender people and other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
We are also committed to providing information and other supportive resources for members of the UMBC community with particular concerns about civil rights related to gender identity. Resources are available at the following sites:
UMBC Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
USM Policy of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression
LGBTQ+ Resources at UMBC
UMBC Gender Inclusive Housing Options
Counseling Center
Pride Center
Women’s Center 
UMBC LGBTQ Faculty/Staff Association
UMBC LGBTQ Student Union
Thank you to the diverse group of campus partners who worked together to implement this new process, and thank you for all you do everyday to make UMBC a safe, caring, and inclusive learning community.
UMBC Office of Equity and Inclusion
]]> Dear UMBC Community, The UMBC Office of Equity and Inclusion is pleased to announce the implementation of a new self-service pathway for students to update their chosen name, pronouns, and gender... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95191/guest@my.umbc.edu/cd86fee553168d0eeef7a06765bd1690/api/pixel diversity-equityandinclusion umbctogether The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers 4 0 false Wed, 26 Aug 2020 20:38:12 -0400 Women's Center Fall 2020 Availability, Services, + Resources Wherever you are the Women's Center is here for you!
On-campus of off-campus, synchronous or asynchronous, excited or scared, new or returning... the Women's Center is here for you!
This is a confusing and rapidly changing world we are navigating, but we don't have to do it alone.
We can get through this together!

Women's Center Fall 2020 Hours of Operation:
The Women's Center continues to provide support and services virtually Monday through Friday throughout the fall semester. We encourage campus community members to contact us through email at womenscenter@umbc.edu or via phone at 410-455-2714. Staff will generally be most available between the hours of 10am-4pm. We appreciate your patience in our response to your email or returning your phone call.

The Women's Center lounge space will remain closed until further notice. Just think, our new couches are going to feel even more comfy once we get to use them together again! 

The Women's Center lactation room is available by reservation only. For details on how to make a reservation please visit this post about Fall 2020 reservations. 

Individualized Support Meetings:
Women's Center professional staff are available for individual meetings and support which we can provide via phone or video chat; to schedule an appointment, email womenscenter@umbc.edu or call 410-455-2714. If you are already working with a specific staff member and need to set up additional meetings, feel free to reach out to the staff member you have been working with directly (via email or even g-chat!). 
Visit our website for all the ways we can provide you support during this time. 

Women's Center Fall 2020 Program/Events:
The Women's Center is offering a range of programming and events virtually throughout the fall semester. All of our discussion-based groups (Between Women, Spectrum, We Believe You, and Women of Color Collective) will be meeting virtually. The Brave Space Forum series and programming for Returning Women Students/Adult Learners will be offered on a monthly basis.

For a full list of programming and events, we encourage community members to join our myUMBC page and check out the events page. Access links to our programs or events will either be available through the myUMBC event post or via email to members signed-up for our discussion-based programs list-servs. If you'd like to be added to a specific discussion-based group list-serv, email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu.

We also encourage you to check out our blog for 24/7 learning! 

UMBC Together:
Throughout this time, community building, care, and support remain central to our mission even though the way we deliver those services look different right now. We know that, even though most of us are not learning or working on campus, our students, faculty, and staff will continue needing support and community -- and the Women's Center hopes to continue doing what we do best to strengthen this campus! 
If you haven't already, follow us on social media where we're still sharing resources and communicating with our community!

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  

Please also feel free to communicate with us through any of these channels with your needs and ideas to help us get through the remainder of the semester! 


Oh, how we miss you! But, whether you're here with us in person or we're meeting in virtual space -- We see you. We believe you. You matter. And, we're here for you. 

The Women's Center Team 


***************

Other Helpful Resources:

To report and seek services for incidents related to sexual violence, relationship violence, and all other sexual misconduct, complete the online form located on the Office of Equity and Inclusion's website.  TurnAround's 24/7 helpline is 443-279-0379. For a full list of off-campus resources, visit Retriever Courage.

For UMBC community members who need access to healthy food and other essential supplies visit Retriever Essentials or the myUMBC Retriever Essentials group for up-to-date information on how to access food and toiletry items.

For information about Academic Success Center's services and support (tutoring, Writing Center, SI Pass, academic advocates, etc.) visit their website.

For access to health and human services information ,visit 2-1-1 Maryland or dial 2-1-1. 

For UMBC-related COVID-19 updates, visit covid19.umbc.edu or email covid19@umbc.edu
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Written by Sofia Encarnacion, ‘22 Mosaic Student Diversity and Inclusion Peer. 


My parents, siblings, and I do not practice any religion, but my parents still had us go to church for the first few years of my life. When I got older, my dad explained his reasoning for attending as a way to “understand American culture.” It was a Presbyterian church, and I didn’t have any friends there. Later, when we stopped going, my eight-year-old self was just relieved I didn’t have to wake up so early. All my friends at school were some denomination of Protestant and they didn’t care that I wasn’t. In sixth grade, a classmate told me I was going to Hell for not believing in God, but that was it. Overall, religion wasn’t a huge part of my socialization or upbringing. However, I was grateful that I knew the more well-known stories in the Bible, as there were plenty of references to them in pop culture and English class.


My relationship with Christianity always felt conflicting. When I was ten, I saw a man on the news imply that the 2010 Haitian earthquake was deserved because they “made a pact with the devil.” That was my first distinct interaction of people using their faith as an excuse for hatred. Despite this, I knew my Christian friends were good people. I was now an outsider of this type of faith, and my interactions with my peers were stronger influences than some random televangelist or the anti-LGBTQ+ Christians I’d see on TV. However, I noticed I was still putting up walls around myself from embracing organized religion.


As I got older, I knew there were other religions, but I guess I never thought about them until I befriended a Muslim girl on my bus. Sixth graders can be very ignorant. Our bus ride was almost an hour long so we’d spend a lot of time talking. As soon as she told us the purpose of her hijab, all the girls were very protective whenever she’d occasionally duck down in the bus seat to fix it. Some boys would try to peek at her, and the girls would shove them away. We definitely asked dumb questions, such as  “Don’t you get hot wearing it?” Thankfully, she was really patient with us.


Fast forward to high school, I attend a student-run TEDx event. My favorite talk was called “Yes, I Do Shower In It” by a hijabi girl. She talked about the meaning behind her hijab, and her experiences with anti-Muslim sentiment after 9/11. The talk stuck with me so much that I shared it with friends from my hometown. My reaction—besides admiration for this 16-year old’s wit and humor—was that I am very oblivious to how religion impacts people’s everyday lives. 


When I entered UMBC, the prominence of religious beliefs were a major culture shock to me. Involvement Fest has dozens of religious organizations, over 40 in fact, and they were all pretty active. When I joined the student staff for Mosaic one of my coworkers often expressed his dedication to God. As for the hijabi girl who gave the TEDx talk back from high school, I ended up working with her as well in The Mosaic and we ended up becoming close friends. When I lived on campus, the girl I roomed with was a Quaker and I was able to learn about Quaker values and customs. She told me their meeting house was welcoming of all faiths, even atheists. As a result of her openness, I put down my walls around organized religion and felt a lot more comfortable. The process involved a lot of listening, Googling, and conversations with my peers. I couldn’t just admit I was ignorant, I had to make a conscious effort to continue educating myself and checking my implicit biases.

I do not deny that religion and spiritual beliefs can and have sometimes been used to oppress and exclude others. However, there is an evident sense of camaraderie in each of these religious organizations. From my experiences, each group encouraged community service. And the purpose of this volunteering wasn’t for a high school graduation requirement like much of the volunteering I had seen in my youth: it was solely for helping others less fortunate. I saw how faith was also a source of solace when tragedies struck their community. Especially now, religion offers hope when almost everything feels hopeless. 


P.S.: The hijabi girl (her name is Tirzah Khan, she’s now one of my best friends) started a TEDx student org: TEDxUMBC. Check us out and follow our IG @tedxumbc. 

I also encourage you all to check out our Interfaith Dialogue series session on October 27, 2020 where we will discuss the relationship between religious organizations and social change. 


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*UPDATE: Check out some updates to our programs by going to this link.


Hello i3b community members,

As we approach this upcoming Fall semester, we look forward to welcoming you back to our virtual campus. We are excited to announce our Fall and Winter 2020 events calendar! Please see below for direct links on all the opportunities open to students, staff, faculty and alumni. If you miss any events, recordings, attendee list, and materials will be available in this Google Drive within one business week of the event unless otherwise specified**. 

Questions or accessibility concerns? Please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff at mosaic@umbc.edu, interfaith@umbc.edu and/or at lgbtq@umbc.edu. For questions related to our Interact Program, please contact Ciara Christian at cichris1@umbc.edu.

-The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers staff

____________________________________________________________________

AUGUST

Where My People At? Multicultural Engagement: A virtual Mosaic open house for new students

  • Tuesday, August 18, 2020 | 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers Virtual Open House: Check Out What We Have in Store in Our BRAND NEW Department!

  • Monday, August 24, 2020 | 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Lisa Gray |lisamgray@umbc.edu

SEPTEMBER

The Interact Dialogues Program Kick-Off (Session I)

Learn more about this cohort style program!

  • Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | noon - 1 p.m.| Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

The Interact Dialogues Program Kick-Off (Session II)

Learn more about this cohort style program!

  • Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

[Re] Fresh Friday: Processing Our Collective Grief: How to deal when everything is different

  • Friday, September 4, 2020 | 2:30  - 4:00pm | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | Blackboard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Heidy George | hmg@umbc.edu

I.D.E.A.L. Student Facilitator Cohort Info Session 

Learn about a BRAND NEW program to be a part of new change at UMBC!

  • Wednesday, September 9, 2020 | 10 - 11:30 a.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

Mundo Lingo: COVID-19 International: The global response to the Coronavirus

  • Wednesday, September 16, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:30pm | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | Blackboard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Heidy George | hmg@umbc.edu

[Free]dom Fridays: The Brown Power Movement and Liberation: The Brown Power Movement and the Continued Struggle for Immigrant Rights

  • Friday, September 18, 2020 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

OCTOBER

[Re]fresh Fridays: Healing from Difficult Dialogues: Coping with the aftermath of a challenging discussion

  • Friday, October 2, 2020 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

PAWTalks: Janel Martinez: Ain't I Latina?: Deconstructing Anti-Blackness in the Latine/x Community

  • Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

National Coming Out Day Celebration: Celebrating our LGBTQ+ Journeys

  • Thursday, October 8, 2020 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact:  Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

Retriever Immigrants United 2.0 Welcome**: A check-in conversation on your needs! 

  • Thursday, October 15, 2020 | 12:00 -1:15 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

[Free]dom Fridays: The Yellow Power Movement: Exploring Asian-American movements for liberation & freedom

  • Friday, October 16, 2020 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 


Where My People At? Community Lounge Space

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | 12:00 – 1:00pm

myUMBC Event Post: Link | Webex Events: Link

Interfaith Dialogues: Religion & Social Change: The historical and current role of religion in social change

  • Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 

NOVEMBER

[Cancelled]Bagels and Banter: Election Day Results: Now What?: Looking at what's to come for the next four years

  • Wednesday, November 4, 2020 | 11:00am - 1:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

[Re]Fresh Fridays: Caring for Our Bodies: A self-celebration of our bodies

  • Friday, November 6, 2020 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 

[Cancelled] Bagels & Banter: Public Safety Re-Imagined: Deconstructing "Defund the Police" and "8 Can't Wait"

  • Tuesday, November 10, 2020 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 

What’s the Tea? : Who is “Karen”?: More than Just a Meme

  • Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

[Free]dom Fridays: The Red Power Movement: A discussion & celebration of Indigenous rights movements

  • Friday, November 20, 2020 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 


Where My People At? Holiday Themed Discussion

Wednesday, November 25, 2020 | 12:00 – 1:00pm

myUMBC Event Post: Link |Webex Event: Link


DECEMBER

[Cancelled] Pawsitive Bodies & Minds: COVID-19's Assault on Black & Brown Bodies: A Presentation on Race and COVID-19

  • Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

How to Be a Better Ally: The Unemployed and SES Crisis: Look at what’s to come in 2021

  • Wednesday, December 2, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu

Clear Mind, Calm Heart: You made it through 2020!: A holding space to process 2020

  • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 

Retriever Immigrants United: Heritage, Family, and Culture**: A discussion on our culture and most meaningful relationships 

  • Tuesday, December, 15, 2020 | 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

JANUARY

[Free]dom Fridays: Beyond MLK: Celebrating Obscured Black Power & Civil Rights Leaders

  • Friday, January 15, 2021 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Erin Waddles | waddles@umbc.edu 

Where My People At? Identity-Based Engagement at UMBC

A virtual departmental open house for new students

  • Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

[Postponed] SafeZone LGBTQ+ Allyship Workshop: Lite Edition: An Abbreviated LGBTQ+ 101 Workshop

  • Friday, January 22, 2021 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Online via Blackboard Collaborate

  • myUMBC Event Post: Link | BlackBoard Collaborate Session: Link

  • Primary Contact: Carlos Turcios | carlos6@umbc.edu

**No recording will be available for confidentiality purposes.

Spring & Summer 2021 Calendar (Link forthcoming)


]]> *UPDATE: Check out some updates to our programs by going to this link. Hello i3b community members, As we approach this upcoming Fall semester, we look forward to welcoming you back to our... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94610/guest@my.umbc.edu/c8e36c5b4b45a0207154a3cd3d5aa0fe/api/pixel diversityandinclusion fall2020 mosaiceventscalendar welcomeweek The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/xxlarge.jpg?1596473010 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/xlarge.jpg?1596473010 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/large.jpg?1596473010 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/medium.jpg?1596473010 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/small.jpg?1596473010 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/xsmall.jpg?1596473010 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/610/537a2fe031a796a3bde99679ee8c24f5/xxsmall.jpg?1596473010 7 0 true Mon, 03 Aug 2020 12:53:11 -0400 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:43:15 -0400 Important Announcement: RIU Transition Please read from an important update on our new program

Hello Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Center Community members,

As of July 1, 2020 Retriever Immigrants United became inactive as a student organization.However, we acknowledge the importance of supporting our fellow immigrant community members and wish to continue the good work set by previous RIU student leaders. 

We are delighted to announce that starting Fall 2020, RIU will transition over to The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers as an ongoing discussion and support group self-identified immigrant students, as well as staff, faculty, and alumni. We are excited to see what new opportunities and connections this new iteration of RIU will bring to the UMBC immigrant community. Please note that this group is centers those who self-identify as first, 1.5, or second-generation immigrants regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status. This is subject to change according to attendees and potential event opportunities and initiatives. See below for a list of definitions. 

As members of this page we encourage you to follow The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers myUMBC group page to stay up to date with upcoming RIU discussion topics. Our current sessions are scheduled for 10/15/2020 (Link) and 12/15/2020 (Link).

The RIU myUMBC group page may become inactive in the following months. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to former RIU Advisor, Carlos Turcios at carlos6@umbc.edu. 

In solidarity, 

]]> Hello Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Center Community members, As of July 1, 2020 Retriever Immigrants United became inactive as a student organization.However, we acknowledge the importance of... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94545/guest@my.umbc.edu/59970db1e933ce186c16f1c8e9030b03/api/pixel daca diversityandinclusion immigrant international retrieverimmigrantsunited tps undocumented The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/xxlarge.jpg?1596127587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/xlarge.jpg?1596127587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/large.jpg?1596127587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/medium.jpg?1596127587 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/small.jpg?1596127587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/xsmall.jpg?1596127587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/545/9e61fa98d7556e2fd9e168be475be693/xxsmall.jpg?1596127587 3 0 true Thu, 30 Jul 2020 12:52:57 -0400 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:12:09 -0400 Check out Dr. Kate's latest virtual tour of Baltimore! If this were a regular summer, Dr. Kate would take us on in-person tours of Baltimore. In the interest of safety, this year she's taking us on virtual tours. Enjoy her latest--a tour of Baltimore's farms and markets, with an emphasis on understanding food justice in a time when access to fresh foods is becoming more and more difficult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUwpRGMY18&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2rJUET8jc6aA-PzNxcJvP8k_w-KRxlN7UgO6Z-6hD_JwpR8KD0KhHm6SM
]]> If this were a regular summer, Dr. Kate would take us on in-person tours of Baltimore. In the interest of safety, this year she's taking us on virtual tours. Enjoy her latest--a tour of... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94376/guest@my.umbc.edu/694fe9f2e1a2cc734771cad0cf14f04c/api/pixel Department of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/gwst https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/xsmall.png?1551107229 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/original.png?1551107229 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/xxlarge.png?1551107229 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/xlarge.png?1551107229 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/large.png?1551107229 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/medium.png?1551107229 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/small.png?1551107229 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/xsmall.png?1551107229 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/442/0951c34dc17cf35be31bb59fa96435df/xxsmall.png?1551107229 Department of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/xxlarge.jpg?1595267250 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/xlarge.jpg?1595267250 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/large.jpg?1595267250 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/medium.jpg?1595267250 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/small.jpg?1595267250 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/xsmall.jpg?1595267250 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/376/492d6235e49a226964f8bcc766b8f7a3/xxsmall.jpg?1595267250 2 0 false Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:48:08 -0400 REPOST: Campus Response to Recent Immigration Changes A message from President Hrabowski and Provost Rous Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

Yesterday afternoon the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a press release detailing changes to temporary exemptions for international students who hold F-1 and M-1 immigration status and plan to take classes fully online during the fall 2020 semester. We are writing to update you on the campus response to these changes.

This is a challenging time for our society and for many in our UMBC community. It is of the utmost importance that we affirm our commitment to the academic progress of our international students and our support for all of our international community members. We are working on a strategy to help affected students maintain their enrollment at UMBC in a manner that complies with ICE requirements.

Community members who are concerned about these changes in temporary exemptions are encouraged to contact International Education Services at ies@umbc.edu. International Education Services will hold a virtual town hall regarding the temporary exemptions on Friday, July 10, at 4 p.m. eastern time that is open to any UMBC community members who wish to attend.  The Counseling Center is also available to serve community members in need of mental health support. Please call (410) 455-2472 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., and leave a message; your call will be returned shortly. The after-hours support line is (410) 455-3230.

UMBC’s vision and core values are grounded in our inclusive culture. We greatly value our international community and are committed to helping our students navigate this situation.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous ]]> Dear Members of the UMBC Community, Yesterday afternoon the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a press release detailing changes to temporary exemptions for international students... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94177/guest@my.umbc.edu/be115ab106252c92f293a47d4466e757/api/pixel diversityandinclusion The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/xxlarge.jpg?1594156204 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/xlarge.jpg?1594156204 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/large.jpg?1594156204 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/medium.jpg?1594156204 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/small.jpg?1594156204 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/xsmall.jpg?1594156204 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/177/b6a9c87f9232d1b666ca857676a3a038/xxsmall.jpg?1594156204 2 0 true Tue, 07 Jul 2020 17:10:49 -0400 Division of Student Affairs DE&I Departmental Realignment A new reporting structure for our team begins on July 1st!
Dear Colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce that Campus Life’s student diversity and inclusion unit (DE&I), including the Mosaic, Pride, and Interfaith Centers, will be realigned to create an independent DE&I-focused department reporting to Dr. Jasmine Lee, director of inclusive excellence in the Division of Student Affairs. 

For many years, the Mosaic Center has been a central resource for diversity and inclusion education and training for students as well as a safe space for underrepresented student populations at UMBC. The student diversity and inclusion provides leadership for the Interfaith and PRIDE Centers. Collectively, these centers include pivotal partnerships with the UMBC Religious Council, the LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association, the Counseling Center, the Women’s Center, and many of our religious, spiritual, and LGBTQ+ student organizations. With the creation of an inclusive excellence director in the Division, we have been able to provide strategic direction, leadership, and assessment as it relates to climate and staff development needs, in addition to serving as a key resource for campus crisis management and messaging. All of this work will continue, but in a more coordinated way that captures the identity, inclusion, and equity work of staff and students across the Division.

While the realignment is timely, it has been part of a long-planned divisional effort to appropriately align resources and expertise in a way that better serves and supports underrepresented and marginalized populations, and provides leadership for staff-related diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and concerns across the Division. Importantly, this realignment comes as a result of ongoing conversation with the Mosaic staff and divisional leadership related to institutional values and strategic planning. With the recent creation of UMBC’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, this new structure allows us to more effectively align and execute university and divisional policy, practice, and student programming related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe strongly that this decision will allow us to even more deeply infuse the University’s values of inclusive excellence, collaboration, innovation, and impact at every level of the institution. 

We are grateful for all of the work Jasmine, Lisa, and the entire diversity and inclusion staff do to support our students and address some of the most critical issues of our community. As a Division, we will continue to learn and work together to prepare our students to have a far-reaching impact on campus and beyond.

We look forward to watching this work unfold in the future.

Dr. Nancy Young
Vice President for Student Affairs


]]> Dear Colleagues,  I am pleased to announce that Campus Life’s student diversity and inclusion unit (DE&I), including the Mosaic, Pride, and Interfaith Centers, will be realigned to create... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94094/guest@my.umbc.edu/32de6819626ed27e94540ffc94c2c074/api/pixel diversity diversityandinclusion equity inclusion studentaffairs umbc The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/xxlarge.jpg?1593633487 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/xlarge.jpg?1593633487 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/large.jpg?1593633487 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/medium.jpg?1593633487 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/small.jpg?1593633487 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/xsmall.jpg?1593633487 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/094/e4555f7aea7834eaef16bb6437c6e875/xxsmall.jpg?1593633487 12 0 true Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:59:44 -0400 Queer POC Culture Its impact on the American mainstream

This post is written by Sofia Encarnacion, a Diversity & Inclusion Peer at the Mosaic Center. Sofia is a rising junior Economics and Mathematics major. In her spare time, she likes to play Animal Crossing. She also finally watched Avatar the Last Airbender.


Paris is Burning is a 1990 documentary that explores drag ball culture and centers  predominantly trans & gay people of color. The director, Jennie Livingston- a White cis lesbian woman- received multiple Academy awards for her work. The documentary’s trans, gay, people of color subjects remained in poverty and many had AIDs-related deaths. When I first watched the documentary a year ago, I felt attracted to and disappointed by the stories told. The glamour and opulence of the balls were a huge focus while the abandonment, homelessness, poverty, disease, and death had an “it is what it is” tone to it.

I’ve had a few conversations within my social circles about Paris Is Burning. Some regard it as a monumental piece of media for queer culture, others have never heard of it. The latter group was unfamiliar with a lot of drag culture in general, with the exception of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But both groups of people are familiar with terms like “tea” “werk,” "reading,” and “throwing shade” which all originate from drag ball culture. However, these are not the only examples of queer POC culture being popularized without recognition. 

Madonna’s hit song “Vogue” and the dancing associated with it was directly inspired by the vogue dancers and choreographers from the Harlem ballroom scene. Many Black and Latinxartists and entertainers throughout history were queer, but that is often unacknowledged or erased. For historical figures, there wasn’t common usage of a term that identified bisexual or trans people, so historians also have difficulty determining the identities of people who are suspected to not be cishet.

I’m a 20-year-old bisexual, cis, Latina trying my best to navigate a wealth of history that continues to go unnoticed. After taking a few GWST classes - one of them being Queer Representation in Film and TV (GWST 321) - I still don’t know nearly enough about the impact of Black and Latinx queer content on American culture. How can I celebrate that Moonlight received recognition while knowing that the struggle and pain depicted is not at all fictional? I want these depictions to be realistic, but also include moments of queer POC joy and celebration. Depictions in media that appreciate instead of appropriate. How can I embrace the cultural importance of Paris is Burning while knowing that a White cis woman profitted off of Black and Brown trans lives in the process?

Despite the problematic aspects of the documentary, I still highly recommend people watch Paris Is Burning. It captures the essence of drag ball culture and the struggles many of the participants faced in a way that is easily accessible. It also shows the origin of slang still used today. If you’ve enjoyed RuPaul’s Drag Race, it is almost imperative to watch Paris Is Burning to understand the history of drag before studio executive directors became involved. Drag balls have historically been by and for trans and gay people of color, which is why some of RuPaul’s rules and statements have been criticized for being harmful. For a while, RuPaul’s show was the only mainstream representation of drag ball culture, but now there are other forms of drag ball culture entertainment that are more inclusive and nuanced (such as FX’s Pose).

Although it wouldn’t be enough to just watch Paris is Burning or Pose. I would highly recommend reading and viewing other perspectives to understand the complexities of queer POC culture in general. I’ve listed some courses, readings, and films that are recommended by us, the Diversity and Inclusion  staff, for this purpose. If you have other reading or viewing recommendations, please include them in the comment section!


UMBC Courses:

  • GWST 100: Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies

  • GWST 321: Queer Representation in Film and TV

  • GWST 348: Black, Queer, and Feminist Film


Readings:


Films/Documentaries:


Trainings:

  • SafeZone LGBTQ+ Allyship Development Training

 ]]> This post is written by Sofia Encarnacion, a Diversity & Inclusion Peer at the Mosaic Center. Sofia is a rising junior Economics and Mathematics major. In her spare time, she likes to play... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94086/guest@my.umbc.edu/512e8944fdd56153b2acaa5e8dcbdc1e/api/pixel diversityandinclusion lgbtq poc qpoc The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 Campus Life's (CL) Mosaic, Interfaith, & Pride Centers https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/xxlarge.jpg?1593616690 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/xlarge.jpg?1593616690 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/large.jpg?1593616690 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/medium.jpg?1593616690 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/small.jpg?1593616690 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/xsmall.jpg?1593616690 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/086/42380e91efe1a72fc7d55b71365c2084/xxsmall.jpg?1593616690 12 0 true Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:19:10 -0400 Recent Immigration Actions and Travel Updates Check out the latest updates affecting DACA recipients In recent weeks, there have been a series of developments related to immigration and international travel policies that affect our community. We wish to take this opportunity to provide an update, resources for those affected, and affirm our university value of welcoming inspiring and inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.

Recent Developments
We were heartened that the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security could not dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which permits qualified people who arrived in the United States as children to work, study, and remain in the U.S. on a renewable permit. Our commitment to helping these students succeed is unchanged.

In addition, there have been a series of executive actions aimed at reducing access to the U.S. for international community members and their families. A Presidential Proclamation issued on June 22 prohibits those seeking H, J, and L visas from entering the U.S. with certain exceptions. International Education Services (IES) has compiled information regarding this and other relevant executive actions on its website and is available to answer specific questions from students, faculty, and staff. International students, faculty, and staff are an essential and treasured part of our UMBC community and we are looking forward to continuing that connection in the fall, even as the current pandemic is requiring physical distance between us. 

Community Support
We know that this is a stressful time for those who are impacted by these decisions and we encourage you to seek support. IES will be hosting a virtual town hall on Monday, June 29, at 3 p.m. eastern for anyone in the UMBC community who would like more information about these decisions.  

Students in need of emotional support are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center. Community members in need of a safe space for advocacy and relationship-building are encouraged to contact the Mosaic Center. Faculty and staff can access individual support through our Employee Assistance Program. If you feel you have been affected by racism, discrimination, or xenophobia, please know that the Office of Equity and Inclusion is available to support you.

Travel Updates
Given recent U.S. and foreign government policy actions regarding immigration matters, reduced availability of commercial flights, and the changing spread of the virus, ongoing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines will continue to make travel to and from other countries risky and difficult. Following guidance from the Governor, all University-related out-of-state travel for faculty, students, and staff is currently suspended.  For safety purposes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend against all nonessential international travel. Considering all of these circumstances, we caution our community against personal international travel at this time in order to avoid problems with reentry.   ]]> In recent weeks, there have been a series of developments related to immigration and international travel policies that affect our community. We wish to take this opportunity to provide an update,... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94014/guest@my.umbc.edu/103440d454d7cfc57ad7499d1ab9a323/api/pixel diversityandinclusion umbc umbctogether The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/original.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xlarge.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/large.png?1755890395 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/medium.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/small.png?1755890395 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xsmall.png?1755890395 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/079/8da8369525d899e6fa49decd5a80b73f/xxsmall.png?1755890395 Campus Life's (CL) Mosaic, Interfaith, & Pride Centers https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/xxlarge.jpg?1593193725 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/xlarge.jpg?1593193725 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/large.jpg?1593193725 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/medium.jpg?1593193725 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/small.jpg?1593193725 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/xsmall.jpg?1593193725 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/014/5cb945122356064d61ec55d6ec65a29a/xxsmall.jpg?1593193725 1 0 true Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:49:40 -0400