For Medical and Dental School Applicants, the UMBC Health Professions Evaluation Committee's (HPEC) Cohort process - which begins with exercises to help applicants prepare the materials they need to complete their professional school application, and results in a Committee Letter from the HPEC to accompany an applicant's other Letters of Recommendation - is set in motion nearly a year and half before an applicant plans to enter Medical or Dental School. 

The next HPEC Cohort, supporting applicants planning to enter Medical or Dental School in Fall 2026, is about to begin!

11:59 pm on February 15, 2025

• Health and Patient Care Equity (co-led by Vunnathi Ankem and Natalia Cooper)
• Environmental Justice and Sustainability (co-led by Bianca Canales and Tanzila Malik)
• Reforming Juvenile Justice (co-led by Aanayah Trotman and Nyssa Vilchis)

Beginning on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, employees will have access to a new online portal, USM Retirement@ Work, which will replace the current DocuSign form process. This portal will allow you to enroll and make changes in real-time to your supplemental retirement accounts with TIAA and Fidelity.

Take action now! If you want to make changes to the first paycheck in the 2025 calendar year (January 3, 2025), you must login and make those changes by December 19^th at 11:59pm. Any changes made after that date will be effective on a subsequent paycheck.

Please note: all existing contributions will continue for the 12/20/2024 paycheck. No action is required by employees for their contributions to continue at the current amount. Employees only need to take action if they want to make a change.

HOW TO LOGIN

You will need your SSN and date of birth to login to the USM Retirement@Work portal. The Quick Start Guide will help you get started. You may also watch this short video for a step-by-step visual guide to using USM Retirement@Work portal.

We encourage all employees who are currently contributing to a supplemental retirement account to log in to the USM Retirement@Work portal and review your contribution amounts and vendor selections to ensure they reflect your choices for your retirement planning.

WHAT’S CHANGING?

With the new USM Retirement@Work portal, you can now manage your TIAA and Fidelity supplemental retirement accounts online. You will be able to:

• Make Contribution Changes: change your bi-weekly contribution amount and/or how your funds are spread over your accounts with your retirement vendors (TIAA and Fidelity).
• Track Your Progress: see a snapshot of all your investments and view current and past transactions.
• Make Informed Decisions: learn more about your retirement plans and use calculators and other tools to help plan for the type of retirement you want.

In the USM Retirement@Work portal, you can choose from 4 different plan options:

• Pre-Tax 403b
• Pre-tax 457b
• ROTH 403b
• ROTH 457b (new for the 2025 calendar year)

WHAT’S NOT CHANGING?

·         You can still login to your TIAA or Fidelity  USM accounts to view your balances, allocate your funds, and designate and/or update your beneficiary information.

·         Your current plan elections and deduction amounts will remain the same, unless you make a change in the portal on or after December 17th.

·         Your current investment choices and fund allocations will remain the same, unless you make a change in your online account with TIAA or Fidelity.

MSRP/Nationwide accounts

For employees who have a supplemental account with MSRP/Nationwide, your access will still occur through the MSRP/Nationwide website. Nationwide accounts will not be affected by the new USM Retirement@Work portal.

Not enrolled in a supplemental retirement account yet?

You will be able to enroll in a TIAA or Fidelity supplemental retirement account through the USM Retirement@Work portal beginning on December 17, 2024. You can meet with a rep from TIAA or Fidelity to ensure you are contributing enough to your plan to meet your retirement goals. Please contact the retirement vendor (TIAA or Fidelity) to schedule a meeting.

Employees can enroll in a MSRP/Nationwide retirement account at any time on the MSRP/Nationwide website. 

Need Assistance?

The USM Retirement@Work phone contact center, managed by TIAA, can be reached at 1-844 567-9090 and will be available for assistance with enrolling and managing your accounts weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (ET).

Questions?

B.A.: A Social Science Approach to Sports Injuries and Recovery

The job search can feel overwhelming, with uncertainty and rejection often taking a toll on mental health. Stress is a natural response, but it’s important to manage it effectively to maintain focus and resilience. Here are some strategies to help: 

1. Stay Active 

Stress can escalate and get out of control when you neglect your physical and emotional health. Build in time for activities like yoga, meditation, or hobbies that bring joy. Check out a free group fitness class at the RAC.  According to the American Psychological Association (1), self-care practices such as regular exercise and mindfulness can significantly improve mood and focus. Even a 10-minute walk in between applications can reset your mind and keep stress at bay.

2. Establish a Routine

Structure can be a powerful antidote to the chaos of job searching. Set daily goals for yourself, such as researching companies, reviewing job search alerts, optimizing resumes, or connecting with industry professionals at networking events, via informational interviews, or through LinkedIn. For instance, spending just two focused hours a day on applications can be more effective than an unstructured eight-hour grind. Routines can improve productivity while fostering a sense of accomplishment, leading to reduced stress.

3. Seek Connection 

Job hunting can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Share your experiences with friends, family, or mentors who can understand and listen to your challenges. The UMBC Career Center is another valuable resource for both practical advice and emotional support. Making connections with those who “get it” can help reduce feelings of isolation.

4. Reframe Setbacks 

Rejection is a natural part of the job search. However, it doesn’t need to define your worth or potential. Harvard Business Review (2) suggests reframing rejection as an opportunity for growth or a step closer to the right job fit. For example, rather than thinking, “I wasn’t good enough,” remind yourself, “This wasn’t the right role for me, but the right one is out there.”

5. Use Available Resources

Take advantage of available resources to make the entire job hunt seem less daunting. Retriever Integrated Health, for example, offers counseling services, workshops, and free online resources for students in need of mental health support. The UMBC Career Center also provides workshops, resources, and 1:1 appointments to help students navigate the job search process. 

Stress during a job search is normal, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm you. Implementing these strategies can help you regain control and approach your search with confidence. Remember, your mental health is just as important as your career aspirations. Handle both with care.

(1)   https://www.apa.org/topics/stress

(2)   https://hbr.org/2022/10/job-rejection-doesnt-have-to-sting

New Adjunct Faculty Welcome: Co-constructing a Learning Community

Create valuable teaching, learning, & assessment experiences

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 · 4 - 5 PM · Online · REGISTER HERE

Join other new UMBC adjuncts, faculty, and staff for a workshop designed to help you create successful teaching, learning, and assessment experiences for yourself and your students. Since course climate is vital to student success, first we explore our audiences and ourselves–Who are UMBC students overall? Who are the specific learners in your classrooms? How can we share who we are and co-construct a learning community with our students? How can we connect to the wide range of resources that UMBC offers? Next we discuss how to deepen this community connection: creating choices, cultivating competency, and connecting students’ work in your course to their own goals and dreams engages students through intrinsic motivation. Plus we answer any pressing questions about AI, ungrading, and other innovations in higher education.

The FDC’s collaborative programs, resources, and services are designed to support your introduction to teaching or reinvigorate you as you continue to refine your teaching. All faculty are invited to join us to welcome our new adjuncts, join the discussion, and contribute to community building

Since 2006, the StoryCenter network in partnership with universities and international organizations has promoted Digital Storytelling Conferences, providing the global community with an opportunity to exchange ideas and share experiences.

In its first time in Latin America, the 12th International Digital Storytelling Conference will take place in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. Hosted by Museu da Pessoa , this edition will have as its theme 'Lives, Voices and Knowledge in a World on Fire' , exploring the power of storytelling in climate justice. We are confident that this gathering will be a pivotal moment to inspire action and strengthen partnerships towards a more sustainable and just future.