Hello MTC! 

We are happy to announce that voting for the Fall Showcase will open tomorrow, 5/8 at noon during the GBM in ILSB 237, during which we will also be announcing the Small Fall Musical for 2026. 

We also encourage everyone to come see off our seniors as they wave one final goodbye with their remaining time with us here, at our senior sendoff karaoke! We will be in Lower Flat Tuesdays from 7-9pm! Come join us for show tunes and fun times!

Hope to see you there!

 - MTC Board

          If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email us at umbc.mtc@gmail.com

Voting for the 2026-2027 PHCOM executive board is OPEN NOW and closes on May 10th at 11:59 pm. 

Link to vote: https://forms.gle/nATwWrex5Tz9veYg6

Voting is limited to members of the Public Health major or minors. Please read the candidate bios before voting. 

Thank you!

Hi SACNAS!

We're excited for our GBM tomorrow!

Join SACNAS for a discussion on graduate and medical school funding opportunities, including:

• NSF-GRFP
• GEM Fellowship
• MSTP / MD-PhD pathways

We'll also hear from distinguished speakers:

• Peter DeCrescenzo, Assistant Director of Academic Opportunity Programs
• Lesley Hernandez, NSF-GRFP recipient, UMBC '25 alum, University of Michigan PhD student, and former UMBC SACNAS President

Come learn about funding opportunities, academic advice, research pathways, and life after UMBC!

All the best,

SACNAS Executive Board

Hello MechE Community! 

Dr. Paris von Lockette, Dr. Chuck Laberge, and Prof. Adam Bridenolph (Shady Grove), Senior Design instructors for the Mechanical Engineering Capstone and the Interdisciplinary Capstone, extend a warm invitation for you to join us for our . . .                                                                       

Spring 2026 Senior Mechanical & Multidisciplinary Engineering Capstone Design, Showcase, Friday, May 8th       

• Presentations begin at 9AM in the Fine Arts Recital Hall
• Demonstrations begin at 10AM in the Engineering Atrium
• Come vote for your favorite project in our “People Choice” Award

Dear UMBC Community, 

UMBC has a strong tradition of civic engagement and participation in local, state, and national elections. This year, Marylanders will elect statewide officers, including the governor, as well as state and federal legislators. 

The Maryland primary election will take place on June 23, 2026. Below are a few ways to get involved.

Vote on campus: Between May 11 and continuing through Election Day, registered Maryland voters can request a mail-in ballot and return it using the official Board of Elections drop-off box located in the lobby of The Commons near the Campus Information Center desk. No postage is required, and ballots will be collected multiple times each week. 

Register to vote: If you are an eligible Maryland resident, you can register using the state's online portal. The deadline to register in advance of the 2026 primary election is Tuesday, June 2. If you are registered in another state, UMBC's voter registration portal can help you take the first steps to register and vote in your home state.

Students, make a pledge to vote: Every election year, ALL IN to Vote hosts a Pledge to Vote leaderboard for university students across the country. In 2022, UMBC ranked #4 in the nation on the student leaderboard. Students who plan to vote, consider taking the pledge, and encouraging others to do the same.

Access voter resources: For the latest information, including early voting dates and ballot request deadlines visit the ALL IN to Vote portal hosted on the UMBC Center for Democracy and Civic Life website.

Serve as an election judge: The Baltimore County Board of Elections is recruiting election judges to work at polling stations during the 2026 primary election. These are paid positions and offer a meaningful way to support the democratic process. 

Get involved in your community: Whether or not you are eligible to vote, there are many ways to stay engaged and make an impact in your community. Follow the Center for Democracy and Civic Life's myUMBC page so you will receive alerts about upcoming opportunities for learning and conversation.

If you have questions, please contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu.

Thank you for being an engaged member of our community. 

David Hoffman
Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

The transition from the classroom to a professional career is no longer just about your GPA or the title on your degree. According to NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey, the hiring landscape has shifted toward "skills-based hiring," with 70% of employers now using this approach to identify top talent. This means that while your degree gets you in the door, your ability to demonstrate specific competencies is what gets you the offer.

Employers today are looking for more than technical knowledge; they are looking for candidates who can solve problems, collaborate across teams, and adapt to a rapidly changing digital world.

The "Big Three" Attributes

When employers scan your resume, they aren't just looking for what you did — they are looking for evidence of why you did it and/or how you think. The NACE 2026 report highlights three core competencies that consistently top the employer "wish list":

• Teamwork: The ability to work effectively with diverse groups toward a common goal.
• Problem-Solving: Approaching challenges with a creative mindset and practical solutions.
• Communication: Expressing ideas clearly and concisely, especially in written form.
  

As noted by NACE, more than half of surveyed employers also want college graduates to demonstrate specific skills with examples, not just list them on their resume. 

The Rise of AI Literacy

The most significant trend in the 2026 Outlook survey is the explosive demand for AI Literacy. The expectation for entry-level talent to have foundational AI skills has nearly tripled since late 2025. Employers are looking for versatile experts — students who don't just rely on digital tools but also know how to direct them to improve efficiency and judgment.

Experience Over Theory

If two candidates are equally qualified, what breaks the tie? Experience. NACE data consistently shows that internships are the top deciding factor in hiring decisions. Whether it’s a U.S.-based internship, a co-op, or on-campus student work, having a real-world track record proves to recruiters that you can translate academic concepts into professional results.

The Power of Skills-Based Storytelling

Because 70% of employers use skills-based hiring at least half the time, your interview strategy must evolve. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, share specific STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories. Employers want to hear about the exact moment you used your analytical skills to solve a problem or your leadership to guide a team through a setback. Your examples need to be concrete and showcase an impactful outcome or result.

Check Out Your Future

See how your fellow Retrievers have leveraged their skills to land roles at top companies and organizations worldwide by visiting our UMBC Outcomes & Success Stories page. Then set up an appointment with the Career Center (we’re open all summer!) to see how you can best showcase your skills to employers.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for additional tickets for the May 21st graduation ceremony at 10:00 AM. If you happen to have any extra tickets available, I would really appreciate your help. I’m also willing to pay for them.

Please feel free to message me if you have any available!

Phone: 240-370-4619

Thank you so much!

KARL (The Kalfoglou Advocacy and Research Lab), run by Dr. K., is looking for energetic students who are interested in working on social justice research and advocacy largely focused on college students' access to basic needs like food, housing, and transportation. We work closely with Retriever Essentials. Students participating in KARL will meet as a team once a week (time to be determined) and spend 2 hours per week on their project(s). Projects may be appropriate for presentation at URCAD 2027. Participants will register for PBHL 490 for 1-credit (registration requires permission of the instructor).

This fall KARL will be focused on building the Maryland College Basic Needs Community of Practice. We are doing outreach to campuses who have yet to join, building a website, organizing webinars, writing newsletters, creating slide decks, making films, advocating for policies that support students, and possibly conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research. 
Please provide the requested information and you will be notified in the next few weeks if you will be extended an invitation. If this doesn't work out, you can always take Dr. K's PBHL 355 Public Health Justice and Advocacy course next Spring where we will also focus on campus food insecurity.

Hey Retrievers,

We wanted to let you know that OGSL has run out of coffee cups for the time being. We are working on getting a restock delivered as soon as possible, but in the meantime, the coffee station is "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Cup).

If you’re heading our way and need your caffeine fix, please:

• Bring a reusable cup or tumbler from home.

• Grab a cup from one of the restaurants downstairs and bring it up with you.

We know this is a bit of a hassle, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience! We'll post another update as soon as the new cups arrive. Thanks for being patient and for keeping the sustainability vibes high in the meantime. 🐾

— The OGSL Team

The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is now accepting applications for the Generative AI Pedagogy Fellows Program for 2026-2027. This year-long program offers faculty a unique opportunity to deepen their expertise in AI pedagogy while contributing to evidence-based teaching practices across our system.

Program Highlights

• $1,500 stipend for full participation

• Structured cohort-based learning with peers across USM

• Opportunity to design and implement an AI-infused intervention in your own course

• Leadership experience facilitating faculty development workshops

Who Should Apply

We’re seeking faculty who are already experimenting with generative AI in their teaching and are interested in peer leadership and workshop facilitation. The full call for applications can be found here with complete details on requirements, expectations, and the application process.

The application deadline is Friday, May 22, 2026.

Regards, 

Anupam Joshi
Vice Provost and Chief AI Officer

Ana Oskoz
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs