Shout out to the Class of 2026!

You made it, and we are so proud!

To all undergraduate and graduate students, Division of Student Affairs invites you to join us for a fun afternoon.

Thursday, May 7 | 4 – 6 p.m. The Commons, Terrace

Featuring:

• Food and drink
• Photos with Chip and the UMBC letters
• Free alum t-shirt
• Graduation cap decorating

Did you know you can be awarded up to $1,500 to support your research?

Jennifer knew! And she's applying!

"Sometimes, you feel like a drop of water in an endless sea," Jennifer commented. "But now with the URA award, I can get my research funded! If I hadn't noticed that myUMBC post (about Ken), I think the moment would have been gone and all my dreams would have passed before my eyes with curiosity." 

You can apply here: https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/

"Glad I carried on," Jennifer later noted.

BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand

Hosted by the Office of Professional Programs, GEARS, and the Career Center

📥 Please RSVP by pressing "Sign-up" above this message!

📅 April 28 | 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 UMBC Commons, Rm. 329

😋 Snacks available!

Whether you're job hunting, networking, or just starting to think about your professional presence online, this is the event for you! Join us for BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand,  an interactive workshop designed to help you craft and strengthen your digital identity in today's competitive landscape.

Who You Are:

• A graduate or undergraduate student looking to build or refine your online professional presence

What to Expect:

• Tips and strategies for building a strong, authentic digital brand
• Guidance on optimizing your LinkedIn, portfolio, and other professional platforms
• Networking opportunities with fellow students and career professionals
• Resources and support from the UMBC Career Center and Office of Professional Programs

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing presence, this is a great chance to invest in yourself and your future career.

Follow us on Instagram @gears_umbc for updates on upcoming events!

BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand

Hosted by the Office of Professional Programs, GEARS, and the Career Center

📅 April 28, Tuesday | 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 UMBC Commons, Rm. 329

📥 Please RSVP by pressing "Sign-up" button on the event page here.

📸 BIG bonus: We will have a professional photographer on site providing FREE headshots/ Linkedin Profile pictures.

😋 Snacks available!

Whether you're job hunting, networking, or just starting to think about your professional presence online, this is the event for you! Join us for BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand,  an interactive workshop designed to help you craft and strengthen your digital identity in today's competitive landscape.

Who You Are:

• A graduate or undergraduate student looking to build or refine your online professional presence

What to Expect:

• Tips and strategies for building a strong, authentic digital brand
• Guidance on optimizing your LinkedIn, portfolio, and other professional platforms
• Networking opportunities with fellow students and career professionals
• Resources and support from the UMBC Career Center and Office of Professional Programs

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing presence, this is a great chance to invest in yourself and your future career.

Follow us on Instagram @gears_umbc for updates on upcoming events!

Got an idea that could change campus life? It’s time to step into the tank! 🦈💡

The GSA Student Affairs Senators are hosting the Graduate Student Shark Tank, and we want to hear your pitches. Whether it's a new student resource or a campus improvement, this is your chance to get your ideas in front of university administrators and staff.

Here is everything you need to know:

The Details

• 🗓 Date: April 28

• 🕐 Time: 1:00 PM

• 📍 Location: Commons 329

• 🍱 Bonus: Enjoy FREE Biryani while you pitch!

The Format

• Pitch: 1–2 minutes to sell your idea.

• Q&A: 1 minute of questions from our "Sharks."

• Rewards: Win prizes for the best ideas!

Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 29th) from 12-1pm in The Learning Collaborary (University Center room 115) Melissa Huselton from PreMedical & PreDental Advising and Adam Morris from the Career Center will discuss how to build professional relationships and make a positive impression when you start a clinical job, shadow physicians, volunteer, or conduct research. Learn how to build your professional network and foster connections that can lead to strong, detailed letters of recommendation. Have a question for Mr. Morris? You can ask it in advance via the form here! Register for the event here!

Last Overflow of the semester!! School's getting crazy, so join us for an hour of prayer to stay centered on the one who offers to carry us through it all.

We'll be in ILSB101 tonight (4/28) at 7:30pm!

Did you know you can be awarded up to $1,500 to support your research?

Ken knew! And he's feeling just fine...

"One day, I was thinking about the history of hairstyles, wondering how my blown-dried hair could be compared to others. Turns out, it can't but that led me down a very interesting research path. I'm glad I learned about the Undergraduate Research Award," Ken commented.

You can apply here: https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/

"It was easy. Easy as a Sunday morning," Ken later noted.

URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research, scholarship, or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

URA scholoars are enrolled in the fall URA PRAC and are required to present at URCAD 2027. Award period is June 1, 2026- May 31, 2027.

Applications require a research proposal and mentor statement of support.

Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

UR.umbc.edu/ura

Dear Students,

Thank you so much to those who have already taken the UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey. Your responses are invaluable to creating a community of inclusive excellence at UMBC. If you have not yet participated in taking the climate survey, and you still want to, please do so now.

The online survey will only be available until Thursday, April 30, 2026. As a reminder, the survey is confidential, and your responses will be completely anonymous. The survey will take approximately 15-25 minutes to complete. You can access the survey here.

Content note: This survey asks some questions about personal experiences with sexual and interpersonal violence. Some of the language used in this survey is explicit and direct, and may be triggering or uncomfortable for some participants. Information on how to get help, if you need it, appears before and after the survey and is available on the ECR website.

All participants in the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $100 UMBC Bookstore gift cards. At the end of the survey, you will be directed to a separate link, where you can enter your name and contact information to be eligible for the prizes.

If you have questions about the purpose or content of the survey, please contact the Office of Equity and Civil Rights at ecr@umbc.edu or 410-455-1717.

Sincerely,

Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer