Hello all,
We have only 2 weeks left of club before finals roll around. And due to timing, this week is our final Workshop of the semester, focused on letting you all bring in any pieces you've made to receive critiques and see what works, what doesn't, and how we can improve our writing.

We ask that you bring in pieces that can be read in less than 20 or so minutes, this being so that others can properly go over your piece as well as give others a chance to get feedback on their own work. Take the time to read your piece at a normal and relaxed pace and see if it might be too long for what this session will be about. Your piece can be any length, but we'll only go up to 20 minutes if it's long.

As for our final meeting next week, we usually go silly and have something fun, especially with how close finals are at the time. This semester our final meeting will be a PowerPoint Party.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, participants bring to the meeting a PowerPoint they will present on any topic they want (and we mean any). It could be about your favorite book you've read; the lore you've written for your story; the different varieties of Crocodilians; necklaces that Marie Antoinette wore throughout her reign that belong in the dumpster; all the childhood cartoon characters that turned you into a furry; whatever you want to present on, from well-known to hyperniche.

A writer needs to be able to present an idea to their audience in an effective, time-efficient, and captivating way, so consider this practice for your own writing skills.

Some rules and guidelines for the presentation

• Try to keep your presentation under 15 minutes, both so others have time to present and because people can really start to lose interest by that length.
• We're all college adults so we can handle mature things, but don't do something pornographic or like that. Be smart about this.
• The more pictures, the better
• Themes are always great
• Good tools to use are Google Slides, Prezi, PowerPoint, Canva, any sort of presentation tool

Just like with our normal meetings, you don't have to actually bring something to attend the meeting. This is fully optional

Hello, Community! 

Did you graduate in December '25, or are set to graduate in May '26? Are you a user of The Gathering Space, and/or a member of any faith or spirituality-based organization on campus?  
Want to be recognized at our End of Year Sending and Celebration on May 13th from 5pm-6:30pm in CWB 103?

Sign up here by May 11th!

This is a friendly reminder about the upcoming UMBC Institute of Politics event for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:

Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote

The event explores Asian American and Pacific Islander political engagement and voting behavior, featuring a keynote address and panel discussion with AAPI leaders in Maryland.

📍 Skylight Room, The Commons
📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 6:45–8:30 PM

Free to attend, but an RSVP is required, and space is limited.

Please see the attached flyer for more details and RSVP here: https://politics.umbc.edu/aapi/

On Wednesday, April 29, UMBC's Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association will host Dinner with Friends, an engaging, facilitated conversation that will connect you with other members of the UMBC community. The program will take place on April 29, 2026 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the University Center, UC 312. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life will provide a catered dinner.

Attendees will be seated together in small groups and have the opportunity to participate in conversations in one of three topic areas:

• Transit access
• Student housing
• Graduate student employment

RSVP today to reserve your seat at this popular dinner program and select your conversation topic of interest!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu.

Econ Scholarships and Awards

ANNOUNCING ECONOMICS & FINANCIAL ECONOMICS SCHOLARSHIPS

2026-2027

The Department of Economics is pleased to announce it is accepting applications from qualified students for several departmental scholarships and awards. These scholarships will be credited to the students’ UMBC accounts at the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year.

In general, a student is expected to have a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for a departmental scholarship, though exceptions may be considered. Please note the specific GPA requirements for some of the scholarships listed on the attached document.

Applications Here: https://economics.umbc.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/

Email application & unofficial transcript to econ@umbc.edu by: April 30th, 2026

Women in Cybersecurity is currently having elections! Our e-board is a dynamic team that drives our mission forward. As a member, you'll have the chance to work closely with peers, organize events, develop and implement strategies, and represent WiCyS at UMBC!

Available positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Media Chair, and Event Coordinator. Applicants are allowed to apply to up to 3 positions.

Think this is a good opportunity? Apply here !!

APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 10, 2026. Don't miss out!!!!

Update - NIH Implementation of Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal Financial Assistance 

Notice Number: NOT-OD-26-072

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-072.html

Purpose:

This Notice updates NIH’s implementation of 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The administrative flexibilities and updates outlined in the 2024 revisions to 2 CFR 200 have been incorporated into the FY26 issuance of the NIH Grants Policy Statement that was issued on March 25, 2026 (see NOT-OD-26-057).

However, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2026, (P.L. 119-75, Division B, Title II, Sec. 224), the provisions relating to indirect costs in 45 CFR 75 continue to apply to NIH awards. Consistent with the statute, NIH will not apply updated thresholds outlined within 2 CFR Part 200, at this time.

Therefore, the following flexibilities outlined in NOT-OD-25-059 are hereby rescinded.

    2 CFR 200.1 – Modified Total Direct Cost Definition - Calculating Indirect Costs

    2 CFR 200.414(f) - De Minimis Indirect Rate

PLEASE REFER TO THE FULL NOTICE UPDATE LINKED ABOVE.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

The UMBC College of Engineering and Information Technology holds its annual Research Day event from 9am to 4pm on Friday, May 1, in the University Center Ballroom and UC 312. The event features talks, posters, and panel discussions by COEIT faculty and students, as well as industry and agency partners. There are two sessions of AI-themed talks and a keynote by former UMBC Professor Susan Gregurick, the NIH Associate Director for Data Science and Director of its Office of Data Science Strategy.

• Session 2: Healthcare Solutions with AI Technology & Engineering, 9:30–10:45am

• Keynote Talk, Dr. Susan Gregurick, 2–3pm

• Session 4: AI and Learning, 3:15–4pm

See the full agenda for details and register for the event here.

Applications for the 2026 Culture Builders @ UMBC Cohort close this Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Culture Builders is a year-long cohort experience for staff and faculty interested in deepening their capacity to foster more inclusive, equitable, and connected campus environments. Through dialogue, reflection, and practice, participants engage in meaningful conversations about identity, community, and belonging while developing a context-specific action plan to support culture change within their department, unit, or sphere of influence.

This is not a traditional training or a space for quick fixes—it is an opportunity to engage thoughtfully, build community across roles, and take meaningful steps toward inclusive excellence over time.

Participants will:

• Engage in critical, practice-based conversations about identity, community, and belonging

• Reflect on their own role in shaping culture within their department, unit, or sphere of influence

• Learn alongside colleagues across staff and faculty roles

• Develop a strategic action plan to support meaningful and sustainable culture change

This year’s cohort will also engage Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger as a shared text to support reflection and dialogue around building a more just and connected campus community.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026

• Supervisor Support Form Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

If you are already engaged in equity-focused work—or looking for a meaningful way to begin—this is your invitation to join a thoughtful and engaged cohort committed to shaping the culture we want to see at UMBC.

Apply Here

Supervisor Support Form

For questions, please contact culture@umbc.edu.

UMBC's Launchpad Accelerator!

The UMBC Launchpad accelerator is a 10-week cohort-based program where ventures prepare to go from pre-launch to launch, or for early-stage companies, create a pathway to accelerate growth.

Founders who are ready to fully commit to launching their venture and validate their idea as an opportunity should apply. Participants are awarded up to $8,000 in non-dilutive funding for seed capital, and mentors will be assigned to each team.

Teams will perform deep customer discovery, develop a business model canvas, and then progress to a full commercialization plan and pitch deck. The goals of the Launchpad are to validate product-market fit and to hopefully formalize the venture and launch.

Elgibility

Current undergraduate and graduate students, including Spring 2026 graduates, are eligible to apply.

TIMELINE
Applications are due May 5th
Accepted teams will be notified by May 15th
Program runs from May 28th-July 30th
Demo day will be hosted in September

To apply, complete the application here!

To learn more about Launchpad, click here!