Dear Students,

One week ago, I invited you to participate in the UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey to share your experiences and perspectives on sexual and relationship violence at UMBC. By taking the survey, you play a major role in helping to shape our campus culture at UMBC. If you have not yet completed the survey, we ask that you please take a few minutes to do so now.

The online survey will only be available until Thursday, April 30, 2026. The survey is confidential and your responses will be anonymous. The survey takes about 15 to 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 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 to win.

Each student at UMBC can play a role in shaping our campus culture, and this is one important way you can help.

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.

Thank you! 

Sincerely,

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

CAHSS faculty are invited to submit a pre-proposal to be nominated for the 2026 William T. Grant Scholars Program competition, sponsored by the William T. Grant Foundation (WTGF). The WTGF Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. 

Eligible applicants should have received their doctorate within seven years of the WTGF program's application deadline of June 30, 2026, and seven years after the year the doctorate was conferred. Applicants must currently be employed in a tenure-track position.

The program makes awards totaling $425,000 for five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. Applicants should have a track record of conducting high-quality research and an interest in pursuing a significant shift in their trajectories as researchers. This award includes a mentoring component, as well as a supportive academic community.

WTGF’s Research Focus Areas: 
1. Reducing Inequality. WTGF funds research studies that examine programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5–25 in the United States, along dimensions of race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status (e.g., LGBTQ+ youth), language minority status, or immigrant origins.

2. Improving the Use of Research Evidence. In this focus area, WTGF supports research studies that examine strategies to improve the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States. The Foundation seeks proposals for studies that advance theory and build empirical knowledge on ways to improve the use of research evidence by policymakers, public agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries, community organizers, and other decision-makers that generally shape youth-serving systems in the United States.

CAHSS Internal Competition:

An internal CAHSS competition will be held to select the CAHSS nominee. Pre-proposals are due to the CAHSS Dean’s Office, via a box link, by May 11, 2026. Review the attached instructions and box link for detailed information.

The nominee will be notified on May 20, 2026, and will work with CARAT to develop a complete application, following the application guidelines. Complete applications will be due to WTGF, via the program's application portal, by June 30, 2026 (3:00 PM, ET). 

The CAHSS nominee must be PI Eligible, with active status, in order to prepare a proposal and receive an award at UMBC. PI Eligible active status entails the successful completion (with issued certificates) of PIRATE training; CITI Research Security Training - combined; and completion of a PI Eligibility form, with attached certificates of completion for the trainings, and your appointment letter. See UMBC Policy # IV-2.00.03 for more information. Contact Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu) for assistance.

Successful applicants will be notified by WTGF on March 27, 2027. Five-year awards, made to the applicants’ institution, will begin on July 1, 2027.

Contact Marc Ruppel (mruppel@umbc.edu), CARAT Director, or Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu), to discuss your pre-proposal.

WTGF Program Resources:

• Scholars Program website: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program
• Program application guide: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Application-Guide-WTGF-Scholars.pdf
• Applicant resources, including a webinar and annotated excerpts: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/applicant-resources#annotated-excerpts
• Program FAQ: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/faq

We would like to thank our current E-Board Officers for a job well done.  Thank you to all of those who participated in the nomination and voting process.  

The results are in, and the 2026-2027 E-Board Members are:

President - Andrew Lawson

Vice-President - Velma Funebe

Treasurer - Dabira Aboyewa

Secretary - Ebere Onyeaghala

Event Coordinator - Precious Nwanna

We look forward to working with you to minister to UMBC students.

Blessings,

Rev. Alicia

I am a grad student and would like to find a place in Arbutus/Halethorpe neighborhood. I you're also looking for a roommate we can look for 2 bd apts and split the rent. Please contact me with any questions. My phone number is 7633310711.

The University System of Maryland's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is hosting an online Generative AI Virtual Showcase  on Friday, April 24, 9am-3:30pm ET. Faculty, staff, and faculty/staff/student teams from Maryland institutions of higher education will describe and demonstrate their innovative approaches to incorporating Generative AI into teaching and learning practices. 

The virtual event features a keynote presentation and four concurrent session blocks with 42 presentations (including 9 from UMBC) exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning with generative AI. Participants must register to get the Zoom link. Sessions include live auto-captions and accessible materials.

Register here to get the Zoom link

Register here (by Friday, April 24): https://forms.gle/7WH2WxCZjPAiH9yV8

CAHSS faculty are invited to the first workshop in a new CARAT learning series, CARAT Gems (Grant Education Modules). The goal of the series is to increase faculty's understanding and comfort level with the grants process at UMBC. 

The inaugural workshop, Getting Started, takes place on Wednesday, April 29, from 12:00-1:00PM (hybrid in PUP-451 or Webex). You can choose to attend the entire workshop, or one half.

The first half -- Pre-award -- will focus on what's involved in becoming a PI (Principal Investigator) and the first steps in starting an external funding proposal at UMBC.

The second half -- Post-award -- will discuss, from a practical standpoint, how to plan and begin spending on an award. 

Time will be given for questions. You may also include a question on your registration form.

Questions: Sara Quershi (saraq1@umbc.edu), CARAT Senior Specialist for Grants and Research Development 

The Maryland Public Health Association (MdPHA) Internship Program offers students an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of public health. This program provides valuable mentorship, skill development, and real-world exposure to various aspects of public health practice.

We are currently seeking two new student interns to serve September 2026- May 2027.

Currently enrolled undergraduates, hybrid internship, $17 hour, 10 hours a week. 

https://forms.gle/NPLN3K36aH4gJjQU8

Repost from the Division of Institutional Equity!

The 2026 UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey was launched! Information gathered from the survey will be used to inform our ongoing education, prevention, and response work, and is an important component in campus-wide efforts to stop, prevent, and remedy the effects of sexual misconduct at UMBC.

All students who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $100
UMBC Bookstore gift cards.

You can access the online survey here. The survey will be open from Wednesday,
April 15 until Thursday, April 30, and will take about 15-25 minutes to complete.

This survey is anonymous and confidential. After completing the UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address in a separate voluntary survey to enter for a chance to win one of the gift cards.

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.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Want to have some fun before finals? Join us for our Capture the Flag game night on Thursday, April 30th, from 7pm to 9pm in ITE 231. WiCyS is excited to host a "Cryptothon" Capture the Flag-style event where players will solve beginner-friendly cybersecurity puzzles and win prizes. Cyber expert or not, all are welcome!

Players will be competing for Airpods, gaming keybord, and a portable monitor!!!

In addition to games, Chick-fil-A catering will be provided, so join us and let's have fun!

Please RSVP here so we can have a good headcount.

These financial webinars are open to all Faculty and Staff, regardless of your retirement plan or vendor.

Register for TIAA’s live webinars to get financial information, news and tips from their experts. 

Reserve your spot by clicking the registration links below. These webinars are a part of your retirement plan benefits.

Tuesday, May 7, 11am to 12pm: Money Psychology - Beyond the Numbers

It’s easy to think that how we approach money is all about formulas, facts and figures. The truth is, the decisions we make are influenced by other forces too—our own biases, life experiences, and human nature. TIAA will explore what some of those forces are and how to tame them for our advantage.

They will discuss: 

• Human nature and what shapes our feelings about money
• How those feelings might make us behave
• The importance of the big picture when making decisions
• Doing what is best for long-term interests

Register for the 5/7 webinar

Tuesday, May 19, 11am to 12pm: Finance for new grads

Starting out in the job world can be exciting—and overwhelming. The financial foundation we build now can impact our lives for years to come. That’s why it’s so important to understand how to manage money, create good financial habits, and save and invest for the long term.

In this webinar, TIAA will provide insights on:

• How a spending plan helps in the short term
• What a retirement plan does in the long term
• Choosing traditional (pretax) versus Roth (after-tax) contributions
• The importance of an emergency fund

Register for the 5/19 webinar

Questions? Reach out to hrbenefits@umbc.edu