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Image: Dashboard screenshot showing Algebra course accessibility score at 72% with a pie chart detailing course content items by type.

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Greetings,

We would love to see this club continue, and need all 3 officer positions filled to do so! Currently, we do not have an applicant for the Treasurer position. If you or anyone you know is looking for a student organization leadership position, please consider Meditation @ UMBC! Learn more about us and what we do on myUMBC!

E-Board Interest Form: https://forms.gle/awSbL7NaXNaw1HL16

Eligibility for Running:

• Must be willing to hold position for 1 full academic year
• Must be willing to build your leadership skills and maintain a safe space for members!

Semesterly Officer Responsibilities:

• Attend Involvement Fest to promote the club (We have an existing poster board)
• Communicate with the Club Advisor/Session Instructor, SGA, and/or SABSC (Student Affairs Business Services Center) as needed
• Communicate with Gathering Space staff for recurrent room reservation
• Set up cushions for each meditation session

New Officers will receive SGA training and tranisiton information from outgoing officers.

Meditation @ UMBC (Meditation Club)

Overall Series Description:

Media Bytes is a signature series  from the Center for Social Justice Dialogue with programs designed and facilitated by Social Justice Dialogue Facilitation Fellows. Programs in this series  invite participants to engage social justice topics through shared media and meaningful dialogue. In this series, we listen to short “bytes” of podcasts, films, or TV clips, or songs and come together for guided conversation. Media Bytes encourages curiosity, critical listening, and collective reflection as we unpack complex issues, one byte at a time.

Session Descriptions:

1. Rest is Resistance 

Wednesday March 25th, 7:00-9:00pm, Women Gender and Equity Center (Commons) 

Event Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/events/152157

Join us for a fun and reflective evening rooted in rest, dialogue, and community! We’ll be watching one of Tricia Hersey’s talks on rest as resistance and engaging in dialogue on how rest and collective care are tools for collective liberation. Come for a chance to reflect, chat with new friends, enjoy some snacks/refreshments, and decorate your own rest journal.

1. The Sound of Resistance: A Lesson From Sinners

Friday April 17th, 4:00-5:30, Commons 318

Event Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/events/152876

Inspired by the film Sinners, this interactive dialogue invites participants to explore how music carries the experiences, struggles, and resilience of communities across generations. Centering the powerful “I Lied To You” scene, we will reflect on the historical role of music in Black culture and examine how songs can communicate truth, challenge injustice, and preserve stories that might otherwise go unheard. Together, we’ll explore how music has shaped social movements, sparked cultural conversations, and united people across differences. By the end of the event, participants will contribute to a collective playlist that reflects the sounds of our generation; songs that capture the power of music to inspire, resist, and create lasting meaning. Join us for an evening of dialogue, reflection, and community as we ask: what gives music the power to transcend generations? 

1. Meaning in Bollywood Music

Monday April 20, 6-8pm, The Center for Wellbeing

Event Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/events/152883

Join us for an engaging and reflective evening centered on music, language, and cultural meaning. Dialogue and Meaning in Bollywood Lyrics invites participants to thoughtfully explore the depth behind popular Bollywood songs, examining how lyrics convey emotion, identity, and cultural narratives that often extend beyond direct translation. Through a guided selection of songs, we will analyze key lyrical excerpts in both their original Hindi/Urdu and English translations. Participants will engage in facilitated dialogue to consider how meaning is shaped by language, context, and personal experience. What nuances are lost or transformed in translation? How do cultural references and poetic expression influence interpretation? This program creates space to critically reflect on these questions while learning from diverse perspectives.

Spring has officially sprung and the cherry blossoms and tulips are adding pops of color in nearly every direction. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom just down the road in D.C. It’s worth exploring if you have the time.Slightly further away is De Keukenhof in the Netherlands. If you are into flowers I would encourage you to put this on your bucket list!

Many of you joined me on Thursday as I highlighted the strategic initiatives that are currently underway in the Office of the Provost. Over 180 people joined us online or in-person. Thank you for being there if you were able to attend. You can learn more about each of the initiatives and how they support the university’s five strategic pillars here. I encourage you to check back periodically as project updates will be added as milestones are hit throughout the year. If you missed Thursday’s event, you can access the slides here.

I am a believer in the importance of collecting and listening to varied points of view, especially when charting a course for an organization as complex and unique as UMBC. With this in mind, I am excited to announce the formation of two new advisory boards: the Faculty Advisory Board and the Staff Advisory Board. Each board will work in tandem with several groups including the larger Provost Advisory Council and the shared governance groups at UMBC. The boards will be asked to provide strategic advice and guidance based on areas of expertise and experience and offer critical feedback on initiatives, priorities, and overall direction of our academic enterprise. Be on the lookout for additional information about the two advisory boards and a call for nominations next week. 

The end of the academic year is quickly approaching and with it comes a slew of commitments and celebrations. Chief among these is Commencement. This time-honored tradition serves as a capstone to our students' journey to a degree or certificate and a celebration of their work and dedication. Faculty and staff who wish to march in the Commencement procession should sign up and order their regalia as soon as possible. Individuals who would like to volunteer as event staff can sign up here.

Earlier this week, Vice Provost Anupam Joshi shared updates to the calendar for the 2026-27 academic year. The updates, made in conjunction with Faculty Senate, include shifting the start of the semester to Monday, August 24, and the addition of a fall recess in October. Additionally, we will be hosting college receptions following Convocation this year in place of the campus cookout that has been held in previous years. Additional information will be provided by each college as details are finalized. My hope is that this new approach will help us forge relationships with our newest scholars from the start of their academic journey. As you know, sense of belonging is a central factor in helping our students succeed.

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NEWS & NOTES

Strategic Plan Survey Deadline: April 17

Share your perspectives on UMBC’s strategic plan via this survey. The survey includes five sections, each aligned with one of the university’s strategic pillars. As a reminder, the pillars are:

• Cultivate organizational innovation and vitality
• Redefine excellence in research and creative achievement
• Strengthen Maryland and its communities
• Advance student opportunity and success
• Transform teaching and learning

You can choose which sections you would like to complete based on your interests and experiences. The survey is also designed to capture additional ideas you may have for strengthening these five focus areas. Please note that each section of the survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

Visit the strategic planning website for current information, including a new feedback form now available on the home page. 

We hope that you will complete the survey by Friday, April 17. Your insights, ideas, and feedback are essential as we continue the planning process.

Survey link.

One Week Left: Survey on Missed Class Time

You have one week left to share examples and strategies that were utilized this spring to make up missed in-person/synchronous class time due to closures for inclement weather (e.g. asynchronous sharing of content, asynchronous activities, and/or administering additional assignments). 

Please submit the following survey to share with us the strategies you have utilized to make up time for your courses as needed this semester. Don’t miss your opportunity to let us know what worked or did not work.

Deadline: Friday, April 10

Survey link.

Four Calls for Nominations/Proposals

Last week I highlighted four calls for nominations or proposals from the University System of Maryland. If you have not explored these calls, I strongly encourage you to do so. Information about each program is available here. 

• Wilson H. Elkins Professorships

• Elkins Professorships for Academic Transformation

• 2026-27 Elkins SoTL Fellows Program

• Faculty Senior Fellows

Strive for 85: Creating Online Accessibility

The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee (DASC) is launching "Strive for 85." This institutional goal calls for all Blackboard courses to achieve anAlly "Overall" accessibility score of 85% or better across all colleges and departments by the end of 2026.

As of the most recently completed Fall 25 semester, the campus's overall Ally score for Blackboard courses (which make up ~90% of all UMBC courses) is approximately 74%. To help faculty close this gap and reach the "Strive for 85" goal, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has prepared a voluntary, self-paced Blackboard training organization called "Course Roadmap to Equity" (CoRE) that complements and incorporates existingAlly FAQs,live workshops, anddrop-in consulting. 

Learn more about the Strive for 85 effort and how you can help close the gap. 

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition

Through April 18

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture

The Intermedia and Digital Arts Master’s Program presents despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition. On view from April 1 through 18 at the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, the exhibition features work by graduating students Taylor Goad, Nia Hampton, Bao Nguyen, and Lynn Nguyen.

More information

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Through April 12

Proscenium Theatre

UMBC Theatre presents The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted by Jacqueline E. Lawton and directed by Joseph W. Ritsch. Life in modern day Baltimore has been a bit boring for Dorothy and her little dog Toto. Until one day, when a cyclone swoops in and takes them “over the rainbow” to the wonderful and magical land of Oz. With the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy sets off on the adventure of a lifetime down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. These new friends brave witches, flying monkeys, and a Haunted Forest all to meet the Wizard of Oz, who promises to make their dreams come true.

More information.

Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81

Through May 22

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery

The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents the photography exhibition Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81. In 1976, American photographer Mary Ellen Mark and sociologist Karen Folger Jacobs spent thirty-six days living in the Oregon State Hospital, where they photographed the residents of Ward 81, the hospital’s all-female, high-security psychiatric unit. Their unprecedented access allowed them to create a deeply nuanced portrayal of women navigating psychiatric care in the mid-1970s. Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81 brings together Mark’s photographs, Jacobs’s newly uncovered audio recordings, and rare archival materials, offering an intimate and expanded view of this landmark documentary project.

More information.

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

Interested in becoming a Peer Health Educator? Apply for the 2026-2027 academic year! The Peer Health Educator program allows students to serve as leaders on campus and promote health/well-being, and there's a stipend! 
Application is live! Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 10.  2026- 2027 Peer Health Educator Application

Please circulate the call for applications for faculty senior fellows for AY 2026-2027. 

The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce a Call for Applications for Faculty Senior Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year. These leadership roles will advance the Kirwan Center's mission to support innovation in teaching, learning, and scholarship across the University System of Maryland. Each Senior Fellow will receive a $3,500 stipend for their work across AY 2026-27.

The three Senior Fellow positions are:

• Senior Fellow in Generative AI Pedagogy

• Senior Fellow for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

• Senior Fellow for Assessment & Evaluation

USM faculty of any rank whose primary role on their campus is faculty are eligible to apply.Applicants may apply for multiple positions but can only be selected for one Senior Fellow role. Each position requires approximately 1-2 hours of work per week throughout the academic year term. More details can be found in the Call for Applications for Faculty Senior Fellows. Applications are due Monday, April 13, and can be emailed to jpotter@usmd.edu.

Vitals Bootcamp is TODAY from 3-5 pm in Fine Arts 303! Get some free food while you learn to take pulse ox, blood pressure, listen to breath sounds, and learn to do an impromptu tourniquet. Come join us for the event! Don't forget to bring a friend!

NOTE: Applications and proposals for these USM opportunities must be routed for approval by the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) in the Kuali System prior to submission to USM. Applicants must be PI Eligible active* at the time of routing. Plan 4-5 business days for routing.

Contact CARAT (carat@umbc.edu) for PI Eligibility, proposal, and routing assistance.

Faculty who may apply for PI Eligiblity active status include Faculty with Duties Primarily in Instruction, Research & Service (Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors). Teaching Professors, whose appointments are primarily in Instruction, may request an exception from the Vice President for Research while applying for PI Eligibility status, and must provide additional materials. Temporary and Adjunct Faculty may not be considered PI Eligible. 

*PI Eligible active status entails successful completion (with issued certificates) of PIRATE training; CITI Research Security Training - combined; and a PI Eligibility form, with attached certificates of completion, appointment letter, and C.V. for those requesting PI eligibility through the exception process. See UMBC Policy # IV-2.00.03 for more information.
 
Proposals should adhere to best practices in digital accessibility, such as the use of heading structure and meaningful alternative text for images. The USM Digital Accessibility Checklist is a helpful guide: https://www.usmd.edu/digital-accessibility/USM-Digital-Accessibility-Checklist.pdf  Also, consult the UMBC Accessible Documents & Presentations webpage: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/digital-accessibility/accessible-documents-presentations/ 

1. Call for Applications: Faculty Senior Fellows Program (USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation). Application deadline: April 13, 2026 
Routing must begin April 7, 2026. PI Eligible faculty at UMBC may apply for this opportunity.

The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce a call for applications for Faculty Senior Fellows for the 2026-27 academic year. These leadership roles will advance the Kirwan Center's mission to support innovation in teaching, learning, and scholarship across the University System of Maryland. Each senior fellow will receive a $3,500 stipend (50% in August 2026 and 50% in May 2027) for their work across AY 2026-2027.

The three senior fellow positions are:

• Senior fellow in generative AI pedagogy
• Senior fellow for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)
• Senior fellow for assessment and evaluation

USM faculty of any rank whose primary role on their campus are faculty are eligible to apply. Applicants may apply for multiple positions but can only be selected for one senior fellow role. Each position requires approximately 1-2 hours of work per week throughout the academic year term.

More details can be found in the Call for Applications for Faculty Senior Fellows: https://usmd.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/KCAI/IQCF89wk09FzRbLlBftPmC3YAeg7tfUTGm5u3tfGyi-4Uis?rtime=96_DSVWP3kg

2. Call for Proposals: 2026-27 Elkins Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Fellows Program. Proposal deadline: May 8, 2026
Routing must begin April 30, 2026. PI Eligible faculty at UMBC may apply for this opportunity.

Up to ten Elkins SoTL Fellowships of $1,000 each will be awarded for 2026-2027 (May 22, 2026 – June 30, 2027). The Elkins SoTL Fellowships are open to USM faculty of any rank or appointment interested in undertaking a research project focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

A faculty member should serve as principal investigator (PI) on the project; a staff person may serve as co-PI provided the project originates with the faculty member. At present, graduate students are not being considered for this fellowship.

Information Session: Join Kirwan Center staff on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 1 - 2 p.m., for a virtual Information session to learn more about the fellowship requirements and expectations. We will also answer questions about the program at that time. Registering will ensure you receive a link to the session recording, even if you can't attend live.

NOTE: Applicants must provide a budget and letter of support from a Chair, Dean, or Provost, as well as other proposal materials.

Register here: https://usmd-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/W062YeyISZ6LSQyu7dl6Kg#/registration

While fetching a stray wheelchair from Admin 101 (thanks for that tip, Stephanie!) I noticed a bunch of stuff piled at the front of the lecture hall.  There's a very nice lunchbox, a gray ThermoFlask canteen (see photos), another lunch bag, umbrellas, a scarf, etc.  The collection is now up in my office;  Everyone needs a hobby.

If you possibly left something in AD 101, please email me at cfu2@umbc.edu for a joyous reunion.  Thanks.

Hello hello, Retrievers, and happy Friday!

It's once again time for a weekly cleanup, and at long last, Mother Nature is cooperating! We'll be hitting Army Field, so come join us at Commons by the Dunkin at 2:45 and we'll head there together at 3!

The map will be posted into our GroupMe for those of you who can't meet us at Commons.

See you then!
-The Eboard