UMBC students of all majors are invited to get involved in the upcoming Free Name Change & Gender Designation Clinic on Monday, April 27, in partnership with FreeState Justice!

This is a free, confidential legal clinic that assists Maryland residents of all ages with navigating the legal process for name changes and gender marker updates.

FreeState Justice is Maryland's leading legal nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Marylanders.

Students can participate by volunteering to support this important community service event.

To sign up as a student volunteer: please review the available time slots and register here.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Baltimore County Public Library, Catonsville Branch
1100 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228

Training Requirement:
Student volunteers should either:
Attend the live, virtual training on Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 PM, or
View the training recording prior to the event.

Transportation Note:
Student volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.

UMBC students can take the UMBC Transit Catonsville Line directly from campus to Frederick Road, which is a short walk to the library.

On April 22, more than 450 student presenters and their friends, mentors, and supporters will fill the Retriever Activities Center (RAC) for the 30th anniversary of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day.

It’s the first year the annual event, more commonly known as URCAD, will take place in the RAC, where it has moved because of its record-breaking size. The event will feature poetry readings, live music performances, video game demonstrations, scientific research presentations, artistic exhibits, films, and more. The new space provides room for more live performances and exhibits. This year’s URCAD will feature music by the Dana Idnay band, members of the UMBC Jazz Ensemble, the drum circle, the Down and Dirty Dawg Band, and Fever Dream, a band made up of UMBC undergraduate and graduate students and led by biology professors Jeffrey Lieps and Stephen Caruso.

It’s a tradition of the event to invite an outstanding alum as the keynote speaker. This year, Karena Ingram ‘16, music composition, will speak about her work as a composer and arts advocate who brings issues ranging from domestic violence to video gaming into her projects. As a student, she presented her own research at URCAD on the Baltimore-based composer CK Barlow and her influence in the field of electronic music. 

Student participants hail from all corners of campus and will showcase their diverse research and creative projects, including investigations into supermassive black holes, patterns of Antarctic tourism, the effects of 9/11 on U.S. immigration, and much more. 

“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary, we recognize that URCAD is one of the oldest and largest events of this kind in the state, and that UMBC has one of the highest rates for undergraduates who do mentored research in the country,” says April Householder ’95, director of undergraduate research and prestigious scholarships. “To commemorate, we are throwing back to the 1990s—stop by the photo booth and graffiti wall and make some memories!”

Students pose for a photo and mingle at a poster session during URCAD in 2024. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

A lively festival of the mind

The original URCAD was held in 1997 on the 7th floor of the AOK Library, with about 50 scheduled student presenters. Former Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Diane Lee, who had the idea for the event, says she was afraid there wouldn’t be enough attendees. 

“We decided to have a midday program and invite [President Emeritus] Dr. Hrabowski to speak. His presence and wonderful snacks including chocolate covered strawberries ensured a good crowd,” she recalls. 

Over the years, the event grew ever larger, but it stayed true to its purpose of showcasing the quality of UMBC students and the depth of the questions they investigate. It also serves as a unifying event, where students from diverse disciplines can learn about each other’s work. 

Householder says that because of the size of this year’s event, she briefly considered splitting URCAD across two days—one for STEM and one for artists. But she quickly discarded that idea. “What is special about URCAD is that everyone is together in one space,” she says. “A scientist presenting a biochemistry poster can hear music, a poet who is an English major can see an airplane prototype, and an engineer can check out costumes made for the theatre. UMBC is a place where we don’t exist in boxes.”

Generative AI in Teaching I: Basic Critical Literacy and Foundations

Part I of Introduction to Generative AI in Teaching Series

Monday, April 27, 2026 · 12 - 1 PM ·Virtual · REGISTER HERE

This session introduces the basics of generative AI and its implications for teaching and learning. It focuses on AI literacy by examining what these tools are, what they can and cannot do, basic prompting, ethical & responsible use, and how they may impact classroom practice. Faculty will see short demos of ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity. 

Part I of an Introduction to Generative AI in Teaching Series. The FDC is co-sponsoring a series of three workshops facilitated by John Schumacher, Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Public Health and a USM Generative AI Pedagogy Fellow for 2025-26. Whether you have already begun exploring AI for your teaching and for student learning, are an AI-skeptic, or are somewhere in between, joining Dr. Schumacher and your UMBC colleagues for these hands-on workshops will help you to deepen your understanding of how AI works, some of the ethical concerns of AI-usage, and when and how to use which Gen AI tools. This workshop is a repeat of one that was initially offered twice in Fall 2025.

Generative AI in Teaching II: Applied Skills and Use Cases

Part II of Introduction to Generative AI in Teaching Series

Monday, May 4, 2026 · 12 - 1 PM · Virtual · REGISTER HERE

Building on Gen AI & Teaching I, this interactive session highlights applied skills and practical use cases. Faculty will practice effective prompting, explore discipline-specific scenarios, and consider assignment design strategies. Examples will touch on advanced features (custom GPTs/GEMs, Canvas Mode, Deep Research Mode, agent mode) related to teaching.

Part II of an Introduction to Generative AI in Teaching Series. The FDC is co-sponsoring a series of three workshops facilitated by John Schumacher, Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Public Health and a USM Generative AI Pedagogy Fellow for 2025-26. Whether you have already begun exploring AI for your teaching and for student learning, are an AI-skeptic, or are somewhere in between, joining Dr. Schumacher and your UMBC colleagues for these hands-on workshops will help you to deepen your understanding of how AI works, some of the ethical concerns of AI-usage, and when and how to use which Gen AI tools. This workshop is a repeat of one that was initially offered twice in Fall 2025.

Using Generative AI to Support Your Course Design: A Faculty Workshop

Use AI iteratively to align course objectives & activities.

Monday, June 1, 2026 · 9 - 10:30 AM · Virtual · REGISTER HERE

This session practically demonstrates how generative AI can support course design when embedded within a backwards‑design workflow. Rather than isolated prompting, faculty will learn to use AI iteratively to align objectives, assessments, and course activities. Participants will gain repeatable, model‑agnostic workflows for using Gen AI to augment design while preserving faculty voice and pedagogical intent. 

The FDC is co-sponsoring this workshop, facilitated by John Schumacher, Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Public Health and a USM Generative AI Pedagogy Fellow for 2025-26. This workshop is a condensed version of The AI-Assisted Educator: A Course Design Sprint that was initially offered in January 2026.

Learn who is who before checking out the Spring 2026 PSYC Lab Open House. This is your LAST reminder that the Open House is taking place TODAY from 11:30 AM to 1 PM on the 4th and 5th floors of Sonheim Hall. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Stop by Coffee Mondays to grab a free cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and take a breather between classes.

Whether you're coming to study, chat, or just refuel, this is your weekly reminder to slow down and connect with fellow grad students.

Where? Office of Graduate Student Life (Commons 308)
When? Every Monday | 10am - 2pm

Hi everyone!

SWSA has the honor of being a finalist in every category of the 2026 USG Group Awards—the Innovation Award, Community and Belonging Award, Leadership Development Award, Teamwork and Collaboration Award (alongside Student Council), Student Group Advisor of the Year (through our fantastic advisor, Natalie Sanchez), and Student Group of the Year Award.

We're asking for your consideration in the voting process!

The link for the finalists ballot can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqh1muUXSi7RGxarS59r506Q_7Y0Jw727wj9Mr695m6ywl-w/viewform

Or at: usglife.com/finalists

Voting started April 16, 2026 and ends April 28, 2026, so please get your votes in before then!

Keep posted for more SWSA events coming soon as we round out the semester, and thank you for your consideration!

Oliver Salter, SWSA President

April 21

BookMarkIt ~ 11 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Library Plaza
Letterpress printing, pamphlet stitching, a book arts display, wrapped mystery books and giveaways, zinemaking and zine swaps, a book drive supporting the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the Baltimore County Bookmobile, bookish swag, and more!

One Maryland, One Book ~ 5:00–6:30 p.m., 312 University Center
In collaboration with Maryland Humanities’ One Maryland, One Book program, BookFest will welcome Lawrence Burney, the author of the 2026 OMOB selection No Sense in Wishing. Burney will be in conversation with writer Chris Terry (assistant professor of English) about his essay collection. Refreshments will be served!

April 23

WORKSHOP: Understanding Attacks on Libraries ~ 12:00-1:00 p.m., AOK Library Room 259. Registration is required: REGISTER HERE. What should you know about the current assaults on authors, readers, libraries, and librarians? Join Allison Jennings-Roche (UMBC Alum and Associate Director of Digital Initiatives and Collections at The University of Baltimore Library & Archives) for a lunch-and-learn. Lunch will be served. Register today to secure your spot! 

Freedom to Read: Libraries and Our Democracy ~ 5:00–6:30 p.m. — AOK Library Gallery
What can we do to protect the right to read and to ensure access to our nation’s library services? Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller will be joined by some of Maryland's most distinguished librarians and advocates for a panel discussion on protecting our rights. Refreshments will be served!

GIVE! Throughout BookFest, we will be raising funds for Friends of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD), a non-profit that supports the LBPD in its mission to make reading and all library services accessible to Marylanders!

We hope to see you there and please spread the word! 

Monday, April 20th, 12 - 2 PM, Love Your Body Day, Commons Mainstreet 

Join OHP as we partner with SGA's Free Menstrual Product Committee for Love Your Body Day. Stop by our Skin/Mind Connection table to explore how stress/anxiety and mental health can affect the skin. 

Wednesday, April 22nd, 12-1 PM Wellness Wednesday, Commons Mainstreet

Join the Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships Student Peer Health Educators for Denim Day. Stop by to support survivors of sexual violence by writing a patch of support.  

Wednesday, April 22nd, 12- 1 PM, Student Mental Health Conversations, Lower Flat Tuesdays

Join OHP and RIH for student-led mental health conversations. UMBC students will facilitate these conversations. Join for storytelling, crafting and snacks! 

Thursday, April 23rd, 3:30 - 5 PM, Survivor Self-Care Day, WGEC Lounge

Join OHP in supporting the WGEC's Survivor Self-Care Day. Peer Health Educators will host breathing bracelet making.

*All events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

URCAD Selfie Contest and Graffiti Wall

For URCAD 30 we are throwing back to 1997 where it all began!

Students are encouraged to “tag” the graffiti wall, take selfies, and post to social media. Lots of fun accessories! Bring your friends and family! Bring your mentor! Open to all attendees! The most creative entries win!

Location: RAC Track

Take a selfie at URCAD and upload it to URCAD social media or email it to aprilh@umbc.edu (by 4/24) to enter to win a gift card to the UMBC Bookstore!

Categories are:

Best Overall Selfie ($100)

Best Selfie with Your Mentor ($50)

Best Selfie with Your Presentation ($50)

Best Selfie with a Family Member ($50)

Best Selfie with Graffiti ($50)

URCAD is this Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Hello everyone! Just a reminder we have our Earth Day Free Farmers Market Today!

We will be located at the Commons Terrace, and will be from 12:00pm - 1:00pm. It will consist of produce items such as apples, bananas, peppers, etc., with a couple of other household/personal care necessities.

Be sure to bring your bags/boxes, and we hope to see you there!