All the 4th floor Millipore water polisher has been upgraded and serviced. Each floor now has access to purified RO water. The three units are in room 221C, 317 and 417. Thank you for your patience as the units needed to be retrofitted for new UV bulbs. 

Dear Retrievers,

As we prepare to begin a new academic year, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you. Whether you're joining the UMBC community for the first time or returning for another semester, I hope you'll take full advantage of all that UMBC has to offer.

If you're searching for an on-campus job, exploring internships, preparing for your first full-time position, or simply figuring out where to begin, the Career Center team is ready to support you. 

• Be sure to activate your Handshake account, UMBC's career platform. 

  • Search thousands of jobs and internships, connect with employers recruiting UMBC students, schedule appointments with the Career Center, and register for upcoming events. 

• The Career Center also offers resume reviews, employer information sessions, networking events, recruiting opportunities, workshops, and much more. 

As you settle into the semester, take advantage of two signature Career Center events:

• UMBC On-Campus & Part-Time Jobs Expo: Thursday, September 3
  Meet campus departments and local employers hiring UMBC students for on-campus and part-time positions.

• UMBC Fall Career & Internship Fair: Wednesday, September 16
  Meet more than 120 employers representing corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations recruiting UMBC students and alumni for internships and full-time opportunities. Students from every major and every stage of their academic journey are encouraged to attend.

• You can view the full calendar of events in our myUMBC group, and be sure to follow us for updates!

Some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom. A conversation with an employer, an internship, an on-campus job, a research opportunity, or a leadership role can become a transformative experience that helps you discover new interests, build confidence, and prepare for what's next. Challenge yourself this year to say "yes" to opportunities that help you grow personally, academically, and professionally.

Welcome to our newest Retrievers, welcome back to our returning students, and best wishes for a successful and rewarding fall semester. I'm excited to see what you'll accomplish this year.

Warm regards,

Christine Routzahn
Director, Career Center

Yesterday, Procurement held August's Supplier Spotlight with Amazon Business.  If you were unable to make it, here are the resources to view at your convenience.

A recording of the session (60 minutes) can be viewed at this link.

Slides from the presentation can be viewed at this link.

Our Supplier Spotlight for September will be with 4imprint.  Look for details to follow.

Great news, UMBC Travelers! We’ve just activated the UMBC Travel Card transaction feed in SAP Concur to streamline your travel reconciliation process and reduce manual paperwork.

What’s new? Your prepaid travel expenses (like airfare and train tickets) and booking fees will now automatically flow directly into your Available Expenses queue! This means less manual data entry for you and improved budget accuracy for your department.

While the system does a lot of the heavy lifting, there are a few quick steps you'll need to take to clear your queue before submitting an expense report—especially regarding travel agent fees.

We promise this new process is easy! Read the full details on our travel webpage and watch the quick Available Expenses – Assigning to an Expense Report mini demo to see just how simple it is.

If a flight was purchased through Concur/Altour before 8/8/26, the automated transaction feed was not yet in effect. As UMBC Travel Card is no longer an option to select for the payment type, please process your Expense Report as you normally would, with the following changes:

• Select UMBC P-Card as the payment type.

• Add a comment to the expense noting that you were unable to select UMBC Travel Card as the payment type.

This is a temporary transition process and applies only to flights purchased prior to 8/8/26.

Upcoming Training & Support Sessions

• September 3, 2026: Traveler Training (Virtual), 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

• September 9, 2026: Drop-In Help Desk (Virtual), 10:30 am to 11:30 am

• September 17, 2026: Traveler Training (Virtual), 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

• September 21, 2026: Traveler Training (LIVE), 10:30 am to 1:00 pm (Location TBD)

• September 30, 2026: Drop-In Help Desk (Virtual), 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Please visit and follow our myUMBC group to save your spot.  

Want to make a real impact on campus culture, gain valuable leadership skills, and earn Retriever Dollars?

The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) is recruiting Peer Dialogue Leads for our Fall 2026 Student Climate focus groups!

In this role, you’ll partner with a staff/faculty member during 1 to 3 focus groups this semester to help break the ice, encourage open dialogue, and ensure your fellow engineering and computing peers feel safe and heard. At the end of the semester, you’ll also help review the findings to directly influence recommendations made to COEIT leadership.

What’s in it for you?

• Earn While You Lead: $25 in Retriever Dollars added to your campus card per focus group session you support and reflect upon. 
• Low Pressure, High Impact Time Commitment: You’ll participate in 1 lunch training + 1 to 3 focus groups over the semester + 1 end-of-semester data review for a total of approximately 5-8 hours over the semester). 
• Build Resume Skills: Gain hands-on experience in inclusive leadership, active listening, and problem-solving—skills top engineering and tech employers look for.

Full position details are attached or available via this link.

How to Apply:

Fill out this quick, 5-minute application form: https://forms.gle/SHiv5PaFMGj5BhdS6

(Note: You must be signed into your UMBC account).

Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply by Monday, August 31st for best consideration!

Questions? Reach out to Jess Myers at jessm@umbc.edu.

I'm moving and selling several household items. Everything is used but in good condition unless noted otherwise.

📍 Pickup at my apartment in Gwynn Oak

📸 Pictures are attached — please see the photos for condition and details.

• 🍽️ Dining table + 3 chairs — $50 OBO
  One chair needs some repair. Selling as-is.

• 🪵 Large wooden coffee table — $25

• 🪑 Wooden rocking chair — $20

• 🧹 Bissell PowerForce Compact Turbo vacuum — $25

• ☕ Cuisinart coffee maker — $15

• 🔊 Amazon Echo Dot — $15

• 📡 ARRIS SURFboard SBG10 modem/router — $25 OBO

• 🔥 Lasko tower heater — $15

• 💡 Floor lamp — $15

• 👕 Folding drying rack — $10

• 🚶 Walker — $15

• 🥪 Nostalgia sandwich maker — $5

• 🖼️ Folding tray table — FREE

💰 Prices are negotiable, especially if you're interested in multiple items!

Cash or Venmo accepted. Pickup only. First come, first served.

📩 Message me here or email me at golnazm1@umbc.edu if you're interested.

Join us in the Graduate Student and Postdoc Development (GSPD) unit this fall for the Teaching Assistant ADVANCED Series, a 5-session professional development workshop series designed to support Teaching Assistants, Postdocs, and graduate students in general in building effective, inclusive, and transferable teaching skills. It is also a opportunity to earn a CIRTL certificate!

      Location:Admin 218 Conference Room and Hybrid on Webex
      Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
      When: THURSDAYS this Fall
      Hosted by: Dr. Robin Cresiski & Dr. Jamie Gurganus 

Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule:

Click each date to sign up!

1. September 17: Reverse Course Design

2. October 1: Writing an Inclusive Syllabus

3. October 15: Lesson Planning

4. October 29: Designing Assessments

5. November 12: Leveraging Group Work

This 5-session series contributes toward earning a CIRTL Certificate, a strong addition to your CV or resume and a valuable credential for future academic and professional opportunities.

We hope you will join us for a fall of learning, reflection, and community-building!

Please sign up for each session by clicking on the links abve and add to your calendar. We will send a reminder e-mail closer to each workshop date to those who RSVP to each session.

We also have a TA Basic Skills series; check it out!

Share this post and the flyer below with your fellow TAs, postdocs, and graduate students. You can still earn a CIRTL certificate if you are not a TA--all graduate students are eligible!

OF possible interest to help kick off the year...

Guard Maryland: Cyber Showdown 2026

A free, live, in-person capture-the-flag cyber defense competition sponsored by the Maryland Air National Guard, the Towson University Cyber Defense Club, and Hack The Box. This competition is open to students at Maryland Community Colleges, Colleges, and Universities. Participant skill level can be anywhere from novice to expert. Students will be assigned to teams.

When? / Where?Saturday, September 12, 2026
9:00 – 4:30

Towson University Cyber Center
10 W. Burke Ave
Towson, MD

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SBpjXe32uPGYEB9e6
Registration Deadline: September 5, 2026

To register, visit https://bit.ly/4g9srry  

The Shriver Center is cleaning house!  We have a variety of toners available (see attachment).  If your department can use one or more, please email:  shirleyc@umbc.edu with a date, time, and which toner(s) you would like to pick up.  

Early birds get first choice--thank you!!

Jamie Gurganus,’04, M.S. ’11, Ph.D. ’20, mechanical engineering, assistant teaching professor in UMBC's Engineering and Computing Education Program and director of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, has received the Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). The award, established in 2000, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing international education at public higher education institutions.

“Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Gurganus on winning the 2026 Malone Award,” APLU President Waded Cruzado said in a press release. “Her efforts to advance international education have increased global learning opportunities for students, advanced international skills among faculty, and bolstered global research partnerships.” 

Gurganus has expanded global engineering education at UMBC by developing a multidisciplinary, international learning model, based on an approach called Collaborative Online International Learning, that connects students across multiple countries. It broadens the international experience available to students from isolated study abroad opportunities to accessible, curriculum-integrated international collaborations. Students are prepared to collaborate across cultures and address complex global challenges. Gurganus also played a significant role in advancing faculty development through UMBC’s Global Learning Lab, which provides a collaborative framework for instructors to exchange best practices, develop innovative approaches, and expand access to global learning across the curriculum. Gurganus was recognized Aug. 3 at the APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting. 

“Throughout my career, I've believed that engineering and computing education should extend beyond classrooms and borders,” Gurganus says. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it celebrates something I care deeply about: when we intentionally bring together students, faculty, and institutions across borders to solve meaningful challenges, we don't simply broaden perspectives; we generate better ideas, stronger collaborations, and more thoughtful engineers, innovators, and leaders. Some of the most impactful innovation happens when people with different experiences challenge one another's assumptions, learn from one another, and work toward a shared purpose.” 

Photo: Jamie Gurganus, left, accepts 2026 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award at APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting (Photo courtesy of Gurganus)