Hear ye, hear ye!

A carriage departs for bwtech! Secure thy place on this quest!

Come join hackUMBC to visit bwtech on February 6th, 2026 from 11:30am to 1:30pm! 

The events include: presentations from companies, a panel regarding the impact of AI in entrepreneurship, lunch (which is provided), and a networking hour.

Use the google form link below to fill our sign up. The form closes on February 4th at 4pm, so make sure you fill it out before then! You will receive a confirmation email on February 5th with details on how to get to bwtech.

Google Form Link

While many of us have been busy digging out from the snow and trying to stay warm, this week, January 26–30, is Data Privacy Week. This international effort empowers individuals and organizations to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. For me, the timing prompted an important moment of reflection on the work I have been fortunate to be part of over the past two years, and on where UMBC is headed as we continue to build a mature, thoughtful, and values-driven approach to privacy.

From Research to Implementation

My name is Dr. Laura Mateczun, and my privacy work at UMBC began as a Ph.D. graduate assistant working with Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Jack Suess, on the implementation of Maryland's Higher Education Data Privacy Law during FY24, while I was completing my doctoral research. In April 2025, I successfully defended my dissertation and was conferred my Ph.D., and shortly thereafter, joined UMBC full-time in a hybrid role.

Today, I serve in two key roles: 

• Assistant Director of Digital Trust: Within the Division of IT's Cybersecurity Assurance & Digital Trust team, led by CISO Stacy Cahill, I focus primarily on privacy strategy.
• Assistant Director of the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute: I develop partnerships to expand cybersecurity initiatives and research. In this role, I also direct the UMBC Cybersecurity Clinic, an experiential learning program where students help public-sector organizations—such as water systems and electrical grids—strengthen their cyber defenses.

Milestones in Transparency

One of our most significant privacy milestones has been the launch of privacy.umbc.edu. We intentionally designed this site to be more than just a compliance requirement. It is a living resource for our community. It explains how data is used, protected, and governed at UMBC in clear, accessible language. While we drew inspiration from peer institutions, including the University of Michigan, the content is uniquely tailored to reflect UMBC's culture, values, and operational realities.

The Path Ahead

Looking forward, our vision extends far beyond a single website or law. Alongside Stacy Cahill and partners across campus, we are working to embed privacy into everyday decision-making. This will impact how we procure new systems and how we share and eventually retire data.

Our goals include:

• Strengthening privacy governance and transparency.
• Supporting responsible research and innovation.
• Helping students and staff understand their vital role in protecting data.

We also launched UMBC's new cybersecurity newsletter, which highlights important developments in cybersecurity and privacy, shares timely tips and resources, and spotlights work across campus that helps us all protect data and manage risk. If you're interested in staying informed about privacy and cybersecurity efforts at UMBC, I encourage you to subscribe.

A Commitment to Stewardship

Data Privacy Week is a reminder that privacy is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing commitment to trust, stewardship, and accountability. I am grateful to be part of a community that takes this work seriously, and I am excited about where UMBC is headed as we continue to grow our privacy program in the years ahead.

For more information about UMBC's privacy efforts, I encourage you to visit privacy.umbc.edu, and to follow the work of the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute as we continue to advance security and privacy in service of our campus and the broader public.

Dr. Laura Mateczun

Associate Director of Digital Trust

Assistant Director of UMBC Cybersecurity Institute

Director of UMBC Cybersecurity Clinic

lam6@umbc.edu

LUNCH & LEARN: How AutoML is Democratizing AI

11:30-1:30 Wed., February 11, 2026

bwtech NORTH, 5520 Research Park Drive, Suite 235

Exclusively for the bwtech community and UMBC faculty.

• Discover how AutoML (Automated Machine Learning) is making AI accessible to all businesses – minimal coding needed
• Learn to apply AI insights to solve real business problems in hours or days, not months
• Gain insight into using AutoML to create, deploy and test ML models for your use case

UMBC Community,

Please see the dining hours below for Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30.

True Grit's Dining Hall

• Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM

• Continental Breakfast: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

• Lunch: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Dinner: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

• Late Night: 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM

True Grit's Market

• Open from 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM

Retail Locations

• Chick-fil-A: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Starbucks: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Einstein Bros. Bagels: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

For the most up-to-date dining hours and any additional changes, please visit Dine On Campus.

Thank you!

Due to weather conditions, the Grad Kickstart kickoff events have been rescheduled for everyone's safety.

Don't worry — nothing is cancelled. Updates will be shared soon on MyUMBC and social media. We can't wait to welcome you, Grad Retrievers!

Dear UMBC Community,

As crews continue to work to address road and walkway conditions related to this past weekend's inclement weather, UMBC's physical campus will remain closed until 5 a.m., Saturday, January 31. We will continue to evaluate conditions so please check your text and email for updates. 

All in-person and remote (synchronous) classes will begin on Monday, February 2, unless further closings or delays are announced. Asynchronous online classes will occur as scheduled, and instructors are encouraged to consider asynchronous learning to make up for missed class time this week. Students are encouraged to check Blackboard and their university email for updates on academic coursework, as faculty may implement asynchronous learning.

Due to the continued campus closure, the Spring 2026 Schedule Adjustment (Add/Drop) deadline has been extended from Friday, February 6 to Friday, February 13. Deactivation of waitlists will also be extended from Monday, February 2, to Monday, February 9. 

The women's basketball game scheduled for Thursday night and the women's lacrosse scrimmage scheduled for Friday will continue as planned; please visit the Athletics site for additional information. UMBC Athletics urges safety first to those who wish to attend Thursday's women's basketball game. Friday's women's lacrosse scrimmage will not be open to the public. Other campus events scheduled during the closure will be canceled.  

Residential students will continue to receive instructions from the Office of Residential Life via email regarding any updates around move-in, dining options, and other support services. 

All employees should refer to the Guidance for Employees section and matrix at the bottom of the Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Guide to find guidance for leave during the spring semester. If you have a telework or remote agreement you should work virtually (unless arrangements have been made with your supervisor). We ask that supervisors be flexible as conditions change and responsibilities vary; allowing an adaptable schedule or liberal leave for employees who are working virtually is appropriate. Your safety is our top priority.

Thank you again to the many campus employees who continue to work diligently to make the campus safe for our community. 

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Lynne Adams
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

commonvision, UMBC Student Design and Print Center will reopen Monday, February 2 at 9 a.m. 

Due to the UMBC closures, we ask for patience as we address all orders. We will follow up to let customers know if their original completion date will need to be updated.

If your job request is for a specific date or event, please let us know. We will accommodate as best we can.

Following up on an order? Please reply to the original message you sent, not our automated response, and not a new email chain. This will keep all communication in a single email chain.