For students, college life can be an exciting time- lots of opportunities for new experiences, relationships, and learning about the world and ourselves. It can sometimes also be a difficult and stressful time that can challenge a student's emotional and physical health. Some students may feel they need extra support to cope with personal issues that may be interfering with their ability to make the most of their UMBC experience and others may just benefit from our range of health and mental health services.
Through trauma-informed, culturally sensitive counseling services, our counselors work collaboratively with students to improve their emotional well-being, balance priorities, enhance interpersonal relationships, empower them with useful coping skills to attain success in and out of the classroom, and support them to access additional outside services to meet their needs. Our counselors come from a variety of backgrounds and specializations.
All counseling services are free and confidential. We provide short-term individual counseling, group counseling, performance enhancement consultations, as well as crisis intervention, outreach, consultation, and referral services. For faculty, staff, and student families, our counseling team is available to consult regarding how to support a student.
For students, our medical team provides both primary and limited urgent care services, including annual well and gynecological (GYN) visits, updating vaccinations and boosters, screening for various diseases, and treating acute illnesses and minor injuries. We also provide psychiatry, acupuncture services, and dietitian consultations. Our medical team operates like an outside doctors office in that they bill insurance and payments can be billed to your student account.
RIH also offers a wide variety of Free Online Supports for students, including:
Togetherall- an anonymous, online peer support community
Welltrack Boost- virtual self-help modules, mood tracker, zen room, and screening tools
Welltrack Connect- an online database and communication tool to assist you in finding mental health treatment in the community
We are located at the Center for Wellbeing across from the library. More information is available on our website at health.umbc.edu.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at RIH@umbc.edu if you have any questions.
The AOK Library has just recently added three new, timely research guides into the library’s webpage, hot off the press:
These research guides cover artificial intelligence, AI literacy, and AI ethics; government information and data rescue for the preservation of accurate, trusted online sources; and newspaper databases and popular news sources compiled into one location for convenient, easy access.
The 3 new research guides (and many others) can be found on our webpage at library.umbc.edu under “Research Guides” in the “Research Help” tab. Ask a Librarian through chat for any questions related to the research guides, orschedule an appointmentfor assistance getting started on your own research - no matter where you are in the process!
Dear UMBC Community,
Thank you to all who attended last week’s Fall Opening Meeting, whether in person or virtually. It was a terrific gathering of staff, faculty, students—and even some UMBC family members. What an inspiring way to start the semester!
If you were unable to attend, I invite you to watch the recording of the event. We shared updates on several important topics, including great news about the incoming class, the latest on the impacts of federal actions and orders on UMBC, a budget update, and our work ahead on the strategic plan. We also got a sneak peek of the newly renovated portion of Sherman Hall, and previewed UMBC Arts+, the arts initiative launching this fall—including a performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Linehan Concert Hall on September 17.
As we came together to reflect on how much progress we have made since last year’s Fall Opening Meeting and looked to what is ahead for this academic year, it was particularly meaningful to meet and hear remarks from three students who are beginning their UMBC journeys this fall: First-year students Lexi Malenfant and Andrew Whipple, and Archana Thakkar, a transfer student joining the Honors College from the Community College of Baltimore County. Hearing directly from students—learning about their passions and why they chose UMBC—is the best reminder of why we are here and how important our work is. My thanks to Lexi, Andrew, and Archana for sharing their stories with us, and welcome to UMBC.
I am energized and so proud to be a part of this extraordinary institution. Thank you for all you do for UMBC. Let’s get this semester started!
Sincerely,
President Valerie Sheares Ashby
Robert Barry spent his undergraduate years thinking about the past, not the recent past, but the Minoan Bronze Age civilization of ancient Greece, which existed approximately 1750 to 1050 BC. This was not a passion Barry brought to UMBC. In fact, he had no interest in archeology and had never heard of the Minoan civilization until he chose to learn Greek with Michael Lane, associate professor of ancient studies, during his sophomore year.
(l-r): Michael P. Fischer ’24, ancient studies, Lane, and Barry at the 2024 ancient studies field school. (Michael F. Lane/UMBC)
The language class set off an unexpected domino effect. Barry enjoyed learning from Lane, which piqued his interest in his archeology classes. He soon found himself enrolling in one archeology class after another, eventually preparing him to spend three summers working on an archeological site in mainland Greece. “What caught my eye was the art and architecture of Minoan civilization. I’ve always been interested in material culture with my degree in ancient studies and visual arts, but I became more interested in ancient civilizations,” says Barry. “I wanted to learn more about how people use art and architecture as expressions of individuality and power.”
Having the courage to pursue the unexpected led Barry to two prestigious opportunities that could help launch his career in ancient studies. This spring, Barry received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to study archeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was admitted to the University of Oxford’s Master’s of Philosophy in Classical Archaeology. Barry, who had to choose between the two opportunities, ultimately decided on the program at Oxford, excited at being involved in research with leading experts.
“One of the reasons I chose Oxford is the network of field archeologists whom I had heard about from peers at Oxford,” says Barry. “I am interested in working with an expert in Aegean palace economies. I decided to accept the offer so that I could work with Lisa Bendall, associate professor in Aegean archeology.”
Barry leaves for Oxford in October, but not without imparting some advice to his fellow Retrievers that inspired him to apply for both opportunities, “Apply to whatever programs you want to pursue. It is better to apply now and get rejected than regret that you never tried later on.”
Learn more about UMBC’s global education opportunities.
]]>The Bookstore's Fall Hours have begun!
Monday–Thursday: 8 AM to 5 PM
Friday: 8 AM to 4 PM
The Bookstore will be closed on most weekends, but you can visit: bookstore.umbc.edu for information on special weekend events and Team Store hours!
]]>Whether you’re just beginning to explore generative AI or already building confidence, each episode meets you where you are. We’re all navigating how to learn and teach with this evolving technology, and our guests share practical, real-world examples to help you along the way. We hope these conversations inspire you to take your next step, however small, in exploring AI's potential in your own teaching practice.
Episode Lineup
The carefully curated lineup features faculty from diverse disciplines and institutions who understand the caution many faculty (and students) feel about AI
The series is hosted by:
How to Listen
The first episode is available now, Monday, August 25 on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also listen directly on the AI, Unscripted Podcast Limited Series page. New episodes will be released bi-weekly through December 15th.
Share Your Journey
We invite you to share your own questions, hesitations, or early experiments with AI in teaching. Connect with us on LinkedIn using #AIUnscripted or email your thoughts to aiunscripted@usmd.edu. Your perspective matters, especially if you're just beginning to explore these tools. Your questions and experiences could help shape future resources for faculty across Maryland.
Co-sponsored by the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, the USM Council of University System Faculty, and MarylandOnline.