To: The UMBC Community

From: President Freeman Hrabowski

I am very encouraged by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ selection of Robert Caret as our next Chancellor. He is a strong leader and will do a fine job as Chancellor.

The official announcement from Regents chair, James Shea, is available here. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Caret back to Maryland.

UMBC was named a 2015 Best Value College by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, recognized on both the Best Value Public University list and “top 300” national Best Value University list. The ranking recognizes affordable four-year schools with outstanding academics. 

The ranking is created through assessing admission rates, student-faculty ratio, four-year graduation rates, financial aid and more. This year marks the sixth consecutive year UMBC has appeared on the list, a testament to the value the university consistently provides.

Click here to view the Best Value list. 

UMBC has again been recognized on the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The award is the highest federal recognition of a university’s commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement, and is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

UMBC was recognized in the General Community Service category, which honors universities with established campus-community partnerships that engage in community service and service-learning. Click here to learn more about the award.

Every so often, we highlight the importance of student scholarships by introducing you to the very students they help to succeed. Today, we’re featuring Danielle Bouchard ‘15, social work, who is an Alumni Association General Scholarship recipient.

Name: Danielle Bouchard
Major: Social work and print media minor
Extra Curricular Activities: NASW Member, BSW Representative for NASW, Meals on Wheels Volunteer, President of the Social Work Student Association, Vice President of Phi Alpha Honor Society, and avid rock climber.
Scholarship received: Alumni Association Scholarship

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?
I wanted to attend an institution that provided opportunities for research, had a diverse student population, and was in close proximity to Washington, D.C. I was also drawn to UMBC because of the reputation of its social work program.

Q: What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
I am able to interact and study with students from an array of different ethnicities, races, and cultures. I am able to have intellectual conversations with students who have opposing views on topics discussed in and outside of class.

Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind.
My first semester at UMBC I enrolled in SOWK 200 taught by Dr. Guzman-Rae. She opened my mind to the vastness and versatility of a social work degree. I was introduced to the various types of roles social workers can play: macro, mezzo, and micro. We can be brokers, advocates, counselors, educators, facilitators, or a combination of them all.

Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
If I did not receive any scholarship support, I would have had to postpone attending school full-time and have work another job to offset the expenses of attending school. It is extremely important to me to receive these scholarships so I can focus on my education and my long-term career goals. In addition, without the Gilman Scholarship I would not have the resources to study abroad in Ecuador and Peru this past term.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?
My involvement in the Social Work Student Association. A couple students and I reignited SWSA by increasing membership and providing monthly opportunities for all students to become involved on and off campus helping other individuals within the community.

Q: What would you say to the people who provided your scholarship?
I have been fortunate enough to meet with two of the donors of my scholarships and will hopefully meet with the third within the coming months. I expressed my gratitude for their generous donation and explained how the scholarship has helped me further my education.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation?
I hope to be accepted into the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India. I want to work with victims of human trafficking in rural areas of India. After the program, I hope to attend UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and School of Social Welfare.