As UMBC approaches its 50th anniversary in 2016, the school is looking to expand the leadership and capacity in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

At a college where “the party is in the library,” UMBC has become a model for other campuses, especially in the science and technology areas of study. Along with the University of Maryland, College Park, UMBC is one of three research universities in Maryland and houses the first university-related research park in the state, bwtech@UMBC, creating a stimulating environment for students who are looking to expand their knowledge and gain experience in their fields.

To help UMBC grow and reach its full potential, the administration is looking for a candidate capable of working in a high-profile position and dealing with strategy development, relationship cultivation, and effective execution of communications and government and community relations to elevate, expand, and protect campus image and reputation. The Assistant Vice President will build strong relationships with academic, athletic, and administration leaders across campus while managing a team including the Director of Communications, the Director of Arts and Culture, three Communications Managers, and two junior staff members.

Qualifications include seven to 10 years experience in communications with at least two years in work related to the higher education sector, a bachelor’s degree, experience supervising others, dealing with crisis communications and developing and evaluating digital communications. Candidates should also be proactive, be able to present themselves appropriately according to different situations, make excellent judgement calls, and be respectful and trustworthy.

Applications are being accepted through July 30.

To see a full description, please click here.

• Grade Center
• Adaptive Release
• Collaborate
• Camtasia Relay

1. Orientation (5 minutes): A quick overview of what the tool does. If all you want is a demo, come early.
2. Recommendations (10 minutes): 1-2 tips based on our observations from providing faculty support, as well identification of effective practices  and practitioners.
3. Q & A (40 minutes): This is your time. What do you want to know? What's a problem you'd like to solve or a new opportunity you'd like to explore?

• Wednesday, August 20: ENG 025
• Wednesday, August 27: Virtual Session
• Wednesday, September 3: ENG 025
• Wednesday, September 10: Virtual Session
• Wednesday, September 17: ENG 025
• Wednesday, September 24: Virtual Session
• Wednesday, October 1: ENG 025
• Wednesday, October 8: Virtual Session
• Wednesday, October 22: Virtual Session
• Wednesday, October 29: ENG 025

Please note that these are not formal Blackboard training classes. Additional dates and times may be added as demand warrants.

The Baltimore Sun recently published an in-depth article on spring admissions policies at local universities, exploring them as a mechanism to expand access to higher education.

Dale Bittinger, assistant vice provost of Admissions and Orientation, discussed UMBC’s spring admissions policies, which enable some students to enroll in the spring if they take classes at a community college or another four-year university in the fall, without submitting another application to UMBC. Spring admissions can give students who are not initially offered admission to their first-choice school another opportunity to enroll.

Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for Maryland governor, decided last week to participate in the state’s public financing system in the fall election. Hogan is the first candidate in 20 years to do so for a statewide general election. Hogan will receive a grant of about $2.6 million from the state, and his campaign will not be allowed to spend more than that on the race.

Donald Norris, professor and chair of the public policy department, was interviewed about Hogan’s decision by The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun. “It surprises me a great deal that Hogan is going this way,” Norris told the Washington Post. “It tells me that the smart money is going elsewhere or people with money don’t think Hogan is going to win.”

In The Baltimore Sun, Norris said: “Nobody does this because they want to. They do this because they have to — and they have to because they can’t raise substantial amounts of money in any other way.” To read the full articles about Hogan’s decision, click below:

Republican Larry Hogan to use public funds in campaign for governor of Maryland (Washington Post)
Hogan opts for public financing in governor’s race (Baltimore Sun)

  

The Mission of PACAC is to safeguard, cultivate, and share the performing arts heritage and ongoing creativity of African culture.

Our Program focus is on authentic African Music, Rhythms and Dances of antiquity, and storytelling. We showcase a wide array of indigenous musical instruments and the colorful, traditional outfits necessary to provide a better understanding and promote the proper appreciation for African cultures.  

 Our goal is to safeguard, cultivate, and share the performing arts heritage, and the ongoing creativity of the various African cultures. These forms of expressions, their meanings, values, and the aesthetics embodied within them offer many benefits - physical, educational, spiritual, and social.

 Classes African Drumming: Provides students with practical performance experience on selected percussion instruments from Africa, like the Djembe drum. Experience the interpretation of rhythmic patterns and movement, with a brief overview of the historical and cultural context of specific African music forms relative to the Diaspora. This is an extraordinary opportunity to study African drumming with professional Artistes. African Drum lessons are held: Thursdays 6:30 - 7:20pm (Group Lesson)   Thursdays 7:30 - 8:20pm (Group Lesson)    Private lessons are by appointment only.

 African Dance gives students the opportunity to experience practical performances in traditional dance forms from Africa, including contemporary ones like the Azonto. This includes the interpretation of rhythmic patterns, movement and gestures, with a brief overview of the historical and cultural contexts of specific dance forms relative to the Diaspora. An amazing opportunity to study African dance forms with professional, experienced Artistes.  

…And More!

A Musical Journey Through West Africa

BESA Workout

Drum Circles

Workshops

After School Program

Exhibitions & Special Events

8576 laureldale drive

laurel, md 20724

Phone: [301] 526-2842

E-mail: info@pacafricancultures.org

Shifting control of the Internet from the consumer to those with the most wealth means the flow of content will go to the highest bidder, writes Lee Boot, a media researcher and IRC Associate Director, in Why Surrendering Control of the Internet to Market Forces is Crazy Talk, a commentary piece on net neutrality published in What Weekly.

“The Internet Service Providers we pay to connect our homes and business to the Internet and broker content, now want also to charge the content companies like Netflix according to the bandwidth their media require to deliver,” says Boot.

Boot compares the current threat of ISPs controlling the flow of content to when cable service providers promised ad-free digital access to television programming, only to slowly reintroduce advertising into subscriptions after the fact. The fear, Boot argues, is that ISPs—many of which used to be (and still are) cable providers—will honor companies that pay the most with choice quality and delivery.

“It would open a Pandora’s Box of ways to turn new media into the kind of restrictive tool of money and power TV was because it shifts power away from consumers (citizens) toward those with the power to manipulate the media landscape,” says Boot.

Read the full article »