- - Apply by June 19, 11:59 p.m.

Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks Horticulture Division is hiring a Horticultural Assistant based out of the Rawlings Conservatory. This is a full-time, benefited position. Driver’s license required.

Candidates who have experience with landscaping, tropical and desert greenhouse plants, and garden design are especially encouraged to apply.

Description:

Join us Thursday, June 18 at Admin Coffee Shop or Piccola Italia for a summer favorite!

Enjoy Two Roseda Beef Hot Dogs + Chips for just $7.99.

Available one day only while supplies last.

📍- Admin Coffee Shop & Piccola Italia
📅 - Thursday, June 18
💲- $7.99

The Library is digitizing old issues of the UMBC Review and making them available in ScholarWorks@UMBC. We've been able to obtain all of the issues except vol 14 (2013) from Undergrad Research, and we don't have that issue in the Library. Do you any of you have it and would you be willing to lend it to us to so that we can scan it to make it available online? If so, please contact Michelle Flinchbaugh, flinchba@umbc.edu, Digital Scholarship Services Librarian.

Undergraduate Data Science and AI Scholars

Fall 2026 Call for Applications 

Deadline: Friday, July 10

We are pleased to announce the Undergraduate Data Science and AI Scholars program for supporting students in Fall 2026. The Data Science and AI Scholars program welcomes undergraduate scholars from multiple disciplines, including non-STEM majors, who will examine all aspects of data and its impact on society.

This year, scholars will have the opportunity to be teaching fellows or research fellows. Scholars will be able to work on research projects in Climate Science, Deepfake detection, and other data science-related projects. Students selected through this effort will be part of the Data Science and AI Scholars program, which will be run in partnership with the Center for Women in Technology (CWIT), the Information Systems Department (IS), and the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3). Selected scholars will be assigned to respective affiliations (CWIT/IS or CS3) depending on the student's major, and the scholars' expectations per affiliation are as follows:

Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Responsibilities:

Research Fellows

• Scholars who will work as research fellows will work on a supervised research project and be mentored by faculty. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week during Fall 2026.
• Scholars will attend at least two events in Fall 2026 and/or participate in research initiatives and professional development for their leadership growth and mentoring. Mentors will coordinate this at CWIT.
• Scholars will need to register as CWIT Affiliates to participate in the 2 required events.
  Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.
  

Teaching Fellows

• Scholars will work as teaching fellows and peer mentors for undergraduate students in IS 296 - Foundations of Data Science, and support students throughout the course.. The scholars will devote time to mentoring and leadership development efforts for their advancement. The cohort of scholars will meet as a group under the supervision of the IS 296 instructor. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week during Fall 2026.

• Scholars who will work as teaching fellows will be expected to be available to assist with classes and also present during lectures. Fall 2026 class schedule is as follows: Mondays 4:30 - 7:00 pm (Instructor: Dr. Karen Chen), and Wednesdays 4:30 - 7:00 pm (Instructor: Zehra Zaidi)

• Scholars will be required to attend one mentoring meeting per month with the coordinator
  Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center. 

Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) Responsibilities:

Research Fellows 

• Scholars who will work as research fellows will work on a supervised research project and be mentored by faculty. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week during Fall 2026.
• Scholars will attend at least two events in Fall 2026 and/or participate in research initiatives and professional development for their leadership growth and mentoring. Mentors will coordinate this at CS3.
• Scholars will also be expected to attend one mentoring meeting with the faculty.
  Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.

Background and Skills:

ALL applicants should have knowledge in AT LEAST ONE of the following:

• Analysis of social, behavioral, economic, or geographic data
• Python or one of the data science tools and/or languages (such as R, Rapid Miner, Weka, Orange, Knime, ML on cloud computing)
• Jupyter Notebooks with Python or taken IS 296 in a prior semester.

Application Form:

Interested students should complete the Google Submission Form, OR access the form using the following link: https://forms.gle/FFUAa5RpDNMGYvTY9 by Friday, July 10, 2026.

Questions:
For questions, please email our team at DataScienceAIScholars@umbc.edu
To learn more about potential projects, please check out the following websites:
➔ https://www.umces.edu/chesapeake-global-collaboratory
➔ https://iharp.umbc.edu
➔ https://mdata.umbc.edu/deep-fake-detection/
➔ https://socialscience.umbc.edu/

Dear UMBC Community,

We write to you today on behalf of the Federal Orders and Actions Core Team to update you on some recent federal government actions and how they will or may impact UMBC.

OMB Proposed Regulation for Federal Assistance

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed the Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance to substantially revise the federal grants framework. OMB’s proposed "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance" is the most significant update to the Uniform Guidance in decades, impacting over $60 billion in federal research and social assistance programs, such as Medicaid and FEMA. The proposed rule expands executive branch authority and incorporates several executive orders—including restrictions on DEI and gender-affirming care funding.

The 320-plus proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance would fundamentally alter the awarding and monitoring of federal grants. For higher education and research institutions, these changes threaten to increase administrative and compliance burdens, shift more costs to recipients, and expand institutional liability. Ultimately, these revisions risk slowing the pace of U.S. scientific discovery and innovation.

The significant changes in this proposal were highlighted in a three-page joint statement recently issued by the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Council on Research (APLU-COR), and the Council on Government Relations (COGR).

The proposed rules are prompting coordinated responses nationwide. We are in regular contact with colleagues across the University System of Maryland (USM) regarding these proposed changes and are discussing options for an institutional response in coordination with other USM institutions to inform our federal congressional delegation of the potential impact should these proposed regulations become law.

The proposal is currently open for public comment through July 13, 2026, with a stated intent for the regulation to become effective October 1, 2026. We are also actively reviewing the proposed revisions, monitoring updates from AAU, and contributing to and benefitting from the national conversation through APLU-COR and COGR.

We will continue to update you as the situation with this proposed rule evolves. 

Update on USCIS Adjudicative Hold on Applications and $100,000 H1-B Policy

There have been developments in two federal policy court cases as outlined below. 

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Adjudicative Hold on Applications for Certain Immigration Benefits Struck Down by District Court

On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued an updated policy memorandum, expanding on its December 2, 2025, memorandum, directing USCIS personnel to place a hold on all pending immigration benefit applications submitted by nationals of countries and territories included in the Trump administration's travel ban. It also called for a review of previously approved applications.

On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a memorandum and order declaring the USCIS Global Asylum Hold Policy, the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, and the Country-Specific Factors Policy unlawful. 

On June 12, 2026, USCIS confirmed that it would follow the terms of the court’s order pending possible further judicial review.

The Trump administration has indicated that it intends to appeal the court’s decision, but unless and until that happens, UMBC students, faculty, and staff from travel ban countries and territories should no longer be subject to adjudicative holds or reviews of approvals previously made by USCIS.

• $100,000 H-1B Fee Policy Vacated by District Court, However Vacate Order is Temporarily Paused to Allow an Appeal

Last September, President Trump issued a proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” requiring employers to make payment of a $100,000 government fee per each individual H-1B employee seeking to enter the United States, unless an exception is granted. In response, the State of Maryland joined a coalition of 19 other states in suing over this policy. UMBC filed a declaration supporting this multi-state suit.

On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the $100,000 fee created a tax for which the president did not have the authority to impose. However, on June 12, 2026, the district court temporarily paused its order vacating that fee because the government is requesting an appeal. The district court has given the government until June 18, 2026, to file its appeal. If the government does not file their appeal by that deadline, the lower court’s vacate order will be reinstated.

While the vacate order is paused, USCIS is permitted to require the $100,000 fee for petitions that are filed for or require consular processing.

We recognize that the unpredictability of federal rulemaking and policy can be distressing for members of our UMBC community. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to stay ahead of the shifting landscape and communicate to our community about what we are doing in response. We appreciate your partnership and understanding as our campus community navigates the current environment. 

Regards,

Karl V. Steiner
Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement and Chief Research Officer

David L. Di Maria
Vice Provost for Global Engagement

We are pleased to announce the Undergraduate Data Science and AI Scholars program for supporting students in Fall 2026. The Data Science and AI Scholars program welcomes undergraduate scholars from multiple disciplines, including non-STEM majors, who will examine all aspects of data and its impact on society. This year, scholars will have the opportunity to be teaching fellows or research fellows. Scholars will be able to work on research projects in Climate Science, Deepfake detection, and other data science-related projects. 

Students selected through this effort will be part of the Data Science and AI Scholars program, which will be run in partnership with the Center for Women in Technology (CWIT), the Information Systems Department (IS), and the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3).

 
Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) Responsibilities:
Research Fellows
● Scholars who will work as research fellows will work on a supervised research project and be mentored by faculty. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week during Fall 2026.
● Scholars will attend at least two events in Fall 2026 and/or participate in research initiatives and professional development for their leadership growth and mentoring. Mentors will coordinate this at CS3.
● Scholars will also be expected to attend one mentoring meeting with the faculty.
● Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.

Background and Skills:
ALL applicants should have knowledge in AT LEAST ONE of the following:
● Analysis of social, behavioral, economic, or geographic data
● Python or one of the data science tools and/or languages (such as R, Rapid Miner, Weka, Orange, Knime, ML on cloud computing)
● Jupyter Notebooks with Python or taken IS 296 in a prior semester.

Application:
Interested students should complete the Google Submission Form, OR access the form using the following link: https://forms.gle/FFUAa5RpDNMGYvTY9 by Friday, July 10, 2026.

Questions:
Please email our team at DataScienceAIScholars@umbc.edu
To learn more about potential projects, please check out the following websites:
➔ https://www.umces.edu/chesapeake-global-collaboratory
➔ https://iharp.umbc.edu
➔ https://mdata.umbc.edu/deep-fake-detection/
➔ https://socialscience.umbc.edu/

Email is one of the most universal communication tools we have at UMBC, and one of the most commonly overlooked places where accessibility breaks down. Whether you’re sending a department update, a meeting invitation, or a campus-wide announcement, the way you format your email affects whether every recipient can actually read and understand it. For users who use screen readers, have low vision, or rely on assistive technology, a poorly formatted email isn’t just inconvenient -- it’s a barrier. The good news: accessible emails are also clearer, better organized, and easier for everyone to read.

These tips apply to Gmail, UMBC’s primary email platform, but the principles carry across any email client.

1. Write a Descriptive, Meaningful Subject Line

Your subject line is the first thing a screen reader announces. Vague subject lines like “FYI,” “Update,” or “Important” don’t tell the recipient what to expect or how urgently to act.

• Be specific: “Staff Meeting Agenda – Thursday, July 10” is more useful than “Agenda.”

• Skip the emoji in subject lines. Screen readers read the emoji name aloud (e.g., “check mark button” and this can bury your actual message.

• Avoid all caps. Screen readers may spell out letters individually, and all caps are harder to read visually. 

• Front-load the most important information: “Action Required: Submit Your Training Confirmation by Friday.”

2. Keep Your Structure Simple and Scannable

Long blocks of unbroken text are hard for everyone to read, and especially difficult for screen reader users who need to navigate content linearly. Use structure to make your emails easier to process.

• Use short paragraphs. One idea per paragraph is a good rule of thumb.

• Use real lists (Gmail’s bulleted or numbered list buttons in the formatting toolbar) rather than typing dashes or asterisks manually.

• If your email covers multiple topics, use Gmail’s bold text to create visual section breaks, but use it sparingly so emphasis stays meaningful.

• Avoid using tables for layout in email. Table rendering is inconsistent across email clients, and tables can be confusing for screen reader users.

3. Make Your Links Descriptive

Links in emails are frequently formatted as raw URLs or vague phrases. Both create problems for screen reader users, who often navigate emails by jumping between links.

• Instead of “Click Here” or “Please register using this link: [long link]” you should write: “Register for the July accessibility workshop.” Then embed the link to the descriptive phrase. 

  • In Gmail: Highlight the text you want to link, press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac), and paste the URL. The visible text, not the URL, becomes the link.

• Avoid linking entire sentences. Link only the meaningful phrase.

4. Use Color and Formatting Thoughtfully

Color can add visual emphasis, but it should never be the only way you communicate information. Recipients with color blindness or low vision may not perceive color differences the way you intend.

• Don’t rely on color alone to indicate importance. Pair color with bold, italics, or explicit language (“Note:” or “Reminder:”).

• Ensure text color has sufficient contrast against the background. Gmail’s default black text on white background is already contrast-compliant. Avoid overriding it with light gray or other low-contrast colors.

• Use bold and italics for emphasis sparingly. Excessive formatting is as hard to read as none.

5. Add Alt Text to Images in Gmail

If you include images in your email -- for example, logos, banners, charts, or photos -- they need alternative text so recipients using screen readers understand what the image conveys.

• In Gmail: Insert an image, then click it and select “Edit alt text.”

• Write a brief description of what the image communicates, not just what it looks like.

• If the image is purely decorative (a banner or divider), consider whether it’s necessary to use it at all. Decorative images in email can slow load times and add clutter.

• Never embed essential information, especially text like event information, only in an image. If the image doesn’t load or can’t be read, that information disappears.

6. Send Attachments That Are Actually Accessible

An email can be well-formatted, while the file attached to it is not. Before attaching a document, take a moment to confirm it will work for every recipient.

• Run the Accessibility Checker in Word or PowerPoint (Review > Check Accessibility) before attaching. It flags missing alt text, poor color contrast, and other common issues.

• For PDFs, export from the source file rather than scanning a paper document. Scanned PDFs are images of text, not readable text, and are inaccessible to screen readers by default.

• Check that your document has a logical structure: real headings, readable lists, and meaningful link text. The same principles that apply to your email apply to what you attach to it.

When in doubt, put the information in the email body instead. The most accessible attachment is one that doesn’t need to exist.

7. Test Before You Send

Before sending a high-stakes email to a large group, take 60 seconds to review it with accessibility in mind:

• Read your subject line out loud. Is it clear without any surrounding context?

• Read your link text out loud. Does each link tell you where it goes?

• Try removing all color from your email mentally. Does it still make sense?

• If you’ve included an image, check that it has alt text.

Accessible email takes only a little more time to write, and makes a significant difference for the colleagues and community members who receive it.

The Women's, Gender, & Equity Center Lounge will be closed from 11-2 pm on Thursday, June 18th, for a staff training and on Tuesday, June 23rd, for a meeting. The prayer and lactation room and the free shelf will still be available during these times. 

We will resume our normal 10-3 summer hours on Wednesday, June 24th. 

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns at womenscenter@umbc.edu

Women's, Gender, & Equity Center is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

The Women's, Gender, & Equity Center is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. If you have difficulties accessing any of the materials on our site or any of our events or discussions, please contact us so that we can provide an alternative format and/or remedy any accessibility challenges.

The University of Chicago's Discover UChicago program is now accepting applications for a fully-funded graduate school preview experience designed to help prospective students explore graduate education, connect with faculty, and learn how to build a competitive application.

• Domestic travel covered
• Two nights of lodging provided
• No cost to attend
• University of Chicago, Hyde Park Campus
• October 18–20, 2026

This program gives participants a behind-the-scenes look at graduate education at one of the world's leading research institutions while providing direct access to admissions staff, faculty, and current graduate students.

What You'll Do

• Attend graduate admissions workshops
• Meet world-renowned faculty and researchers
• Connect with current graduate students
• Learn how to submit a competitive graduate school application

Participating Schools & Divisions

• Arts & Humanities
• Booth School of Business (PhD only)
• Social Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
• Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
• Divinity School

Whether you're interested in STEM, business, public policy, humanities, social sciences, or interdisciplinary research, there are opportunities to explore a wide range of graduate programs.

🗓️ Application Deadline: August 9, 2026
🔗 Apply here: https://grad.uchicago.edu/admissions/discover/discover-uchicago-apply-and-faqs/