CSEE professor Rebecca Williams will give a hybrid talk on Charting Student Misconceptions About Data Visualization hosted by UMBC DoIT’s Instruction Technology team from 12 to 1 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 2, in Engineering 102 and online. She will share the results and insights from ongoing work initiated through a UMBC Learning Analytics Fellowship award. Her project addresses persistent student misconceptions in data visualization courses, CMSC 436/636.

Using innovative teaching strategies, Professor Williams helps students learn to critically analyze, annotate, and critique diverse visualization examples beyond typical course materials. By incorporating deeper qualitative analysis, richer demographic data, and evaluating how student-created charts evolve over time, the project aims to enhance visual literacy and critical thinking skills significantly.

Her presentation will explore practical approaches to identifying and addressing student misconceptions, ideas for engaging students with foraging and curating their own learning examples, and gaining strategies applicable to enhancing visual literacy across various disciplines.

You and your family are invited to CWIT’s Annual Picnic and Graduate Celebration on Sunday, May 4 from 12pm to 2pm at UMBC's Commons Terrace.

The Center for Women in Technology & PWIT (Parents of CWIT students) are excited to celebrate the end of the academic year with families, kids, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, Scholars, and Affiliates during our CWIT Annual End of Year Picnic!

Games and Activities

• Face Painting

• Crafts

• Yard Games

• Catered Cookout Food

• Music

• Student Tables

• And more! 

Remember to bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets. If you have any questions please email Jenny Bowers at jherrm1@umbc.edu.

We invite self-nominations to become representatives on the UMBC Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC). The AFAC is an elected body charged with representing the interests of our part-time adjunct faculty within our campus system of shared governance. Members of the AFAC are responsible for communicating adjunct needs and concerns to the campus administration, making recommendations related to adjunct professional development and working conditions, and providing advice on policies and procedures that concern adjunct faculty. In recognition that adjunct faculty are compensated only for course-by-course instructional services, 

AFAC members receive a yearly stipend equivalent to one semester course and are reimbursed for travel and other reasonable expenses, consistent with USM and UMBC travel policies.

AFAC representatives will serve a two-year term from Fall 2025 through Spring 2027.

Elections are being held for 4 AFAC representatives:

2 representatives from CAHSS

1 representative from CNMS

1 representative from COEIT.

1 representative that is non-college affiliated.

All Adjunct I,  Adjunct II, and Adjunct III faculty employed to provide instruction on a course-by-course basis at UMBC this spring, including UMBC programs at Shady Grove, who have taught in this capacity at UMBC for at least four previous semesters, are eligible for nomination. 

Please note that regular faculty and staff at UMBC who receive additional compensation to teach on a course-by-course basis are not eligible to serve on the AFAC.  

Self-nominations must include name, College, and length of service at UMBC as well as responses to the following questions:

1.       What strengths do you think you would bring to the AFAC? (200 words or less)