Women in Cybersecurity is currently having elections! Our e-board is a dynamic team that drives our mission forward. As a member, you'll have the chance to work closely with peers, organize events, develop and implement strategies, and represent WiCyS at UMBC!

Available positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Media Chair, and Event Coordinator. Applicants are allowed to apply to up to 3 positions.

Think this is a good opportunity? Apply here !!

APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 10, 2026. Don't miss out!!!!

Update - NIH Implementation of Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal Financial Assistance 

Notice Number: NOT-OD-26-072

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-072.html

Purpose:

This Notice updates NIH’s implementation of 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The administrative flexibilities and updates outlined in the 2024 revisions to 2 CFR 200 have been incorporated into the FY26 issuance of the NIH Grants Policy Statement that was issued on March 25, 2026 (see NOT-OD-26-057).

However, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2026, (P.L. 119-75, Division B, Title II, Sec. 224), the provisions relating to indirect costs in 45 CFR 75 continue to apply to NIH awards. Consistent with the statute, NIH will not apply updated thresholds outlined within 2 CFR Part 200, at this time.

Therefore, the following flexibilities outlined in NOT-OD-25-059 are hereby rescinded.

    2 CFR 200.1 – Modified Total Direct Cost Definition - Calculating Indirect Costs

    2 CFR 200.414(f) - De Minimis Indirect Rate

PLEASE REFER TO THE FULL NOTICE UPDATE LINKED ABOVE.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

The UMBC College of Engineering and Information Technology holds its annual Research Day event from 9am to 4pm on Friday, May 1, in the University Center Ballroom and UC 312. The event features talks, posters, and panel discussions by COEIT faculty and students, as well as industry and agency partners. There are two sessions of AI-themed talks and a keynote by former UMBC Professor Susan Gregurick, the NIH Associate Director for Data Science and Director of its Office of Data Science Strategy.

• Session 2: Healthcare Solutions with AI Technology & Engineering, 9:30–10:45am

• Keynote Talk, Dr. Susan Gregurick, 2–3pm

• Session 4: AI and Learning, 3:15–4pm

See the full agenda for details and register for the event here.

Applications for the 2026 Culture Builders @ UMBC Cohort close this Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Culture Builders is a year-long cohort experience for staff and faculty interested in deepening their capacity to foster more inclusive, equitable, and connected campus environments. Through dialogue, reflection, and practice, participants engage in meaningful conversations about identity, community, and belonging while developing a context-specific action plan to support culture change within their department, unit, or sphere of influence.

This is not a traditional training or a space for quick fixes—it is an opportunity to engage thoughtfully, build community across roles, and take meaningful steps toward inclusive excellence over time.

Participants will:

• Engage in critical, practice-based conversations about identity, community, and belonging

• Reflect on their own role in shaping culture within their department, unit, or sphere of influence

• Learn alongside colleagues across staff and faculty roles

• Develop a strategic action plan to support meaningful and sustainable culture change

This year’s cohort will also engage Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger as a shared text to support reflection and dialogue around building a more just and connected campus community.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026

• Supervisor Support Form Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

If you are already engaged in equity-focused work—or looking for a meaningful way to begin—this is your invitation to join a thoughtful and engaged cohort committed to shaping the culture we want to see at UMBC.

Apply Here

Supervisor Support Form

For questions, please contact culture@umbc.edu.

UMBC's Launchpad Accelerator!

The UMBC Launchpad accelerator is a 10-week cohort-based program where ventures prepare to go from pre-launch to launch, or for early-stage companies, create a pathway to accelerate growth.

Founders who are ready to fully commit to launching their venture and validate their idea as an opportunity should apply. Participants are awarded up to $8,000 in non-dilutive funding for seed capital, and mentors will be assigned to each team.

Teams will perform deep customer discovery, develop a business model canvas, and then progress to a full commercialization plan and pitch deck. The goals of the Launchpad are to validate product-market fit and to hopefully formalize the venture and launch.

Elgibility

Current undergraduate and graduate students, including Spring 2026 graduates, are eligible to apply.

TIMELINE
Applications are due May 5th
Accepted teams will be notified by May 15th
Program runs from May 28th-July 30th
Demo day will be hosted in September

To apply, complete the application here!

To learn more about Launchpad, click here! 

The University System of Maryland is conducting a survey to understand current attitudes toward and opinions of public higher education in Maryland and how it is perceived to impact the state. Because you are a student at a USM institution, we would value your participation. Please consider taking a few minutes to share your opinions by taking the survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY

The survey is being conducted by our marketing partner, BVK, on our behalf. Your responses will remain anonymous and will be automatically submitted to BVK and analyzed only in aggregate with others.

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete and, as a thank you for participating, you will be given the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win one of fifty $25 Amazon.com gift cards.

Review full drawing rules.

Thank you for your consideration.

TAKE THE SURVEY 

If you have questions about the survey, please send them to USMStudentSurvey@BVK.com

Thanks again!

Hello Retrivers!

It's finally here - election day!! Today, Monday 27th from 7:15-8:15pm in the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) Room 116A, we'll be selecting the future leadership for the club. If you're interested in shaping the future trajectory of the club, sign up here: https://forms.gle/vTxUFkpfDC4uG46g8. The form closes at 7:15pm tonight, so apply soon! To vote in the election, you need to have attended 5 Monday club meetings online or in-person this semester, and this is determined by the forms you filled for attendance before each meeting.

Firetalks are back! Firetalks are a series of small talks presented by you to share knowledge about a cool or interesting topic in Cyber. Firetalks will be held May 4th, so if you're planning on presenting something fill this form as soon as possible: https://forms.gle/XY66g3ddFLb52vWd6

Tommorow, April 28th, we will have guest speaker come to present for the Technical Workshop - Neil Bolima!!!!!!! Neil is awesome and super smart, he'll be presenting on Advanced Linux Hardening so cancel your classes attending this instead is 110% worth it. The meeting will be in the Performing Arts and Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 108, from 7:15 to 8:15pm. Can't make it in person? Join through the Webex: https://umbc-students.webex.com/meet/CyberDawgs

Stay Cool,
Hamza Nasher-Alneam
CyberDawgs Secretary

The UMBC College of Engineering and Information Technology holds its annual Research Day event from 9am to 4pm on Friday, May 1st, in the University Center Ballroom and adjacent rooms. The event features talks, posters, and panel discussions by COEIT faculty and students, as well as industry and agency partners. See the agenda for more information and register for the event here.