Time: 12:00 - 1:00 EDT

Price: FREE for non-GSA and GSA members

Website: https://www.geron.org/News-Events/Event-Info/sessionaltcd/CIAM_POLICY_MAR24

• Maureen Henry, JD, PhD, Deputy Director, Fellowship Program, Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program; Deputy Director, International Longevity Center-US
• Karon Phillips, MPH, PhD, FGSA, Policy Development Manager, Trust for America’s Health
• Salom Teshale, PhD, Senior Policy Associate, National Academy for State Health Policy
• Karen Homer, MA, Policy & Professional Affairs Coordinator, Gerontological Society of America, Moderator

Click here for the whole story from UMBC Magazine

Select courses from across disciplines and merge them into a themed degree plan. Stand out in the application process for jobs, grad schools, professional programs!

ADVISORY ON USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) ALSO KNOWN AS DRONES March 7, 2024

The Office of Research Protection and Compliance (ORPC) along with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) are putting forth an advisory to UMBC researchers and students regarding the procurement of drones, also commonly referred to as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for use on U.S. government funded research grants and projects.

WHO IS THIS ADVISORY FOR?

Anyone using or planning on using drones.

On December 22, 2023, President Biden signed the Fiscal Year (FY)2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law on 12/22/23 as Public Law No: 118-31.

The NDAA is legislation passed every year by Congress to provide policy directives to the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as suggested funding levels for DoD programs. Public Law 118-31 contains language that will substantially impact all federally funded (direct and indirect/pass through) research involving drones. The applicable Subtitle is B – Drone Security. Section 1825 is entitled, “Prohibition on use of Federal funds for procurement and operation of covered unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities,”

We anticipate state governments may issue similar regulations in the future.

The DoD already restricts the use of drones from certain foreign entities, including companies from China and Russia, in DoD-funded research and operations. Public Law 118-31 broadly prohibits the use of federal funds from any agency for the purchase or operation of drones from these companies including for purposes of research grants. There is bipartisan support for this policy, which will fully come into effect on 12/22/25, two years after the date of the enactment of this law. The legislation allows for certain limited exemptions and exceptions from the ban, but we won't have final detailed guidance on the government agencies implementation of this law for at least six months.

Banned UAS include the Chinese brand DJI, or any entity on the restricted party list, which makes the vast majority of small UAS sold in the U.S. today. DJI drones typically cost less than comparable drones made by other manufacturers. Also impacted are custom-built drones that incorporate certain key components made in covered countries (i.e. flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, gimbals, ground control systems, and operating software).

ORPC & EHS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE PLANNING TO USE OR ARE USING DRONES IN YOUR RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACHIEVMENT (RCA) ACTIVITIES:

1) Fill out an Equipment, Technology and Materials screening form in order for

our office to verify that the drone is an allowable purchase.

2) Consult with ORPC and or Environmental Health and Safety if necessary

3) Utilize unrestricted suppliers when estimating costing for Drones purchased

under, or are expected to be utilized under, sponsored awards.

Researchers and students across UMBC should be aware of this new restriction if they plan to incorporate UAS into research projects. If you are currently using drones on research grants or contracts that will be ongoing two years from now when the ban comes into effect, or contemplating using drones in your research, we encourage you to contact ORPC. 

Please contact ORPC or ESH prior to acquiring any drones in order to determine if there are any other applicable export compliance matters that need to be addressed.

Additional Resources

1) CYBERSECURITY GUIDANCE: CHINESE-MANUFACTURED UAS

2) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

3) American Security Drone Act of 2023

• Are you an educator wanting to help your students or colleagues better manage conflicts?   
• Are you a leader looking for ways to gain buy-in and develop expectations and goals with your organization?
• Are you looking for resources and guidance on techniques for classroom management?   
• Do you want strategies to support community members coping with stress or trauma they carry with them onto campus?

 Spend two days digging into role plays, simulations, activities, and theory focused on supporting our community members not only academically, but also psychologically and emotionally.  During the sessions you will gain facilitation, community building and conflict management techniques you can implement immediately.

Topics:

• Community Circles: Participants will actively engage in a community circle and delve into social-emotional community building approaches.
• Restorative facilitation techniques: Experience a session integrating restorative techniques into your facilitation skills and practices. Expand your own practice and share with others.
• Standards-Setting Role Play: Observe and participate in role plays to create community standards. These have been used in many contexts including organization vision, mission and goal-setting, classroom management, and conflict resolution.
• Connecting with your community members: Learn a few lessons you can implement in your classroom or organization to create a positive environment where all members are included and accountable.

Workshop Overview:

Day One: Developing a Restorative Worldview

This workshop will challenge you to think differently about how you build relationships, build community with groups, and respond to conflict or incidents of harm. We will wrestle with the notions of discipline, conflict and justice through lecture, discussion, activities and role plays-looking closely at what our current systems are accomplishing and if the real needs of victims, offenders and communities are being met. Ultimately, we will emerge from day one of the workshop with ideas of how we can use restorative practices as a way of thinking about how we exist in community with others.

Day Two: Using Restorative Tools               

This workshop focuses on practical skills to set up and host a circle, how to use different types of circles and concrete tools and techniques to support engagement from participants in the circle process. The workshop uses adult education and experiential learning techniques, as well as activities and discussion. Circles can be used for:

• Establishing agreements on how community members will interact and engage with each other;
• Creating a sense of shared responsibility for maintaining agreements inside and outside of the classroom;
• Offering a way to address issues and have an open and honest discussion of these issues;
• Providing a way to address and deal with conflict.

 E-mail restorativepractices@umbc.edu for more information!

The two-day training will take place on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. (Note that this is the the week of UMBC's Spring Break). Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. The training is free for UMBC affiliates, but purchasing guidelines require us to charge $75 to cover the per-person costs for meals and training materials. If you are not affiliated with UMBC, please also purchase a ticket here. 

Please use the website below by March 13, 2024 to register for the training, and to indicate dietary needs.

We understand that two full days is a lot to ask; however, we are confident that this training will be a catalyst that will enable relationships of all types to flourish and assist us in operationalizing the Community Living Principles and other aspirational goals in and beyond the Division of Student Affairs. 

The Choice Program is excited to offer summer/spring graduate assistant positions as a supportive position to those offering direct mentoring and case management services to youth in Baltimore.

The Admin Assistant proposal below offers further description of the position. If you have any questions, please direct them to: choiceserves@umbc.edu

See the attachment below. 

Student Conduct and Community Standards has a Building Campus Community two-day, face-to-face restorative practices workshop (our 15th iteration!) coming up over Spring Break. We are purposeful in terms of trying to offer the training during times in the academic calendar that would permit undergraduate students to participate. The workshop is Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22 in the Apartment Community Center

There is no charge for UMBC affiliates, but we ask that non-UMBC folks purchase tickets that cover the cost of their meals and training supplies. More information is available here. While information is on myumbc, you register by going to the Google Form linked here.

Since 2015, we have trained over 500 faculty, staff, and students in restorative practices. These techniques are useful to managing conflict and repairing harm in classrooms, workplaces, residence halls, and family systems. You won't regret the investment of two days to participate in this workshop. We hope to see you in a couple weeks! Even if you can't attend, please pass the word to a colleague. There are about 15 seats remaining. 

If you have questions, please reach out to Jeff Cullen, Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

ADVISORY ON USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) ALSO KNOWN AS DRONES March 7, 2024

The Office of Research Protection and Compliance (ORPC) along with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) are putting forth an advisory to UMBC researchers and students regarding the procurement of drones, also commonly referred to as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for use on U.S. government funded research grants and projects.

WHO IS THIS ADVISORY FOR?

Anyone using or planning on using drones.

On December 22, 2023, President Biden signed the Fiscal Year (FY)2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law on 12/22/23 as Public Law No: 118-31.

The NDAA is legislation passed every year by Congress to provide policy directives to the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as suggested funding levels for DoD programs. Public Law 118-31 contains language that will substantially impact all federally funded (direct and indirect/pass through) research involving drones. The applicable Subtitle is B – Drone Security. Section 1825 is entitled, “Prohibition on use of Federal funds for procurement and operation of covered unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities,”

We anticipate state governments may issue similar regulations in the future.

The DoD already restricts the use of drones from certain foreign entities, including companies from China and Russia, in DoD-funded research and operations. Public Law 118-31 broadly prohibits the use of federal funds from any agency for the purchase or operation of drones from these companies including for purposes of research grants. There is bipartisan support for this policy, which will fully come into effect on 12/22/25, two years after the date of the enactment of this law. The legislation allows for certain limited exemptions and exceptions from the ban, but we won't have final detailed guidance on the government agencies implementation of this law for at least six months.

Banned UAS include the Chinese brand DJI, or any entity on the restricted party list, which makes the vast majority of small UAS sold in the U.S. today. DJI drones typically cost less than comparable drones made by other manufacturers. Also impacted are custom-built drones that incorporate certain key components made in covered countries (i.e. flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, gimbals, ground control systems, and operating software).

ORPC & EHS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE PLANNING TO USE OR ARE USING DRONES IN YOUR RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACHIEVMENT (RCA) ACTIVITIES:

1) Fill out an Equipment, Technology and Materials screening form in order for

our office to verify that the drone is an allowable purchase.

2) Consult with ORPC and or Environmental Health and Safety if necessary

3) Utilize unrestricted suppliers when estimating costing for Drones purchased

under, or are expected to be utilized under, sponsored awards.

Researchers and students across UMBC should be aware of this new restriction if they plan to incorporate UAS into research projects. If you are currently using drones on research grants or contracts that will be ongoing two years from now when the ban comes into effect, or contemplating using drones in your research, we encourage you to contact ORPC. 

Please contact ORPC or ESH prior to acquiring any drones in order to determine if there are any other applicable export compliance matters that need to be addressed.

Additional Resources

1) CYBERSECURITY GUIDANCE: CHINESE-MANUFACTURED UAS

2) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

3) American Security Drone Act of 2023