ATTENTION UMBC student organizations! 

Involvement Fest is quickly approaching. commonvision (UMBC Design and Print Center) is here to help with your Involvement Fest prints! 

UMBC (and commonvision) is closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. This gives commonvision 2 full business days to print materials needed for your clubs. Please note at this time, we can offer flyers and quartercards for Involvement Fest. Other services will have a turnaround time that extends beyond Involvement Fest. 

For best consideration, please submit your flyers and quartercards by 5 p.m. Friday, September 1 via commonvision@umbc.edu. Any clubs using carryover funds will need to provide us with a completed RESGAF before printing will begin. Please note outside of chartstrings/club funds we only accept retriever dollars on your campus card.

Something to consider is printing a couple flyers that stay at your table that contain a QR code to your organization's myUMBC group. This may help us to cut down on printing demand and make sure that even if you run out of materials, you still have something people can scan.

All questions and inquiries can be emailed to commonvision@umbc.edu. To find out more about how commonvision can support your organization this semester, visit commonvision.umbc.edu

commonvision's Fall Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thank you!

If you are curious about what Jesus taught and/or want to connect with other graduate International and American Christians, this is the place for you!

We host a Bible Study every Friday in room 101 from 4:00pm-6:00, at the Center for Well Being (also known as Retriever Integrated Health) The first room on the left when you enter.

We would love to meet you and support your spiritual wellbeing.

Also,  follow us on Instagram @umbcisc.

Dear UMBC Community,

As we enter the fall 2023 semester, UMBC's leadership continues to be committed to the health and well-being of all in our community. We are monitoring the rates of respiratory virus in our community, and are attentive to both COVID-19 rates and influenza, among others. UMBC's health experts routinely engage with county, state, and federal resources to understand trends and current health conditions.

As a key part of protecting the health of all on campus, we ask that each of you monitor your health and be careful to avoid exposing others if you have cold or flu symptoms. Consult your healthcare provider or Retriever Integrated Health if you need testing or care. To reduce the spread of infectious diseases on campus, cover your cough, wear a mask, and wash your hands. Minimizing your exposure to others while sick is particularly important as we all strive to protect health-compromised and other vulnerable members of our community. You can minimize exposure to others when sick by staying home if you are a faculty, staff, or student who is commuting to campus or following any related guidelines if you are a student living in residence.

In addition, we ask that you continue to Keep Masks in Mind. The university will provide high- quality KN95 masks to those in need. Masks will be available at the RAC, the Library, and The Commons Information Center. If your professor, colleague, or other community member requests that you wear a mask in a classroom, meeting, or other situation, we ask that you respect their wishes and needs.

Finally, remember that vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent severe illness. Retriever Integrated Health will be offering both COVID-19 and influenza vaccination clinics throughout the fall. We will share dates and additional information with the community soon.

Amid the busyness that the semester can bring, please remember to take care of yourself and prioritize your health and well-being. Thank you for your support of one another and our community as we all work together to stay as healthy as possible.

David Dauwalder, Interim Provost

Renique T. Kersh, Vice President for Student Affairs

UMBC Health & Well-Being Resources

Office of Health Promotion

Retriever Integrated Health

Recreation & Physical Education

Human Resources: UMBC Wellness Initiative

*Original post found here

The feel of a pen as it clicks open and closed, pointed for note taking (or probably more likely the feel of an electronic stylus). The sound of pages rustling in a notebook during the first class of the day (or more likely the sound of keys clacking on a laptop). The smell of a new textbook as it opens for the first time (or probably more likely still the laptop thing). No matter what it looks like, the start of a new school year is officially here! This year, UMBC welcomes a pack of over 3,800 new Retrievers as they embark on the black and gold journey of a lifetime. 

Last weekend, new Retrievers bundled up their belongings and arrived on campus to unpack in their new home. Once clothes were in drawers, posters were hung, and minifridges were stocked, students and families headed to Retriever Fest to learn more about campus resources and departments…and maybe pet a farm animal or two. After saying goodbye to families, students settled into their rooms and then got to know one another over games and a fireworks display. 

During Convocation on Tuesday, new Retrievers received a UMBC pin, officially signifying the start of their UMBC career. Incoming UMBC Student Government Association (SGA) president Musa Jafri ’24, political science, assured the attendees saying, “I know being a new student can be overwhelming at times. Remember that it is okay to ask for help. You are part of this community, and we want you to know that you belong here, and we want you to succeed.” 

As the first day of classes dawned on Wednesday, the entire campus came to life with new and returning students filling sidewalks, classrooms, and the Starbucks line (the real sign that school is officially back in session).