UMBC will host three Fix Your Course Content Days, dedicated to improving the accessibility of digital course materials in Blackboard. During these three individual sprints, faculty, staff, and instructional designers can review Ally accessibility reports, make fixes to Blackboard course content, and strengthen our commitment to inclusive teaching. 

When

Work individually or in your departments, or join one of our collaborative sessions to update the accessibility of your course content.

• Wednesday, February 25 (11 AM - 2 PM)
• Friday, March 27 (11 AM - 2 PM)
• Wednesday, April 11 (11 AM - 2 PM)

Why Fix Content?

• Every fix, big or small, helps. Whether it's adding alt text to an image, adding meaningful link text, correcting heading structure, or improving document formatting, each step makes content more usable for a student using a screen reader, assistive device, or alternate format.
• You already have insights. The Ally tool in Blackboard surfaces course accessibility reports and flags problematic files (scanned documents, missing image description, contrast issues, etc.). Use this as your guide.
• It's about more than one day. Fix Your Content Day is not just a one-off event. It's a focused moment for action -- and a reminder that digital accessibility is an ongoing responsibility in course design.

What to Do on a Fix Your Content Day

Here's a simple roadmap with four easy steps you can follow:

1. Review your Ally report.
Log into your course. Go to Books & Tools from the right navigation menu to access your Ally accessibility report. Note your starting score. Prioritize files you use most (syllabus, major readings, assignment sheets, handouts, etc.) or where you have inaccessible images that impact meaningful content.

2. Make at least 3 targeted fixes.
Use the Ally "repair" workflow (built into Blackboard) to take action:

• Add or improve alt text for images -- Ally's AI Alt Text Assistant can be a helpful tool
• Fix heading structure (use proper heading levels rather than visual formatting)
• Add descriptive link text (avoid "click here")
• Ensure sufficient color contrast in slides or documents
• Replace scanned PDFs (if possible) with accessible ones or OCR them
  
• Verify captions & transcripts for audio & video in YuJa

3. Strive for 85.
As you make your fixes, aim for an Ally score of 85 percent or higher in your courses. This benchmark represents solid progress toward accessible, student-ready materials. Focus on content with Severe (red) or Major (orange) issues.

Each improvement -- adding alt text, correcting headings, or replacing scanned PDFs -- moves your score closer to 85, or exceeds it, and helps ensure your course is usable for every learner.

4. Reflect and plan next steps.
Think about recurring patterns in your courses (e.g. many scanned articles, many images lacking alt text). Use that insight to inform future course redesign or content creation. Consider sharing your top three fixes with your department to help normalize accessible practices across campus.

If you'd like to be recognized with a microcredential for your portfolio or LinkedIn profile, submit your results using this Google Form. 

A Few Tips to Make It Easier

• Start small. Pick a single course or module to focus on first, or focus on a single type of issue like image descriptions. You also don't need to "fix everything" in one day.
• Schedule your time. Block a 30-60 minute slot on your calendar just for accessibility fixes -- or drop by our open lab in ENGR 102 from 11 AM to 2 PM to work alongside colleagues, share progress, and get help from the Instructional technology team in a relaxed, social space to celebrate the day's improvements.
• Work together. Coordinate a department Fix Your Content Day sprint so instructors can work at a time that fits their schedules and support each other during the hour. Or team up with a colleague who teaches a complementary discipline or course.

On an upcoming Fix Your Content Day, join us in making a measurable impact on our course content. Whether you fix three items or thirty, your work matters. Let's make UMBC's digital learning environment more inclusive together.

Ready to take the first step? Visit UMBC's Digital Accessibility site or run an Ally course report today. Support is also available from Student Disability Services and Instructional Technology.

The UMBC AOK Library invites UMBC students to participate in upcoming student-only, student-focused, in-person sessions to share their thoughts on the use of AI on campus.  Faculty will not be present, and conversations that occur within the space will remain anonymous to protect students' identities. All levels and all majors are welcome! 

There will be free pizza and drinks, and participants can get free swag, in addition to bonus library privileges! 

The scheduled sessions are:

• Session 1: Wednesday, February 25, 12-1 pm (AOK, Room 259)

• Session 2: Wednesday, March 4, 12-1 pm (AOK, Room 259)

These listening sessions are supported by the AOK Library, in partnership with Computer Science & Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, and the Dresher Center.

UMBC will host three Fix Your Course Content Days, dedicated to improving the accessibility of digital course materials in Blackboard. During these three individual sprints, faculty, staff, and instructional designers can review Ally accessibility reports, make fixes to Blackboard course content, and strengthen our commitment to inclusive teaching. 

When

Work individually or in your departments, or join one of our collaborative sessions to update the accessibility of your course content.

• Wednesday, February 25 (11 AM - 2 PM)
• Friday, March 27 (11 AM - 1 PM)
• Wednesday, April 11 (11 AM - 1 PM)

Do you manage a Blackboard org? You can still check your Ally report and update content for accessibility!

Why Fix Content?

• Every fix, big or small, helps. Whether it's adding alt text to an image, adding meaningful link text, correcting heading structure, or improving document formatting, each step makes content more usable for a student using a screen reader, assistive device, or alternate format.
• You already have insights. The Ally tool in Blackboard surfaces course accessibility reports and flags problematic files (scanned documents, missing image description, contrast issues, etc.). Use this as your guide.
• It's about more than one day. Fix Your Content Day is not just a one-off event. It's a focused moment for action -- and a reminder that digital accessibility is an ongoing responsibility in course design.

What to Do on a Fix Your Content Day

Here’s a simple roadmap with four easy steps you can follow:

1. Review your Ally report.
Log into your course. Go to Books & Tools from the right navigation menu to access your Ally accessibility report. Note your starting score. Prioritize files you use most (syllabus, major readings, assignment sheets, handouts, etc.) or where you have inaccessible images that impact meaningful content.

2. Make at least 3 targeted fixes.
Use the Ally "repair" workflow (built into Blackboard) to take action:

• Add or improve alt text for images -- Ally’s AI Alt Text Assistant can be a helpful tool
• Fix heading structure (use proper heading levels rather than visual formatting)
• Add descriptive link text (avoid "click here")
• Ensure sufficient color contrast in slides or documents
• Replace scanned PDFs (if possible) with accessible ones or OCR them
• Verify captions & transcripts for audio & video in YuJa

3. Strive for 85.
As you make your fixes, aim for an Ally score of 85 percent or higher in your courses. This benchmark represents solid progress toward accessible, student-ready materials. Focus on content with Severe (red) or Major (orange) issues.

Each improvement -- adding alt text, correcting headings, or replacing scanned PDFs -- moves your score closer to 85, or exceeds it, and helps ensure your course is usable for every learner.

4. Reflect and plan next steps.
Think about recurring patterns in your courses (e.g. many scanned articles, many images lacking alt text). Use that insight to inform future course redesign or content creation. Consider sharing your top three fixes with your department to help normalize accessible practices across campus.

If you'd like to be recognized with a microcredential for your portfolio or LinkedIn profile, submit your results using this Google Form. 

A Few Tips to Make It Easier

• Start small. Pick a single course or module to focus on first, or focus on a single type of issue like image descriptions. You also don't need to "fix everything" in one day.
• Schedule your time. Block a 30-60 minute slot on your calendar just for accessibility fixes -- or drop by our open lab in ENGR 102 from 11 AM to 2 PM to work alongside colleagues, share progress, and get help from the Instructional technology team in a relaxed, social space to celebrate the day’s improvements.
• Work together. Coordinate a department Fix Your Content Day sprint so instructors can work at a time that fits their schedules and support each other during the hour. Or team up with a colleague who teaches a complementary discipline or course.

On an upcoming Fix Your Content Day, join us in making a measurable impact on our course content. Whether you fix three items or thirty, your work matters. Let's make UMBC's digital learning environment more inclusive together.

Ready to take the first step? Visit UMBC’s Digital Accessibility site or run an Ally course report today. Support is also available from Student Disability Services and Instructional Technology.

CARAT, the CAHSS Creative Achievement & Research Administration Team, invites CAHSS faculty to participate in an individual Mini Consultation on Wednesday, February 18 or Thursday, February 19. CARAT's Research Development team will be available to discuss your research/creative achievement project ideas (at all stages). 

Reserve a mini consultation session by February 13: https://forms.gle/SJ83nfWvqyumUfL7A. 

We will confirm with a time and Webex link (if online). Consultations will be scheduled in the order in which they are received, and a waitlist will be available.

You can make a consultation appointment (15 minutes, one person per slot) on either February 18, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (virtual or in person in Public Policy, room 451), or on February 19, from 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (virtual only). Arts faculty should request February 18 only. Humanities and Social Science faculty may request either day.

• February 18: 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) Meeting slots: (1) 11:30-11:45; (2) 11:50-12:05; (3) 12:10-12:25; (4) 12:30-12:45). Indicate a first and second time preference, and whether you would like to meet in person or on Webex.

• February 19: 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Humanities, Social Sciences) Meeting slots: (1) 1:15-1:30; (2) 1:35-1:50; (3) 1:55-2:10; (4) 2:15-2:30). Indicate a first and second time preference. All sessions will be on Webex.

Questions? Contact Rachel Brubaker, Associate Director for Research Development   rbruba1@umbc.edu

Not available for a mini session? Contact Sara Qureshi, Sr. Specialist for Grants and Research Development, saraq1@umbc.edu or visit our Pre-Award Services page to complete a consultation request form.  

Note: If you have already identified a funding opportunity and would like to begin an application, please complete a proposal development form on the Pre-Award Services page to request pre-award support. We look forward to working with you at all stages of your research and creative achievement process.

As we begin the spring semester, ECS has two personnel updates:

Yakima Melton | Director of Event and Conference Services
Yakima will join the Division of Student Affairs this March. She joins us from Arizona State University with more than 15 years of leadership experience in student union operations and a proven track record in managing complex facilities and large-scale events. Please join us in welcoming her to the UMBC community as she steps into this vital leadership role.

Kenny Darby | Assistant Director of Event Planning
Kenny joined the ECS team on February 9. He joins us from George Mason University with 8+ years of senior-level experience in venue operations. During his tenure, he successfully executed high-stakes events for the U.S. Supreme Court and the Department of Defense. In addition, Kenny was one of the co-founders and production manager for the Frederick Jazz Festival.

Please join us in welcoming Yakima and Kenny to their new roles as we look forward to a great semester ahead.

This Week in EA

• Benjamin A. Gilman Info Sessions | Virtual

  Are you a U.S. citizen​ or national of the United States receiving a Pell grant and planning to study abroad? If so, you may be eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship! This U.S. Department of State program enables students receiving a Federal Pell Grant to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. These awards offer up to $​8000 to support your study abroad plans. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions and to study languages, especially critical-need languages (those deemed important to national security). Veterans of military service are encouraged to apply, and preference is given to veterans when other factors are equivalent. Join us for a virtual Gilman Scholarship Information session!

• February 9th | 11am-12pm | Virtual

• February 11th | 2pm-3pm | Virtual

• February 14th | 2pm-3pm | Virtual

• Faculty Led Program Info Sessions | Hybrid

  Interested in learning more about one of our upcoming Summer 2026 Faculty-Led Programs? Stop by these hybrid information sessions to learn all about the course options, the cultural activities, and the ins and outs of the application process. Meet with program faculty and the Education Abroad Team.

• Justice, Agency, and Culture in Kenya Info Session | Feb. 9th | 12pm-1pm | UC204/Virtual

• Global Health and Aging FLSA Info Session | Feb. 10th | 11am-12pm | Virtual

• Interpreting Vietnam: The Past and Future | Feb. 10th | 12pm-1pm | UC204/Virtual

• Picturing Italian Art and Culture in Context | Feb. 13th | 12pm-1pm | Fine Arts 342/Virtual

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• February 10, 2026 [TODAY]: CAHSS Dean's Scholarship for Education Abroad due for Summer 2026, and Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027; early consideration for Winter and Spring 2027

• February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program applications due

• March 5, 2026: Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Applications due for Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027

• March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due

• April 7th, 2026: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia Application due 

• Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

• Study Abroad 101 Sessions
  Monday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
  Tuesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
  Friday | 11am-12pm | Virtual

Commuter Connections has been selected as the Silver Award Winner in the NASPA 2026 Excellence Awards within the Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-Traditional, and Related Programs category.

Dedicated to creating inclusive, engaging experiences that help commuter students feel at home at UMBC, Commuter Connections offers over 60 events and programs during the academic year, created to build a strong sense of connection and community. These events and programs are helping students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive – academically, personally, and as part of the UMBC experience and beyond. 

Commuter Connections' Good Morning Commuters program, founded in 1988, averages 155 students weekly. It includes a buffet-style breakfast, resource information from campus partners, and the opportunity for students to meet and make friends. The program has been expanded to include a Good Afternoon Commuters event. 

In addition to Good Morning Commuters, Commuter Connections offer a variety of engaging programs designed to build community and enhance the commuter student experience. These include Commuter Hangouts, themed pop-up events that provide opportunities for commuters to connect; off-campus trips, which allow commuter students to build community while exploring new experiences throughout Baltimore; and the annual Spring Commuter Week, a celebration featuring daily events that uplift and highlight the commuter experience.

Commuter Week 2026 will take place Saturday, February 28 through Thursday, March 5.

Led by Assistant Director of Commuter Student Success Serena Studivant, Commuter Connections also benefits from the work of graduate and commuter assistants who receive professional development experience by helping to plan, develop, and execute programming. 

"Serena is deeply deserving of this award for the way she leads through collaboration," said Jennifer Artis, director of Student Life and Success for Graduate, Adult Learners, and Commuters. "Her impact extends far beyond her department; she consistently builds meaningful partnerships across campus and shows up for students with care, intention, and excellence. Serena is truly a rockstar whose work strengthens our entire UMBC community."

NASPA Excellence Awards recognize the contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services, and effective administration. The awards cover twelve categories crucial to the success of students. 

Studivant will share a poster presentation on the Commuter Connections program at the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in Kansas City, MS.