The images and text below were originally shared on the Women’s Center social media pages. We’re re-sharing here to amplify the message and hold ourselves accountable to doing the work of our mission to advance gender equity and prioritize critical social justice and anti-racism. 

There are few things that offer peace in this time, so we turn to the words of other truth-tellers and light-bringers like poet and writer, Lucille Clifton. Her words continue to resonate through our society.

To our Black community: we lock arms in solidarity with you and we hold space for the many ways grief speaks through us. As allies and helpers and friends and family, we hope to continue defending your voices, uplifting them, and offering only belief, hope, and love.

Black lives matter. You matter. Endlessly and always.

To white and non-Black people of color: we bear witness to the visceral tangibility of white supremacy and systemic violence. It has always been here. It runs through everything—and the stark truths of oppression are made clear today. We will not turn away. We must turn towards the radical truth of our privileges and our complicity and our responsibility.

There is work yet to be done and we commit, as ever, to being in it with you.

#BLM #BlackLivesMatter #UMBCTogether

The Women’s Center is working to introduce care and healing spaces to our community and will be working with campus partners to provide additional space for healing and learning. Please follow our myUMBC page for details as they develop.

Throughout distance learning and the campus closure, the Women’s Center staff are still working remotely and are available for individualized support. If you or someone you know is seeking support to process this critical and traumatic moment in our personal and collective present, please email womenscenter@umbc.edu to set up a virtual meeting or phone call.

Images designed by Women’s Center Assistant Director, Amelia Meman.

Dear Investigators

In February 2017, the ORPC forwarded information from the Department of Energy regarding the exemption (DOE Order 142.3A) from the Foreign Nationals prior approval for universities for such persons in UMBC awarded fundamental research projects. As a reminder, this exemption allows for persons who are not U.S. citizens to participate in fundamental research sponsored by one of the below DOE programs  or national laboratories. 

This past month, the Council on Governmental Relations provided an update to member institutions that the DOE removed this exemption. This removal would potentially impact the willingness of some institutions to continue to perform DOE-funded research. COGR is in conversations with management from the DOE and will provide updates when available

As investigators work with the Office of Sponsored Programs in the development and routing of DOE agreements, please keep in mind proposed funding agreements with these programs or national labs using identified foreign nationals may be limited.  The ORPC will continue to monitor this information and update the campus as information becomes available.

Foreign nationals who participate in DOE research – originally February 3, 2017

Investigators planning or currently performing Department of Energy (DOE) work, please read the below:

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an amendment to the DOE Order 142.3a, which provides for an exemption from the Foreign Nationals prior approval requirements for universities conducting fundamental research. 

"Portions of this Order relating to approval for foreign national access to DOE information do not apply to research conducted under grants and funding opportunities sponsored by the program offices that report to the Under Secretary for Science and Energy, performed at institutions of higher education, and for which results will be published for access by the general public. Performance of this research is not considered access to DOE sites, information, technologies, equipment, programs, or personnel for purposes of this Order. The work products of this research are not considered DOE information during the performance of the research and after completion of the research. However, the Order does apply to visits by any foreign nationals to DOE sites and any access to DOE information, equipment or personnel not exempted in this paragraph."

This exemption allows for persons who are not U.S. citizens to participate in fundamental research sponsored by one of the below DOE programs or with the below national laboratories. 

As investigators work with the Office of Sponsored Programs in the development and routing of DOE agreements, please be aware this amendment will be useful in the performance of fundamental research.

 Under Secretary of Science and Energy Programs

*         Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

*         Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

*         Fossil Energy

*         Indian Energy Policy and Programs

*         Nuclear Energy

*         Science

*         Technology Transitions

 DOE offices and national laboratories 

*         Ames Laboratory (AMES)

*         Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

*         Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)

*         Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNL)

*         Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

*         LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY (LBNL)

*         National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

*         National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

*         Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

*         Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

*         Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

*         SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)

*         Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF)

Dear Investigators

In February 2017, the ORPC forwarded information from the Department of Energy regarding the exemption (DOE Order 142.3A) from the Foreign Nationals prior approval for universities for such persons in UMBC awarded fundamental research projects. As a reminder, this exemption allows for persons who are not U.S. citizens to participate in fundamental research sponsored by one of the below DOE programs  or national laboratories. 

This past month, the Council on Governmental Relations provided an update to member institutions that the DOE removed this exemption. This removal would potentially impact the willingness of some institutions to continue to perform DOE-funded research. COGR is in conversations with management from the DOE and will provide updates when available

As investigators work with the Office of Sponsored Programs in the development and routing of DOE agreements, please keep in mind proposed funding agreements with these programs or national labs using identified foreign nationals may be limited.  The ORPC will continue to monitor this information and update the campus as information becomes available.

Foreign nationals who participate in DOE research – originally February 3, 2017

Investigators planning or currently performing Department of Energy (DOE) work, please read the below:

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an amendment to the DOE Order 142.3a, which provides for an exemption from the Foreign Nationals prior approval requirements for universities conducting fundamental research. 

"Portions of this Order relating to approval for foreign national access to DOE information do not apply to research conducted under grants and funding opportunities sponsored by the program offices that report to the Under Secretary for Science and Energy, performed at institutions of higher education, and for which results will be published for access by the general public. Performance of this research is not considered access to DOE sites, information, technologies, equipment, programs, or personnel for purposes of this Order. The work products of this research are not considered DOE information during the performance of the research and after completion of the research. However, the Order does apply to visits by any foreign nationals to DOE sites and any access to DOE information, equipment or personnel not exempted in this paragraph."

This exemption allows for persons who are not U.S. citizens to participate in fundamental research sponsored by one of the below DOE programs or with the below national laboratories. 

As investigators work with the Office of Sponsored Programs in the development and routing of DOE agreements, please be aware this amendment will be useful in the performance of fundamental research.

 Under Secretary of Science and Energy Programs

*         Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

*         Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

*         Fossil Energy

*         Indian Energy Policy and Programs

*         Nuclear Energy

*         Science

*         Technology Transitions

 DOE offices and national laboratories 

*         Ames Laboratory (AMES)

*         Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

*         Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)

*         Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNL)

*         Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

*         LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY (LBNL)

*         National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

*         National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

*         Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

*         Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

*         Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

*         SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)

*         Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF)

Dear UMBC Community,

We want to share with our campus this statement released today by the leadership of the University System of Maryland on deeply disturbing events that remind us of the structural racism that underlies our society. UMBC is proud to join our USM colleagues in this statement.

In addition to these acts of violence, the current pandemic has exacerbated many other systemic inequalities that persist in our society. Low-income families and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus and also face barriers to treatment and prevention resources. As the financial aspect of this crisis deepens, these families also struggle more than other groups with economic disenfranchisement, including job loss and resource scarcity.

As we reflect on current events, we deeply appreciate our UMBC community and its commitment to inclusive excellence. We also understand that this commitment requires all of us to do more to confront injustice in the world. We know that many in our communities are struggling right now. Even if we cannot be physically together to process this loss and the challenges that seem to surround us, we believe that our UMBC is uniquely situated to address these issues -- together. 

If you feel you have been affected by racism or discrimination, please know that the Office of Equity and Inclusion is available to support you. You can access their online reporting form here. The Mosaic: Center for Culture and Diversity is developing opportunities for us to learn more and connect on these issues, and The Center for Democracy and Civic Life has a variety of resources for students to explore their agency in making change. 

Students in need of emotional support are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center. Faculty and staff can access individual support through our Employee Assistance Program. During challenging times, it is more important than ever to be connected. Thank you for all you do to make UMBC a special community that prioritizes care, support, and, above all, inclusive excellence. 

This module will help you build skills for success when learning online.

Specifically, you will learn how to:

• Manage your time and tasks
• Study effectively
• Get help when you need it

This module can be completed in parts or as a whole and can be done in any order. 

Click here to begin the module

The sections on Study Skills are highly recommended!