Due to weather conditions, the Grad Kickstart kickoff events have been rescheduled for everyone's safety.

Don't worry — nothing is cancelled. Updates will be shared soon on MyUMBC and social media. We can't wait to welcome you, Grad Retrievers!

Dear UMBC Community,

As crews continue to work to address road and walkway conditions related to this past weekend's inclement weather, UMBC's physical campus will remain closed until 5 a.m., Saturday, January 31. We will continue to evaluate conditions so please check your text and email for updates. 

All in-person and remote (synchronous) classes will begin on Monday, February 2, unless further closings or delays are announced. Asynchronous online classes will occur as scheduled, and instructors are encouraged to consider asynchronous learning to make up for missed class time this week. Students are encouraged to check Blackboard and their university email for updates on academic coursework, as faculty may implement asynchronous learning.

Due to the continued campus closure, the Spring 2026 Schedule Adjustment (Add/Drop) deadline has been extended from Friday, February 6 to Friday, February 13. Deactivation of waitlists will also be extended from Monday, February 2, to Monday, February 9. 

The women's basketball game scheduled for Thursday night and the women's lacrosse scrimmage scheduled for Friday will continue as planned; please visit the Athletics site for additional information. UMBC Athletics urges safety first to those who wish to attend Thursday's women's basketball game. Friday's women's lacrosse scrimmage will not be open to the public. Other campus events scheduled during the closure will be canceled.  

Residential students will continue to receive instructions from the Office of Residential Life via email regarding any updates around move-in, dining options, and other support services. 

All employees should refer to the Guidance for Employees section and matrix at the bottom of the Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Guide to find guidance for leave during the spring semester. If you have a telework or remote agreement you should work virtually (unless arrangements have been made with your supervisor). We ask that supervisors be flexible as conditions change and responsibilities vary; allowing an adaptable schedule or liberal leave for employees who are working virtually is appropriate. Your safety is our top priority.

Thank you again to the many campus employees who continue to work diligently to make the campus safe for our community. 

Sincerely,

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Lynne Adams
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

commonvision, UMBC Student Design and Print Center will reopen Monday, February 2 at 9 a.m. 

Due to the UMBC closures, we ask for patience as we address all orders. We will follow up to let customers know if their original completion date will need to be updated.

If your job request is for a specific date or event, please let us know. We will accommodate as best we can.

Following up on an order? Please reply to the original message you sent, not our automated response, and not a new email chain. This will keep all communication in a single email chain.

The Global Asias Initiative (GAI) at UMBC is holding a workshop to help support and curate an exhibit of creative works produced by students that relate and help illustrate understandings and relationalities to Asia as understood through a Global Asias framework. In the workshop, students will read and unpack a text written by Tina Chen (Global Asias: Method, Architecture, and Praxis) in order to better understand Global Asias, a theoretical, multidisciplinary framework that brings together the fields of Asian American and Asian Studies. We will work together to create an exhibit of student work that translates and explains Global Asias as an analytical lens to the campus and wider public. 

Students will arrive to the first session with a project they have either completed in a prior class or with a project in mind as well as having read an assigned text on Global Asias. Together with faculty mentors, we will discuss the text and clarify any questions in order to strengthen our collective understanding of the Global Asias framework.

In the second session, students will work to hone their project and work on writing artist statements that explain to a public audience how their piece reflects Global Asias–what Global Asias concept(s) does their piece draw on? How can we see that concept or process illustrated or represented in the piece? 

Participating in this workshop will help strengthen public writing skills, hone reading skills, and is an opportunity you can put on your resume/CV. 

Please make sure to keep available 5/1 for the exhibition install date and 5/4 for the Exhibition Reception.  

Applications are due Wed, February 11, 2026 by 11:59pm.

Application Process:

By 11:59pm on Wed., Feb.11, 2026: Submit responses via the following application form: https://forms.gle/3WBUUEA9NyrC16QU6 

Make sure to include:

• 1-2 sentence description of project 

• 2-3 sentence statement of why you're interested in participating 

WORKSHOP TIMELINE:

Session 1 (Friday 2/27, 12:00-2pm): reading & activity that asks that helps guide the revision of their project and helps them brainstorming their "artist statement"

In between sessions: students send advanced drafts

Session 2 (Friday 4/10, 12:00-2pm): bring workshopped/revised project, share. finalize and create connections between pieces.

(lunch will be provided)

Exhibition Install date: Friday, 5/1

Exhibition Reception: Monday 5/4

PAYMENT DISBURSEMENT:

Participating students will receive a $300 stipend. Receiving the stipend is dependent on completion of both workshop sessions and installing their piece in the exhibition. 

CONTACT INFO:

Please reach out to Dr. Mika Thornburg at mthornburg@umbc.edu, Dr. Tamara Bhalla at tbhalla@umbc.edu or Priya Bhayana at priyab@umbc.edu with any questions.

Beginning this month, UMBC will introduce Mathpix Snip as a new resource to support the creation of accessible STEM course materials. With 300 licenses available through Instructional Technology, this new tool represents a major step forward in making handwritten mathematical, scientific, and technical content more usable for every learner -- particularly those who rely on screen readers, text-to-speech tools, or alternative formats.

Why Mathpix?

Mathpix is a tool for extracting text, and particularly math, from images and documents. This text/LaTeX can then be pasted into a document editing tool such as a LaTeX or Markdown editor. Powered by advanced OCR and AI-driven parsing, Mathpix can:

• Convert handwritten equations, diagrams, and formulas into accessible MathML, LaTeX, HTML, and Mathpix Markdown.
• Transform images, screenshots, and PDFs into structured text that supports screen readers.
• Recognize tables, code, and complex expressions often found in STEM disciplines.
• Streamline remediation of legacy course materials, including scanned notes, worksheets, problem sets, proofs, and solution keys.

These features allow instructors to move from static, image-based materials to content that is both editable and accessible, reducing the time and technical expertise required to meet federal accessibility standards. While Mathpix is a powerful engine for character recognition, it is a tool for extraction, not for authoring or delivery, and it cannot describe images for accessibility.

For those who want to explore the capabilities further, Mathpix offers a snipping tool, browser extension, handwriting recognition engine, PDF and image conversion tools, markdown workflows, and accessibility-focused use cases. Mathpix is available as a desktop application for Mac, Windows and Linux; on mobile (iOS and Android); and as a web browser (Chrome extension).

Who Is Eligible?

Licenses are reserved for instructors who teach in disciplines where handwritten or non-digital content remains common, including:

• Mathematics and Statistics
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Engineering

Faculty who regularly create handwritten materials or who need to convert existing handwritten materials for accessibility compliance will receive priority access to Mathpix. 

How to Request Access

To request one of UMBC's 300 Mathpix licenses, instructors should submit an RT ticket to Instructional Technology with the following information:

• Name and email
• Course ID and course name
• Anticipated number of students
• How many new handwritten files you typically create each semester
• How many existing handwritten files you need to remediate for accessibility

This information helps the Instructional Technology team allocate licenses equitably and determine where additional support should be directed.

Training and Support

Access begins in January, accompanied by future training opportunities hosted by Instructional Technology and a group of faculty Mathpix ambassadors. These sessions will provide demonstrations, best practices for creating accessible STEM materials, and hands-on time with Mathpix workflows, ranging from quick equation conversions to full-document remediation.

If you'd like help determining whether Mathpix is a good fit for your course materials, Instructional Technology is happy to consult. This initiative supports UMBC's broader commitment to digital accessibility and ensures that all students, especially those in STEM pathways, have equitable access to the content they need to succeed.

For more information about digital accessibility, please visit UMBC's Digital Accessibility site or run an Ally course report today. Support is also available from Student Disability Services and Instructional Technology.