On Monday, February 2, we will host Dinner with Friends, an engaging, facilitated conversation that will connect you with other members of the UMBC community. 

Our conversations will be focused on two interrelated questions:

1. "How do you live your values in community?"

2. "How do you live a life that sustains you?"

We will explore challenges with thriving, share resources to support thriving, and generate ideas about how we, as a UMBC community, can improve thriving on campus.

This program, as a part of Winter Welcome Retrievers, will take place on February 2, 2026 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the University Center, UC 312. A catered dinner will be provided.

This program is a collaboration between the Center for Democracy and Civic Life and Student Belonging.

Please RSVP by January 28, 2026 to reserve your seat at this popular dinner program!

Dear UMBC Community,

Due to continuing inclement weather conditions in our area, UMBC's physical campus will remain closed until 5 a.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2026. 

All in-person and remote (synchronous) classes will begin on Wednesday, January 28, unless further closings or delays are announced. Instructors are asked to be flexible about class attendance on Wednesday as some students may still be returning due to weather conditions in their areas. Asynchronous online classes will occur as scheduled.

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

Today marks the start of the spring semester at UMBC. All employees should refer to the Guidance for Employees section and matrix at the bottom of the Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Guide. 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 to the many campus employees who have worked so diligently this weekend to clear the campus and to take care of our students. 

Sincerely,

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

Lynne Adams
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

UMBC's Center for Social Science Scholarship will hold a workshop series this Spring on generative AI, LLMs, and computational social science methods. Sessions will focus on familiarizing faculty and students with deploying AI and LLM models in their research and on developing a deeper understanding of the ethical, equity, and environmental consequences of these models.

February 20 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
Social Network Analysis: Building Web-Based Applications for Experiential Learning
Dr. Steve McDonald, Professor of Sociology, NC State University

February 27 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
A City in Motion: How Everyday Routines Channel and Control Crime in Baltimore
Dr. Brian Soller, Associate Professor of Sociology (SAPH), UMBC 

March 25 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
Geospatial Analysis
Krishna Mummadi, CS3 Graduate Assistant & GES Graduate Student

April 14 | 2-4pm | Walker Avenue, Suite 130 (Hybrid)
Foundations of Large Language Models
Dr. Josephine Namayanja, Executive Director, iHARP, UMBC
Rhoda Nankabirwa, iHARP Research Assistant and PhD Student, UMBC

April 22 | 12-1:30pm | Webex
Equity in Algorithms
Dr. Kayla Schwoerer, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam

April 29 | 12-1:30pm | Webex
Evaluating LLMs for Credible and Rigorous Social Science Research
Dr. Michael Overton, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Idaho

May 1 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
ML Models for Causal Inference Analysis + HPC
Dr. Eric Stokan, CS3 Director and Associate Professor of Political Science, UMBC; Roy Prouty, Assistant Director for Research Computing, DoIT; Ph.D. Candidate, Computer Science, and Sai Vikas Amaraneni, iHARP Research Assistant & Ph.D. Student

Register for sessions here

Hello and welcome to the Spring semester, members of UMBC's ODK Circle!

We have an exciting meeting coming up next Tuesday as we get to know one another, review ODK member benefits (including scholarships available exclusively to ODK members), and begin planning future events and volunteer opportunities.

Time: 12:30–1:30 PM
Location: Room 329, The Commons

Weather note: This plan is weather-dependent due to the severe conditions expected this weekend. If campus is still closed because of ice and snow at meeting time, we'll shift to a virtual meeting via Webex instead. Please stay safe, and keep an eye out for updates.

— Spencer Hupe
ODK Student President