Dear UMBC faculty:
We are thrilled to announce the call for applications for the UMBC Global Learning Lab, a joint initiative of the Office of the Provost and the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) that aims to develop a faculty learning community dedicated to increasing student access to global learning opportunities. The Global Learning Lab is a cohort-style, semester-long program that provides a framework for faculty to exchange best practices and innovative models for expanding access to global learning opportunities over a series of four workshops. This program is made possible with funding from the Office of the Provost.
All full-time faculty—tenured/tenure-track, non-tenure-track—and adjuncts (minimum of six semesters at UMBC) are invited to apply for the Fall 2025 cohort. Faculty accepted into the Lab must commit to attending each of the workshops below and producing one project to present at the conclusion of the lab. Faculty will receive a $1,500 professional development stipend to support their intended project. The funds will be transferred to the fellow's home department upon successful completion of the Fall 2025 Global Learning Lab. Applicants must discuss their intended project with their department chairs prior to applying.
Workshop #1: Friday, September 12 from 10 AM - 1 PM
Internationalization of the Curriculum Through Curricular Mappingwill focus on identifying the ideal term(s), course(s), location(s)/partner(s) for students to participate in a global learning experience.
Workshop #2: Friday, October 3 from 10 AM - 1 PM
Developing a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programwill focus on building a study abroad program using best practices to support student learning and the development of skills, attitudes, and experiences that promote global and cultural competency.
Workshop #3: Friday, November 7 from 10 AM - 1 PM
Global Learning for All: Virtual Exchangewill focus on how to foster opportunities to develop cultural and global competencies in an existing course through virtual exchanges known as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
Workshop #4: Friday, December 5 from 10 AM - 1 PM
Global Learning Lab Project Presentations will provide an opportunity for faculty in the lab to present their global learning project (i.e. curricular mapping for their department, faculty-led study abroad program proposal, or COIL course).
Important
The ideal faculty cohort will represent the diversity of UMBC programs and a diversity of intended projects. As such, if more than one faculty member from a specific department is applying, they are encouraged to speak with their colleagues to ensure their intended projects are complementary (i.e. one faculty member may propose to work on a virtual exchange/COIL and another will work on proposing a faculty-led study abroad program).
The deadline to apply for the Fall 2025 cohort is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Faculty will be notified about the status of their application by Friday, September 5, 2025. Please note that in-person attendance at each workshop is required. All applicants should save these workshop dates now.
Questions? Contact Katie Heird at kheird1@umbc.edu at the Center for Global Engagement.
Sincerely,
Ana Oskoz, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
David Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
As educators, we strive to create a learning environment where every student can succeed. But what if the very materials we use, such as digital resources, tools, or technologies, unintentionally create barriers for some?
That’s where digital accessibility comes in. It’s more than a new compliance mandate -- it’s a fundamental part of building a welcoming classroom that works for everyone. By making our digital course content accessible, we don’t just help students with disabilities. We enhance the learning experience for all students, a practice that aligns with UMBC’s mission of inclusive excellence.
Here are five practical things you should know about digital accessibility to make a difference in your courses:
1. Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Last year’s DOJ ruling establishes the requirement that all public-facing and password-protected content including course materials, must meet WCAG 2.1 A/AA accessibility standards by April 2026. This includes Blackboard courses, documents, videos, tools, and department websites. By designing with accessibility in mind, we remove obstacles before they appear and improve the learning experience for all students. For example:
2. Think POUR, Not Poor
Accessibility is based on four key principles (POUR):
3. Use Ally in Blackboard
Anthology Ally scans your course and flags accessibility issues, providing personalized guidance on how to fix issues. In addition to finding an overall accessibility score for your course, look for individual colored meters next to files to indicate the accessibility of those content types. Ally also offers step-by-step guides to help you fix content and AI assistance for image descriptions.
4. Quick Wins: Fix the Most Common Issues First
You don’t need to fix everything overnight. Start small and work on one area at a time:
5. It’s About Making Progress, Not Perfection
Start with what matters most: your current course materials. Focus on content students use often, such as readings, presentations, and videos. Archived materials do not need to be remediated unless reused for an active program, service, or activity.
Improving course accessibility is a continuous improvement, not a one-time project -- but your investment makes a difference. Every small change you make today contributes to a more effective learning environment for all of your students.
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 team at the ABCEI has located knowledgeable entrepreneurs to present on important topics to help YOU learn more about entrepreneurship. You don't want to miss any of these incredible events this Fall!
To learn more about the Center and our upcoming events, stop by the Alex. Brown Center's table this Wednesday, August 27th from 10am-2pm in the Commons. We can't wait to meet you, Retriever Entrepreneurs!
There are still seats available in two of our Fall classes being offered. Offered Courses:ENTR 201 - Entrepreneurial Mindset: Meeting on Tuesdays 4:30- 7pm and ENTR 330 - Entrepreneurial Finance: Meeting on Wednesdays 4:30 - 7pm
Enroll Now while the seats are still open!
Stay tuned to hear about our Competitions! ;)
Whether you’re just beginning to explore generative AI or already building confidence, each episode meets you where you are. We’re all navigating how to learn and teach with this evolving technology, and our guests share practical, real-world examples to help you along the way. We hope these conversations inspire you to take your next step, however small, in exploring AI's potential in your own teaching practice.
Episode Lineup
The carefully curated lineup features faculty from diverse disciplines and institutions who understand the caution many faculty (and students) feel about AI. The podcasts, and when they will be available on the Moving the Needle site are:
The series is hosted by:
How to Listen
The first episode is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the AI, Unscripted Podcast Limited Series page. New episodes will be added bi-weekly through December 15th.
Share Your Journey
We invite you to share your own questions, hesitations, or early experiments with AI in teaching. Connect with us on LinkedIn using #AIUnscripted or email your thoughts to aiunscripted@usmd.edu. Your perspective matters, especially if you're just beginning to explore these tools. Your questions and experiences could help shape future resources for faculty across Maryland.
Co-sponsored by the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, the USM Council of University System Faculty, and MarylandOnline.
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