• Dr. Vandana P. Janeja, (Chair)
• Dr. Sanjay Purushotham, (Co-Chair)
• Dr. Rebecca Williams
• Dr. Zhiyuan Chen
• Dr. SUDIP CHAKRABORTY
  

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower movement began in the United Kingdom just a few years ago and has quickly become a symbol of support and understanding in public spaces across Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland.

If you see someone wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, please offer patience and understanding—they may need more time or support. By displaying a sunflower on your office door, reception desk, or waiting area, you signal to those with hidden disabilities that they are welcome, understood, and supported.

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?
Living with a hidden disability can make daily life more challenging, and it’s not always easy for others to recognize or comprehend those struggles. Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discreet way for individuals to communicate that they have a hidden disability and may need additional support or understanding.

This movement has already made a significant impact in the UK, and with your help, we can bring the same level of awareness and inclusivity to the UMBC community.

How to Participate in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Training

Join our training module on Blackboard to learn more about supporting individuals with hidden disabilities.

1. Follow the group: UMBC Sunflower Program
2. Access the training on the group's page: Once enrolled, you’ll find the training module under the "Organization" section of Blackboard.
3. Complete the requirements: Watch the two short training videos and fill out the exit form.

Upon successful completion of the training, you will receive a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (sticker or button) to proudly display as a sign of support and inclusivity! 

Let’s work together to make UMBC a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone!

Happy Spring Semester Everyone!

We hope you all had a wonderful winter break and wonderful first day back! There will be no meetings this week so you can focus on settling into your classes. Official meetings will begin on February 11th, which means there will be no meetings this week, but stay tuned for details about an unofficial meeting before then.

I also have a significant announcement to share. I, Matthew Green, will be stepping down as Vice President of the UMBC Tabletop Gaming Club as I am no longer a student, having completed my studies. The leadership team is currently discussing who will take on the Vice President role for the remainder of the term, and we will share updates soon.

It has been an incredible experience serving as the club’s Vice President for the past year and a half. I look forward to visiting as an alumnus and watching the club continue to thrive. I wish you all a fantastic semester and plenty of fun at the club!

Welcome to the Spring 2025 semester. Please consider nominating yourself for the position of Graduate Student Association Elections Committee Co-Chair!

Eligibility

The Elections Committee will be co-chaired by:

• A sitting senator or cabinet member with at least one full year of experience within the GSA.
• A graduate student who is not currently an officer of the GSA in a role of either the “officers of the cabinet,” or a position as “committee chair,” or “senator.”

Please note! You will be ineligible to run for any other positions in GSA in the spring 2025 elections if you chair or serve on this committee. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone planning to graduate in 2025 (since as a result you would be ineligible to run anyway).

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Oversight of Elections: The committee will oversee all aspects of the election process, from candidate registration to campaigning, voting, and the announcement of results.
2. Rule-Making: The committee will establish clear rules for elections, including eligibility requirements, campaign regulations, and voting procedures. These rules will be reviewed annually and made publicly available to all students.
3. Candidate Vetting: The committee will ensure that all candidates meet eligibility criteria and adhere to campaign guidelines.
4. Complaint Resolution: The committee will have the authority to receive, review, and resolve any complaints related to the election process. Decisions made by the committee in this regard will be final.
5. Publication of Results: The committee will be responsible for the transparent and timely publication of election results.

Once the Committee has completed these responsibilities (likely no later than April 2025), your service would end.

As a member of the GSA Executive Council, you would be in a position of service and support to the GSA. If you are elected, you will be expected to begin work immediately and to work for approximately 7 hours per week. You must be able to participate in online meetings every Monday from 12:30-2 PM and, once a month, on Friday from 12-2 PM. As part of this job, you will be responsible for collaborating with other members of the GSA Executive Council, attending important GSA events, and other duties as required. You will receive a stipend for your work.

Nomination Process
To nominate yourself, please submit your name, student ID number, photograph/headshot, brief biography (50-100 words), and statement as to your qualifications and interest in the role (100-300 words), by Monday, 3 Feb 2025. If you are qualified according to the Graduate School, you should participate in the election, which will take place during the GSA Special Senate meeting on 14 Feb 2025 from 1-2 PM EST (online). Depending on the number of applicants, you may be able to give a speech and/or answer questions before the vote that day.

Here is the link to self-nominate:
https://forms.gle/j3vhKPquX5DKHwoC9

You will need to be logged into your UMBC account (and you may need to log out of other Gmail accounts) to access it.

Please email me at gsapresident@umbc.edu if you have any questions.