UMBC announces partnership with national nonprofit College Track, a national organization dedicated to supporting the academic and personal growth of first-generation and other less-advantaged students as they navigate through high school, college, and beyond. 

The agreement gives College Track a public higher education partner in the Baltimore region and builds on the April announcement by the Baltimore Ravens, the Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation, and M&T Bank of a $20 million donation to establish a College Track center in Baltimore to support Baltimore City Public Schools. 

By combining College Track’s innovative 10-year commitment to wraparound services with UMBC’s proven success at delivering equity-based educational outcomes, the collaboration between the research-oriented public institution and the nonprofit is an exciting step forward for inclusive academic excellence in the Baltimore region and reflects UMBC’s deep commitment to advancing knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.

“UMBC’s tradition of academic and scholarly achievement is rooted in our understanding that there can be no excellence without inclusion; providing opportunities for students from all backgrounds is central to our core mission,” said UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby. “Partnering with College Track will allow us to ensure that first generation students and students from underserved communities have all the tools they need to reach their full potential.” 

College Track currently serves more than 4,000 high school and college scholars in California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. metro area. Ninety percent of College Track scholars are first-generation college students, and 84 percent are from underserved communities. They earn their bachelor’s degrees at more than two and a half times the rate of their first-generation peers. UMBC, a historically diverse university that is a national and global leader in education, research, affordability, and community engagement, is the nation’s number one producer of Black undergraduates who go on to complete a Ph.D. in the natural sciences or engineering, and number one for Black undergraduates who complete an M.D./Ph.D.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, UMBC will guarantee admissions each year for eligible College Track Scholars from Maryland with a priority on students from Baltimore City schools. UMBC will provide funding for the full demonstrated financial need of these College Track scholars up to the cost of attendance for up to five years of full-time enrollment. UMBC will also invite all College Track scholars to participate in the Summer Bridge program, a 6-week residential program that prepares students for academic life, with costs covered by UMBC.

“At UMBC, we do not just talk about equity and social justice, we make it happen in real, tangible ways that improve people’s everyday lives,” said Sheares Ashby. “Combining our academic strengths with College Track’s effective support model will empower promising students in Baltimore and across Maryland to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

For more information about the partnership, contact UMBC’s media relations.

Learn more about UMBC admissions.

Readers are needed for a student and faculty reading of Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen. The performance will take place on Wednesday, October 9 from 7:00-9:00 pm in PAHB 234. Pizza and soft drinks will be served. 

The Assemblywomen dramatizes how women dress as men, take control of the assembly, and vote to hand power over to women. Once in charge, the women install public ownership of all property, turn law courts into communal feasting halls, and try to coax citizens to transfer their property to the state for the common good. Things go off the rails after an amendment to the women's proposal insisted upon by the old men of Athens leads to absurd consequences.  Contact Dr. Rosenbloom (dsrose@umbc.edu) if you are interested in reading a part. 

There will be a rehearsal before the performance on the afternoon of Wednesday Oct. 9 between 4:00-6:00 pm in PAHB 441. 

To the UMBC Sponsored Award Community,

Thanks to those of you who have completed your Effort Report Certifications!

This is a reminder that Effort Reports for Spring 2024 are due no later than Monday, September 30, 2024.

The Spring 2024 period includes Payroll 2024-015 through Payroll 2024-027 (from December 31, 2023 through June 29, 2024).

Effort Reports are both a Compliance Tool and a Grants Management Tool. Late effort reports are deemed out of compliance with federal regulations and UMBC procedures.

To find out whether you have open effort reports for Spring 2024 (see page 6, Year: 2024 Period: Spring) and to learn how to certify them, see the attached Effort Report Quick Guide with screenshots for your convenience.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO Effort Report Certifications: see page 12, #1 in the Quick Guide for information on how to gain certification access. You will not be able to certify without proper access in PeopleSoft.

IF THE PI ON THE PROJECT IS NOT AVAILABLE to certify due to termination, sabbatical, etc. see page 12, #2 in the Quick Guide for instructions. Requests must come directly from the department chair/dean/director.

Your timely commitment to this process is appreciated.

On this episode we hear from Dr. Jun Chu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health at UMBC. 

Dr. Chu shares information about his ongoing research agenda into aging alone.

Check out the following links for more information on UMBC, CS3, and our host:

• The UMBC Center for the Social Sciences Scholarship
• The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Ian G. Anson, Ph.D.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon!

Retrieving the Social Sciences is a production of the UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship.  Our podcast host is Dr. Ian Anson, and our acting director is Dr. Eric Stokan. Our production intern is Jean Kim. Our theme music was composed and recorded by D’Juan Moreland (UMBC '24).  Special thanks to Amy Barnes and Myriam Ralston for production assistance.  Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where you can find full video recordings of recent UMBC events.