As part of our ongoing commitment to security, the Unix Infrastructure group will be conducting its quarterly system patching on Thursday, May 21st and Saturday, May 30th.  
While many of the systems will be patched without any service disruption, there are some systems which require the downtime of key services.  The schedule below outlines which key services will be offline and for how long.

Thursday, 05/21/2026 between 5pm and 10pm (most systems will only be down for a short period during this time):

* Access to Cyrus (legacy) email (accounts not migrated to UMBC Gmail)  * All mail will be queued up and delivered after the server is patched

* All HFS (afs) servers - gl.umbc.edu home directories will be offline

* Between 9:00pm and 10pm only: Certain software licenses will be unavailable (autodesk, cadence, idl, schrodinger, xilinx, mathematica). 

* Between 9:00pm and 10pm only: The web hosting environments (virthost) will be partially unavailable (pages will be available but any database calls will not work)

* Between 5:00pm and 6:30pm only: LDAP-Master and Webadmin will be taken down for system maintenance.  During this time account creations and password changes will be unavailable.  Account authentication and logins will not be affected.

Saturday, 05/30/2026 between 7am and 8am (most systems will only be down for a short period during this time):

* myUMBC lite page will be up resulting in reduced myUMBC functionality

Inside DOIE is a monthly series that introduces the faces in the Division of Institutional Equity. This project is an opportunity for our campus community to get to know the team.

Role within the Division: Equity & Civil Rights Hearing Officer/Decision Maker

How long have you been at UMBC? 10 Months

How would you describe your role within the Division of Institutional Equity?

My role is to help ensure that our community’s civil-rights processes are fair, respectful, and consistent. When concerns about discrimination, harassment, or related misconduct are brought forward, I review the information gathered, hold hearings or meetings when needed, and make an independent decision based on the evidence. I do not take sides—my job is to provide a thoughtful, neutral review so that every person involved has the opportunity to be heard and treated equitably. I also work closely with the ECR team to support clear communication, accessible processes, and a safe and inclusive campus environment.

Can you share a moment or experience that shaped your passion for equity and inclusion work?

Earlier in my career, I worked with a student who felt completely overwhelmed by the system they were trying to navigate. What struck me wasn’t just the situation itself—it was seeing how much relief they felt when someone finally slowed things down, explained the process clearly, and treated them with respect. That small shift changed their entire experience. That moment stayed with me. It showed me how important it is for every student to feel heard, supported, and treated fairly, especially when they’re facing something stressful or confusing. It’s a big part of why I do this work and why I care so much about creating processes that are accessible, equitable, and grounded in dignity for everyone involved. My hope is that when students interact with our office, they feel that same sense of clarity and respect—no matter their role in the process.

What is one initiative or project you’re currently working on that excites you?

I’m passionate about helping students understand what to expect when they interact with our office. Many students come into these processes feeling uncertain or anxious, and even small improvements in communication—clearer timelines, easier-to-read explanations, or supportive guidance—can make a huge difference in how fair and accessible the system feels. One project I’ve been especially committed to is shaping our written materials (like decision letters, notices, and process guides) so they are easier to follow and genuinely student-centered. My goal is to make sure every student, no matter their background or experience, feels informed, respected, and supported from start to finish. When students understand the process, they’re better able to participate meaningfully—and that leads to fairer, more empowering outcomes.

Outside of work, what’s something that brings you joy or helps you recharge?

I recharge by spending time with my family and being outdoors. I love taking long drives, exploring new places, and finding small moments of calm in busy weeks. At home, I enjoy spending time with Luna, my very anxious German Shepherd. Quiet routines, time with the people I love, and creative outlets all help me stay grounded and bring my best energy to the work I do with students.

Can you share a book/quote/movie or something others can engage with from your perspective of inclusive excellence?

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” — Benjamin Franklin. For me, this speaks to shared responsibility. Inclusive excellence is strongest when we all see ourselves as part of creating fairness, not only those directly affected.

Hey Graduate Students! 👋

As we transition into the summer months, the Office of Graduate Student Life (GSL) will be operating on a modified schedule. Please note our general hours and upcoming closures below before planning your visit:

🗓️ General Summer Hours

• Days: Monday – Thursday

• Hours: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

🚫 Upcoming May Closures & Key Dates

• Wednesday, May 20: CLOSED due to Spring Commencement 🎓 (Congratulations, grads!)

• Thursday, May 21 – Monday, May 25: CLOSED for Memorial Day Weekend 🇺🇸

• Tuesday, May 26: OPEN for the start of the Summer Session 📚

🚫 June & July Holiday Closures

• Friday, June 19: CLOSED for Juneteenth 

• Friday, July 3: CLOSED for Independence Day Observed 🎆

Have a wonderful, safe, and relaxing summer break! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Congratulations to our seniors!

Members of the Pre-Law Society who are graduating seniors may pick up their graduation cords on Monday, 5/18, between 1:00 and 4:30 PM, or Wednesday, 5/20, between 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM, in Public Policy 406 (Molly’s office).

Cast your vote for the executive board members of the Wisdom Weavers, the UMBC Erickson School of Aging Studies student interest group for the 2026-2027 school year.

Ballots will be open through Thursday, May 21st.

We are so excited by the level of interest in Wisdom Weavers leadership. Please take your time to thoughtfully review each candidate.   You can cast your vote HERE  

or by visiting https://forms.gle/WGvMawFmRYd9Z2Cj7

Cast your vote for the executive board members of the Wisdom Weavers, the UMBC Erickson School of Aging Studies student interest group for the 2026-2027 school year.

Ballots will be open through Thursday, May 21st.

We are so excited by the level of interest in Wisdom Weavers leadership. Please take your time to thoughtfully review each candidate.   You can cast your vote HERE  

or by visiting https://forms.gle/WGvMawFmRYd9Z2Cj7

We hope you will plan to attend the research presentations of two graduating TTL students on Tuesday, May 19 at noon on Webex. You can join the meeting by clicking on THIS LINK. Come celebrate Corinne Newsome and Caleb Schrader's hard work and brilliant research!

Corinne will present from her thesis, "Cycles of Indebtedness: The Chinese Coolie's Perpetual Labor in The Coolie Speaks and Monkey Hunting" [directed by Dr. Sharon Tran] In this project, Corinne reads Lisa Yun's The Coolie Speaks and Cristina Garcia's Monkey Hunting as counter-archives resisting dominant narratives that position 1874 as the end of the Cuban coolie trade's debt-based labor practices. These texts center the perspectives of Chinese contract laborers in Cuban history to present the compounding, renewing forms of debt that maintained their indenture throughout their lifetime and within Cuba's national legacy.

Caleb will present from his thesis  "'All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter': Tolkien’s Expressions Of Shifting Masculinity In 20th-Century Wartime England As Seen Through The Characters Of Boromir, Faramir, And Aragorn" [directed by Professor Deborah Rudacille]. His thesis argues that Boromir, Faramir, and Aragorn represent three distinct responses to the pressures of warfare, corruptive influence of power, and paternal expectation -- responses which he labels as collapse, conflict, and thoughtful integration. Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings suggests that the defining test of masculinity is not the ability to wield or reject power, but the ability to demonstrate moderation and restraint through having it and being able to relinquish it.

The finish line is in sight! We are down to the last two days of the Grad Finals Reset, and the OGSL Office is still open and ready to be your sanctuary from the exam crunch.

If your brain needs a break from the laptops and textbooks, swing by today or tomorrow. Whether you have 5 minutes to spare or want to stay and hang out longer, we’ve got exactly what you need to recharge:

• 🧩 Teamwork Puzzles: Help us finish up the community puzzles!

• 🖍️ Mindful Coloring: Grab some crayons or colored pencils and just zone out.

• 🛋️ Cozy Chill Space: No deadlines, no pressure—just a quiet, comfortable space to relax and breathe.

Take care of your mental well-being as you wrap up the semester. You’re almost there, grads—come take a well-deserved breather with us before it ends!

Dear UMBC Community,

Commencement is almost upon us! The first day of classes and Commencement are my favorite days of the year, and this year is no exception. We have so much to celebrate this year as we honor the graduates who will receive their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees later this week. 

The road has not been easy, of course, and the contexts for our graduating students continue to be challenging, whether individual or global in nature. Commencement ceremonies, though, are a joyful occasion reflecting on the work and growth of our graduates and the contributions they have made to their chosen fields, to UMBC, and to the world beyond. Commencement also is a chance to express our gratitude to all who have accompanied students on their journeys—their families and friends, fellow students, mentors, advisors, and so many faculty and staff members. 

This year feels even more meaningful for me as I celebrate the undergraduate Class of 2026, most of whom began their UMBC journeys at the same time I did, in the fall of 2022. It has been an honor to walk this path with you. Happy Commencement week to us all! 

Sincerely, 

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Hello UMBC Adjuncts: 

We are pleased to announce the results of the Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee election.

Congratulations to the elected representatives, and sincere appreciation to all candidates who participated in the process. 

The candidates selected for the Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee for 2026-2028  are: 

CAHSS   

• ROBERT JONATHAN BENNETT - English
• JILL VASBINDER MORRISON- Dance

CNMS

BONNIE KEGAN - Mathematics and Statistics

COEIT 

Hassan Shuja

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and contribute to this important election.