This week one of our alumni: Devon S will be presenting on MeshPages: A Web Server Framework for Meshtastic
You can check out the project repo here: https://github.com/MushroomGecko/MeshPages
As always we will be meeting tonight in Sherman 103 at 7:15 PM

Dear UMBC Faculty and Staff,

Across UMBC, there is a great deal of meaningful work happening every day, from supporting our students to advancing research and building community. At the same time, it can be difficult to keep up with everything happening beyond your immediate area or to see the full breadth of work taking place across the institution.

The UMBC Connection is a new e-newsletter from University Communications and Marketing (UCM), designed to help bring more visibility to that work through a thoughtful selection of updates, opportunities, achievements, and milestones from across the university. The newsletter is developed in partnership with a network of contributors representing colleges, divisions, and administrative units across UMBC, helping ensure a broader view of what is happening throughout our community.

A new edition will be published on the first and third Wednesday of each month. This is an evolving effort, and it will continue to take shape through your feedback, including input from the internal communications survey shared earlier this week. We hope it becomes a useful and consistent way to stay informed, connected, and engaged with the people and work shaping UMBC.

Coming Up

Events and opportunities for the weeks ahead.

• Celebrate the Class of 2026 at Senior Sendoff (May 7)
  Faculty and staff are invited to stop by and celebrate our graduating students as they prepare to become UMBC alumni.
• America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 9–10)
  UMBC Athletics will compete in the America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Lowell, Massachusetts.
• Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards (May 13)
  Faculty and staff are invited to join President Valerie Sheares Ashby in recognizing this year’s awardees and University System of Maryland honorees.
• UMBC Talks: Inclusive Excellence (May 13)
  Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a facilitated dialogue to help shape UMBC’s shared definition of inclusive excellence and inform future institutional priorities.

Key Updates

Important updates and moments across the university that may affect your work and the broader UMBC community.

• Share your feedback on campus communications (closes May 15)
  UCM, in partnership with Hanover Research, is inviting faculty and staff to complete a brief, anonymous, survey about internal communications. Your input will help improve how updates, resources, and communications reach the campus community.
• Commencement 2026: Faculty and staff participation (May 20 - 21)
  Faculty and staff are invited to take part in UMBC’s Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies and celebrate the Class of 2026. Faculty and staff may march in the procession, volunteer, or reserve seating for graduating family members.

University Milestones

Major achievements and recognitions across UMBC.

• Meyerhoff Scholars Program celebrates 500th Ph.D.
  UMBC marks a major milestone as 500 Meyerhoff Scholars alumni have earned Ph.D.s, highlighting the program’s national leadership in diversifying STEM fields.
• Accessibility Trailblazers
  This event recognizes faculty and departments advancing inclusive teaching and accessible learning environments across UMBC through a strong commitment to universal design for learning.
• Four UMBC students named Goldwater Scholars
  UMBC is celebrating four students named Barry Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in science, engineering, and mathematics.

More from across UMBC

Additional updates and opportunities from across the university.

• Celebrating Humanities Books (May 6) — campus celebration of faculty publications across disciplines
• Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote (May 6) — discussion on AAPI political engagement and voting behavior featuring Maryland leaders and policymakers
• SistaCare (May 7) — community care and dialogue space centered on the experiences of Black and Africana women and femmes
• Maryland New Venture Pitch Night (May 11) — Shark Tank-style competition showcasing student ventures focused on innovation and real-world impact
• Stories We Carry: AAPI Storytelling Circle (May 11) — guided conversation and community reflection
• UMBC Night at Oriole Park (June 27) — Orioles game and community gathering for faculty, staff, and alumni
• Retrievers Read 2026— summer reading challenge for faculty, staff, students, and alumni

Help Shape The UMBC Connection

As this effort continues to take shape, your feedback will help guide how we strengthen internal communications across the university. We welcome your input and invite you to share your feedback on The UMBC Connection.

If you would prefer, you are also welcome to reach out directly to Jessica McGroarty, Director of Internal Communications, at jmcgro@umbc.edu. 

University Communications and Marketing

Are you a freshman who is curious about the final senior project for the Anthropology major? What about a junior or senior on their final steps to completing their Anthropology major? 

Join Anthropology Club this Thursday, May 7th, at 5:00-6:00 in PAHB 123 for its last meeting of the semester where we will be learning about the Anthropology major’s senior capstone project course—ANTH 480: Anthropological Research Capstone!

We will go over the basic elements of the capstone course and have Anthropology students who are currently taking the capstone course talk about their projects and experiences. We will also have Anthropology teachers at the meeting to give insight into the capstone and the major as well. Any questions you may have about the course or the Anthropology major can be answered!

This meeting is open to all Anthropology majors and minors of any year. There will be free food and drinks.

Please follow our MyUMBC Groups page and Instagram for any updates about the meeting. You can stay informed about the club after this meeting too! 

Are you a freshman who is curious about the final senior project for the Anthropology major? What about a junior or senior on their final steps to completing their Anthropology major? 

Join Anthropology Club this Thursday, May 7th, at 5:00-6:00 in PAHB 123 for its last meeting of the semester where we will be learning about the Anthropology major’s senior capstone project course—ANTH 480: Anthropological Research Capstone!

We will go over the basic elements of the capstone course and have Anthropology students who are currently taking the capstone course talk about their projects and experiences. We will also have Anthropology teachers at the meeting to give insight into the capstone and the major as well. Any questions you may have about the course or the Anthropology major can be answered!

This meeting is open to all Anthropology majors and minors of any year. There will be free food and drinks.

Please follow our MyUMBC Groups page and Instagram for any updates about the meeting. You can stay informed about the club after this meeting too! 

During the week of May 11th- May 15th, UMBC's Pre-Veterinary Society will host its second Donation Drive for BARCS!

Please support us by scanning the QR codes on the flyers around campus or by clicking this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LCfvT47AZkBPaCNmaLDMvPRysgdM71DIF_ekyUvYKAo/edit?tab=t.0

Good luck with finals & thank you!! 

View attachment below for QR code:

Temporary Private room available in a 2BHK townhouse for a male at Westland Gardens for a 3-month move-in.

Perfect for interns, students living on campus whose apartments will be closed, or anyone looking for temporary housing.

Fully furnished 2BHK townhouse: 

What you get:

• Spacious living room with sofa + TV.
• Fully equipped kitchen (Oven, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher).
• In-unit Washer & Dryer.
• Central heating & cooling.
• Just a 1-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop.
• Only 10 minutes walk to campus. 
• Availability: May 25th - Aug 15th.
• Rent is just 600$ only.

DM for more information: +1-202-937-5716 or email me at IO95979@umbc.edu

We will be closed May 25th-29th. This will affect print order turn around times, please plan accordingly.

Hi All! Join us for the last GBM of the academic year TODAY! We'll be celebrating our achievements and announce the new e-board for 2026-2027 year 🎊

Located in Fine Arts 215 from 12-1 PM!

July 9 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Maryland’s first ever statewide humanities conference is happening this summer.

“Centering Community Voices: Exploring Stories That Shaped Us” is a gathering for anyone who believes that stories matter, that history is alive, and that communities deserve to be heard.

Save the date, and watch for registration details coming soon.

DoIT is pleased to announce the official launch of the new REX Analytics Portal (REX 2.0), our comprehensive campus reporting portal at rexanalytics.umbc.edu, also accessible at umbc.edu/go/rex20. This portal is powered by Tableau, providing a more dynamic and user-friendly experience for accessing crucial institutional data.

What's New in the REX Analytics Portal?

Importantly, the new portal helps everyone know what’s in the REX data warehouse by showing all reports, even if you don’t have access to them. Also, with the adoption of HelioCampus as our new data warehouse, we have transitioned key institutional reports to the updated REX platform, which offers streamlined access to a collection of new and updated reports, dashboards, and data visualizations in Tableau for authorized users. Main categories include Admissions, Student Records and Enrollment, Financial & Administrative Dashboards, Human Resources, and the Strategic Enrollment Plan reporting. 

In the upper-right corner, click the i icon for an informational overlay on navigating the landing page or the ? icon in the upper-right to request access to reports or get additional help.

Getting Started and Resources

Access the UMBC REX Analytics Portal today to explore the new platform and reports.

• To access the REX Analytics Portal from off-campus (or using the Visitor wireless network on-campus), you will need to be in the VPN.

• The REX Analytics Portal can also be found in the Guide in myUMBC.

• If you have trouble finding a report, in REX, you can look for "_Where are … Reports" in individual folders for links to the reports in the REX Analytics Portal.

• Why & How to Explore Analytics@UMBC – Division of Information Technology 

• How do I self-enroll in the "Analytics at UMBC" training organization?

• Learn more about Analytics at UMBC on our website: analytics.umbc.edu

• Get Help with REX - Submit a Ticket

Future REX Analytics News

We are actively transitioning and developing additional reports. More report folders and categories will be made available throughout 2026. Please keep an eye out for future DoIT announcements regarding new reports, training opportunities, and system enhancements.

Reminder: Authorized faculty, staff, and institutional researchers have varying degrees of access to reports, dependent upon their role at the institution. To request access, click here. Please note that this is a role-based approval process.

Should you have any issues or questions, submit a ticket to the REX Data Analytics team here.