Hello,

The Department of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies is missing an amazon package. It said it was delivered on Thursday, August 20th and received by someone named Lock at 11:22am. The tracking number is 1Z0JD2500231220321. If you have this package, please contact me at 410-455-2001 or email me at fislam@umbc.edu.

Thank you!
Farzana Islam

Program Management Specialist

ATTENTION UMBC student organizations! 

Involvement Fest is quickly approaching. commonvision, UMBC Student Design and Print Center is here to help with your Involvement Fest prints! 

We would recommend getting your orders into commonvsion ASAP. Please send your orders to commonvision@umbc.edu. Any clubs using carryover funds will need to provide us with a completed RESGAF before printing will begin. Outside of chartstrings/club funds we only accept retriever dollars on your campus card.

Please note that die-cut stickers have a minimum two week or more turnaround and we will not be able to accommodate sticker orders leading up to Involvement Fest. We are currently at capacity for these types of orders.

Tips for decreasing turnaround time and cost: 

• Print a couple flyers that stay at your table that contain a QR code to your organization's myUMBC group. If you run out of materials, you still have something people can scan.
• It is WAY cheaper to print in black & white on colorful paper than it is to print full color. commonvision has a wide range of fun colorful papers (bright pink, greens, blues, purples, red, gold etc.) that really POP while only requiring black and white printing. A full color printed flyer is $0.40 each, while a black & white print on colorful paper is $0.09 each. These prices get cheaper when you print over 100 copies of your flyer. 
• Send us your file as a PDF for quicker printing and less trouble shooting. 
• Letter sized flyers are 8.5 x 11 inches, quartercards are 4.25 x 5.5 inches.

All questions and inquiries can be emailed to commonvision@umbc.edu. To find out more about how commonvision can support your organization this semester, visit commonvision.umbc.edu

commonvision's Fall Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15 | 4-5pm | hybrid - AOK Library Room 259 or online

“How to Prepare a Social Science/Humanities Literature Review”

Please visit the library’s myUMBC group and see the attached flyer for full series details.

Blends & Bowls is moving!🥤🥗

We’re excited to announce that Blends & Bowls is relocating to Upper Flat Tuesdays! A new location means a fresh space to enjoy your favorite smoothie. Stay tuned, we’ll be opening soon!

Hello readers!!

Come find UMBC's very own Book Club at Involvement Fest on Wednesday, September 2nd at 12PM-2PM! We look forward to meeting new, interested members and catching up with old ones! 

See you then!

-The Eboard

Hello everyone!!

We are excited to see new AND old faces at UMBC's Involvement Fest on Wednesday September 2nd at 12PM! Come find us, chat, learn, and get some free little goodies! Keep an eye out for more details.

See you soon!

-The EBoard

A message from our colleagues in the Center for Social Justice Dialogue. Original post here.

This fall, the Center for Social Justice Dialogue is hosting Interact, a series designed to help participants hone the skills to successfully engage in dialogue across difference. If you are a first year undergraduate student interested in upscaling your dialogue, register now!

WHAT IS INTERACT?

Interact is a four-week program for undergraduate students focused on creating an introduction to the dialogue skills required to engage in difficult conversations, dialogue across difference, and intercultural dialogue.

The goal of Interact at UMBC is to develop foundational skills connected to competencies for dialogic community building including critical self-reflection, generous listening, cultural storytelling, and loving accountability. As a result of participation in Interact, participants will have the skills to engage in dialogue within any type of situation and any topic of conversation.

Participants meet weekly in small groups for 90-minute sessions that are co-facilitated by 2-3 facilitators. Each small group consists of 10-15 participants. During these sessions, participants learn and practice the necessary skills to become inclusive leaders and engaged community members.

Participants who attend at least three of the four sessions will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. 

To register, click this link!

Hello and welcome back, seedlings! We are excited to be back, and we have a lot of new plans for Bonsai Club this Fall 2026! As you guys settle into your classes and finalize your schedules, we encourage you to come to our weekly Bonsai club meetings which will begin mid-September. Bonsai club will also be at Involvement Fest next Wednesday, the 2nd of September, where we will have candies and loyalty cards for you guys to grab. If you receive 5 or more punches on your loyalty card, you will be eligible to receive a very special prize! We look forward to seeing you guys there!

One of the newest friendly faces recently spotted on campus is Jacob “Jake” Diaz, inaugural assistant vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs. Jake joined the UMBC community in May, bringing more than two decades of experience advancing student success, community well-being, and inclusive campus environments at public and private universities across the country. Diaz earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and both his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of Vermont. He is committed to developing a culture of care at UMBC, where students are part of a community filled with resources to help them thrive. He’s also excited to do this work with campus partners. How does he practice self care? What does he love about barbecuing? Read on!

Q: What is the dean of students’ role and what does it encompass? 

A: As the dean of students I get to be a part of a team of educators who help students connect the dots of their experience at UMBC. Ultimately, my wish for every student is that they experience all that UMBC offers because it is quite a special place. My office is here to ensure students have the resources to feel supported, included, and empowered throughout their journey here.

Q: What do you love most about working with students? 

A: I love to meet them as they begin their academic pursuits and to witness their growth into the human beings they are intended to be. 

Q: What has excited you the most so far about being at UMBC?

A: I love that UMBC strives to center students each day. It makes me happy to work alongside colleagues who have a deep passion for supporting students. They inspire me to be better each day.

Q: What are your plans to connect and support undergraduate and graduate students and the campus? 

A: My initial goals are to raise awareness about what the dean of students’ portfolio of services and programs is and to ensure that students know we are here for them. 

Q: What is the importance of campus partnerships in your work? 

A: I often think about how any shred of success I have in my role is dependent upon being in a high quality relationship with my colleagues. A dean of students cannot carry out their work in isolation so I would say that campus partnerships is number one for me. 

Q: How do we support students in challenging times? 

A: Being with a student when they are experiencing life’s challenges is a sacred moment. It is up to us to accompany them, provide resources such as our Retriever CARE team, and be really open to listening to their needs so that we can provide the right type of support to  help them stay on track academically and socially. As dean of students, I am proud to connect UMBC students with comprehensive support services designed to promote holistic well-being. Whether in mental health support and basic needs to academic accommodations and inclusive community spaces, our campus offers a robust network of resources dedicated to helping every student thrive.

Q: As a leader, how important is self care to you and how do you practice it? 

A: Self care is a topic I would love to talk with students about. It is a daily aspiration for me. My family is a source of support and I love to laugh, watch movies, walk outside and try new things. I plan to take a class to learn how to play pool! I am curious to know what students do for their own self-care. 

Q: What do you like to do outside of work? 

A: In my life outside of work I love fishing and BBQing. It’s fun to create new flavors of food on the grill. It’s also a relaxing process. Spending time with my daughter and wife is especially restorative for me. 

Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to our Pickleball & Popsicles event! We hope you all had fun! If you missed out, don't worry, we still have plenty of events for you to join.

Tomorrow is our last event for this week. It will be an Open Play for all levels on the Tennis Courts from 7-9pm (weather permitting). Courts will be divided by skill level similarly to yesterday's event and will also follow a 4 on, 4 off format, playing to 7 points. Please join us and invite your friends!

In addition, make sure you are registered in DSE (mandatory): https://umbc.dserec.com/online/clubsports

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!