We are pleased to announce that the application for the 2020 Biostatistics Epidemiology Summer Training (BEST) Diversity Program is now available here. BEST was established to expand and diversify the behavioral and biomedical sciences’ workforce by introducing undergraduates from underrepresented populations to biostatistics and cardiovascular and pulmonary disease research. Students representing racial and ethnic minority groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities join the Department of Biostatistics at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health’s for eight weeks of research, training, academic and career planning, and social activities around New York City.

This program is for quantitatively inclined undergraduates interested in public health, who fit any of the following criteria:

1)      Underrepresented students in STEM, including racial/ethnic minorities (African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino-Americans, Native Americans or Alaskan Natives)

2)      Low-income students

3)      First generation college students

4)      Students with disabilities

We will be selecting 14 students for the Summer 2020 program which will run from May 26-July 17. 

The application deadline is March 1, 2020. 

For more information about BEST, please visit: publichealth.columbia.edu/BEST

As we move into the holiday season we want to remind residential students that all communities close for Winter Break on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 8PM except for Potomac Hall, Harbor Hall (1st North/West, 2nd South/West, 3rd South/West) and the Apartments.

If your student is leaving for the break please use the refer to the Break Closing Procedures to help reduce the risk of fire, minimize pest problems, and increase the security of your room and belongings. 

Halls re-open Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 9AM.   If you have any questions concerning Winter Break please contact the Residential Life Office at  410-455-2591.

During the winter break, we encourage students to make some smart moves!

·  Connect with first semester influences - Think back to anyone you made a connection with during your fall semester that could be an asset in the future, and keep in touch. If you had a great professor, send them a thank-you note or e-mail expressing your appreciation.

·  Update your resume - Regardless of where you are in your job search or college track, use this spare time to create or update your resume.

·  Analyze last semester and make adjustments - Take time to reflect on last semester as a whole – your academic life, your social life, health, finances, job, and so on. What worked for you? What didn’t?

·  Find a short-term internship - Put your time off to good use with a short-term internship. Inquire about internship opportunities during break at your Career Center.

·  Earn college credits - Finish 15, Graduate in 4, knock out a class during the winter holiday. Winter Session 2020.

Spring Semester Housing Plans for Residential Students 

If your student was a fall resident it is important to note that they have acknowledged a housing license that is for the entire academic year. If for some reason they do not plan to return to UMBC and/or housing in the Spring, it is important that you review the following information with them:

·  December Graduates & Study Abroad: Residents who have applied and are approved for December graduation or spring Study Abroad are automatically released from the terms of the license.  They are not expected to complete a petition form. Walker Avenue residents should contact the WAA Management Office via email. They are expected to check-out by 8PM on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. 

·  Not Returning to UMBC (Transfer, Withdraw and/or Leave): Students who do not plan to return to UMBC in the Spring are not automatically released from the housing license. They should contact Residential Life  request access to theHousing License Petition Request Form.  If approved, they are expected to check-out by 8PM on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. 

All students who are contemplating not returning to UMBC and/or housing in the spring are encouraged to contact the Residential Life Central or the WAA Management Office to explore options and next steps. Information about the petition process can be found at https://reslife.umbc.edu/apply/housing_procedures/

Feel that cold air? The Arctic is much closer than you think. And the race to dominate it is on. In a new online course offered this January learn all about how Arctic powers, including Russia and the United States, are wrangling for geopolitical advantage in the north in the face of climate change. With trillions of dollars of economic potential just under the quickly melting ice, is conflict inevitable? Be sure to check out the flyer attached below!

Crossover Parking to be available Friday,  December 20 through Friday, January 24

Students:  In addition to your assigned permit zone, student permits are valid in zones ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’.

Zone D & E Faculty/Staff:  In addition to your assigned permit zone, permits are valid in zones ‘A’ and ‘C’.

*Parking permits are required in all zones during the winter session*

BEYA STEM Career Fair and Conference

Thursday, February 13, 2020 – Saturday, February 15, 2020 * All Day

FREE!!!!

Open to All Students (undergraduate and graduate)

Jobs--full-time, part-time, internships and graduate admissions

BEYA STEM Conference - February 13-15, 2020
STEM Career Fair - Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15, 2020 (10 am - 4 pm)

Washington Marriott Wardman Park

2660 Woodley Road NW
Washington DC, 20008

The BEYA STEM Conference sponsored by Career Communications Group (CCG) will be held February 13-15, 2020 as part of this large annual conference, representatives from several major corporations and universities will be on hand to meet with students pursuing careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields as well as Business, Finance, and Marketing.  Why should you attend?

• FREE Career Fair
• Career exhibits
• 50 + seminars and workshops
• On the spot job offers
• Networking with recruiters
• Job readiness certification for college students.

The Career Fair portion of the conference on Friday and Saturday, is free of charge for UMBC students and alumni with an active UMBC email address. All students are welcome to attend. Dress to impress and bring plenty of updated resumes!

Registration is required.

To register, go to:  https://careers2.umbc.edu/calendar/fairs/beya2020.php

Deadline to pre-register is Feb. 10(Career Fair) and Jan. 28 for the entire Conference

Contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) of the UMBC Career Center for additional information.

Free Shuttle Bus

There will be a free shuttle bus to transport students to and from the career fair on Friday or on Saturday. If you will need transportation, be sure to complete the shuttle bus registration form at the bottom of the registration page: https://careers2.umbc.edu/calendar/fairs/beyabus2020.php. Please note that the free shuttle bus is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  In order to serve the most students, you may select only one day to ride the shuttle. The free shuttle will run only on Friday and Saturday between 8:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Transportation to and from other conference events (such as the BEYA Gala held Saturday evening) is on your own.

For a list of some of the employers, see:  List of Employers

 Added Bonus – Job Matching Program

 If you would like CCG to share your résumé with potential employers in order to help you identify employment opportunities, email your résumé directly to: aturner@ccgmag.com with subject line "Resume" (one resume attachment per email); resumes can come from any email address.

UMBC has named Brian Barrio the director of athletics, physical education, and recreation, effective January 2020. He will direct UMBC’s 17-sport NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program, all campus recreational programs (including intramurals, club sports, and recreational activities), and the physical education program. 

Commitment to student success

Barrio comes to UMBC after serving as director of athletics at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and in leadership positions at the University of Nevada, Pepperdine University, University of Southern California, and the America East Conference.

In each role, Barrio has developed programs and implemented policies supporting student-athlete success. During his tenure at CCSU, the Blue Devils won seven Northeast Conference titles and the CCSU baseball program won the university’s first-ever NCAA Tournament contest. In just one year, he increased athletics fundraising by 44 percent.

“UMBC has a bold and clear vision for how athletics can move the needle on the university’s strategic goals,” Barrio says. “I am thrilled to be trusted to help execute that vision over the coming years. The tremendous coaches and student-athletes already in place at UMBC will make this an exciting transition for me.”

Barrio also shares, “UMBC has made a strong commitment to intercollegiate and recreational athletics—a commitment that will benefit all UMBC students and will foster a vibrant student life. A university that makes that commitment while remaining steadfast in its support for student-athlete academic success and personal development—that’s the total package for an athletics director.”

Continuing UMBC’s momentum

Barrio comes to UMBC at a time of sustained athletic and academic success over several years. This includes highlights like the men’s basketball team’s “16-over-1” NCAA victory, swimming and diving programs dominating conference competition, men’s soccer’s numerous America East titles and women’s soccer’s first trip to an NCAA Tournament. Most recently, UMBC’s men’s lacrosse and softball teams overcame challenges to win 2019 America East Championships.

UMBC student-athletes also continue to excel academically. In fall 2018, they achieved a record grade-point average for the third consecutive semester, posting a mark of 3.14. Over two-thirds of student-athletes posted GPAs of 3.00 or higher.

Welcoming Barrio to Retriever Nation

Barrio earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston College in 1999, where he got his start as a team manager for the men’s basketball team and an intern in the sports information office. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of California-Hastings College of the Law.

“I am delighted to welcome Brian Barrio to UMBC,” says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. “His values and experience are impressive. He will be an outstanding ambassador for UMBC Athletics and a leader who will make an immediate contribution to the campus.” 

“Brian really understands the role athletics and recreation can play in building vibrant campus life, driving enrollment, and helping connect people to the university,” says Greg Simmons, M.P.P. ’04, public policy, vice president for Institutional Advancement, who co-chaired the search committee.

UMBC will hold a welcome event and press conference next week to formally introduce Brian Barrio to the Retriever community. It will be on December 17, 11:30 a.m., in the Retriever Room of the UMBC Event Center.

See UMBC Athletics for more information about Brian Barrio.