This competition will take place in Commons Sports Zone at 7PM.

Reflecting on Baltimore Stories Event

Saturday, December 3, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Performing Arts & Humanities Building, UMBC
Registration and sign in 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Free parking!

We invite you to join us to reflect on a year of programs exploring identity in Baltimore, as part of the “Baltimore Stories” project. Opening with remarks from UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski and University of Maryland, College Park President Wallace D. Loh on the role of the public university in the community, the event will consider how narratives about Baltimore are made and disseminated in and through media, who speaks for Baltimore, and what these stories mean for the future of the city. Humanities scholars, cultural organizers, partners, and other guests will discuss their efforts over the past year to help amplify the voices of Baltimore communities and use narrative to move towards change. Young people will share media projects highlighting the importance of their stories to the Baltimore's future. 

Information: dreshercenter@umbc.edu

File Photo

A rather funny phenomenon exists on the UMBC campus. As you walks further and further up Hilltop Circle, the architectural structures gradually get nicer and nicer. Though the University erected the beautifully designed and well-structured Performing Arts and Humanities Building a few years ago, many of the other academic facilities on campus are in need of some remodeling. Buildings such as Sondheim Hall and Sherman Hall have started to show their age, not just in design, but also in wear and tear.

In Sondheim Hall, it seems practically impossible to find a room that appears well maintained. The chalkboards all have a grainy and harsh appearance; the sheen on the desks has long disintegrated; the bricks that are starting to crumble around the edges.

The large lecture hall in Sherman Hall feels up-to-date, but the rest of the rooms have suffered a similar fate to the ones in Sondheim.

The rooms on the first floor of the Math and Psychology building seem almost as well kept as those in the much newer Public Policy Building, but on every other floor, Math/Psych’s age becomes clear.

Many students believe it’s time for these buildings to receive some of the care that other buildings, such as the Fine Arts Building, have seen over the years. “The rooms look really old and could definitely use some improvements,” said Lawrence Shirriel, a junior economics major. Shirriel emphasized the university should look into renovating these buildings so that they stay on the same level of aesthetic pleasure as that of other buildings further up the circle.

Having only been on campus for a few months, freshman biology major Carolle Isaacs hasn’t had any classes in the older buildings, although she has seen the state of these old UMBC classics. “The buildings are old and smell,” said Isaacs, although she did note that she preferred the Math and Psychology building to the Fine Arts building. Nevertheless, Isaacs feels that the university “should do the same [renovations] to the Math/Psych building that they’ve done to the other, newer buildings.”

The state of these buildings may seem relatively important, but many students don’t consider this too much of an issue. Chris Gruneke, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said that, while he doesn’t like the small amount of space that the lecture halls in Sherman and Meyerhoff provide, as he has long legs, he “[doesn’t] really care” about the buildings receiving any renovations, finding that they serve their purpose of providing a room for learning relatively well.

The state of academic buildings hasn’t reached the point to where they disrupt the learning process taking place in the classrooms. However, maybe it’s time for the university to invest some of that construction time it’s so well known for into these older structures.

UMBC Facilities Management was unavailable for a response.

The post Students feel that campus could use an update appeared first on The Retriever.

Faculty who plan to use clickers for instruction during the ​​Spring 2016 semester will need to have device order(s) submitted to the Bookstore no later than Thursday, November 24. This deadline allows the Bookstore to shop national wholesalers early for used books and items, prepare for buyback, avoid sending back to publishers leftover stock that will be reused next semester, and notify faculty of any availability problems. 

The University’s due date for textbook and course materials information is also Thursday, November 24. The University has instituted this deadline so that all textbook information, including clicker requirements, may be posted on the Bookstore's website, in adherence with State Law, as students prepare for their Spring 2017 schedules.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UMBC bookstore at textbook@umbc.edu or 410-455-2699. 

To learn more about the clickers:

• visit our Clicker FAQ page

• open an RT Ticket for any technical issues

• view the schedule of training workshops on the  Instructional Technology Group page 

The Shirley C. Sorensen Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award is bestowed in recognition of the numerous contributions Dr. Sorensen has made over many years to The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and especially to the former five-campus chapter, University of Maryland Chapter 22 UM-UMBC.   

            The University of Maryland Baltimore Campuses chapter, Chapter 22 UM-UMBC, inducts members from the University Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.  Each fall, this chapter invites applications from its undergraduate student members for a $1,000 Shirley C. Sorensen Award.  Eligibility criteria for the award are as follows:

            (1)   Each student applicant shall be a member of Chapter 22 UM-UMBC

            (2)   Each applicant shall have at least one remaining semester of undergraduate study at the time the award is presented. 

            (3)   Each student applicant shall be selected on the basis of Academic Excellence as demonstrated by outstanding grades, academic honors and recognition, and activities in the University or in the Community.

            (4)   Each student applying for the Shirley C. Sorensen Award must complete the application below and submit it to the Director of Awards for Chapter 22 UM-UMBC.

            The deadline for applications for the December 2016 Shirley C. Sorensen Award is Monday, December 5, 2016.  The winning applicant will be chosen by December 19, 2016, and the decision will be communicated to applicants shortly afterwards. Students at the University of Maryland Baltimore or the University of Maryland Baltimore County should submit their completed application along with an unofficial transcript by email to:

phikappaphi@umbc.edu

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