Are you passionate about advocacy, event planning, research, or policy? The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is now recruiting paid committee members for the 2025–2026 academic year! This is your opportunity to grow as a leader, collaborate with fellow students, and support the graduate community at UMBC.

Committee members receive an annual stipend of $1,000 – $1,500 in recognition of their valuable contributions.

You can apply to join the committee through a single application form. You can select up to two committees: APPLY HERE

1) Graduate Experience, Achievements, Research and Successes (GEARS) Committee

Mission: GEARS (Graduate Experience, Achievements, Research and Successes) showcase graduate student creativity, research, and resilience through engaging events.

We are recruiting 5 members for these roles:

• Events Lead: Coordinate and execute events; assist Chair in planning.

• Public Relations Manager: Build campus partnerships; increase engagement.

• Operations Manager: Oversee logistics, attendance, and feedback forms.

• Secretary: Record minutes, maintain event records, support communication.

• Graphics Manager: Design promotional content; manage event marketing.

Time Commitment: 3–4 hours/week

Ideal for creative, collaborative, and organized individuals who love event planning and community building.

2) Grants Review Panel (GRP) Committee

Mission: Review and evaluate GSA grant applications for research and travel support.

We are recruiting 6 members with strong attention to detail and accountability. You need to have at least one semester completed to be a part of this committee.
Responsibilities:

• Review and track applications using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

• Maintain accurate records

• Attend all committee meetings

• Communicate promptly and meet deadlines

Skills Needed: Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, formatting)
Time Commitment: 3–4 hours/week
Ideal for analytical and detail-oriented individuals with strong communication skills.

3) Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee (GAAC)

Mission: Represent the voice of Graduate Assistants (GAs) by collecting concerns, advocating for fair compensation and benefits, and shaping policy through the USM Meet & Confer process.

We are recruiting 4 Graduate Assistants:

• One each from COEIT, CNMS, CAHSS

• One PhD student in Public Policy as a Legislative Concerns Specialist

Responsibilities:

• Attend one GA Town Hall or tabling event per semester

• Submit monthly report updates and assist with GA Handbook or surveys

• Help draft issue briefs for biannual Meet & Confer meetings

Time Commitment: ~3 hours/week (slightly higher near meetings)
Ideal for GAs passionate about advocacy, policy, and workplace fairness.

Ready to Apply? Click Here!

Use the form above to express your interest in one or more committees. 

We can’t wait to work with you and empower the UMBC graduate student community—one initiative at a time.

UMBC recently unveiled a new organic pollinator garden at the Center for Well-Being. The new garden builds on years of work to support wildlife on campus, including pollinator gardens, enhanced habitat at the Library Pond, increasing use of native plants in campus flower beds, a major stream restoration of Herbert Run, and a commitment to long-term conservation of The Knoll, a forest patch on campus that includes trees older than the university.

The new pollinator garden qualifies as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Watch Waystation. The garden includes milkweed plants funded by a grant from Monarch Watch and additional species from Chesapeake Natives, a local nonprofit dedicated to supplying plants native to the coastal and Piedmont regions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for home and public landscapes. 

The new garden and the UMBC sustainability and grounds teams’ other work to promote ecosystem health on campus also brings UMBC one step closer to achieving the next level in the Green Grounds certification program. 

“I am excited that UMBC continues to invest in native habitats on our campus. I’m inspired by the amount of wildlife activity I encounter when I walk around, and it reminds me we can create flourishing habitats even in small spaces,” shares Taylor Smith, assistant director of sustainability. “The new pollinator garden is already filling in, and our pollinators are loving it!”

Post by Sarah Hansen, M.S., '15

UMBC recently unveiled a new organic pollinator garden at the Center for Well-Being. The new garden builds on years of work to support wildlife on campus, including pollinator gardens, enhanced habitat at the Library Pond, increasing use of native plants in campus flower beds, a major stream restoration of Herbert Run, and a commitment to long-term conservation of The Knoll, a forest patch on campus that includes trees older than the university.

The new pollinator garden qualifies as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Watch Waystation. The garden includes milkweed plants funded by a grant from Monarch Watch and additional species from Chesapeake Natives, a local nonprofit dedicated to supplying plants native to the coastal and Piedmont regions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for home and public landscapes. 

The new garden and the UMBC sustainability and grounds teams’ other work to promote ecosystem health on campus also brings UMBC one step closer to achieving the next level in the Green Grounds certification program. 

“I am excited that UMBC continues to invest in native habitats on our campus. I’m inspired by the amount of wildlife activity I encounter when I walk around, and it reminds me we can create flourishing habitats even in small spaces,” shares Taylor Smith, assistant director of sustainability. “The new pollinator garden is already filling in, and our pollinators are loving it!”

1st ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Polar Data Science (PolDS 2025)

Selling a clean and comfortable IKEA bed frame and matching mattress – both in great condition and used in a non-smoking, pet-free home. Ideal for students, guests, or a first apartment setup. Easy to disassemble and transport in a standard car (no need for movers). If interested message at +13014509065

Asking: $250 Pickup only.

Location: Arbutus MD(5 minutes drive to UMBC)