Baja cars may be small, but they are incredibly tough — they’ll tackle the rockiest terrain and make seemingly impossible jumps. And while they’re fun to watch on the track, they’re also taking on important work here on UMBC’s campus, where our students design, build, and race these rough and tumble automobiles.

The ultimate test for any Baja team is the Baja SAE International Collegiate Design Series, an engineering competition that gives undergraduate and graduate students a chance to enhance their engineering and project management skills through a series of real-world challenges. And this year, UMBC is proud to play host to one of the three competitions in North America. Come May, more than 100 international college teams put their Baja vehicles to the test in Mechanicsville, MD. Each team will be challenged to design and build a prototype for a rugged, single-seat, off-road vehicle suitable for use in a variety of conditions. The vehicle must be designed for safe operation over rough terrain, including dirt, rocks, sand, mud, logs, steep inclines, and shallow water.

Of course, hosting the Collegiate Design Series involves several significant expenses, including renting the track location, purchasing materials to build the track, and supporting up to 400 volunteers throughout the competition. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Through your gift to Baja SAE, you’ll not only ensure that our students are getting invaluable real-world engineering experience, you’ll also help them develop project management, marketing, and leadership skills that will be critical in their future careers. And you’ll help us make the 2015 SAE International College Design series unforgettable.

Support UMBC Baja as a donor or volunteer! 

To: The UMBC Community
From: Freeman Hrabowski and Philip Rous

We hope you have read our note from earlier today providing guidance to the campus regarding the recent events in Baltimore. We write now to encourage our community to continue to engage in thoughtful reflection, dialogue, and service around the complex social and economic challenges facing our Baltimore community—and communities across the nation.

Freddie Gray’s family has suffered a tragic personal loss, and we send them our sincere condolences. This event stands as a reminder of systemic issues of social injustice and inequality. These difficult times mark an opportunity to engage in honest conversations about these issues.

Our words and our actions speak volumes about our values. Courage to address critical social challenges—while respecting others—is a hallmark of the UMBC community. As a university, we have a civic responsibility to lead these conversations. We thank our faculty and staff who are supporting our students and leading discussions in classes and other venues on campus. We also thank our students who are participating in discussion and helping with clean-up activities and other initiatives in the city.

We recognize that one of the greatest strengths of our nation is the right of citizens to protest. As you each consider your personal response to the events unfolding in Baltimore, we ask that you act safely and responsibly.

The University’s administrative leadership met today with representatives of the faculty, staff, and student leadership to discuss our approach to supporting the broader Baltimore community. We encourage you to continue to be involved in programs and services that improve and enrich the lives of others through civic engagement.

UMBC has a long tradition of engaged scholarship, service learning, and community service. We are deeply involved in addressing critical social challenges in Baltimore and surrounding communities, whether in courses and research or providing direct services for youth through the Shriver Center and other programs. Through these programs we have established partnerships that will continue to serve our community in the months and years ahead.