Classes can be postponed (or canceled) due to inclement weather, utility and infrastructure breakdown, widespread illness, or other emergencies. By preparing a Go Online (GO) Kit, you’ll be ready to transition seamlessly when in-person classes aren’t an option. Here are five steps to help you stay on track.

1. Stay connected and up-to-date on issues impacting whether your class might get canceled or postponed.

• Sign up for UMBC Emergency Alerts to receive text notifications about closures, delays, or campus-wide emergencies.
• Follow Campus Announcements on myUMBC to stay up to date on any university-wide decisions affecting classes.

2. Identify instructional technologies you can use to support content distribution, active learning, and assessment.

• Familiarize yourself with instructional technologies that support academic continuity using online teaching strategies and tools,
• Blackboard for content distribution, assessments, and discussions.
• Web conferencing tools (Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex) for live class sessions.
• Panopto and VoiceThread video recording for asynchronous lectures.
• Cloud storage (Google Drive, Box, or OneDrive) for large file sharing.
• Other instructional technologies
• Test your setup in advance -- check your internet connection, explore Blackboard and other instructional technologies, and practice using web conferencing tools so you can troubleshoot issues to minimize disruptions when switching to online instruction.

Name: Sairam Bokka

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2024

Major: Cybersecurity

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)... Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Tenable Network Security

Location of the Organization (City, State): Columbia, Maryland

Title of position: Software Engineering Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
My focus during my time at Tenable was to develop a bot that can handle Technical Support and Customer queries about flagged CVEs and Advisory information. Based on the status of a package, the bot would reply to the Tech Support team with relevant information. As part of this project, I had to set up a Docker environment and start writing Python scripts with unit tests for each function I developed. At the end of my internship, I used Jenkins to automatically build the bot from source and deployed a bash script to automatically pull a new image after the build process was completed.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I was able to obtain this position through the BEYA Conference in February 2024. I met with the Talent Acquisition Manager at one of the Tenable booths and explained my qualifications and projects, highlighting the technologies I had used. She identified a position that was a great fit for my skills. I followed up with her on LinkedIn later and sent my resume. She then set up interviews with a Senior Software Developer and the Hiring Manager of the team I was going to join.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?
Career fairs, networking events (UMBC Connects, Info Sessions, Arts With a Purpose, etc.), LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
I enjoyed learning new things every day with the help of my mentor. He was supportive throughout my journey as an intern at Tenable. The HR team made the experience informative and fun through multiple networking events, listen-and-learns, and fun activities after office hours.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
My work significantly improved response times for common queries from customers and tech support engineers. The bot I developed was able to provide an instant response on Slack automatically when asked about a specific CVE. This eliminated the manual process in place, which required engineers to manually go through repositories to find a fix version for the CVE in question.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Start early, apply for positions that match your profile, and attend as many networking events as possible. The formula for success in today’s job market is Applications + Networking + Follow-ups. For help crafting your resume, cover letters, and general interview tips, make use of Career Center resources. They are professionals and your best allies during your job search.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
Continuous learning was an integral part of my work at Tenable. I was learning something new every day as part of my work. The hybrid work environment allowed me to meet my team in person two days a week, which helped me understand the project structure better and provide value in every sprint. The Career Center helped me craft the perfect resume for my internship, prepare for interviews, write cover letters, and improve my networking skills.

Dear UMBC Students,

Over the last few weeks, multiple presidential executive orders have been announced that impact our campus community. I assure all of you that your education, safety, and well-being are UMBC’s highest priority. 

Our community is enriched by the differences in our stories and perspectives, and we continue to be guided by our value of inclusive excellence that recognizes our common humanity.

If you have questions or concerns, there are campuswide resources and student events and resources to support you. Student Affairs, along with our student leaders, campus leaders, and offices and departments across campus, are working together to develop additional informational programming. We will continue to share updates on the resources weblinks. 

Last week you received several important email messages. President Sheares Ashby shared An Update on Our Work Related to Federal Executive Orders and Actions, and you also received messages regarding the Potential for Federal Immigration Enforcement at UMBC and Implications of an Executive Order on Research and Creative Achievement (for graduate students). International students received Information and Resources. If you have not read these messages, I encourage you to do so, as they contain information about the university’s responses as well as guidance for our community. 

Together we can work to ensure that UMBC continues to be a place that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all. 

Best,

Renique Kersh, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs