Inclusive excellence has long been a cultural touchstone at UMBC. Before now, we haven't had a definition or any other shared language to describe what we mean. This is your chance to inform our definition. Leaders in the Division of Institutional Equity have drafted a framework for inclusive excellence, and we want your input! 

The framework aims to articulate our community's shared commitments in a way that can communicate our values, guide action, inspire new collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC's next strategic plan.

Join The Centers for Social Justice Dialogue and Democracy and Civic Life for UMBC Talks, which are 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to support your engagement with the framework. Each UMBC Talk will be the same, so please sign up for the one that best suits your schedule. We hope to see you there. Come and leave your mark on this important moment in UMBC's history. 

Spring Semester Open Forums

Friday, April 10, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding faculty and staff experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. - noon, UC 312 -Foregrounding graduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Friday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding undergraduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Virtual - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Stay tuned for potential additional dates! Download the attached flyer to post or share.

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UMBC Talks is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance the sense of community, vibrancy, and well-being at UMBC through guided community conversations that reestablish our commitment to inclusive excellence and foster a sense of pride for what it truly
means to be a UMBC Retriever. Using this framework offers a dialogic process for gathering community input on shared values.

If you have any questions about this feedback process, please feel free to reach out to Drs. Ciara Christian and David Hoffman at culture@umbc.edu.

These events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

 

 

Join Us at the Dialogue Symposium!

We are thrilled to invite you to the Dialogue Symposium: Bringing Campus and Communities Together, a unique space to explore how dialogue can deepen connection, foster inclusion, and shape the way we work together across campuses and communities. This event will feature interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, peer-led exchanges, and kick off with a dynamic keynote fishbowl conversation you won't want to miss. Register today!

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

We're honored to present a distinguished group of leaders whose work advances dialogue, inclusion, and community engagement:

• Dr. Felipe Filomeno — Professor of Political Science and Director of the Global Studies Program at UMBC. His interdisciplinary work on immigration, civic engagement, dialogue, and human development brings a global and community-centered lens to the conversation

• Dr. Bridget Turner-Kelly — Associate Professor in Student Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Turner-Kelly's expertise in student development and campus community building highlights how dialogue supports belonging and transformational learning.

• Rhonda Fitzgerald — Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, where she brings decades of leadership to efforts empowering campuses and communities to use sustained dialogue for conflict transformation and inclusive engagement.

• Dr. Brighid Dwyer — Vice Dean for Academic Excellence & Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences and Vice Chair of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center Board. Dr. Dwyer brings decades of leadership in higher education and intergroup dialogue, offering insight into structural and educational approaches to inclusive campus climates.

What Makes This Keynote Special?

Instead of a traditional panel, our keynote will be presented as a fishbowl conversation — a structured, participatory dialogue method in which a small group discusses key questions in the center while others observe and engage. This format allows for vibrant, inclusive exchange and reflects the very principles of active listening and shared meaning-making that dialogue advocates. 

Whether you're new to dialogue or an experienced practitioner, this conversation will offer rich insights into the benefits and challenges of dialogue as a campus and community approach, and create space for reflection, connection, and shared learning.

Don't Miss Out — Register Today!

Spaces are limited, and interest is growing. Whether you're an administrator, educator, student, facilitator, or community member, this symposium offers opportunities to build skills, connect with peers, and be part of shaping dialogue practice across our region.

Register now and be part of this engaging, thought-provoking event! Link to register: https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qT4mFIw7bWNZFY

We look forward to seeing you there — ready to listen, share, and learn together!

Call for Events, Programs, and Ideas: Cultural Heritage Month Curations

DOIE is excited to work toward a unified announcement of events, programs, and initiatives in celebration of upcoming Cultural Heritage Months. 

This is your opportunity to highlight events and programs, or offer fresh ideas for engagement. Whether you are planning an event or simply have an idea you would like to support in bringing to life, we want to hear from you. 

We are currently curating for:

• Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15); 

• LGBTQ History Month (October); 

• Disability Cultural Month (October); 

• Native American Heritage Month (November);

• Black History Month (February);

• Women’s History Month (March); and

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May).

DOIE invites UMBC-affiliated organizations and campus departments or offices to request financial sponsorships or collaboration to support AY25-26 initiatives that align with the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Sponsorships of up to $1,000 annually are available per organization or department/office. 

Submit your request today!

Link to submission: http://bit.ly/DOIESponsorship

Eligibility

UMBC-affiliated organizations, offices, or departments may request sponsorship or collaboration for initiatives that:

• Advance inclusive excellence within the UMBC community.

• Align with DOIE’s vision, mission, and core values.

• Promote UMBC’s strategic priorities such as innovative teaching, civic engagement, accessible environments, or research that enhances inclusive excellence.

• Are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

This summer, UMBC is teaming up with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to upgrade nine teaching labs in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building—marking a major step in fostering inclusive STEM education. The goal: ensure all students, including wheelchair users and those with various disabilities, can fully participate in core chemistry and biochemistry courses.

What's Changing in the Labs?

• Wheelchair-accessible sinks, fume hoods, lab benches, and cabinets

• Lowered equipment stations for independent use

• A research lab redesigned for accessible hands-on experience

Lecture Hall Upgrades Include:

• Wheelchair-accessible seating in multiple locations with fold-down tablets

• TV monitors for better visibility for low-vision students

• Standing desks and seating variations for diverse body types, pregnant students, and orthopedic needs

• Assisted listening tech and designated interpreter areas for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing

Additional accessibility projects include:

• Restroom renovations in the Biological Sciences Building

• Elevator upgrades across multiple academic buildings

“The Office of Accessibility & Disability Services greatly values our longstanding partnership with Facilities Management to assist us in the mission of inclusive access and elimination of barriers for all UMBC community members,” says Tawny McManus, Assistant Vice President for Accessibility.

Learn how these changes are reshaping inclusion in STEM at UMBC: Read more here.

See original post here:  https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/posts/151158