The Division will be tabling at GMC, come connect with us over breakfast and learn more about our programs, resources and support for our campus community.
Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill" on February 11 & 23. Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! Registration and additional information about the tours can be found here: [February 11] [February 23].
These virtual training sessions will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR); what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy; responding to a disclosure; procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct; trauma-informed care; confidentiality; and other applicable policies and procedures. Each training session will last approximately 50 minutes, and the Webex link will be sent to registrants within 24 hours of the training time. Please use the links below to register: [February 6] [February 9].
Join us for our first Circles for Beloved Community—facilitated spaces for faculty and staff to gather and build trust and understanding. These circles offer an opportunity to slow down, connect across roles and experiences, and practice being in community together. Register here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/149920
February is Black History Month! Engage with our 'Read, Watch, Listen & Participate' post.
Join us for Critical Social Justice Week, a multifaceted and interdisciplinary programming initiative that explores social justice in both theory and practice from academic, activist, and artistic perspectives. Click here to learn about past Critical Social Justice themes. The WGEC and CSJD have the following lineup of events for our campus community to engage with for the week.
Join the Women's, Gender, and Equity Center this month for weekly discussion group meetings! Connect, share, and grow through spaces such as Grad Connect, We Believe You, Rebuilding Manhood, Spectrum, Women of Color Collective, Women and Gender Minorities in STEM, Returning Adult Learners, Athletics Group, Between Femmes, and Head Space. Visit https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/womenscenter/events?mode=upcoming&page=1 for more information and schedules for each group.
UMBC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community and is committed to maintaining a campus environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. To help meet these goals, UMBC requires all students to complete an online educational program covering topics such as consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, and related issues. All students are required to complete this training at the start of each academic year. The online training can be accessed through UMBC's Vector Solutions login page. For questions, please see the Student Training FAQ page or email ecrtraining@umbc.edu.
Note: All programs, events, and opportunities are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and University nondiscrimination policies.
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!
We're honored to present a distinguished group of leaders whose work advances dialogue, inclusion, and community engagement:
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.
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.
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!
]]>This January, the Division of Institutional Equity has the following lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here's how you can get involved!
This is a virtual interactive workshop in collaboration with UMBC police. The workshop is designed for faculty and staff who may be the first person a survivor confides in. Participants will learn about the start by believing campaign, build confidence in responding to disclosures of sexual violence, and strengthen our trauma-informed, survivor-centered campus community. Please use this link to register for the workshop.
Faculty are invited to schedule one-on-one practical sessions with members of SDS throughout January for hands-on support to improve ally score from red to green. SDS members Tori Jakpa and Michael Canale would also provide support on accommodations, working with students with disabilities, and general digital accessibility concerns. Please use this link to schedule a session.
Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a guided tour of UMBC's "Campus on a Hill". Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and this is a great opportunity to learn about campus accessibility features, challenges, and how you can be an effective Accessibility Ally! Link: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/148914
These virtual training sessions will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR), what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. The training session will last for approximately 50 minutes, and the WebEx link will be sent to registrants within 24 hrs of the training time. Please use these links to register for a session: January 12, January 23, and January 30.
Students, staff, and faculty are welcome to visit the department and meet SDS & ADS staff, tour the office and testing areas, ask questions about disability access and the accommodation process, and connect with helpful resources. Come by and enjoy treats and make some social connections!
UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all. To request accommodation(s) or to inquire about event accessibility, please contact us via disability@umbc.edu with "SDS Open House" in the subject line.
This year's symposium creates a powerful space to explore how dialogue deepens connection, fosters inclusion, and transforms collaboration across campuses and communities. Expect interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, peer-led exchanges, and an opening keynote fishbowl conversation that promises to set the tone for everything to come.
Featuring:
Register here: https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qT4mFIw7bWNZFY
UMBC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that is free from sex discrimination, including both sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. To help meet these goals, UMBC requires all students to complete an online educational program on topics including consent, bystander intervention, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, and related topics. All students are required to complete this training at the start of each academic year. The online training can be accessed at UMBC's Vector Solutions login page. For questions, please see the Student Training FAQ page or email ecrtraining@umbc.edu.
Note: All programs, events, and opportunities are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and University nondiscrimination policies.
Announcing the "Building Equitable Workplaces: An Inclusive Hiring Series"
The Division of Institutional Equity (DOIE) and Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management (HRSTM) at UMBC are proud to present a transformative four-part series designed to empower all faculty and staff in fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging within our community.
Overview
In today's evolving landscape, fostering inclusive hiring practices is more crucial than ever. Embracing diversity, fairness, access, inclusion, and belonging, is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity.
Join us to gain the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to implement intentional recruitment, hiring, and retention practices. Aligned with UMBC’s core values of inclusive excellence, community, and equitable opportunity, the series offers a comprehensive understanding of the current hiring landscape, strategies to mitigate bias, and actionable frameworks for cultivating diverse and inclusive teams.
Session Details
Inclusive Hiring in the Current Context: Understanding the Landscape
Fostering Fairness: Strategies to Recognize and Overcome Bias in Hiring
The Inclusive Hiring Toolkit: Practical Tools and Resources
Action Planning for Inclusive Hiring: Turning Strategies into Practice
Key Takeaways
Enhanced Understanding: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the current hiring landscape and the importance of aligning our hiring practices with our institutional value of inclusive excellence.
Bias Mitigation: Learn to identify and mitigate unconscious biases that can influence recruitment and selection, ensuring fair and equitable hiring practices.
Practical Tools: Acquire concrete tools and resources to implement inclusive hiring, from job description development to interview techniques.
Actionable Strategies: Develop personalized action plans to apply inclusive hiring strategies within your specific departments and units.
By participating in this series, UMBC faculty and staff will be equipped to navigate the complexities of the current hiring environment, ensuring that our recruitment and retention practices reflect our commitment to inclusive excellence.
Registration Information
The series will be conducted in-person and seating is limited. RSVP on the MyUMBC page for each individual event.
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This event is 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.
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