Repost from the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation:
Dear Colleagues,
The USM Digital Accessibility Spring Cleaning is almost here! Join us Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9, to make your digital content accessible.
Let's take some time to assess and remediate your course materials and workplace documents. Whether you're a faculty member preparing courses or a staff member managing shared resources, Spring Cleaning offers the perfect opportunity to ensure your digital content is accessible to everyone.
10:00-10:45 AM ET: Let's Get Cleaning! (Welcome & Overview) | Register
11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET: Digital Accessibility 101 | Register
11:00 AM-2:00 PM ET: Drop-In Zoom Office Hours (no registration required) | Join Here
3:00-4:00 PM ET: Digital Accessibility in STEM: Practical Fixes for Spring | Register
3:00-4:00 PM ET: Digital Accessibility in Arts & Music: Practical Fixes for Spring | Register
4:15-5:00 PM ET: Rethinking PDFs: The Accessibility Shortcut You Need | Register
9:00-10:00 AM ET: Accessibility Audit & Action Planning | Register
10:30-11:30 AM ET: Document Remediation Lab | Register
12:00-1:30 PM ET: Sparkle On: Celebrating Our Wins & Next Steps | Register
1:30-3:30 PM ET: Drop-In Zoom Office Hours (no registration required) | Join Here
Plus: Campus-specific virtual and in-person workshops—View the complete schedule with campus events.
Access our self-paced Spring Cleaning guide with step-by-step resources for remediating your content on your own timeline.
This event isn't just for course materials! Whether you're in an academic department, student affairs, admin and finance, a student organization, or another part of campus, you can apply accessibility principles to presentations, shared drives, templates, reports, and any other digital materials you create or share.
Let's work together to create a more accessible university system—one document, one slide, one course at a time.
Questions? Contact cai@usmd.edu
USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation (KCAI) | USM Council for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) | USM Digital Accessibility Work Group (DAWG)
We look forward to engaging with you at Spring Cleaning!
The Graduate School invites UMBC faculty and staff to apply for the inaugural Janet C. Rutledge Graduate Student Well-Being Award, which supports innovative, research-informed projects that promote sustainable graduate student well-being.
One proposal will be selected annually to receive up to $3,500 for programming costs and/or a stipend. Projects may address one or more areas of graduate student well-being, including sense of purpose, financial security, belonging, faculty mentoring, or student-centered academic structures. Priority will be given to projects with impact beyond the award period.
Deadline to apply: February 20
Award announced: Spring 2026 at the GSA Awards Ceremony
Eligibility, proposal guidelines, and submission details are available through the Graduate School website: https://gradschool.umbc.edu/janet-c-rutledge-graduate-student-well-being-award/.
For questions, contact Dr. Robin Cresiski, rcresisk@umbc.edu.
]]>Promotions have begun for the 2026 University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Student Excellence Scholarships, which recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate students across USM institutions.
This is a self-nomination scholarship. While the application portal opens on Tuesday, January 6, students are encouraged to review the requirements and begin preparing materials in advance.
Application Deadline: Friday, February 6
Requirements: Completed application, including a letter of recommendation
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate USM students in good academic and disciplinary standing
More Information: Full details and application access are available on the official scholarship website
Students are strongly encouraged to consider applying and to begin preparations early.
]]>Mission: Review and evaluate GSA grant applications for research and travel support.
We are recruiting 1 member 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
Open to all graduate students.
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.
Fill the following form by January 14, 2026
Graduate Student Association (GSA) is now accepting nominations for two College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) Graduate Senator positions — an opportunity to represent over 2,500 graduate students and shape the future of student life at UMBC.
You can nominate yourself or another eligible graduate student. You or your nomination must be from the CAHSS college.
Gain standout leadership and professional experience
Influence real decisions that affect the graduate student body
Collaborate with a passionate and supportive GSA team
Receive a stipend of $600 for your service
Open exclusively to all CAHSS graduate students (Master's and Ph.D.)
Must be in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
Must be graduating in Spring 2026 or later
(Senate term ends June 30, 2026)
Represent the concerns and opinions of CAHSS graduate students
Report on Senate proceedings to your constituents
Attend all Senate Meetings
Location: In-person, second Wednesday of each month, 1:00–3:00 PM
Host at least two Town Halls in Spring 2026
Join and remain active on at least one university committee
Submit your nomination (for yourself or someone else) by January 14, 2026
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a five-day immersive learning experience for UMBC undergraduate and graduate students to explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Participants will spend much of the week in Baltimore City connecting with local leaders, policymakers, organizations, and community members, to gain a nuanced understanding of the resources and challenges related to their topic areas. The program supports students in linking their knowledge and interests to local contexts, and in identifying pathways for long-term community engagement.
This year's ASB program will take place from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, 2026. Participants spend much of the week in small groups, each co-led by UMBC students trained by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, exploring a specific topic in depth.
This year's focus areas are:
Complete the ASB 2026 application by TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. EST. Accepted and waitlisted applicants will be notified via email in late January.
ASB is hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. More information is available on the the Center for Democracy and Civic Life website.
ASB is open for full participation by all undergraduate and graduate students 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.
]]>The Graduate School invites UMBC faculty and staff to apply for the inaugural Janet C. Rutledge Graduate Student Well-Being Award, which supports innovative, research-informed projects that promote sustainable graduate student well-being.
One proposal will be selected annually to receive up to $3,500 for programming costs and/or a stipend. Projects may address one or more areas of graduate student well-being, including sense of purpose, financial security, belonging, faculty mentoring, or student-centered academic structures. Priority will be given to projects with impact beyond the award period.
Deadline to apply: February 20
Award announced: Spring 2026 at the GSA Awards Ceremony
Eligibility, proposal guidelines, and submission details are available through the Graduate School website: https://gradschool.umbc.edu/janet-c-rutledge-graduate-student-well-being-award/.
For questions, contact Dr. Robin Cresiski, rcresisk@umbc.edu.
Hi Everyone! We have some exciting news before the break begins!