Want to turn your 'To-Do' list into a 'Done' list this Friday?

Join us to learn more about WAGs and how we can help you achieve your writing goals! 

GEARS and AOK Library presents Writing Accountability Groups for Spring 2026! 

• What: Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs) are voluntary and facilitated by fellow UMBC graduate students.
• Who: WAGs are composed of a group of graduate students (usually 4–8 participants per group) interested in developing writing habits and accountability.
• Why: Develop habits of writing every day for a short, manageable period of time by setting goals and being accountable to WAG peers.
• When: WAG groups meet once a week for 60–90 minutes for 10–12 weeks. The group finds a weekly time mutually convenient to all group members.
  
• Where: The group decides on a mutually convenient location to meet, whether in person or online via WebEx or another videoconferencing platform.

Join Us!

Come celebrate URCAD's 30th anniversary on April 22, 2026! 

The event will be moving to a bigger space in the RAC… how do you see your work being presented there? 

Posters, oral talks, films, exhibits, and performances are welcome. URCAD is open to all majors and group projects are accepted. You can present your capstone, Honors thesis, REU research, or you can be unaffiliated with a scholars program. 

Applications to present mentored research or creative worker open and will be due by February 16th and require a 200-word abstract and mentor approval. See you at the RAC as we showcase UMBC student research and art and throwback to the 90s!

Abstract writing workshop will be held on Jan. 7 (online).

To apply go to:

ur.umbc.edu/urcad

Name: Sahil Shahi

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Master's Student

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

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): SABSC UMBC

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Financial Business Process Analyst Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During Summer 2025, I interned as a Financial Business Process Analyst Intern at the Student Affairs Business Services Center (SABSC) at UMBC, where I worked closely with finance and operations teams to enhance and automate internal billing workflows. My daily responsibilities included gathering user requirements, documenting functional specifications, and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to validate billing logic and reporting needs. I also led efforts to develop automated dashboards for forecasting and financial decision-making. One of the key accomplishments during this internship was proposing a streamlined workflow that reduced the billing cycle time by over 40%, significantly improving both accuracy and turnaround time.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first heard about the internship opportunity through the UMBC Career Center's Handshake portal in early Spring 2025. The role aligned perfectly with my interests in analytics and process optimization, so I tailored my resume and submitted my application right away. After a shortlisting process, I was invited for an interview, where I shared my experience in dashboarding, stakeholder communication, and automation strategies. A few weeks later, I received an offer and officially started in June 2025.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Handshake

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to make a real impact within the university ecosystem. SABSC gave me the autonomy to analyze existing processes and propose solutions that directly benefited internal teams. The collaborative and mission-driven environment helped me learn how to align technology solutions with operational needs, all while working with some incredibly supportive mentors.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

My work helped reduce the billing process time by approximately 40% to 60%, improving both accuracy and efficiency. The dashboards and documentation I created are now being used by leadership for ongoing financial planning. By identifying process gaps and providing automation strategies, I contributed to a more transparent and scalable billing system that will continue to benefit departments beyond my internship period.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Start early and leverage all of UMBC's resources, especially the Career Center and Handshake. Tailor your resume for every opportunity, and don't underestimate the value of on-campus roles. Most importantly, during your internship, be proactive, ask questions, and document everything these small habits can lead to big results.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

Working at SABSC helped me apply my classroom knowledge in a real-world setting while making a measurable impact. The UMBC Career Center and Handshake made it incredibly easy to discover this opportunity and prepare for it with confidence.

The event program is attached.  Slides from the event are here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1m4Sl-uxm9fHJOfGwkz-Rrey7Lz_cJy8iiFjv-KFtWVc/edit?usp=sharing.

Recording: Webex meeting recording: Faculty Lunch & Learn: Library Video Services and the Innovation Lab-20260327 1752-1
Recording link: https://umbc.webex.com/umbc/ldr.php?RCID=2ba4c6efc942fd20b1fde9b490495dfd

Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/195DByPlWUz2T9MNe1UtIt2R3UzZlp-mZ/view?usp=sharing

Your resume isn't just a list of experiences — it's a strategic document designed to quickly show employers why you're a strong candidate. In a competitive job market, your resume format is can be just as important as what it says. A clean, intentional layout helps recruiters quickly find what they're looking for and increases your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.

1. Match Your Experience

The most common (and recommended) format is the reverse chronological resume, which lists your most recent experiences first. This format is easy to scan and works well for most students and new graduates. If you're changing fields or highlighting specific skills, a functional format may be appropriate, but just know that most recruiters aren't as familiar with this layout.

2. Prioritize Readability

Recruiters typically spend 5-7 seconds on an initial resume scan. Use consistent fonts, clear section headings, and a good balance between text white space. Avoid overcrowding the page — margins, spacing, and alignment all matter when it comes to readability. Research by ResumeGo has shown that recruiters would rather see a two-page resume with room to breathe vs. an overcrowded one-pager. Should you go with two pages, make sure it is a full two pages that go to the bottom of both sides.  

3. Use Sections Strategically

Organize your resume so the most relevant information appears near the top. Common sections include Education, Experience, and Skills. Depending on the role, you might highlight technical skills or relevant coursework before unrelated experience. Break up your experiences into Relevant Experience and Other or Additional Experience to bring your most aligned experiences to the top of the document.

4. Bullet with Purpose

Strong bullet statements are concise, action-oriented, and results-focused. Start each bullet with a strong action verb and emphasize accomplishments over responsibilities whenever possible. Feel free to check out the sample GenAI prompts in the Career Guide if you need help drafting or editing your statements. Anyone can read your job description, so focus on describing how you've created impact in your role. Bring up relevant skills and metrics whenever possible, remembering the formula ACTION VERB + DESCRIPTION + IMPACT.

5. Keep It ATS-Friendly

Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Stick to standard section titles (such as including "Experience" to sections about relevant work and course projects), avoid graphics or text boxes, and submit your resume as a PDF unless otherwise instructed. Incorporate relevant skill-based keywords from job descriptions as much as possible. Simple formatting ensures your resume is readable by both software and humans.

Get Expert Feedback at Resume Rescue

Formatting your resume strategically can make all the difference — and we can help! Join us at Resume Rescue on February 10 from 12 PM to 4 PM where Career Center staff will review your resume, offer personalized feedback, and help you fine-tune your format for success.

A strong resume starts with smart formatting, so make sure yours is working for you, not against you. You got this. 

Critical Social Justice (CSJ) Week is a campus-wide initiative dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of equity, inclusion, and community care. Through panels, workshops, and creative programming, CSJ Week invites students, staff, and faculty to engage in meaningful conversations about justice and belonging within and beyond the university.

Critical social justice has a history in the Women's, Gender, & Equity Center, and we are excited to bring back this work now within the Community & Culture unit in the Division of Institutional Equity.

All events are open for participation from students (grad and undergrad), staff, and faculty!

The events apart of Critical Social Justice Week are as follows: 

Cup-Filling Activism: Supporting Student Organizers Through Community, Care, and Capacity Building

McNair x Critical Social Justice Week

Saturday, February 7, 2026 · 1 - 2:30 PM

Sondheim Hall: 101

Racial Healing Discussion Panel

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 · 3 - 5 PM

Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn

On Caring for Community

The Pursuit of Equity and Justice at UMBC with University Leadership

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 · 4:30-6 PM

SKYLIGHT in the Commons

Chat and Chew: All About Love

Read with us and engage in discussion

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 · 12 - 1 PM

Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn

More details about each event can be found on the WGEC or CSJD myUMBC Page. 

These 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.