Residents are eligible to apply for late stay if their permanent address is more than 50 miles (Distance D) from UMBC and they are:
Please note that we are not able to accomodate requests for requests beyond December 18, 2025 at 3 p.m.
This form is for individual fall residents seeking an Late Stay for the current semester. This form is not for residents with group approved late stays. If you are already part of an approved late stay group, you do NOT need to request late stay. Please contact your group leader if you have questions about your late stay date.
All late stay requests are sent via The Housing Portal > Forms & Requests. The deadline to submit your request for Late Stay is December 14, 2025 at 5 p.m.
$7,000 stipend including housing and meals fully covered
Conduct original research guided by NOAA scientists & faculty mentors
Explore topics across marine and estuarine science
Participate in field trips, seminars, labs, and workshops
Build a strong network of mentors, researchers, and peers
Gain competitive preparation for graduate school and STEM careers
This program is ideal for undergraduate students interested in careers in marine biology, ocean science, ecology, fisheries, environmental science, and related fields.
Preference: Rising sophomores & juniors
Open to: All college students (funding-dependent)
Internship Dates:
June 1 – August 8, 2026
Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
Location
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) — Princess Anne, Maryland
Contact
Dr. Margaret Sexton
Program Coordinator - masexton@umes.edu
Enjoy breakfast with other UMBC commuters and get connected with on-campus resources! There isn't a better way to start your day!
GMC will be hosted every Tuesday morning from 8:30am to 11:00am (this week at True Grit's from 8:30 am to 10:00 am). It is complimentary with your Commuter Gold Card.
Gold Cards are a one-time per academic year purchase and are available to be purchased at every GMC with cash only.
Gold Cards at $5 for Commuters
$10 for Residential & Graduate Students
From the Center for Social Justice Dialogue Directors
For some, the holidays are a season of joy, connection, and shared traditions. For others, they can be emotionally demanding, a careful dance around long-standing tensions, lingering conflicts, polarizing political disagreements, or generational wounds. A friend once told me, "I love my family, but three hours is all I can manage." Many of us prepare strategies, invite "buffers," or brace ourselves just to get through the meal.
Holiday tables have always held complexity. This year, though, many of us are feeling the weight of that complexity more intensely than ever.
As directors of UMBC's Center for Social Justice Dialogue, we want to offer our Retriever community tools to navigate this season with grounding, compassion, and intentionality. Whether you're entering difficult conversations about identity, politics, justice, or family history, the competencies of dialogic community building—critical self-reflection, cultural storytelling, generous listening, and loving accountability—can help guide your steps.
Here are some tips, tools, and practices to consider.
Before we enter dialogue, we begin with ourselves. Critical self-reflection calls us to look inward at our identities, experiences, triggers, the stories we carry, and the assumptions we bring to the table.
Ask yourself:
What am I feeling in my body as I anticipate this gathering?
What topics or comments tend to activate strong reactions in me?
What boundaries do I need to hold to maintain my well-being?
How can I show up in ways that contribute to community care?
Radical self-care reminds us: you can opt in to dialogue, and you can opt out as an act of protection and love. If a conversation becomes unsafe, dehumanizing, or overwhelming, it is valid to pause or walk away. Your well-being matters.
Community care reminds us: how we show up impacts others. Our presence, tone, boundaries, and choices can contribute to a safer, more compassionate environment, even when disagreements arise. Community care invites us to hold ourselves with compassion and to consider the collective well-being of those around us.
Dialogue deepens when we share the stories that shape us, not to prove a point, but to build understanding.
Cultural storytelling invites you to:
speak from your own experiences rather than speak about others,
connect present tensions to personal and community histories,
illuminate the values, traditions, and identities that shape your worldview.
This practice helps shift conversations away from abstraction and toward authenticity.
It also supports relational connection—"Here is where I come from, and here is how it shapes what I believe."
Generous listening is the heart of dialogic community building. It requires vulnerability, patience, wonder, and the willingness to pause your assumptions to consider someone else's perspective truly.
This kind of listening sounds like:
"Help me understand how you came to that belief."
"What experiences shaped that view for you?"
"I hear your intention. Can we talk about the impact?"
Generous questioning invites deeper reflection rather than defensiveness. It widens the possibility of connection, especially across difference.
Dialogue doesn't mean avoiding conflict; it means engaging conflict with compassion and clarity.
Loving accountability includes:
naming harmful language or behavior with respect and honesty,
recognizing when someone's disagreement denies your humanity,
setting boundaries without shaming,
aligning your tone and words with your values.
You can say:
"I want to stay in this conversation, but I need us to slow down."
"That comment felt hurtful to me. Can we talk about why?"
"Your intention matters, and so does the impact."
As James Baldwin reminds us, we can disagree and still love each other—unless that disagreement denies our right to exist.
Loving accountability holds us all to a higher standard, not to win, but to grow.
If you feel overwhelmed, flooded, or frozen:
Breathe deeply to reconnect.
Body scan: Where is tension showing up?
Name your reaction if you want:
"I'm noticing I'm having a strong reaction right now."
Pause the dialogue if needed.
Re-enter or step back based on what your well-being requires.
This is part of loving accountability, to both yourself and the relationship.
When the conversation ends, ask yourself:
What emotions linger in my body?
What did I learn about myself?
What support or community care do I need now?
What joy practices can help me reset?
Choose rest. Hydrate. Journal. Move your body. Connect with people who affirm your dignity and wholeness.
As you move through this holiday season, remember that dialogue is not about perfection. It is about showing up with intention, curiosity, and heart. Whether you are leaning into connection or protecting your peace, you remain part of a community dedicated to justice, equity, and humanity.
May you find moments of grounding, clarity, and care wherever you gather.
In community,
Ciara and Jasmine
The Center for Social Justice Dialogue Directors
UMBC | Division of Institutional Equity
#UMBCtogether #SocialJusticeDialogue
Name: Nisargkumar Patel
Pronouns: He/Him
Semester of Internship: Fall 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): LASARRUS
Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD
Title of position: Unity Software Developer Intern
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
I had the opportunity to work with LASARRUS as a Unity Software Developer, collaborating closely with the Senior Unity Developer and the CTO. My role involved fixing bugs in an existing application that monitors real-time sensor data to monitor respiratory and activity metrics used in COPD research, as well as contributing to the development of new applications such as the WearME‑Pro mobile application. My day-to-day responsibilities included brainstorming features with the clinical team, discussing design ideas with the Design Lead, and converting Figma designs into functional app components. I regularly worked on bug fixes, developed new features, participated in code reviews, and contributed to requirement discussions, design sessions, QA activities, and overall app development meetings, along with attending weekly team meetings.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I first heard about the MTIP program at UMBC through a friend. After that, I visited the MTIP website, reviewed the available positions, and submitted my application, which included my background information and resume. The LASARRUS team reviewed my application and contacted me for an interview. The interview lasted about 30 to 45 minutes and focused on my background, previous project experience, and my familiarity with the technologies they use, including Unity (C#), Git, serverless functions, SQL/NoSQL. I also shared a working demo to show my experience with their tech stack. After about four weeks, I received an offer to join their team.
What resources did you use to find your current experience?
UMBC Career Center, MTIP
What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
I have enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, openness, and flexibility at LASARRUS. It is an environment where ideas are encouraged, teamwork is valued, and everyone's input matters. I especially appreciate that my role allows me to work on real-world problems that have the potential to improve the lives of millions. I also enjoy taking ownership of my tasks and continuously learning from the team.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I had the opportunity to work on several long-standing bugs in the WearME app that were affecting core functionality and making it difficult for the clinical study team to conduct their work. By resolving these issues, the app became more efficient, stable, and intuitive to use, which saved significant time and resources for the team. I am also working closely with the Senior Engineer, Design Lead on developing the new WearME‑Pro mobile application, both of which supports validation efforts and may inform future regulatory submissions. and have a meaningful impact on the future of the product.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
My advice is to keep building your skills and stay open to learning new technologies and keep exploring new resources. Most importantly, keep applying. The university is a great place to connect with different employers and it can open many doors for you. I applied to many positions before getting an offer, and I learned that opportunities often come in unexpected ways. Stay consistent and keep trying.
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
"I loved that this internship allowed me to work with highly skilled professionals and tackle real-world problems that can improve the lives of millions. The Career Center, especially MTIP, provided valuable resources that helped me secure my interview and ultimately this internship."
]]>Disability:IN is now accepting applications for the NextGen Leaders Initiative — a 6-month, one-on-one mentorship program (Jan–June) for current college students, grad students, and recent graduates with disabilities.
Participants are matched with corporate mentors, gain access to professional development webinars, private-sector job opportunities, and a select group will attend the 2026 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo.
✅ No cost to apply
✅ Open to students & recent grads (Class of 2024+)
✅ Open to applicants in North & South America
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Apply here: https://disabilityin.org/2026NextGenApp
See the attached flyer for full details and eligibility.
Questions? Contact: NextGen@DisabilityIN.org
]]>Choosing a major, exploring career paths, or deciding what's next after graduation can feel overwhelming — but you don't have to figure it out alone. Career assessments are powerful tools that can help you learn more about yourself and how your unique traits align with potential career options.
1. Understand Yourself Before You Decide
Self-assessment is the first step in making confident career choices. By identifying your interests, values, personality, and skills, you can better understand what motivates you and what kind of work environment fits you best. Knowing yourself helps you focus your energy on career paths that feel both exciting and sustainable.
2. Take the FOCUS 2 Career Assessment
The FOCUS 2 assessment is a great starting point for exploring majors and careers that align with your interests and strengths. It provides personalized results and connects them to real-world occupations, giving you a clearer picture of what might be a good fit. After completing it, you can set up a 60-minute Review Assessments: FOCUS 2 Results appointment with a career advisor to discuss next steps.
3. Discover Your Personality with the MBTI
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps you better understand your personality preferences — how you process information, make decisions, and interact with others. This insight can be incredibly helpful when choosing a career or navigating work environments. Many students find that the MBTI helps them understand not only what they want to do, but how they want to do it. In order to see your MBTI results, booking a 60-minute Review Assessments: MBTI Results appointment with a career advisor is required.
4. Use Assessments as a Starting Point
While assessments can offer valuable guidance, they're just one part of the process. Use your results as a foundation for further exploration — research career fields, talk to professionals, and consider internships that align with your interests. Pairing insight with action is the key to building a fulfilling path forward.
Start Exploring Today
Ready to learn more about yourself and discover the possibilities ahead? Take the FOCUS 2 or MBTI assessments through the UMBC Career Center. You'll gain a deeper understanding of your strengths, interests, and career options — helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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