At the Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday I mentioned to the senators that my phrase of the week was “being a realistic optimist” (credit goes to a recent episode of one of my ‘go to’ podcasts FranklinCovey on Leadership). I have given (and continue to give) a lot of thought to how to be both realistic and optimistic in the midst of a changing landscape of higher education, state funding, federal policy, and global uncertainty. 

Last week, I started meeting with department chairs and their budget managers to better understand the budget realities in academic units. These individual meetings have been incredibly helpful for me to be realistic about how departments are using the resources available to them, and what may be needed for us to be successful. At the same time, it is clear that we will need to continue making thoughtful and, at times, difficult decisions to ensure our long-term success.

What gives me continued hope and optimism is the strong commitment across the UMBC community to be innovative and adapt in a changing world. Last August, I convened the Provost Academic Council – approximately 150 academic leaders – for a day-long meeting on the academic budget and the evolving landscape of higher education. This event provided guidance that continues to help us chart a path forward.

As we are gearing towards the end of the semester, I ask you to help me think through our approach to being realistic optimists at UMBC. You can give your feedback here. We have so much to be proud of (did you see we have four Goldwater recipients and a new AAAS Fellow?). The future is bright if we lean into our strengths, are creative, and collaboratively work on what is best for UMBC and the people and communities we serve.   

Phi Beta Kappa

Please join me in congratulating the 180 students who were accepted this year for induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholarly honor society. The students will be inducted in May. It marks an important milestone for the scholars in their academic journey.

National Library Week

I encourage you to join the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, Dresher Center for the Humanities, and UMBC Department of English in celebrating National Library Week and UMBC BookFest, April 19-25. A full list of the week’s events can be found here.

Call for Advisory Board Nominations

I am delighted to extend an invitation for nominations for two distinctive groups connected to the Office of the Provost: the Faculty Advisory Board and the Staff Advisory Board. We are looking for expertise and insight from a variety of perspectives as we continue to develop the provost's priorities and advance student success. 

Learn more here. 

___________________________________

NEWS & NOTES

Final Day: University Strategic Planning Survey

Today is the final day to participate in the University Strategic Planning survey. Share your perspectives on UMBC’s strategic plan via this survey. The survey includes five sections, each aligned with one of the university’s strategic pillars. As a reminder, the pillars are:

• Cultivate organizational innovation and vitality

• Redefine excellence in research and creative achievement

• Strengthen Maryland and its communities

• Advance student opportunity and success

• Transform teaching and learning

You can choose which sections you would like to complete based on your interests and experiences. The survey is also designed to capture additional ideas you may have for strengthening these five focus areas. Please note that each section of the survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

Resources for Responding to Difficult, Disruptive, and Dangerous Behavior in Classrooms

In the post-COVID era, instructional faculty are seeing an increased frequency of challenging behaviors in classroom settings. Behavior can range from difficult, to disruptive, to dangerous and each type or level calls for a differentiated response.

You can find guidance from Student Conduct and Community Standards here.

____________________________________

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

URCAD 30th Anniversary

Wednesday, April 22

The RAC

Join us on Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC as we celebrate 30 years of grit, grunge, and groundbreaking research and creative work of UMBC undergraduate students at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD).

URCAD not only provides an opportunity for students to hone their research and writing skills, practice public speaking and networking in a professional conference-style environment, and strengthen relationships with their peers and mentors, but it showcases the work of UMBC’s talented undergraduate students with the campus community and beyond. Over one third of students who graduate from UMBC engage in mentored research, making UMBC a leader in national undergraduate research. In a time when there has been so much discouraging news surrounding research support on the national and local levels, URCAD continues to be a joyous and inspirational event, proving that critical thinking and creativity through research and the arts are a vital part of our democracy.

Come see all of the oral and poster presentations, films, artwork, live performances, video games, and keynote speaker at URCAD 30, and stop by the graffiti and selfie booth as we throw back to 1997, where it all began! For the full schedule see: URCAD.umbc.edu

Logo created by visual arts student Sonia Pivovarov

UMBC BookFest 26

Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23

Library Plaza

We invite the campus community to participate in UMBC BookFest '26 on Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23, a celebration of writers, readers, makers, and advocates! Part of the campus's National Library Week festivities, this two-day event will include an open air book market on the Library Plaza; a reading from Lawrence Burney , author of our 2026 state book, No Sense in Wishing; a workshop on library advocacy; and a panel of distinguished Maryland librarians on the freedom to read, moderated by Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller. All events are free. Full event details can be found at the BookFest website here. 

This festival was made possible by a collaboration between the English Department, AOK Library, Dresher Center for the Humanities, Breaking the M.O.L.D., Maryland Humanities, and the Maryland State Library Agency.

Dialogue Sessions to Help Shape UMBC’s Inclusive Excellence Framework

Friday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 28

The Division of Institutional Equity team has developed a draft framework for inclusive excellence, building on ideas shared by our campus community through the series UMBC Talks in 2024 and 2025. The framework is intended to articulate our shared commitments, communicate our values, guide action, inspire collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC’s next strategic plan.

The campus community is invited to participate in dialogue sessions to help continue to shape the framework. The conversations are an opportunity to share your experiences, reflect on your values, and provide feedback to strengthen this work.

Upcoming sessions are scheduled for Friday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 28. 

Learn more here.

USM Generative AI and Teaching Virtual Showcase

Friday, April 24,  9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The University System of Maryland's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is hosting an online Generative AI Virtual Showcase on Friday, April 24, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Faculty, staff, and faculty/staff/student teams from Maryland institutions of higher education will describe and demonstrate their innovative approaches to incorporating generative AI into teaching and learning practices. 

The free virtual event features a keynote presentation and four concurrent session blocks with 42 presentations (including nine from UMBC) exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning with generative AI. Participants must register in advance to receive the Zoom link. Sessions include live auto-captions and accessible materials.

Register here.

Learn about Study, Internships, and Funding Opportunities in Germany

Monday, April 27,  12 – 1 p.m.

Fine Arts Building, Room 459

The German Program at UMBC is hosting an informational event on April 27 to learn about 

studying, internships, and funding opportunities in Germany. Presenters include: 

• Amelia Wallace: Information Officer, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

• Danielle Bolden, J.D.: UMBC Center for Global Engagement; Fulbright Fellow, Germany 2010

• S. Maila Raphael, DAAD RISE Intern ‘22, UMBC ‘21 B.S. Chem. Eng., B.A. German

This is a follow-up to the fall event focused on research, collaboration, and funding opportunities in Germany with representatives from the German Academic Exchange Service, the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the German Research Foundation.

Global Asias Symposium and Celebration

May 4

This daylong event will showcase and celebrate the work of the Global Asias Initiative, a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation that has created a forum for engaging in conversations in the fields of Asian American Studies, Asian diaspora studies, and Asian Studies. The initiative has created connections across disciplines, departments, institutions, organizations, and communities here on campus and beyond. With our grant from Mellon Foundation coming to a close this year, we are showcasing the many achievements of the initiative.

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – Keynote Address with Dr. Anna Guevarra

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Global Asias in Dialogue

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception

Learn more.

Retirement Celebration for Connie Pierson

RSVP by April 30

After 27 years of service, Connie Pierson, associate vice provost for Institutional Research, Analysis and Decision Support, is retiring from UMBC. She is a beloved alumna, colleague, and friend. Join us in celebrating Connie on May 7, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Fat Tuesdays in the Commons. 

Please RSVP by Thursday, April 30 here. 

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

Dear faculty and staff,

We are delighted to extend an invitation for nominations for two distinctive groups connected to the Office of the Provost: the Faculty Advisory Board and the Staff Advisory Board. We are looking for expertise and insight from a variety of perspectives as we continue to develop the provost's priorities and advance student success. 

The two advisory boards will work in tandem with several groups including the larger Provost Advisory Council and the shared governance oraganizations at UMBC. The boards will be smaller with no more than 12 members serving a single  one- or two-year term.

Members of each advisory board will:

• Provide strategic advice and guidance based on their areas of expertise and experience

• Engage with fellow board members and the Office of the Provost leadership team

• Offer critical feedback on initiatives, priorities, and overall direction to the provost

• Advocate on behalf of the Office of the Provost to respective colleges/divisions and the campus community

Faculty and staff who are interested in being considered for these boards are encouraged to self-nominate, or to nominate others, via the nomination form by Friday, April 24. Once nominations are reviewed, selected members will be invited to a kickoff event at the end of the spring semester with a goal to have both boards stood up and running by the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

If you have questions about this call for nominations, please reach out to Ana Oskoz, chair for the Faculty Advisory Board, and Laila Shishineh, chair for the Staff Advisory Board.

Thank you,

Ana Oskoz & Laila Shishineh

Earlier this week President Sheares Ashby and I met with the faculty and staff in the Department of Theatre. Meeting the UMBC community is one of my favorite things to do as I am always reminded how much talent and incredible work is happening at this university! 

While faculty and staff will raise challenges they are facing, it is important for me to be educated and learn about the great things a department is working on. I have been to theatre performances and, like those performances of our students, the faculty and staff also showed their innovation, creativity, and dedication to the university and improving people’s lives. 

The conversation led to faculty talking about what they are teaching students (skills/competencies) and how they are preparing students for careers. I was so impressed with the conversation and thoughtful insights from the faculty, which also demonstrated the power of the durable skills we teach in many of our disciplines.

While we may not know what many of the jobs of the future are, durable skills like conflict resolution, the ability to work in teams, the ability to work with others who are different from you, and dealing with failure (an often underestimated skill) will surely still be relevant in 2040 and beyond.

Next Chair and Associate Dean of the School of Social Work

I am excited to announce the appointment of Nancy Kusmaul as the next chair and associate dean of the School of Social Work starting July 1. Nancy’s appointment comes with overwhelming support from the School of Social Work Faculty and the recommendation of Dean Postmus. 

I would like to thank Kerri Evans who assisted with this process and extend my gratitude to Shelly Wiechelt for her service as chair and associate dean. 

Please join me in congratulating Nancy on her administrative appointment. I look forward to working with her and continuing to work with the School of Social Work in the coming years. 

___________________________________

NEWS & NOTES

Final Day: Survey on Missed Class Time

Today is the final day to share examples and strategies that were utilized this spring to make up missed in-person/synchronous class time due to closures for inclement weather (e.g. asynchronous sharing of content, asynchronous activities, and/or administering additional assignments). 

Please submit the following survey to share with us the strategies you have utilized to make up time for your courses as needed this semester. Don’t miss your opportunity to let us know what worked or did not work.

Deadline: Friday, April 10

Survey link.

University Strategic Planning Survey Deadline Extended

The University Strategic Planning survey deadline has been extended to Friday, April 17. Share your perspectives on UMBC’s strategic plan via this survey. The survey includes five sections, each aligned with one of the university’s strategic pillars. As a reminder, the pillars are:

• Cultivate organizational innovation and vitality
• Redefine excellence in research and creative achievement
• Strengthen Maryland and its communities
• Advance student opportunity and success
• Transform teaching and learning

You can choose which sections you would like to complete based on your interests and experiences. The survey is also designed to capture additional ideas you may have for strengthening these five focus areas. Please note that each section of the survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

Money Smart Week

UMBC’s Money Smart Week (April 13-17, 2026), hosted by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, brings together campus and community partners to offer engaging programs focused on student financial well-being. Through in-person and virtual workshops, panels, and interactive sessions, participants can build practical skills in budgeting, credit, investing, and long-term financial planning. Money Smart Week, along with dozens of other activities offered each year through UMBC's FinancialSmarts program, reflects UMBC’s commitment to student success by supporting financial literacy as a cornerstone of academic persistence and lifelong stability.

Help Shape UMBC’s Inclusive Excellence Framework

The Division of Institutional Equity team has developed a draft framework for inclusive excellence, building on ideas shared by our campus community through the series UMBC Talks in 2024 and 2025. The framework is intended to articulate our shared commitments, communicate our values, guide action, inspire collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC’s next strategic plan.

The campus community is invited to participate in dialogue sessions to help continue to shape the framework. The conversations are an opportunity to share your experiences, reflect on your values, and provide feedback to strengthen this work.

Upcoming sessions are scheduled for April 15, 24, and 28. 

Learn more here.

Responding to Difficult, Disruptive, and Dangerous Behavior in Classrooms

In the post-COVID era, instructional faculty are seeing an increased frequency of challenging behaviors in classroom settings. Behavior can range from difficult, to disruptive, to dangerous and each type or level calls for a differentiated response.

You can find guidance from Student Conduct and Community Standards here.

___________________________________

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

Art Rysing

April 18, 1 p.m.

IMET

701 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore 

Art Rysing 2026 is more than an event — it is a citywide movement for truth, racial healing, and transformation through the power of art.

Join the UMBC Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center on Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. for an inspiring in-person event focused on truth, racial healing, and transformation. It’s a great chance to connect, learn, and grow together in a welcoming space. Don’t miss out on this meaningful experience!

Learn more and register here.

URCAD 30th Anniversary

Wednesday, April 22

Join URCAD on Wednesday, April 22 as we celebrate 30 years of grit, grunge, and groundbreaking research and creative work of UMBC undergraduate students.

URCAD not only provides an opportunity for students to hone their research and writing skills, practice public speaking and networking in a professional conference-style environment, and strengthen relationships with their peers and mentors, but it showcases the work of UMBC’s talented undergraduate students with the campus community and beyond. Over one third of students who graduate from UMBC engage in mentored research, making UMBC a leader in national undergraduate research.

In a time when there has been so much discouraging news surrounding research support on the national and local levels, URCAD continues to be a joyous and inspirational event, proving that critical thinking and creativity through research and the arts are a vital part of our democracy.

Come see all of the oral and poster presentations, films, artwork, live performances, video games, and keynote speaker at URCAD 30, and stop by the graffiti and selfie booth as we throw back to 1997, where it all began!  For the full schedule, visit URCAD.umbc.edu.

Learn about Study, Internships, and Funding Opportunities in Germany

Monday, April 27,  12 – 1 p.m.

Fine Arts Building, Room 459

The German Program at UMBC is hosting an informational event on Monday, April 27 to learn about studying, internships, and funding opportunities in Germany. Presenters include:

• Amelia Wallace: Information Officer, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Danielle Bolden, J.D.: UMBC Center for Global Engagement; Fulbright Fellow, Germany 2010
• S. Maila Raphael, DAAD RISE Intern ‘22, UMBC ‘21 B.S. Chem. Eng., B.A. German

This is a follow-up to the fall event focused on research, collaboration, and funding opportunities in Germany with representatives from the German Academic Exchange Service, the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the German Research Foundation.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Through April 12

Proscenium Theatre

UMBC Theatre presents The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted by Jacqueline E. Lawton and directed by Joseph W. Ritsch. Life in modern day Baltimore has been a bit boring for Dorothy and her little dog Toto. Until one day, when a cyclone swoops in and takes them “over the rainbow” to the wonderful and magical land of Oz. With the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy sets off on the adventure of a lifetime down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. These new friends brave witches, flying monkeys, and a Haunted Forest all to meet the Wizard of Oz, who promises to make their dreams come true.

More information.

despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition

Through April 18

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture

The Intermedia and Digital Arts Master’s Program presents despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition. On view from April 1 through 18 at the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, the exhibition features work by graduating students Taylor Goad, Nia Hampton, Bao Nguyen, and Lynn Nguyen.

More information

Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81

Through May 22

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery

The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents the photography exhibition Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81. In 1976, American photographer Mary Ellen Mark and sociologist Karen Folger Jacobs spent thirty-six days living in the Oregon State Hospital, where they photographed the residents of Ward 81, the hospital’s all-female, high-security psychiatric unit. Their unprecedented access allowed them to create a deeply nuanced portrayal of women navigating psychiatric care in the mid-1970s. Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81 brings together Mark’s photographs, Jacobs’s newly uncovered audio recordings, and rare archival materials, offering an intimate and expanded view of this landmark documentary project.

More information.

___________________________________

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week,
Manfred van Dulmen

Spring has officially sprung and the cherry blossoms and tulips are adding pops of color in nearly every direction. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom just down the road in D.C. It’s worth exploring if you have the time.Slightly further away is De Keukenhof in the Netherlands. If you are into flowers I would encourage you to put this on your bucket list!

Many of you joined me on Thursday as I highlighted the strategic initiatives that are currently underway in the Office of the Provost. Over 180 people joined us online or in-person. Thank you for being there if you were able to attend. You can learn more about each of the initiatives and how they support the university’s five strategic pillars here. I encourage you to check back periodically as project updates will be added as milestones are hit throughout the year. If you missed Thursday’s event, you can access the slides here.

I am a believer in the importance of collecting and listening to varied points of view, especially when charting a course for an organization as complex and unique as UMBC. With this in mind, I am excited to announce the formation of two new advisory boards: the Faculty Advisory Board and the Staff Advisory Board. Each board will work in tandem with several groups including the larger Provost Advisory Council and the shared governance groups at UMBC. The boards will be asked to provide strategic advice and guidance based on areas of expertise and experience and offer critical feedback on initiatives, priorities, and overall direction of our academic enterprise. Be on the lookout for additional information about the two advisory boards and a call for nominations next week. 

The end of the academic year is quickly approaching and with it comes a slew of commitments and celebrations. Chief among these is Commencement. This time-honored tradition serves as a capstone to our students' journey to a degree or certificate and a celebration of their work and dedication. Faculty and staff who wish to march in the Commencement procession should sign up and order their regalia as soon as possible. Individuals who would like to volunteer as event staff can sign up here.

Earlier this week, Vice Provost Anupam Joshi shared updates to the calendar for the 2026-27 academic year. The updates, made in conjunction with Faculty Senate, include shifting the start of the semester to Monday, August 24, and the addition of a fall recess in October. Additionally, we will be hosting college receptions following Convocation this year in place of the campus cookout that has been held in previous years. Additional information will be provided by each college as details are finalized. My hope is that this new approach will help us forge relationships with our newest scholars from the start of their academic journey. As you know, sense of belonging is a central factor in helping our students succeed.

___________________________________

NEWS & NOTES

Strategic Plan Survey Deadline: April 17

Share your perspectives on UMBC’s strategic plan via this survey. The survey includes five sections, each aligned with one of the university’s strategic pillars. As a reminder, the pillars are:

• Cultivate organizational innovation and vitality
• Redefine excellence in research and creative achievement
• Strengthen Maryland and its communities
• Advance student opportunity and success
• Transform teaching and learning

You can choose which sections you would like to complete based on your interests and experiences. The survey is also designed to capture additional ideas you may have for strengthening these five focus areas. Please note that each section of the survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

Visit the strategic planning website for current information, including a new feedback form now available on the home page. 

We hope that you will complete the survey by Friday, April 17. Your insights, ideas, and feedback are essential as we continue the planning process.

Survey link.

One Week Left: Survey on Missed Class Time

You have one week left to share examples and strategies that were utilized this spring to make up missed in-person/synchronous class time due to closures for inclement weather (e.g. asynchronous sharing of content, asynchronous activities, and/or administering additional assignments). 

Please submit the following survey to share with us the strategies you have utilized to make up time for your courses as needed this semester. Don’t miss your opportunity to let us know what worked or did not work.

Deadline: Friday, April 10

Survey link.

Four Calls for Nominations/Proposals

Last week I highlighted four calls for nominations or proposals from the University System of Maryland. If you have not explored these calls, I strongly encourage you to do so. Information about each program is available here. 

• Wilson H. Elkins Professorships

• Elkins Professorships for Academic Transformation

• 2026-27 Elkins SoTL Fellows Program

• Faculty Senior Fellows

Strive for 85: Creating Online Accessibility

The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee (DASC) is launching "Strive for 85." This institutional goal calls for all Blackboard courses to achieve anAlly "Overall" accessibility score of 85% or better across all colleges and departments by the end of 2026.

As of the most recently completed Fall 25 semester, the campus's overall Ally score for Blackboard courses (which make up ~90% of all UMBC courses) is approximately 74%. To help faculty close this gap and reach the "Strive for 85" goal, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has prepared a voluntary, self-paced Blackboard training organization called "Course Roadmap to Equity" (CoRE) that complements and incorporates existingAlly FAQs,live workshops, anddrop-in consulting. 

Learn more about the Strive for 85 effort and how you can help close the gap. 

____________________________________

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition

Through April 18

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture

The Intermedia and Digital Arts Master’s Program presents despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition. On view from April 1 through 18 at the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, the exhibition features work by graduating students Taylor Goad, Nia Hampton, Bao Nguyen, and Lynn Nguyen.

More information

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Through April 12

Proscenium Theatre

UMBC Theatre presents The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted by Jacqueline E. Lawton and directed by Joseph W. Ritsch. Life in modern day Baltimore has been a bit boring for Dorothy and her little dog Toto. Until one day, when a cyclone swoops in and takes them “over the rainbow” to the wonderful and magical land of Oz. With the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy sets off on the adventure of a lifetime down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. These new friends brave witches, flying monkeys, and a Haunted Forest all to meet the Wizard of Oz, who promises to make their dreams come true.

More information.

Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81

Through May 22

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery

The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents the photography exhibition Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81. In 1976, American photographer Mary Ellen Mark and sociologist Karen Folger Jacobs spent thirty-six days living in the Oregon State Hospital, where they photographed the residents of Ward 81, the hospital’s all-female, high-security psychiatric unit. Their unprecedented access allowed them to create a deeply nuanced portrayal of women navigating psychiatric care in the mid-1970s. Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81 brings together Mark’s photographs, Jacobs’s newly uncovered audio recordings, and rare archival materials, offering an intimate and expanded view of this landmark documentary project.

More information.

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Academic Affairs team in the Provost Office, I am writing to share updates and reminders related to the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Key Academic Calendar Adjustments

The following changes to the academic calendar were discussed and approved by the Faculty Senate. They are designed to better support our community's well-being while maintaining instructional standards.

• Monday Semester Start
  

  Beginning this fall, the official start of the semester will move to Monday. This shift allows us to adjust the calendar mid-semester without changing the total number of required instruction days.The first day of the Fall 2026 semester will be Monday, August 24, 2026.

• Fall Class Recess and Thanksgiving Break
  

  Beginning Fall 2026, we will observe a new fall class recess. During the fall recess, to be held on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026, no academic courses will be offered. The university will remain open during the fall recess. We will also observe a Thanksgiving break from Wednesday, November 25, through Friday, November 27, 2026.

Welcome Weekend Activities 

Please mark your calendars for Welcome Retrievers activities including Move-In and Convocation. Returning students will move in on Thursday, August 20, 2026, and new students will move in on Friday, August 21, 2026. The co-chairs for the welcome events are Racquel Barnes (Admissions & Orientation), Jen Dress (Student Affairs) and Kendall Pete (Residential Life).

Convocation will take place in the afternoon on Friday, August 21, 2026. Convocation is an important way to welcome our newest scholars into the UMBC community and is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, and their families this year. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in this event. This year, we are excited to host college receptions following convocation. The co-chairs will be reaching out to identified contacts to discuss details and next steps in the coming weeks. A variety of Welcome Retrievers activities will take place on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026, as well.

For those of you who have helped with and/or planned welcome activities in the past, the co-chairs will be reaching out to you soon. In the meantime, if you have questions please email welcomeretrievers@umbc.edu. 

I appreciate your flexibility as we plan ahead for the coming year.

Sincerely,

Anupam Joshi
Vice Provost and Chief AI Officer

Welcome to the final March edition of the Provost's Perspective. We've officially passed the halfway mark and are heading down the homestretch of the semester. It's hard to believe, but as of today there are only 54 more days until Commencement. 

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with two separate affinity groups for faculty and staff members. A theme that stood out in both meetings was the desire for our community members to be seen and supported holistically at UMBC. When we show up at work, we show up as our whole self and bring all our developmental history and identities to the table. What we experienced last night or over the weekend shapes how we show up at work. Likewise,  who we are shapes how we serve and lead. 

To be fully seen and supported holistically, we need to know who we are and who the people around us are (and no, we don't need to be close friends, I am talking about being supportive co-workers). 

In the coming weeks, I encourage you to join your co-workers and colleagues in a non-work  activity. Whether it's a casual coffee run, a volunteer afternoon, or a competitive round of office trivia, it is an act of dismantling the professional scaffolding. It's the transition from people who happen to work together to being colleagues. It forges a foundation that allows us to see and understand each other as much more than just coworkers. It helps each of us to be the best version of ourselves at work (and for UMBC to continue to be a great place to work!). 

___________________________________

NEWS & NOTES

Survey on Missed Class Time

In our welcome to the spring semester email, we mentioned that we would be reaching out to departments to ask them to share examples and strategies that were utilized to make up missed in-person/synchronous class time due to closures for inclement weather (e.g. asynchronous sharing of content, asynchronous activities, and/or administering additional assignments). 

Please submit the following survey to share with us the strategies you have utilized to make up time for your courses as needed this semester. 

Deadline: Friday, April 10

Survey link.

Four Calls for Nominations/Proposals

Wilson H. Elkins Professorships

I am pleased to announce that the University System of Maryland (USM) is able to make available to its institutions the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship for use in Academic Year 2025-2026 (FY 2026). The Professorship, which began in 1978 at the University of Maryland, College Park, was established to perpetuate the name and contributions of Wilson H. Elkins, a former Rhodes Scholar who led the University of Maryland to new levels of distinction as its president from 1954 to 1978. When the University System of Maryland began in 1988, Dr. Elkins agreed that the professorship bearing his name should extend to the entire USM family. Information about the Professorship and a listing of recent Elkins Professors are available on the University System of Maryland website at https://www.usmd.edu/usm/academicaffairs/elkins.html.

Elkins Professors must exhibit, at a minimum, all of the following qualifications:

• A solid record of achievement in a recognized academic or professional discipline;

• Evidence of significant achievement outside traditional disciplines but linked in scholarly and professional ways to the work of the USM;

• Demonstrated ability and continuing desire to lead and inspire undergraduate and graduate students in a range of learning situations. 

• Demonstrated ability and intent to participate in programs and activities outside the USM.

Income from the endowment for the Elkins Professorship is intended to support compelling projects with focus on research, scholarship, or community engagement that will allow the Elkins Professor to make an important contribution to the teaching, research, or public service mission of the institution and the entire USM. Direct involvement with undergraduate and/or graduate students and outreach to other institutions within the System are hallmarks of the Elkins Professors.

Nominations

Faculty members interested in applying must work with their Chair and Dean to compile their nomination packet. The deans will be submitting the final nomination packets by Friday, May 10 to the Office of the Provost who will submit to the Office of the President. 

Elkins Professorships for Academic Transformation

AY26-27 focuses on three awards of up to $10,000 each to faculty, supporting the integration of Generative AI into educational practices

The Elkins Professorship for Academic Transformation is a prestigious fellowship awarded to faculty within the University System of Maryland. For AY26-27, the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation seeks nominations for faculty in support of innovative projects focused on the use of Generative AI to advance academic transformation. Specifically, three awards of up to $10,000 each will be granted under this professorship to faculty focused on the use of Generative AI to Nominations enhance teaching and learning. 

Nominations

Faculty members interested in applying must work with their Chair and Dean to compile their nomination packet. The deans will be submitting the final nomination packets by Friday, May 10 to the Office of the Provost who will submit to the Office of the President. 

Call for Proposals: 2026-27 Elkins SoTL Fellows Program

The call for proposals for the 2026-2027 Elkins SoTL Fellows program is now open.

Up to 10 Elkins SoTL Fellowships of $1,000 each will be awarded for 2026-27 (May 22, 2026 – June 30, 2027). The Elkins SoTL Fellowships are open to USM faculty of any rank or appointment interested in undertaking a research project focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning. 

A faculty member should serve as principal investigator (PI) on the project; a staff person may serve as co-PI provided the project originates with the faculty member. At present, graduate students are not being considered for this fellowship.

Information Session

Join Kirwan Center staff on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 1 - 2 p.m. for a virtual Information session to learn more about the fellowship requirements and expectations. We will also answer questions about the program at that time. Registering will ensure you receive a link to the session recording, even if you can't attend live.

Register here.

Proposals are due to Dr. Nancy O'Neill by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, for work to take place over the subsequent academic year.

Call for proposals.

Call for Applications for Faculty Senior Fellows

The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce a call for applications for Faculty Senior Fellows for the 2026-27 academic year. These leadership roles will advance the Kirwan Center's mission to support innovation in teaching, learning, and scholarship across the University System of Maryland. Each senior fellow will receive a $3,500 stipend for their work across AY 2026-27.

The three senior fellow positions are:

• Senior fellow in generative AI pedagogy

• Senior fellow for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)

• Senior fellow for assessment and evaluation

USM faculty of any rank whose primary role on their campus is faculty are eligible to apply. Applicants may apply for multiple positions but can only be selected for one senior fellow role. Each position requires approximately 1-2 hours of work per week throughout the academic year term. More details can be found in the Call for Applications for Faculty Senior Fellows.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

RESCHEDULED

2026 Office of the Provost Strategic Initiatives Meeting

Thursday, April 2, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Fine Arts 118 and online

This event has been moved to Thursday, April 2. Please update your calendars and plan to join the provost leadership team and myself either in person or online to learn about the 2026 strategic initiatives under way that are (co)supported by the Office of the Provost. As a reminder, the initiatives include re-envisioning general education, student success strategy, graduate student recruitment and enrollment strategy, fostering curricular innovation, strengthening global education, AI strategy, infrastructure needs, refining and enhancing budget models, and expanding and strengthening K-12 partnerships. 

During this meeting you will learn about (a) goals, (b) leads, (c) who is involved, (d) timeline, and (e) how you can get involved/provide feedback. After the session there also will be an opportunity for informal conversation with leads of initiatives and the Office of the Provost team. 

Register here.

Coffee with the Provost

Friday, April 3, 10 – 11 a.m.

Fireside Lounge, The Commons (third floor)

Have you ever wondered what a provost does? Do you have an idea that will transform higher education?

Drop in and join me for a warm beverage and community as we head into the homestretch of the academic year. 

This is a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, ask questions, or simply enjoy some conversation over coffee and tea.

No RSVP required and all are welcome. 

Stop by, grab a cup, and say hello!

More information.

Piano Performance by Yang Gao

Sunday, March 29, 3 p.m.

Linehan Concert Hall

Pianist Yang Gao presents a program featuring Fryderyk Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28, a selection from Isaac Albéniz's Iberia, and the Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 by Leoš Janáček.

More information

Low Lecture: 

Warren Milteer, Jr. — Out of This Strife Will Come Freedom: Free People of Color and the Fight for Equal Rights in the Civil War Era

Tuesday, March 31, 4 p.m.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery

The Social Sciences Forum presents the annual Low Lecture, featuring Warren Milteer, Jr., associate professor of history at The George Washington University, who will speak on Out of This Strife Will Come Freedom: Free People of Color and the Fight for Equal Rights in the Civil War Era.

More information

despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition

April 1–18

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture

The Intermedia and Digital Arts Master's Program presents despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition. On view from April 1 through 18 at the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, the exhibition features work by graduating students Taylor Goad, Nia Hampton, Bao Nguyen, and Lynn Nguyen.

More information

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

April 2–12

Proscenium Theatre

UMBC Theatre presents The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted by Jacqueline E. Lawton and directed by Joseph W. Ritsch. Life in modern day Baltimore has been a bit boring for Dorothy and her little dog Toto. Until one day, when a cyclone swoops in and takes them "over the rainbow" to the wonderful and magical land of Oz. With the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy sets off on the adventure of a lifetime down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. These new friends brave witches, flying monkeys, and a Haunted Forest all to meet the Wizard of Oz, who promises to make their dreams come true.

More information.

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

Welcome the latest edition of the Provost's Perspective, the only publication that is not fazed by Maryland's indecisive approach to spring. Blue skies, abundant sunshine, and 80-degree one day, and howling winds, sideways rain, and freezing temperatures the next. As the last few days can attest, we're here for it all. 

This week, I want to thank every one of you who helped make the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation process a success. We hosted the evaluation team this week following two-and-a-half years of work on our institution-wide introspective self study. I was so impressed with the community's engagement in the process and site visit. It truly is the people that make UMBC so special! We will receive the official report and decision from Middle States on our re-accreditation later this year so please stay tuned. The report will likely include insightful recommendations to help guide our strategic planning process and the future of UMBC. 

While it took an engaged and expert village to take us through the accreditation process, I want to thank Connie Pierson, associate vice provost for Institutional Research, Analysis and Decision Support (IRADS) and Orianne Smith, professor of English and affiliate professor of gender, women's and sexuality studies, for leading the accreditation process. Connie and Orianne spent countless hours in the weeks, months, and years leading up to the culminating site visit. When you are able, please take a minute to express your gratitude for their dedication to stewarding, guiding, and engaging our campus in the self-study and accreditation processes. 

Part of the UMBC story that was told in our self-study and in the Middle States evaluation team visit is the role that each and every UMBC community member plays in creating and sustaining an environment that welcomes inclusivity and celebrates innovation. As an access-focused R1 institution our story is unique. This was on full display throughout the Middle States visit. Before the visit, we asked for you to be yourselves during sessions with the evaluation team. Your enthusiasm and commitment were evident as the evaluation team met with members of our community across campus. The accreditation process is an opportunity to look in a mirror and honestly assess your organization. For me, it was a confirmation that while there will always be room for improvement, we are not just heading in the right direction, but excelling in the classroom, across every corner of our campus, and in the community.

I look forward to sharing the final Middle States report when it becomes available for the community. For now, I hope you have an opportunity (I encourage you!) to step away from work during Spring Break and have some time to relax. 

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NEWS & NOTES

Spring Break– University Holiday March 16-18

A reminder for those both new and old at UMBC, the university will be closed for spring break Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. The employee holiday calendar can be found here. 

Strive for 85: Creating Online Accessibility

The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee (DASC) is launching "Strive for 85." This institutional goal calls for all Blackboard courses to achieve an Ally "Overall" accessibility score of 85% or better across all colleges and departments by the end of 2026.

As of the most recently completed Fall 25 semester, the campus's overall Ally score for Blackboard courses (which make up ~90% of all UMBC courses) is approximately 74%. To help faculty close this gap and reach the "Strive for 85" goal, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has prepared a voluntary, self-paced Blackboard training organization called "Course Roadmap to Equity" (CoRE) that complements and incorporates existing Ally FAQs, live workshops, and drop-in consulting. 

Learn more about the Strive for 85 effort and how you can help close the gap. 

2 UMBC Student-led Start-ups Win Innovation Awards

Two student-led UMBC start-ups have been selected to receive 2026 Pava LePere Innovation Awards, granting them $50,000 each from the state of Maryland to support their business, as well as access to mentorship, training, and strategic support from the Maryland Student Venture Core Advisory Board and representatives from a network of entrepreneur support organizations across the local tech ecosystem.

Learn more. 

____________________________________

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

RESCHEDULED

2026 Office of the Provost Strategic Initiatives Meeting

Thursday, April 2, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Fine Arts 118 and online

This event has been moved to Thursday, April 2. Please update your calendars and plan to join the provost leadership team and myself either in person or online to learn about the 2026 strategic initiatives under way that are (co)supported by the Office of the Provost. As a reminder, the initiatives include re-envisioning general education, student success strategy, graduate student recruitment and enrollment strategy, fostering curricular innovation, strengthening global education, AI strategy, infrastructure needs, refining and enhancing budget models, and expanding and strengthening K-12 partnerships. 

During this meeting you will learn about (a) goals, (b) leads, (c) who is involved, (d) timeline, and (e) how you can get involved/provide feedback. After the session there also will be an opportunity for informal conversation with leads of initiatives and the Office of the Provost team. 

Register here.

Centering Wonder: Dialogues on Science and Religion

March 25, 4 – 5:30 p.m., University Center 115

People may feel they need to compartmentalize their spiritual or religious identities away from their academic or professional pursuits, yet numerous scientists and physicians draw motivation and ethical guidance from their faith traditions. The Centering Wonder series explores the rich intersections of science and faith, dismantling the perceived wall between them in the process. The series is presented in partnership with CNMS and the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism. 

Learn more. 

Lunch and Learn for Faculty Part 1: Library Video Services and the Library Innovation Lab

Learn about Library services that you might not be aware of

Friday, March 27, 12 – 1 p.m., Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery and online

This hybrid event will provide information on:

• The Library's digital and DVD video collections 

• The Library Digital Media Lab, which provides equipment and facilities for DIY digital media production

• The Library Innovation Lab, which provides equipment and software for fabrication including 3D printers and scanners, laser cutters, and more

• Bonus content for CAHSS faculty: CARAT research development, pre-award and post-award support

Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.

Learn more and register. 

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an  update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen