Interest Form is NOW OPEN for Executive Board Officer Positions!
Looking for an E-Board position open to anyone? Join Us!
Greetings!
The interest form for Meditation @ UMBC Executive Board Officer positions is OPEN!!
We would love to see this club continue, and we need all 3 open positions to be filled to do so! This interest form is open to anyone, although we encourage that you join at least one of our upcoming meditation sessions to learn how the club is run and speak with current E-Board officers. Our sessions take place every Monday at 12pm in The Center for Well-Being, Room 103.
This interest form will close on April 14th.
The election will occur from April 15th until April 24th.
New officer terms will begin May 1st.
Eligibility for Running:
- MUST be willing to hold position for 1 full academic year
- There are no additional requirements to run for an E-Board position! Just be willing to build your leadership skills and maintain a safe space for members!
Open Positions & Responsibilities:
President
- Developing and managing events
- Exploring and sharing the history of the organization
- Serving as the organization's official representative for communicating with SGA and UMBC staff
Vice President
- Assume the role of President in the event of the President's absence or incapacity
- Assist in event management & communication with members through GroupMe and myUMBC
Treasurer
- Manage fundraising
- Manage the organization's funds and ensuring compliance with all financial rules and guidelines
Semesterly Officer Responsibilities:
- Attending Involvement Fest to promote the club
- Communicating with the Club Advisor/Session Instructor, SGA, and/or SABSC (Student Affairs Business Services Center) as needed
- Communicating with Gathering Space staff for recurrent room reservation
- Setting up cushions for each meditation session
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Greetings! The interest form for Meditation @ UMBC Executive Board Officer positions is OPEN!! We would love to see this club continue, and we need all 3 open positions to be filled to do so!...
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Meditation at UMBC
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An image of our meditation space for sessions in Room 103 of The Center for Well-Being.
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Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:08:00 -0400
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:17:10 -0400
Scam: “Free” High-Value Items for Sale
Don't fall for this new scam
Dear UMBC Community,
It has come to our attention that a new wave of a popular
scam has emerged. Scammers are impersonating faculty or someone with a high
degree of trust among the community. In some cases, this may appear to come
from a UMBC account.
The scam usually begins with a story of someone with a few
high-value items going through a rough patch of life. The story claims that the
person lost a loved one who owned high-value items or is relocating and has to
empty their apartment of valuable items ASAP. They go on to "generously" offer
those high-priced items for FREE!
These items can be an expensive digital camera, a pricey
violin, a collector's guitar, or a cherished baby grand piano. But it wouldn't
be a scam if there wasn't a catch. The scammers only ask you to cover the
shipping costs for delivering the items to your location. They generally ask
that you contact them outside of the UMBC.edu domain, either via email or
phone. Once an external contact is established, scammers build rapport and ask
for personal information, such as mailing addresses, to process a "shipping
fee."
Once a payment is made to scammers, users are generally
ghosted and calls/texts go unanswered. If you believe you have been a victim to
such a scam, please contact law enforcement for assistance.
Be vigilant and look for the following signs:
- A
story that is too good to be true ("granny was a musical prodigy and we
are giving away her collection for free!")
- Urgency
in communication ("items are only available to the first person who
reaches out!")
- Moving
to outside platforms ("text me on my cell number!")
- Unusual
request for personally identifiable information ("What's your mailing
address?")
- Financial
requests that are not secure or traceable ("send me the money via a
digital wallet!")
For more information about this, please refer to these
resources:
- How
can I identify phishing?
- How
Can I Avoid Identity Theft?
If you suspect a phishing or scam attempt, do not reply,
click any links, open any attachments, or provide your information. Instead,
forward the email immediately to the security team at security@umbc.edu.
Your report helps protect everyone!
Thank you all for your continued awareness and assistance in
keeping our community secure.
Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust
UMBC Division of Information Technology (DoIT)
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Dear UMBC Community, It has come to our attention that a new wave of a popular scam has emerged. Scammers are impersonating faculty or someone with a high degree of trust among the...
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IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust
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IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust
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Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:03:10 -0400
Pre-Transfer Advising Strengthens Transfer Success at UMBC
When Emily Abrams-Stephens, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Services in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), nominated two Enrollment Management colleagues for UMBC’s Collaborators of Excellence Award at the
2025 Service Awards, she was recognizing more than teamwork — she was honoring a collaboration that has helped shape transfer student success at UMBC.
Desiree Sterling, Coordinator of Pre-Transfer Advising in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, and Valentina Leon-Ledezma, Transfer Coordinator in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation–nominated alongside Emma Jett (COEIT), Krista Wallace (COEIT), Kim Casimbon (COEIT), Julie Crosby (CNMS), and Abigail Granger (Shady Grove)--have developed a collaborative, high-touch experience that supports prospective transfer students from early planning through enrollment — contributing to measurable enrollment growth and improve student outcomes.
“As a result of their hard work, UMBC saw its largest incoming class of transfer students last year, and we have seen increases in the retention and graduation rates of our transfer population,” Abrams-Stephens says.
Addressing Barriers and Celebrating Results
UMBC’s recent enrollment data reflects the impact of these efforts. The university welcomed 863 transfer students — a significant increase compared with the previous fall and one of the largest incoming transfer populations in recent years.
This work also aligns with broader institutional goals around retention and graduation. Over the past decade, both overall transfer populations and college-specific transfer cohorts have shown upward trends in graduation rates, reflecting stronger transitions from community colleges to bachelor’s degree completion.
Financial concerns and credit transfer uncertainties are among the most common barriers for community college students. By helping students make informed decisions early — clarifying coursework, financial planning, and understanding career pathways — Pre-Transfer Advising reduces uncertainty and increases confidence.
A Holistic Approach to Transfer Planning
To help students maximize the transferability of their coursework, Desiree’s advising approach takes a holistic view of each student’s academic journey. She highlights the advantages and opportunities of transferring to UMBC while helping students understand how their academic history and interests align with long-term academic, graduate, or professional goals.
Her advising sessions aim to ensure students leave well-informed and equipped with strategies for future academic success. One key recommendation is completing an associate’s degree whenever possible, which can strengthen a student’s pathway toward earning a bachelor’s degree at UMBC.
A significant part of Desiree’s work also involves traveling to Maryland community colleges to provide embedded advising support directly on those campuses, demonstrating UMBC’s commitment to engaging prospective students early and building seamless transfer pathways.
Desiree specializes in advising students planning to apply transfer credits toward undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, as well as social work, aging services, teacher education, pre-allied health pathways, and major exploration.
Pre-transfer advising sessions typically include:
- Transfer credit policies and course articulation
- Unofficial transcript review and academic journey discussion
- Course recommendations at current institution
- UMBC degree suggestions based on prior coursework/interests
- Explanation of general education and major requirements
- Referrals to academic departments, co-curricular opportunities, and campus resources
Many students take advantage of these advising sessions while completing their community college degree, though some begin even earlier — including high school students who are dual-enrolled at local two-year colleges.
Students prepare for advising by completing intake questions, providing unofficial transcripts, and exploring online tools such as UMBC’s Transfer Central and the University System of Maryland’s articulation database (ARTSYS). These resources help advisors provide context and guidance as students navigate the complexities of transfer planning.
And while pre-transfer advising helps students plan their academic pathways, early outreach also plays an important role in helping prospective students understand their options and begin building connections to UMBC.
Building Early Connections
Rather than focusing on recruitment alone, Valentina’s approach centers on educating students about the realities and opportunities of transfer. Her conversations with students often begin one to two years before they apply.
These discussions focus on major and career exploration, financial aid and scholarships, admissions processes and deadlines, reviewing transfer credits, and connecting students with campus resources and events.
During this stage, she is able to learn about students’ goals, connect them with relevant resources, and stay engaged through follow-up communication and invitations to campus tours, visits, and events. Once a student applies and is admitted, Valentina continues outreach through admitted-student programming and remains a point of connection through a student’s first day of classes.
Helping Students See Themselves at UMBC
For many community college students, financial considerations and credit transferability are primary concerns. Advisors help students make informed decisions about coursework, financial aid, and career pathways early in the process — clarifying options and expectations rather than leaving important choices to chance.
Equally important is the welcoming environment students experience when they visit campus. The connections they build with advisors, faculty, staff, and peers help them envision themselves as part of the Retriever community.
For many prospective transfers, that sense of belonging is what ultimately makes the difference. When students can clearly see a pathway to their degree and feel connected to the campus community, they are more confident in their decision to enroll — and better positioned to persist and succeed once they arrive at UMBC.
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When Emily Abrams-Stephens, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Services in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), nominated two Enrollment Management colleagues for UMBC’s...
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Enrollment Management
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Enrollment Management
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Desiree Sterling, Coordinator of Pre-Transfer Advising in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, and Valentina Leon-Ledezma, Transfer Coordinator in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation
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Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:35:13 -0400
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:36:52 -0400
