Inclusive excellence has long been a cultural touchstone at UMBC. Before now, we haven't had a definition or any other shared language to describe what we mean. This is your chance to inform our definition. Leaders in the Division of Institutional Equity have drafted a framework for inclusive excellence, and we want your input! 

The framework aims to articulate our community's shared commitments in a way that can communicate our values, guide action, inspire new collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC's next strategic plan.

Join The Centers for Social Justice Dialogue and Democracy and Civic Life for UMBC Talks, which are 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to support your engagement with the framework. Each UMBC Talk will be the same, so please sign up for the one that best suits your schedule. We hope to see you there. Come and leave your mark on this important moment in UMBC's history. 

Spring Semester Open Forums

Friday, April 10, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding faculty and staff experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. - noon, UC 312 -Foregrounding graduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Friday, April 24, 2:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding undergraduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Virtual - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Stay tuned for potential additional dates! Download the attached flyer to post or share.

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UMBC Talks is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance the sense of community, vibrancy, and well-being at UMBC through guided community conversations that reestablish our commitment to inclusive excellence and foster a sense of pride for what it truly
means to be a UMBC Retriever. Using this framework offers a dialogic process for gathering community input on shared values.

If you have any questions about this feedback process, please feel free to reach out to Drs. Ciara Christian and David Hoffman at culture@umbc.edu.

These events are 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.

Inclusive excellence has long been a cultural touchstone at UMBC. Before now, we haven't had a definition or any other shared language to describe what we mean. This is your chance to inform our definition. Leaders in the Division of Institutional Equity have drafted a framework for inclusive excellence, and we want your input! 

The framework aims to articulate our community's shared commitments in a way that can communicate our values, guide action, inspire new collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC's next strategic plan.

Join The Centers for Social Justice Dialogue and Democracy and Civic Life for UMBC Talks, which are 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to support your engagement with the framework. Each UMBC Talk will be the same, so please sign up for the one that best suits your schedule. We hope to see you there. Come and leave your mark on this important moment in UMBC's history. 

Spring Semester Open Forums

Friday, April 10, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding faculty and staff experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. - noon, UC 312 -Foregrounding graduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Friday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding undergraduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Virtual - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Stay tuned for potential additional dates! Download the attached flyer to post or share.

--

UMBC Talks is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance the sense of community, vibrancy, and well-being at UMBC through guided community conversations that reestablish our commitment to inclusive excellence and foster a sense of pride for what it truly
means to be a UMBC Retriever. Using this framework offers a dialogic process for gathering community input on shared values.

If you have any questions about this feedback process, please feel free to reach out to Drs. Ciara Christian and David Hoffman at culture@umbc.edu.

These events are 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.

 

 

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On Tuesday, the Division of Institutional Equity hosted a panel "On Caring for Community" as part of their series on Critical Social Justice. I had the privilege of participating with several senior administrators including President Sheares Ashby, Vice President Barber, Vice Provost and Dean Porter, and Athletic Director Tucker. The event highlighted all that makes UMBC great, including conversations on how we care deeply about members of our university community and regularly ask ourselves, "Who did we not include; who is not at the table?" and "How can we do better every day?" 

These strengths of UMBC were further amplified for me when the next day I attended the American Council on Education national meeting in D.C. where I was reminded of the vast differences across states. Anytime I go to a higher education conference I am reminded that being in a state with a governor and legislators that fully support higher education—including its independence—is a privilege that we all should continue to fight for.

In the coming months, I look forward to continuing conversations with you about how we build on our strengths and the opportunity and responsibility we have in the state of Maryland. We are so fortunate to be incredibly well positioned in Maryland. At the same time, higher education is at an inflection point. One university president referred to the tide changing as an earthquake. 

How do we build on all our strengths while the higher education landscape is constantly changing? What can we do together that provides amazing experiences to students and growth opportunities for faculty? How do we lean into inclusive excellence, provide access to education, prepare students for careers and the world, and do this while also being nimble with our finances? As I like to say, there is "no money tree in my backyard."

On March 5, I will share with you some of the initiatives that have been launched by various senior leaders with groups of faculty and staff that will give you a sense of how we answer these questions. One example of such an initiative is the Global Learning Lab, which was just awarded the 2026 Innovative Excellence in Internationalization Award from the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). 

What started as a brainstorming session in summer 2023 between Katie Heird, David Di Maria, and Ana Oskoz for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, has grown into an award-winning program that provides opportunities for faculty across the colleges to develop their curriculum and meet students where they are.

The Global Learning Lab is designed to help students build global competencies by internationalizing the curriculum through strategic course mapping, faculty-led study abroad programs, and collaborative online international learning (COIL). 

To date, 48 faculty members have participated across 27 unique departments ranging from biological sciences to visual arts to chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering. Projects continue to positively impact the student experience and have included nine mapping initiatives, 12 COIL projects, and 27 study abroad programs. 

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NEWS & NOTES

Recovering from Missed Class Sessions

The delayed start of the spring semester and campus closures due to inclement weather have impacted many of you this semester. I want to encourage you to explore the resources available from the Faculty Development Center to ensure students meet the core learning outcomes by semester's end.  

1,200 High Schoolers Swarm UMBC for Science Olympiad 

In honor of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games wrapping up last Sunday, I want to give a shoutout to Dean Bill LaCourse and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences for hosting more than 1,200 high school students for its annual Science Olympiad. In the last three years, the Olympiad has grown from approximately 40 teams to the largest event of its kind in Maryland, attracting competitors from Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and D.C. Read more about this year's competition here.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

Inclusive Excellence in Action - Skills for Cross-Cultural Mentoring

Highlighting key inclusion, belonging, and access practices

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 · 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Commons 329 

The Inclusive Excellence in Action Series is designed to support staff and faculty in building more inclusive, effective, and human-centered practices. The interactive workshops focus on translating reflection into action through concrete tools, strategies, and key takeaways participants can apply in their roles.

Christa Porter, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School and associate professor, language, literacy, and culture, will be the featured speaker.

Learn more. 

2026 Office of the Provost Strategic Initiatives Meeting

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

Mark 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. We will present information on current initiatives, including 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.

PAWS (pause) with the Provost

Friday, March 6, 10 – 11 a.m., Fireside Lounge, The Commons 303

Join me for a special PAWS (pause) with the Provost to dive deeper following the strategic initiatives meeting the previous day. This drop-in event is intended to provide an informal environment to further explore the work being done to support strategic initiatives this semester. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. I look forward to seeing you there. 

Learn more.

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