Welcome back to the Spring semester!

Despite the challenges of the past year, the CAHSS research portfolio continues to grow in scope, complexity, and impact. CARAT is proud to work alongside you to advance these efforts. It's been nothing short of inspiring watching the resilience and brilliance of CAHSS faculty as we settle into new and renewed funding paradigms. 

This Spring, we will continue to offer a robust slate of programming and support for both new and experienced grantees. 

On February 18th and 19th, we will hold our first Mini Consultation sessions of the year. These 15-minute sessions can be used to discuss your research/creative achievement project ideas at any stage. They can be held in-person or virtually.

Sign Up Here!

We will also be offering additional targeted sessions on award management and grant opportunities, and we're especially excited about the launch of our new Roadmap for pre-award processes that we hope will make proposal development clearer, more transparent, and more efficient. 

Stay tuned for more announcements on these offerings shortly! 

Of course, please feel free to reach out to us at any time, whether you have a development request, are exploring a new funding opportunity, or are ready to begin the proposal submission process: 

Request a Consultation with CARAT

Email: carat@umbc.edu

See you on campus,

The CARAT Team

Join us this spring for the Spring Teaching Assistant Series, a 7-session professional development workshop series designed to support Teaching Assistants and Postdocs in building effective, inclusive, and transferable teaching skills.

      Location: ILSB 301
      Time: 10:00–11:00 AM
    When: FRIDAYS this Spring
    Hosted by: Dr. Robin Cresiski & Dr. Jamie Gurganus

Spring 2026 Workshop Schedule

• February 13 – Building Community & Belonging

• February 27 – Active Learning

• March 13 – Mid-Semester Evaluations & Classroom Management

• March 27 – Question, Persuade, Refer: Suicide Prevention Training

• April 3 – Formative and Summative Assessment

• April 17 – Overcoming End-of-Semester Overwhelm

• May 1 – Translating Your TA Skills to Your Resume

This 7-session series contributes toward earning a CIRTL Certificate, a strong addition to your CV or resume and a valuable credential for future academic and professional opportunities.

Learn more about CIRTL and certification requirements here: at UMBC and General.

As part of UMBC's ongoing commitment to fostering equitable and inclusive learning and working environments, we're excited to offer departments a meaningful opportunity to strengthen community, repair relationships, and build trust across campus through Restorative Practice sessions. These offerings include multiple circle types, facilitated by partners in the Division of Institutional Equity (DOIE), and tailored to the unique needs of faculty and staff departments.

We invite faculty, staff, supervisors, and department leaders to discover how restorative practices can empower your teams to cultivate cultural competency, equity, accountability, and community care. These collaborative sessions provide a dedicated space to enhance communication, deepen connections, and foster a more inclusive work environment. To learn more or explore how these practices might benefit your department, please reach out to the Community & Culture team at culture@umbc.edu.

 DOIE RESTORATIVE OFFERINGS

Restorative circles, community conversations, and dialogues

Circles provide structured, equitable spaces for dialogue and connection. Whether used proactively to build community or responsively to address harm, circles honor the voices and experiences of all participants through guided conversation. DOIE offers various circle types, including community-building, learning, restorative dialogue, healing, resetting, and re-entry circles to support faculty and staff (individuals, groups, departments).

Reach out for DOIE support when: Your department wants to strengthen culture proactively, address interpersonal tensions or misunderstandings, process the impact of bias incidents or crises, support colleague reintegration after conflict or leave, or explore challenging topics related to equity and inclusion.

Restorative Conferences: Formal Support for Complex Situations

In DOIE, restorative conferences are structured, facilitated meetings designed to address significant harm, policy violations, or formal workplace conflicts, particularly when navigating identity-based issues, community climate, and cultural differences. These conferences bring together affected parties with institutional representatives to repair relationships, establish accountability, and create clear paths forward.

Reach out for DOIE support when: There has been a formal complaint, policy violation, or significant identity-based interpersonal harm; parties are ready to engage voluntarily in structured dialogue; institutional representatives need to be part of the resolution process; or clear, documented agreements and follow-up are essential.

Group Facilitation: Retreats, Listening Sessions & More

DOIE provides customized facilitation for departmental retreats, listening sessions, and other gatherings where skilled, restorative facilitation helps groups navigate complexity and move toward shared goals, particularly when navigating identity-based issues, community climate, and cultural differences.

Reach out for DOIE support when: Your department is planning a retreat and needs skilled facilitation; you want to gather qualitative feedback through listening sessions or town halls; your team is navigating organizational change or climate concerns; or you need support creating inclusive dialogue spaces for sensitive or complex topics.

*Available Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee, Associate Vice President for Community & Culture/Co-Director of Social Justice Dialogue, and Sy Simms, Learning and Development Specialist, and other trained members of the Community & Culture team and UMBC campus.

Learn More & Get Involved

We encourage all campus partners to take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen our shared culture of equity and belonging.

For questions about requesting restorative practices support, scheduling a circle, or determining the best approach for your department, please visit doie.umbc.edu or contact the Community & Culture team at culture@umbc.edu.

To participate in a Restorative Practices training hosted by Student Conduct and Community Standards, visit https://conduct.umbc.edu/programs/restorative-practices/events-and-workshops-offered/.