Campus Life Student Engagement and the SGA Student Organization Support Team (SOST) are inviting student organization leaders to participate in Student Org Digital Tools Focus Groups to help us better understand how student orgs use technology to manage their operations. Your feedback will help inform us on what works and where there are opportunities to better support student organizations at UMBC.

About the Focus Groups:

• Format: 

• Virtual (via Webex)

• Duration: 

• About 75-90 minutes

• Who Should Attend: 

• Executive/Board Members from Undergraduate Student Organizations

• Purpose: 

• To share your experiences using tools like myUMBC Groups, 25Live, Qualtrics, and other digital platforms for communication, event management, and record-keeping.

• Dates/Times:

• Friday, November 14, 2025: 1 - 2:30 p.m.

• Monday, November 17, 2025: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 2, 2025: 2 - 3:30 p.m.

• Thursday, December 4, 2025: Noon - 1:30 p.m.

• Monday, December 8, 2025: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Interested: Students can sign up using this online signup form!

To thank organizations for participating, all orgs represented in a focus group will be entered into a raffle for $500 to be transferred to their carryover account. 

We are pleased to announce the Undergraduate Data Science and AI Scholars program for supporting students in Spring 2026. The Data Science and AI Scholars program welcomes undergraduate scholars from multiple disciplines, including non-STEM majors, who will examine all aspects of data and its impact on society. This year, scholars will have the opportunity to be teaching fellowsor research fellows. Scholars will be able to work on research projects in Climate Science, Deepfake detection, and other data science-related projects. 

Students selected through this effort will be part of the Data Science and AI Scholars program, which will be run in partnership withthe Center for Women in Technology (CWIT), the Information Systems Department (IS), and the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3). 

Selected scholars will be assigned to respective affiliations (CWIT/IS or CS3) depending on the student's major, and the scholars' expectations per affiliation are as follows:

Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Responsibilities:

Research Fellows

• Scholars who will work as research fellows will work on a supervised research project and be mentored by faculty. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week.

• Scholars will attend at least two events in Spring 2026 and/or participate in research initiatives and professional development for their leadership growth and mentoring. Mentors will coordinate this at CWIT. 

• Scholars will need to register as CWIT Affiliates to participate in the 2 required events.

• Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.

Teaching Fellows 

• Scholars will work as teaching fellows and peer mentors for undergraduate students in IS 296 - Foundations of Data Science, and support students throughout the course.. The scholars will devote time to mentoring and leadership development efforts for their advancement. The cohort of scholars will meet as a group under the supervision of the IS 296 instructor. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week during Spring 2026.

• Scholars who will work as teaching fellows will be expected to be available to assist with classes and also present during lectures. Spring 2026 class schedule is as follows: Mondays 4:30 - 7:00 pm (Instructor: Dr. Karen Chen), Mondays 7:10 - 9:40 pm (Instructor: Zehra Zaidi), and Tuesdays 4:30 - 7:00 pm (Instructor: Dr. Neha Singh)

• Scholars will be required to attend one mentoring meeting per month with the coordinator

• Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.

Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) Responsibilities:

Research Fellows

• Scholars who will work as research fellows will work on a supervised research project and be mentored by faculty. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific tasks, for 5 - 10 hours per week.

• Scholars will attend at least two events in Spring 2026 and/or participate in research initiatives and professional development for their leadership growth and mentoring. Mentors will coordinate this at CS3. 

• Scholars will also be expected to attend one mentoring meeting with the faculty.

• Scholars will be required to enroll in a Zero-credit Practicum course on research experience (PRAC 98C) through the UMBC Career Center.

Background and Skills:

ALL applicants should have knowledge in AT LEAST ONE of the following:

• Analysis of social, behavioral, economic, or geographic data

• Python or one of the data science tools and/or languages (such as R, Rapid Miner, Weka, Orange, Knime, ML on cloud computing)

• Jupyter Notebooks with Python or taken IS 296 in a prior semester.

Application Form:

Interested students should complete the Google Submission Form,OR access the form using the following link: https://forms.gle/FFUAa5RpDNMGYvTY9  by Friday, November 21, 2025.

Questions:

For questions, please email our team at DataScienceAIScholars@umbc.edu

To learn more about potential projects, please check out the following websites: 

• https://www.umces.edu/chesapeake-global-collaboratory 

• https://iharp.umbc.edu

• https://mdata.umbc.edu/deep-fake-detection/

• https://socialscience.umbc.edu/ 

The use of payment requests to pay for a variety of goods and services has grown significantly beyond the system's indeed purpose.  We have observed many instances where Payment Requests are being submitted as an alternative to following established procurement procedures for the acquisition of goods and services.

Effective immediately, adherence to the policy below is mandatory.  Business Services and Procurement & Strategic Sourcing will strictly enforce these guidelines to ensure proper fiscal control.

• Invoices less than $600 that are non-recurring
• Miscellaneous reimbursements (out of pocket expenses that are NOT Travel)
• R*Stars Payments
• Honorariums - Details
• Stipends – Details
• Refunds of Revenue
• Memberships/Registrations (when the P-card can't be used)
• Student Cultural Events

• Invoices over $600 (a PO is required)
• Recurring invoices/payments of any amount (a PO or contract is required)
• Travel Expenses (e.g., when using accounts 7040100, 7040300, 7040330, etc.)
• Subaward payments (there is a separate form for these payments)

When a request is submitted that does not meet one of the stated allowable uses, the Payment Request will be returned to the requester with instructions on the correct process. In most cases, this will necessitate:

1. Submitting a requisition for a Purchase Order (PO).
2. Creating a formal contract that can then be invoiced against.

Hey everyone!! SACNAS is hosting a Resume Workshop in collaboration with the Career Center this Thursday, November 13th from 3PM–4PM in ITE 239.

Come learn how to make your resume stand out. If you're applying for internships, research positions, or grad school or just want to polish up your resume, this is a great opportunity to do so. Come learn and see what recruiters are looking for and ask questions!

 Bring a printed or digital copy of your resume for feedback.

Please RSVP with the link provided or scan the QR code attached below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScufTaZnDmDEZiA_PM9LcibmFAHgC3syLBvuyXDGH0CJlvZIQ/viewform

Don't miss out, we hope to see you there! :)

Dear UMBC Community,

Winter weather is on its way. To prepare, we want to remind you about UMBC's policies and procedures for weather-related delays and closures and make sure you know how to find up-to-date information.

If you have not done so already, please sign up for our emergency text alerts. This is the most effective way to receive urgent text updates for weather-related delays, closures, and campus emergencies. In addition to text alerts, we will also post alerts on both the UMBC homepage and the homepage of myUMBC, and we will also send email alerts as early as possible.

Please note that the decision to close campus or open late applies to the main UMBC campus only. For community members not located on the main campus, please follow the protocols for your specific location. These include:

• UMBC-Shady Grove: Visit The Universities at Shady Grove campus alerts website.
• bwtech@UMBC: Email crice@umbc.edu to sign up for the bwtech@UMBC text alert system.
• Rita Rossi Colwell Center: The Colwell Center follows University of Baltimore's policies and procedures during inclement weather due to its proximity.

When it becomes necessary to close the main campus for inclement weather, employees designated as essential personnel must report. Decisions about administrative leave for all other employees will be made based on the weather conditions that day and communicated accordingly.

If campus remains open, please use personal judgment when traveling to and from campus as weather and road conditions vary by your location. Please be sure to communicate early and often with your supervisor should you have any concerns. It is our goal to keep you safe and warm this winter.

Read more about UMBC's policies and procedures for inclement weather, including how and when decisions are made, response plans, employee leave information, and details on how delays and closures impact events, parking, and more.

Sincerely,

Dan Petree
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance 

Name: Deepika Mandalapu

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Health Information Technology

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Dr Richard C Powell, DDS

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore

Title of position: Clinical Care Coordinator

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my internship as a Clinical Care Coordinator, I managed and analyzed patient data using EHR systems to support coordinated care. I developed dashboards to track clinical outcomes and streamline workflows. This experience enhanced my skills in healthcare data analysis, software systems, and process improvement.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I found the Clinical Care Coordinator internship on Indeed while searching for roles that combined healthcare and data analysis. The position immediately caught my attention because of its focus on technology-driven patient care. I applied through the Indeed portal with my resume and cover letter, and after completing an interview that highlighted my analytical and software skills, I was offered the position.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I enjoyed working with healthcare software and data systems to improve patient care coordination while learning from a supportive team.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I streamlined data workflows and created dashboards that improved tracking and decision-making, helping the care team deliver more efficient, data-driven care.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would advise other students to apply early and tailor their applications to highlight relevant skills and interests. Emphasize both technical abilities and a genuine passion for learning in healthcare settings. Most importantly, stay open to new challenges—every experience, big or small, helps you grow professionally and build confidence.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

"I really enjoyed applying my data and software skills to improve patient care coordination. The Career Center helped me strengthen my resume and prepare for interviews, which gave me the confidence to secure and succeed in this internship. Big thanks to Farhan Nadeem for promptly replying and for the ever encouraging support."