UMBC's New Travel System Launches November 3 – SAP Concur Is Coming

We're excited to share that UMBC's new travel system, SAP Concur, will launch campus-wide on November 3. Active UMBC employees will have access to Concur for using our self booking tool, creating authorization requests, and easy ways to collect and submit expense reports. There are exciting new tools including a mobile app, AI-assisted receipt management, easy mileage calculation, and more. We'll be sharing sneak peaks leading up to the launch of Concur.  

To help everyone prepare, we'll be offering both in-person and live virtual training sessions starting October 23rd and early November. These sessions are designed for every role in the travel process — travelers, arrangers, and approvers. More information and registration links will be shared soon.

Training Descriptions

• Concur Orientation – A high-level overview of the full travel process from start to finish including a discussion of the apps available providing access to your information anywhere you are.

• Policy Training – Explains the UMBC interim travel policy and the reasons behind the policies.

• Arranger Training – (Formerly "Preparers") For admins arranging travel on behalf of others, such as guests, students, faculty, or staff.

• Approver Training – A step-by-step walkthrough of the approval process from the approver's perspective.

• Traveler + Arranger Training – Geared toward travelers, with arrangers encouraged to stay for the final portion specific to their role.

What You Can Do Now

UMBC Business Services has launched a combined new W-9/W-8BEN Tax Document form to streamline the process of setting up employees to be reimbursable. Travel Reimbursements continue to be fulfilled/ via the State of Maryland General Accounting Division (GAD). 

If you are a UMBC Employee (including Graduate Assistants) who previously completed a W-9, you will be automatically set up to be reimbursable in Concur. You can double check your status via the current Travel System – if you see a remit address at the top of your pre-approval or reimbursement, you're good to go. Otherwise, if you will be traveling on UMBC business for the first time or arranging guest travel, please complete the new W-9/W-8BEN Tax Document form.

Guests and non-Graduate Assistant students will not have access to Concur, and will need to recomplete a W-8BEN/W-9 to be reimbursed in Concur, even if they have traveled before. The travel arranger will initiate the new W-9/W-8BEN Tax Document form, not the traveler. The travel arranger is the UMBC person who will be arranging the details of the travel, submitting the request on behalf of the guest/student, and submitting the final expense report on their behalf.

 This form is required for:

• All Travelers (both employee and non-employee) remit address updates

• Creation of new traveler profiles for non-employees

Travelers who do not have a remit address on file will not be able to complete (or have completed on their behalf) requests and expense reports in Concur until this form has been processed. For instructions please follow these links:

I am a UMBC employee filling this out for myself
I am a Travel  Arrangers initiating this form on behalf of a non-employee: student or guest

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 · 11 AM - 3 PM

Language Technology Seminar Series (LaTeSS)

Towards Multilingual Evaluations of Knowledge for Large Language Models

Bryan Li, University of Pennsylvania
2-3pm Tue., Oct. 14, 2025, ITE 325b, UMBC

Your personal statement is more than just a writing sample — it's your opportunity to tell your story and show why you're a great fit for your chosen program or field. Whether you're applying to graduate school, medical school, or a fellowship, your statement should highlight your passion, purpose, and potential.

Here are a few key tips to make your personal statement stand out:

1. Tell Your Story — But Keep It Focused

Admissions committees want to know who you are, not just what you've done. Share experiences that shaped your academic interests or career goals, but keep them relevant. Avoid repeating your resume — use this space to explain why those experiences matter and how they led you to your next step.

2. Show, Don't Just Tell

Instead of saying "I'm passionate about research," describe a specific moment that demonstrates it: the experiment that failed three times before it finally worked, or the late-night study session that sparked your curiosity. Concrete details bring your story to life and make your statement memorable.

3. Connect the Dots

A strong personal statement weaves together your past experiences, current skills, and future goals. Think of it as a roadmap — show how your academic journey has prepared you for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

4. Know Your Audience

Each program has its own values and expectations. Do your research — mention two to three specific faculty whose work inspires you, courses that align with your interests, or ways you hope to contribute to the program. Tailoring your statement shows genuine interest and effort.

5. Revise, Review, and Refine

A great personal statement rarely comes together in one draft. Write freely at first, then revisit your essay to tighten structure, clarify your message, and check for flow. Ask professors, mentors, or a Career Center Specialist to review it and offer feedback.

Ready to Get Started?

Writing about yourself can feel daunting — but you don't have to do it alone. Prep for Grad or Professional School with these resources on myUMBC or on our website, which are both full of templates, examples, and additional tips to craft a compelling personal statement that captures your unique voice and vision. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Hello UMBC Community,

In the digital world, Phishing is one of the most used forms of cyber trickery where attackers impersonate trusted sources to deceive you into handing over credentials or personal information. These attacks come in various forms. Learning about them will help you not fall victim to those emails.

Phishing attacks are emails that may look like important messages but are actually crafted by cyber criminals. The good news? With the right knowledge, you can foil their tricks and keep yourself and UMBC safe. These are some tips on how you can recognize phishing emails:

1. Requests for Your Password: UMBC will never ask for your password. Never submit your password on Google forms or Monday.com forms. Your password is for your eyes only!

2. Unexpected Calendar Invitations: Watch out for calendar invites from unknown senders. Delete them and never click suspicious links inside.

3. Fraudulent Offers: Be wary of unsolicited offers for gift cards or jobs that are too promising. Do not send your personal or financial information to anyone who requests it over email or text. Real job postings are on Handshake only!

4. Unexpected Attachments or Links: Did someone send you a weird file or link you weren't expecting? Is a link in an email suspiciously short or strange-looking? If it feels off, don't click or download it.

5. A Sense of Urgency: Phishing emails often try to rush you into action, like claiming your account will be "deactivated" if you don't click a link immediately. Always be suspicious of urgent, high-pressure requests.

6. Poor Grammar and Spelling: While not always a giveaway, many phishing emails contain noticeable spelling errors or awkward phrasing.

What to do if you get a suspicious email:

If you suspect an email is a phishing attempt, do not reply, click any links, or open any attachments. Instead, forward the email immediately to the security team at security@umbc.edu. Your report helps protect everyone!

Stay vigilant, and together we can keep our digital environment safe.

Catch a "Fish"!

Have you ever wondered what a provost does? Do you have a question about the state of higher education or the Eredivisie (Dutch football's top division)?

Drop in and join us for a warm beverage and a snack and meet Provost Manfred van Dulmen.

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

Thursday, October 9
10-11 a.m.
Information Technology / Engineering 456

No RSVP required and all are welcome.

Stop by, grab a cup, and say hello!