The 2025 Waves of Change (WOC) STEM conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 23- 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center with options to participate either in-person or online. The conference features a career fair (Saturday, October 25) where top national and local companies in the STEM fields are actively recruiting STEM interns and professionals in addition to career workshops, and leadership and professional development programs.

You will need to register to participate. Open to ALL students! 

·       The job fair is free! To participate in the job fair only, go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/job_seekers_registration.cfm. Be sure to check the career readiness workshops that will be held throughout the career fair.

·       To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair) go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/student_registration.cfm and select whether you will participate "in-person" (Baltimore, MD) or "online".

There is also an opportunity to participate in the Undergraduate Research Showcase! Are you working on groundbreaking research? Showcase your work by participating in the Undergraduate Research Showcase.  Sign up here as soon as possible as applications are still being accepted. 

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) from the UMBC Career Center.

Several agencies and parts of the U.S. government have begun shutting down because Congress did not pass a stopgap funding measure by the deadline of midnight on Tuesday, September 30. Below are some frequently asked questions.

Will the federal shutdown impact federal student financial aid?

No, because aid funds are disbursed at the beginning of the semester. Most aid programs are approved by Congress a year in advance, so a shutdown will not impact them. 

FAFSA processing, Pell Grant and loan disbursements, loan servicing, and critical operations will continue. Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant funding is available as usual. States, schools, and other grantees will be able to access funds from recent awards. 

The Office of Federal Student Aid is retaining employees as needed to conduct rulemaking and actions as required by law.

Students will need to continue making loan payments on their outstanding student debt. However, borrowers looking for specific assistance from the U.S. Department of Education will not receive it during the government shutdown.

If you have questions about UMBC financial aid, please call 410-455-2387 or use this form to be connected with a UMBC financial aid representative.

What does the shutdown mean for immigration services for students, faculty, and staff?

Fee-funded operations of federal agencies providing immigration services generally continue during a shutdown. However, operations funded through appropriations are generally suspended.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process applications and petitions. However, processing times may be delayed particularly if an adjudication is dependent on functions performed by other agencies affected by the shutdown, or if USCIS resources are reprioritized. The E-Verify program will not be operational during the shutdown. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to operate at U.S. ports of entry.

The U.S. Department of Labor has suspended immigration functions, including the processing of labor condition applications (LCAs), prevailing wage requests, permanent labor certification (PERM), and temporary labor certification applications. 

The U.S. Department of State will continue to provide consular processing during the shutdown. This includes issuance of U.S. passports and visas as well as providing assistance to U.S. citizens abroad. Certain domestic consular operations are suspended.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue operations during the shutdown.

For immigration services questions, please reach out to the Center for Global Engagement. 

What is the impact on federally funded research projects?

The shutdown will have little to no impact on the continuance of federally funded research activities. Our institution’s research projects will proceed as usual, unless otherwise notified by the UMBC Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA).

As for our NASA research activities, the researchers at Goddard have already received detailed information from their respective leadership about continuing to follow the standard procedures they have used during previous federal government shutdowns. 

What about new grants, research proposals, or questions regarding the status of a federally funded research proposal?

A shutdown means that federal agencies cannot issue any new grants, contracts, amendments, continued funding increments, supplements, or no-cost time extensions requiring explicit prior federal awarding agency approval.

If you are planning to submit a research proposal, you will need to submit by the original deadline (unless you hear otherwise). It is important to note that the proposal review process will be delayed during the shutdown. This is because during the shutdown, most federal agency staff will not be working. Therefore, any inquiries about pending research applications, deadlines, or approvals may not receive an answer until the staff are back to work. Federal websites and other systems may also be unavailable or limited, resulting in little to no support for resolving problems or answering questions. 

If you have planned meetings, travel, or conferences with federal agencies, please check for postponements or changes beforehand.

Should you have any questions regarding federally funded research or a federally funded research proposal, please contact your applicable office in the Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA). 

What is the impact on veterans and active duty service members’ education benefits and services?

GI Bill benefits for student veterans currently enrolled and certified should not be affected by a short-term government shutdown. However, any student veteran working to obtain GI Bill benefits during or shortly after a shutdown may experience delays. 

Also, any questions or requests for assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may go unanswered due to some employees being furloughed.

During the shutdown, VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. Please note that the GI Bill hotline will be closed, regional benefits offices will be closed, and the VA will not provide veteran career counseling or transition assistance activities until the shutdown is over. The VA has posted contingency planning information and resources on its website.

As for federal tuition assistance (TA) for servicemembers, Tuition Assistance Requests (TARS) with an October 1 start date forward will be impacted until a budget or continuing resolution is approved. Soldiers whose TA requests are canceled due to the government shutdown will receive a message in ArmyIgnitED or My Education Portal.

For assistance from UMBC with VA or servicemember benefits, please call the Registrar’s office at 410-455-2500 or submit an inquiry to our certifying officials here. 

What UMBC human resources services are available to faculty and staff in need of support during this time?

The UMBC Employee Assistance Program offers free confidential counseling services, legal support and other benefits. In addition, the resources for displaced federal workers website provides services and opportunities that may be helpful.

How will the shutdown impact any UMBC students with federal internships?

UMBC students with federal internships should contact their immediate supervisor to determine how their work may be affected by the shutdown, and reach out to the UMBC Career Center to review any potential impacts of changes to their federal internship.

What will happen to faculty and staff working for federal agencies through the intragovernmental personnel act (IPA)?

Any faculty or staff with appointments at federal agencies through the IPA should reach out to their federal point of contact for additional guidance.

* * * * *

For more information about the impact of federal orders, please visit the UMBC Federal Actions Website.

Need a mid-day pick-me-up? Stop by Commons 308 today for FREE coffee from Dunkin', courtesy of GEARS! Come hang out, grab a cup, and recharge for the day. Available while supplies last or until 4 PM—don’t miss it!

Happy Friday and welcome to the second installment of the Provost Newsletter (permanent name TBD). 

Thank you to everyone who submitted potential names for the newsletter. If you have a suggestion, send it to Aaron Burnett. Don't delay in submitting your ideas as next week we'll  vote on the top three choices.

A brief recap for those who missed last week's newsletter: each week I will highlight accomplishments to be celebrated, events to attend, and examples of the great work being done by you, our faculty and staff at UMBC. If you have a person, program, or event that should be highlighted, please submit it here.

And with that, on to the show …

16 Years And Counting: UMBC Named a 'Great College to Work For'

For the 16th consecutive year UMBC has been named a "Great College to Work For" by ModernThink. More impressively, it marks the 14th consecutive year UMBC has been named to the Honor Roll as a top 10 four-year institution based on the number of categories in which the university received top marks (nine categories!). 

I find this honor particularly compelling because it is based on responses from you, our faculty and staff, concerning your personal experiences as employees at UMBC. For more than a decade-and-a-half you have built a community that supports and values inclusive excellence and I am proud to be a part of that. Way to go Retrievers!

Homecoming Kicks Off

As the days grow shorter and the evening air becomes crisp, all signs point to one of my favorite events of the year: Homecoming. Pull out your black and gold gear, turn up your school spirit to 11, and join me as we kick off Homecoming 2025. 

From choir performances to bonfires to a puppy parade, there are events for everyone. The puppy parade is one of my favorites and my dogs Winston and Emmie participated last year. Learn how you can get in the homecoming spirit here. 

Don't Miss GRIT-X Oct. 9

What happens when you ask UMBC's alumni, faculty, and graduate students about their passion for UMBC's impact in areas of research and creative achievement? You get GRIT-X, the uniquely UMBC take on the TED Talk. The ninth installment features nine speakers from across a wide spectrum of topics. Sign up now for this can't-miss event and catch up on the previous year's talks. 

DATE CHANGE: Join Me for Coffee on Thursday, Oct. 9, 10-11 AM

Mark your calendars as I'll be hosting Coffee with the Provost next Thursday from 10-11 a.m. in ITE-456. No RSVP required and all are welcome. Stop by, grab a cup, and say hello!

New Faculty Spotlights

Each week we feature the newest members of our community.

Liana Harron, Assistant Professor of Piano, Music Department

Area of Research/Interest: Piano Performance

Fun Fact about Liana: Dr. Liana Pailodze Harron, blending her Georgian heritage with an American spirit, captivates audiences with daring performances that breathe life into contemporary classical music. Praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Tim Page of The Wall Street Journal as 'smashingly effective,' her latest album with Vesna Duo mesmerized audiences, showcasing her passionate interpretations. Her artistry has graced esteemed venues across the United States and Europe, including iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the New World Center, and the United Nations.

Neha Singh, Assistant Teaching Professor, Information Systems

Areas of Research/Interest: Applied Data Science, Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Education, Responsible and ethical computing

Fun Fact about Neha: I never had pets and still do not have any.

Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so. 

Help Make this Newsletter Better

Do you have a great idea? Are you organizing an event everyone should know about? Let us know here. 

Thank you for all you do for UMBC each and every day. You are what makes this community great. 

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen