If you manage a myUMBC group, you've probably noticed some things look a little different lately. We've been working on a big round of improvements to the editor and groups experience, and I wanted to walk you through what changed and why. There's a lot here, so I'll try to keep it organized. A Much Better Editor The most visible change is the editor itself. We replaced the old one with a modern...
We've made some changes to how featured images work for posts and events. Here's what's new. What's new Thumbnails are now called Featured Images. The field has been renamed to better reflect what it actually does. It's the primary image representing your content across the site and in email, not just a small thumbnail. Three crop previews when uploading. When you upload a featured image, you'll...
Key Takeaways from this Update Deadline Extension: The federal digital accessibility mandate is now April 26, 2027. No Slowdown: Our project timeline and phase goals remain unchanged. Phase 2 Kickoff: We begin reaching out to Phase 2 site admins next week. The "90 Score" Myth: A Silktide score of 90 is a great start, but it only covers about 40.8% of total WCAG AA barriers. The federal mandate...
If senior Kayla Nemirovsky’s passport could talk, the first thing it would likely say is, “I’m tired.” Despite having local roots, first attending Mount Hebron High School in nearby Ellicott City and then continuing her academic career 10 miles away at UMBC, Nemirovsky has always felt most at home on a plane. She has visited over 30 (!) countries with no signs of stopping her travel now. Thanks...
We've just published a rundown of everything that's new in the myUMBC groups editor, and there's a lot. Scheduling posts, archiving content, a preview step before you publish, a better editor, and more. It's worth a read: myUMBC Groups: We Heard You and We've Been Busy As always, if you run into anything or have questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
A Keynote Presentation · Join us on Friday, May 1st, for this dedicated day to honor the voices, contributions, and vibrant cultures of our immigrant community members who make UMBC feel like home. Keynote Speaker: Anna Lapera; "Through Story, The Root is Not Far" Anna Lapera teaches middle school by day and writes stories about girls stepping into their power in the early hours of the morning. Her debut novel, Mani...
Learn about the latest updates & features in Ultra courses · Join this 50-minute session to learn what's new in grading, assessment, engagement, groups management, and content creation in Ultra courses for SU2026, including recent spring updates and what's in development for Ultra courses. Stay after for Q&A and demo. This session is ideal for instructors who want to catch up on new features. This session will be facilitated by Dr. Mariann Hawken, Director...
UMBC is transitioning its digital credentialing platform from Parchment Digital Badges (formerly Canvas Credentials/Badgr) to Accredible. This move supports continued growth in microcredentials while expanding how learners can access, share, and build on their achievements over time. While the platform is changing, the impact for most users should be minimal. Existing badges remain valid, and the...
Dear UMBC Community, In just a few short weeks, we will come together to celebrate the achievements of our graduates. Each year, we invite Commencement speakers who reflect the values of our institution and the possibilities before our students. I am excited to introduce the voices who will help mark this important moment. Please watch this video to learn more about our 2026 Commencement...
Hello everyone, I hope you've are enjoying the Spring/Fall/Winter weather this month. Has anyone seen two packages addressed to Pavan Pancholi in the Dean of Student Office? Amazon says they were delivered April 8th and 9th, however, nothing has shown up. Thank you for any information you can provide!
Inside DOIE is a monthly series that introduces the faces in the Division of Institutional Equity. This project is an opportunity for our campus community to get to know the team. Role within the Division: Assistant Director, Student Disability Services How long have you been at UMBC? 16 years at UMBC/SDS, part of DOIE for about 2 years. How would you describe your role within the Division of...
The Lipitz Lecture with Dr. Erle Ellis · The Lipitz Lecture Erle Ellis, PhD. Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Systems, UMBC The endless drumbeat of planetary doom isn’t working – it’s even getting in the way. We can indeed make a better future for all life on this planet, but only by more effectively engaging our growing capabilities to shape and sustain nature for the better, from nature kinship to environmental...
What gives you energy? It is a simple question that is so profound and important. For me, conversations with faculty, staff, students, and alumni often have me in awe (although after almost two years at UMBC I now expect to be amazed by the creativity and innovation of our community). On Tuesday evening, I attended an Alumni Hilltop Society event including a panel discussion on AI. The panel, led...
Dear UMBC Community, It is hard to believe that we are more than halfway through April and a little more than a month away from spring Commencement! I know that everyone has been hard at work inside and outside the classroom, on campus and off, and I see in so many ways the fruits of your labor. One recent example was the outstanding news that four UMBC students have been named Barry Goldwater...
Read the UMBC News story here: https://umbc.edu/stories/undergraduate-research-urcad-at-30/ UMBC gets ready to celebrate 30 years of its signature undergraduate research extravaganza Published: Apr 20, 2026 By: Catherine Meyers The band Fever Dream will perform at URCAD. (Photo courtesy of April Householder) On April 22, more than 450 student presenters and their friends, mentors, and supporters...
Jon us for a fun night of puzzles and prizes! · Want to have some fun before finals? Join us for our Capture the Flag game night on Thursday, April 30th, from 7pm to 9pm in ITE 231. WiCyS is excited to host a "Cryptothon" Capture the Flag-style event where players will solve beginner-friendly cybersecurity puzzles and win prizes. Cyber expert or not, all are welcome! Players will be competing for Airpods, gaming keybord, and a portable...
The Circulation/DML department is pleased to announce the following additions to our collection: the GoPro HERO13, the Rode Wireless GO II microphone kit + adapter, the Acer USB hub, and the Uni SD card reader. You can request these models--and many more--through our Equipment Holds Page. They are also available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Digital Media Lab on the 2nd floor. (Note:...
There's no more food in Commons 308, thank you to those that came by.
Updates provided by the President Strategic Planning The University Steering Committee (USC) and shared governance leaders are participating. The goal is to offer participation opportunities through many modalities, including surveys (campus-wide survey closes on April 17). The five pillars of the plan came from 22 hours of Bold Conversations listening sessions, not from senior leaders creating...
ARE YOU READY TO ROCK THE RAC???? 3:00-4:00pm on the RAC Stage- URCAD headliner... Fever Dream UMBC rock band featuring: Dr. Jeffrey Lieps (Professor, Biological Sciences) Dr. Stephen Caruso (Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences) Ryan Bacon (6th year PhD student in Biological Sciences) Elana Frazier (1st year PhD student in Biological Sciences) Ginevra Imberti (Biochemistry undergraduate...
