President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) - Position Profile

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY PRESIDENT Baltimore, Maryland THE SEARCH The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC or the University) seeks an inspirational, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as its next president Committed to inclusivity and innovation, UMBC is proud to be one of the fastest-growing and most diverse public research universities in the nation, with just over fifty percent of its nearly 14,000 students self-identifying as students of color The University’s vibrant campus is regarded as a new model for American higher education – a place where talented students, faculty, and staff thrive in a culture that embraces new ideas and strong shared governance The next president will work closely with the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM), its 12 partner institutions in the System, and major public and private partners in the region to sustain and expand its critical educational, scholarly, and equity-oriented work This is a pivotal moment for a community connected by a shared sense of mission and vision, and a shared commitment and dedication to “Inclusive Excellence.” After more than three decades of service, UMBC’s current president, Dr Freeman Hrabowski, has announced plans to retire at the end of the 2021-22 academic year Under President Hrabowski’s leadership, the national profile of UMBC has risen dramatically, evolving from a small school into a university with deep social impact, and one of the nation’s top producers of engineers and scientists of color His greatest legacy, perhaps, is the idea that “success is never final” – and the next president will continue to take UMBC to new heights as a regional, national, and international model for success Young and dynamic, UMBC is small enough to provide personal attention to its students, yet large enough to offer state-of-the-art facilities and the finest faculty It is home to 10,835 undergraduate students; 2,803 graduate students; 919 faculty; and 1,582 staff employees, who study and serve in its various colleges and schools: the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS); the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT); the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS); the Erickson School of Aging Studies; the Graduate School; the School of Public Policy; and the Social Work program in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work U.S News and World Report 2022 ranks University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 UMBC the #6 most innovative university and #6 top university for undergraduate teaching in the nation, and it has consistently ranked as one of the “Most Innovative” national universities and one of the nation’s leading institutions for social and economic impact UMBC also ranks among the country’s top 100 public universities in federal research support, #15 in NASA funding, and #30 in federal funding for social sciences In 2020, UMBC was honored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with its distinguished Carnegie Community Engagement classification Located in one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural, and scientific activity in the country, the University prides itself on both its national prominence and its service to the local community UMBC’s annual operating budget stands at $540.5 million, with annual research expenditures of $80 million The University is actively expanding its research footprint and visibility, building on exciting momentum At the heart of its mission, UMBC seeks to connect innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement This is a tremendous opportunity to have meaningful impact at an institution of critical importance to society In particular, UMBC seeks a leader who will: provide bold, strategic, and courageous leadership in envisioning UMBC’s future; sustain and prioritize UMBC’s culture of shared governance, transparency, and trust; advance the University’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; build on UMBC’s success to achieve national recognition as an outstanding research university; continue to generate financial resources, accelerate philanthropic success, and ensure a sustainable financial future; and promote a clear strategy and vision around undergraduate and graduate enrollment efforts that stay ahead of nationwide demographic trends The Board of Regents and the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland have engaged the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, in this recruitment effort All applications, inquiries, and nominations should be directed in confidence, as indicated at the end of this document THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY Founded in 1966, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is a mid-sized public research university in the Baltimore-Washington corridor It was the first public university in Maryland to include students of all races, and is federally designated as a minority-serving institution UMBC was established upon the land of the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples and, over time, citizens of many more Indigenous nations came to reside in the region UMBC humbly offers its respects to all past, present, and future Indigenous people connected to this place UMBC is a member of the University System of Maryland (USM) Under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, UMBC is termed a doctoral university with higher research activity The University delivers a distinctive undergraduate educational experience characterized by a strong liberal arts and sciences core, and offers graduate programs University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 emphasizing selected areas of engineering, information technology, science, public policy, and human services Most of the University’s academic programs are offered on its 500-acre main campus near Baltimore, with some programs offered at the Universities at Shady Grove campus – a distinctive partnership of nine USM institutions – in Rockville, Maryland, and select research and teaching facilities in downtown Baltimore UMBC’s education offerings span disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields in the visual and performing arts, engineering and information technology, humanities, life and physical sciences, pre-professional studies, and social sciences UMBC’s Graduate School offers 41 master’s degree programs, 24 doctoral degree programs, and 24 graduate certificate programs The Division of Professional Studies offers an array of professionally focused master’s degrees, graduate certificates, individual courses, and non-degree training programs Thirty-five new academic programs have been added since 2006, including three new departments: gender, women’s and sexuality studies; media and communication studies; and marine biotechnology When President Hrabowski arrived in 1987 as vice provost, the campus enrolled 10,000 students, fewer than half of freshmen lived on campus, and the University had less than $10 million in research funding Now, the campus is largely residential, the University enrolls almost 14,000 students, and it enjoys more than $80 million in externally funded research annually UMBC has increased its international student population, more than doubled the proportion of students from low-income households, and more than doubled its number of annual graduates – from 1,700 to nearly 3,500 UMBC is a young university with a national and international reputation for innovation and student success, particularly in STEM Times Higher Education has five times recognized UMBC as one of the world’s top 100 young universities for strong research, innovation, and an international outlook The Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and Fiske Guide to Colleges have repeatedly named UMBC a “best value” university For over a decade, The Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized UMBC as a “great college to work for.” Significantly, UMBC is the nation’s #1 producer of Black undergraduates who go on to complete a Ph.D in the natural sciences or engineering, and #1 for Black undergraduates who complete an M.D./Ph.D For more information about the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, please see the Appendix, as well as www.umbc.edu KEY PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS UMBC is no ivory tower, and community engagement plays a significant role in its values and mission Its model for a great public research university is to partner with community members, neighborhoods, and industries, and the University explicitly and strategically serves the state of Maryland UMBC’s government and industry partnerships advance entrepreneurship, workforce training, pre-K–16 education, and technology commercialization, contributing to the state’s economic development At the same time, UMBC supports pioneering, fundamental, curiosity- University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 driven research that pushes forward the boundaries of human knowledge across domains and disciplines and maintains deep connections to federal funding agencies such as the NIH, NSF, NASA, and others The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has honored UMBC with its distinguished Carnegie Community Engagement Classification This classification acknowledges UMBC faculty, staff, students, and community partners for their deep commitment to strengthening the bonds between campus and community It recognizes UMBC’s unwavering support for increasing equity in the Baltimore region and in communities nationally and internationally through work that honors existing sources of community strength, fosters investments in communities, and actively works to address disparities in health outcomes, education, and other core issues More than 130 companies and organizations (primarily in the technology, bioscience, computing, and environmental sectors) are located at the bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park, home to Maryland’s first cyber-business incubator The Park’s companies typically employ more than 100 UMBC student interns per semester and regularly partner with faculty on challenging research problems, while creating thousands of jobs and generating significant tax revenue for Baltimore County and the state UMBC recently joined the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), a national consortium dedicated to radically improving student success The pioneering consortium of public research universities boosts student success through sharing and scaling approaches that work In its first iteration, the UIA’s eleven founding institutions set a target of graduating 68,000 additional students over ten years, including half from low-income backgrounds In just six years, they have already exceeded that goal In the next phase of its work, with UMBC on board, the UIA will focus on eliminating disparities in educational outcomes based on race and ethnicity, in addition to disparities by income, first-generation college student status, gender, and geography SCHOLARSHIP, PEDAGOGY, AND IMPACT At its core, UMBC is dually dedicated to excellent pedagogy together with research impact In its latest strategic plan, UMBC has focused on innovations in teaching, learning, and student support by adding departments, courses, and more than 30 programs; improving transfer-student support; providing assistance for near-completers; and offering opportunities for real-world connections in an increased number of internships, volunteer placements, and programs in the Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship Pedagogical innovations have included redesigned courses, “flipped” classrooms, and teambased learning The Hrabowski Innovation Fund (HIF) continues to support innovations in teaching and learning that are proposed and developed by faculty and staff Since its inception, the fund has supported almost 40 instances of course redesign, novel approaches to teaching and learning, and assessment The University also recently opened the Performing Arts and University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 Humanities Building, which provides cutting-edge facilities for music, dance, and theater; renovated the Fine Arts Building, which addressed critical space shortages in both the academic and research programs; and added a new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building, UMBC’s newest building and a center for integrating life sciences research, teaching, and learning across departments and colleges On the research front, UMBC is committed to providing and increasing the infrastructure – physical, technological, financial, organizational, and cultural – that will advance research, scholarship, and creative achievement by faculty and students In FY 2020, UMBC’s external funding for research totaled more than $80 million, up from $58.5 million in FY 2005 The University’s growing research efforts are well aligned with regional and national priorities regarding environment, health, and national security In recent years, UMBC has focused on research infrastructure expansion, including the creation of a patent office, new internal seed funding and core research facilities, and institutionalization of its collaborations with the University of Maryland, Baltimore The University also launched a comprehensive researchpositioning initiative to ensure that both internal and external stakeholders are fully aware of UMBC as a research institution Under this next president, UMBC will focus on continuing to grow its research footprint, as well as increasing its national and international research visibility and recognition among peers, partners, the public, prospective graduate students, and potential new faculty hires STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACADEMICS UMBC serves 13,638 total students: 10,835 undergraduates and 2,803 graduates Of the graduate student population, 1,818 are pursuing master’s degrees, 787 are pursuing doctorates, 136 are pursing graduate certificates, and 62 are non-degree seeking students The majority of students (94 percent of undergraduates and 59 percent of graduates) come from the state of Maryland, with many from the counties immediately surrounding UMBC As of Fall 2021, percent of undergraduates and 30 percent of graduates are international students, and over 100 countries are represented in the student body The University is firmly committed to access and is a diverse and welcoming community, with over fifty percent of students self-identifying as students of color The University currently serves, as of Fall 2021 at the undergraduate level, 34.7 percent White students, 21.1 percent Black/African American, 23.3 percent Asian American, 8.9 percent Hispanic/Latinx, and 4.3 percent international Graduate students, as of Fall 2021, comprise 34 percent White, 13 percent Black/African American, 8.5 percent Asian American, 4.7 percent Hispanic/Latinx, and 34.1 percent international About 25 percent of first-year students are the first in their families to attend college Fifty-six percent of students self-identify as men and 44 percent as women, a trend that has held relatively stable over the past twenty years The liberal arts mission is core to UMBC’s identity and is infused throughout its three colleges The University offers 51 majors in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS); University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 10 majors in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT); and 11 majors in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) About 42 percent of undergraduates study in CAHSS, closely followed by 34 percent in COEIT and 20 percent in CNMS The University also offers an innovative social work program, an individualized study program, and 13 preprofessional programs designed to launch students in allied health and other professional fields, along with innovative coursework in aging services through the Erickson School UMBC has built a unique set of programs in its Honors College and prestigious scholars programs, and nurtures tight-knit communities based around specific areas of interest Programs include the Center for Women in Technology (CWIT), the Cyber Scholars program, the Humanities Scholars program, the Linehan Artist Scholars program, the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars program, and the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars program The Meyerhoff Scholars program, launched just over 30 years ago, has received particular acclaim, and leads national efforts to increase diversity among future leaders in science, engineering, technology, and related fields UMBC has made student success a campus-wide focus, particularly as it relates to retention and graduation rates UMBC’s six-year graduation rate stands at 70.2 percent, a marked increase from 55.7 percent just three decades ago The first-year undergraduate retention rate is 87 percent For the entering class of 2021, the average composite SAT score was 1316 and the average ACT score was 27.5, with an average GPA of 3.97 All of this is undergirded by a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which allows for a personalized experience and close relationships with faculty In July 2020, UMBC launched a new, innovative program dedicated to student success: Finish Line This initiative reengages former students who have left UMBC prior to completing their degrees Leveraging remote/online instruction fueled by the pandemic, Finish Line encourages them to return to resume their studies Roughly 189 students enrolled during the 2020-21 academic year, with under-represented minorities, women, and transfer students overrepresented in the Finish Line population, suggesting that the initiative is serving some of UMBC’s most vulnerable students In spring 2021, UMBC conferred 65 bachelor’s degrees to Finish Line students and, entering the second year of the program, 92 new students have enrolled STRATEGIC PLANNING UMBC receives national attention for effectiveness in linking teaching, learning, research, and technology development to advance student outcomes and the economic, social, and cultural vitality of the state and the nation This attention is in recognition of the University’s ability to deploy limited resources efficiently through an intentional strategic planning process and a clear statement of mission, vision, and goals that are widely known and shared by a broad array of campus constituencies University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 UMBC’s current strategic plan, adopted in January 2016, was developed through a comprehensive three-year planning process The plan, Our UMBC: A Strategic Plan for Advancing Excellence, occurred in parallel with the University’s most recent self-study, helping UMBC set goals for the future This plan called for inclusive excellence, which draws from diversity both as a matter of strategy and of moral commitment It also, characteristically, emphasizes innovation as a means to such excellence The primary focuses of the latest strategic plan include: collective impact in research, scholarship, and creative achievement; creation of a vibrant student experience; innovative curriculum and pedagogy; and nurturing internal and external community and connections In the last few years, much of UMBC’s focus has shifted toward crisis pandemic planning and implementation of a strategic enrollment plan The next president will be primed to reinvigorate UMBC’s strategic planning process, whether through a new strategic plan or modifications to the existing iteration FINANCES, BUDGET, AND FUNDRAISING UMBC is funded by a combination of public and private support The state of Maryland is among the most generous in the nation for higher education, and UMBC’s largest source of revenue is derived from the state appropriation, closely followed by tuition and fees Of the $540.5 million annual operating budget, 28 percent is derived from the state appropriation, 27 percent from tuition and fees, 25 percent from contracts and grants, 13 percent from auxiliary services, and percent from other sources Seventy-four percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid In recent years, the University has introduced a budgeting process that closely ties expenditures to strategic goals, while retaining the broad-based inclusiveness of the University’s shared-governance structures and processes As the University looks ahead to ensure its longevity and financial health, it must maintain affordability and access, sustain positive enrollment trends, build its research infrastructure, attract new revenue and partnerships, and increase philanthropy to build the endowment To date, UMBC has raised more than $148 million towards the $150 million goal for its Grit and Greatness campaign, launched in 2017 on the heels of the University’s 50th anniversary Much of the funds raised will go toward scholarships and fellowships, program support, and research development; 37 percent of campaign commitments and gifts have been for the endowment During this time, the endowment has doubled to more than $140 million as of August 2021, and donations from alumni have increased threefold as compared to the previous campaign The 21-member University System of Maryland Board of Regents is responsible for the governance and management of the USM and all constituent institutions, centers, and institutes The UMBC Alumni Association is a growing and global network, rooted in Maryland, and provides strategic direction and programming for the University’s 85,000 alumni More than 70 percent of alumni live in Maryland, presenting a tremendous opportunity for engagement by an empowered Advancement team University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 THE ROLE The search for the next president comes as Dr Freeman Hrabowski plans to retire in the summer of 2022 after 30 successful years as president of UMBC President Hrabowski’s impact has been transformational and positions the next leader to build upon an incredibly strong foundation The next president will join an exceptional institutional culture – one emblematic of an “empowered university” – that is ambitious, willing to take risks, and community-centric The president oversees a high-performing team that includes: the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; the vice president for administration and finance; the vice president for institutional advancement; the vice president for student affairs; the vice president for information technology; the special assistant for government relations and organizational communication; the general counsel; the chief of staff and executive director of the office of equity, inclusion, and justice; and a dotted line report of the vice president for research, who dual reports to the provost OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE PRESIDENT Provide bold, strategic, and courageous leadership in envisioning UMBC’s future UMBC has a clear sense of identity as an institution committed to educating students from all backgrounds The University seeks to redefine excellence in higher education by drawing on the power of difference to create an inclusive culture It is also a university powered by remarkable optimism and a sense of shared purpose, bound together by this “50-year-long American experiment”—one that has demonstrated that people from all backgrounds can excel in higher education UMBC is a critical partner for Baltimore and the region and will continue to connect with local business and industry for research collaborations, talent development, and community-building Over its relatively short 55-year history, UMBC has garnered extensive regional, national, and international recognitions The president will harness this energy to reinvigorate the University’s strategic plan, either by adding, revising, and adapting the existing plan or formulating a new one, to realize UMBC’s broad-based ambitions Sustain and prioritize UMBC’s culture of shared governance, transparency, and trust Shared governance is a core UMBC value UMBC’s strong culture is based on trust, and that trust is based on shared governance The president will continue to promote clear expectations for shared governance by sustaining, concretizing, and advancing that commitment This leader will foster meaningful, collaborative, and respectful relationships that span the University’s diverse constituencies, and will work toward a shared vision for the future UMBC seeks a president who will be a visible and active presence on campus, ensuring that students, staff, and faculty needs are prioritized, that all voices are heard and valued, and that the whole of the University is greater than the sum of its parts The University seeks an open, engaging, and highly communicative University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 leader who will join a deeply passionate community, and understands that everyone deserves a seat at the table Advance UMBC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice Much of UMBC’s success and national acclaim derives from its foundational commitment to equity and inclusion The next president will understand that mission and continue to invest attention, resources, and thought leadership in issues of inclusive excellence Already home to an incredibly diverse student population, the University will continue to support a diverse student body and create a strong sense of belonging The president will also prioritize expanding the diversity of the faculty, staff, and administrative leadership to better reflect the diversity of students UMBC places a high priority on continuing to raise the proportion of underrepresented minority faculty – particularly those of Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic background – across all disciplines, and on advancing the success of women faculty in STEM areas Build on UMBC’s success to achieve national recognition as an outstanding research university While UMBC has been successful in developing a national leadership position in undergraduate education and inclusive excellence, many of its potential research partners, possible future faculty members and students, and even alumni are less aware of the existing strength of UMBC’s sizable research portfolio As UMBC evolves, the president will ensure that UMBC’s research profile, plans, and highest aspirations to elevate its research status are known UMBC has made targeted investments in and commitments to its research infrastructure, with significant efforts supported by federal, state, and private sources and a heavy emphasis on cross-cutting, interdisciplinary, multi-investigator research thrusts The president will continue to augment the research infrastructure, providing ever-more-comprehensive support to research and scholarship The University will grow its scholarly profile and funded, sponsored research to achieve national prominence in selected multidisciplinary areas spanning the natural sciences and mathematics, engineering, information technology, social sciences, arts, and humanities Continue to generate financial resources for UMBC, accelerate philanthropic success, and ensure a sustainable financial future UMBC has managed its finances prudently At the same time, the UMBC community recognizes that state resources have been unable to keep pace with the University’s growth, and that a STEM education – in which over 50 percent of UMBC students take part – is costly The community has banded together to find ways to advance the University’s mission through an exceptionally strong shared governance process It is also now clear that the shortage of state resources is a long-term condition related to larger economic forces While the president will continue to be a strong voice in Annapolis, they must also dedicate significant time to fundraising and advancement efforts With ambitious plans to grow the research portfolio, while supporting continued growth and new programs that advance student success, this next chapter will require substantial resources to make bold moves University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 10 of 18 Promote a clear strategy and vision around undergraduate and graduate enrollment efforts that keep pace with nationwide demographic trends UMBC has experienced much success in its enrollment efforts The University just enrolled its largest-ever freshman class, and has seen a significant increase in graduate enrollment due to a rebound of international students and new programs in data science and computer science At the same time, the University must be cognizant of and responsive to national trends, including declining national demographics and fewer continuing students returning in a post-pandemic world UMBC developed a strategic enrollment plan in 2019, began to implement key initiatives in the beginning of 2020, and sustained this “all-hands-on-deck” effort throughout and beyond the pandemic Under this next president, the University will continue to seek an outstanding and highly diverse student body, prioritize an affordable and accessible education, and expand UMBC’s geographic reach QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The successful candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following qualifications and experience: ● A Proven Leader: A record of imaginative, forward-looking, and tangible success that will inspire the UMBC community ● A Commitment to UMBC’s Mission and Values: A powerful appreciation for the institution’s positioning as a vehicle for change and new model for American higher education, and a willingness to take risks and be bold and entrepreneurial in pursuit of this charge ● A Collaborative Leadership Style: An inclusive, empathetic, transparent, visible, and accessible leadership style that will thrive in an environment of uniquely strong shared governance ● A Catalyst for the Scholarly Enterprise: A deep understanding of the research endeavor in a top tier academic environment, and an ability to build upon UMBC’s current strengths to elevate its research excellence; ● An Excellent Communicator: The ability to both listen to and inspire students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, trustees, and external stakeholders and to energize audiences locally, nationally, and internationally about UMBC’s impact and potential ● An Experienced Manager: The ability to build strong management teams; execute large, ambitious, and fiscally responsible plans; and make difficult decisions University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 11 of 18 ● A Champion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Broad experience and a demonstrated track record of recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse students, faculty, staff, and communities ● Student-Centered Leader: A genuine interest in the lives of UMBC students, with a commitment to student well-being and success ● Values-Driven: Integrity of the highest order, a strong moral compass, emotional intelligence, humility, and good humor ● Strong Relationship Builder: The capacity to represent UMBC compellingly to donors; the skill to energize constituent groups to support and champion the entire institution; and the ability to build bridges and partner with the local community while simultaneously positioning UMBC nationally and internationally APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS The University of Maryland, Baltimore County has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search All inquiries, nominations, and applications, should be directed electronically and in confidence to: https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/S8-170 Gale Merseth, Partner Keight Tucker Kennedy, Partner Vijay Saraswat, Managing Associate Berkley Burke, Senior Associate Kendra Clifton, Search Coordinator Isaacson, Miller The University of Maryland, Baltimore County values safety, cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning, equity, and civic engagement Consistent with these principles, the UMBC does not discriminate in offering equal access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of a UMBC community member’s race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 12 of 18 APPENDIX: MORE ABOUT UMBC Shared Governance: An “Empowered University” UMBC strongly believes in the idea of an “empowered university,” a term coined by President Hrabowski UMBC facilitates academic success by cultivating an empowering institutional culture and broad leadership for innovation amongst senior leaders, administrators, staff, faculty, and students President Hrabowski argues that higher education can play a unique role in addressing the fundamental divisions in our society and economy by supporting individuals in reaching their full potential, and that an empowered university enables such change The strong shared governance model at UMBC is the key element of its empowerment, and comprises the following groups: University Steering Committee The University Steering Committee leads UMBC’s shared governance process Its members are: the president and vice presidents of the Faculty Senate, Graduate Student Association, NonExempt Staff Senate and Professional Staff Senate; the president and the speaker of the Student Government Association; and the President of UMBC, ex officio, or President’s designee The committee establishes rules ensuring the proper coordination of the five Senates, appoints ad hoc committees on shared issues, and represents the interests of the five Senates to the UMBC Administration, the USM Administration, and the Board of Regents Faculty Senate The Faculty Senate supports the success of faculty and students through its central role in the shared governance process It speaks on behalf of the faculty in regards to faculty independence, promotion, tenure, and retention; requirements for awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees; and reviews of academic departments and programs It also supports and makes recommendations regarding the establishment of policies for the research, scholarship, and creative activities that are the cornerstones of a strong university Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee The UMBC Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC) is an elected body charged with communicating adjunct needs and concerns to the campus administration, making recommendations related to adjunct professional development and working conditions, and providing advice in the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to adjunct faculty Graduate Student Association (GSA) The Graduate Student Association represents the interests and concerns of all graduate students attending UMBC, by providing them with a forum for discussions of and recommendations on matters involving graduate students and their welfare at UMBC University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 13 of 18 Non-Exempt Staff Senate (NESS) The Non-Exempt Staff Senate represents the interests and concerns of all levels of the nonexempt staff not otherwise represented by an exclusive bargaining agent; supports the administration and academic community with the knowledge, skills, and abilities of this constituency; provides a forum for discussion and recommendation on matters involving this constituency and the welfare of UMBC; and participates, in an advisory capacity, in the review and implementation of University policies Professional Staff Senate (PSS) The Professional Staff Senate represents the interests and concerns of the exempt staff at UMBC; certifies elections of members to committees as provided in the Plan of Organization; provides a forum for discussion and recommendations on matters involving exempt staff and the welfare of UMBC; reviews academic and administrative policy as it affects the exempt staff; and develops committees and acts within these committees as a vehicle to serve the membership Student Government Association (SGA) The Student Government Association promotes the recognition of students’ rights and responsibilities; individual and collective thought; student interests and needs; and school spirit and involvement It empowers the student body to defend this mission Shady Grove Campus UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove is located in Rockville, MD in the heart of Montgomery County With six undergraduate and six graduate programs that are both accessible and affordable, it offers the academic reputation of UMBC with easy access to the government agencies, contractors, and major healthcare organizations that call the area home UMBC-Shady Grove particularly serves students who have begun their studies at other two-year or four-year institutions, and allows them to complete their academic careers in the heart of Montgomery County As one of nine institutions at the Universities at Shady Grove, UMBC is part of a consortium of schools within the University System of Maryland, an arrangement which allows students to explore a wide range of outlooks and opportunities as they complete their UMBC degree Undergraduate programs include Computer Science, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, and Translational Life Science Technology Graduate programs include Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Geographic Information Systems, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Technical Management Colleges and Schools College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 14 of 18 From visual arts to economics to psychology, from ancient studies to media & communication studies, and from Asian Studies to American Studies, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) traverses many disciplines True to the liberal arts mission of UMBC, the College encourages students to ask questions fundamental to human existence: Who are we? Where have we been? What matters? Through diverse, challenging programs of study, with countless opportunities for research, creative work, internships, and other co-curricular activities, CAHSS students develop skills and knowledge that prepare them for a variety of careers and a lifetime of thoughtful citizenship and leadership in a complex world College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), like UMBC as a whole, is dedicated to research, innovation, and education The College works in partnership with state and federal agencies and industry to promote the transfer of research applications that benefit society COEIT distinguishes itself by its continued commitment to cross-disciplinary research and education It provides outstanding educational opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students to contribute to the professional workforce in engineering, computer science, and information systems College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) The College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) was established in 2005 when UMBC’s long-standing College of Arts and Sciences was reorganized into CNMS and CAHSS At that time, CNMS was comprised of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics In 2010, the Department of Marine Biotechnology, which is located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, was welcomed into CNMS as part of the reorganization of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Erickson School of Aging Studies The Erickson School of Aging Studies began with a vision to educate the next generation of leaders in the business of longevity The program – the only one of its kind in the country to combine business management, public policy, and the study of human aging – was designed to meet the real-world demand for educated, innovative leaders in the longevity market Its mission is to prepare a community of leaders who will use their education to improve society by enhancing the lives of older adults Research Initiatives STEM BUILD STEM BUILD at UMBC is an undergraduate success initiative and research study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) The overall initiative is built upon three primary cores: student University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 15 of 18 training, research enrichment, and institutional change UMBC is investigating ways to enhance the diversity and success of students who have the goal of pursuing baccalaureate degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) UMBC is one of ten lead institutions in Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD), which is one of three initiatives in the nation’s NIH Diversity Program Consortium In 2019, STEM BUILD 2.0 at UMBC was renewed at $14 million in NIH funding to focus on institutionalization of the best practices for student success developed in the first phase of the initial grant The focus of the BUILD 2.0 initiative is on lowerdivision undergraduates and the continuing goal of promoting matriculation into biomedical and behavioral research fields NASA Goddard Space Flight Center NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is home to the nation’s largest organization of scientists, engineers, and technologists who build spacecraft, instruments, and new technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system, and the universe Founded in 2006 and renewed in 2016, the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology II (CRESST II) is a partnership between NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and four universities UMBC and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) are the two primary funding recipients Recently, NASA committed $178 million to extend support for CREST II through 2027, and also committed $72 million for the new Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR II) Center The UMBC arm of the partnership, the Center for Space Sciences and Technology (CSST), has focused on offering additional training for budding space scientists Graduate students with NASA fellowships are co-advised by UMBC faculty and NASA scientists, undergraduates have internship opportunities on site at Goddard, and post-baccalaureate programs offer recent graduates a chance to gain more experience before applying to jobs or graduate school Career workshops are available to all Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) UMBC has engaged in substantial interdisciplinary efforts coordinated by the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), whose mission is to advance the understanding of the environmental, social, and economic consequences of changes to the urban landscape In 2015, CUERE teamed up with 14 other academic institutions and was awarded one of six highly integrated regional urban water sustainability hubs by the National Science Foundation The main focuses of CUERE include: pursuing research, hosting conferences and symposia, supporting university teaching programs, and providing assistance to K-12 education Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Diversity is defined at UMBC in its fullest sense, addressing not only racial and ethnic groups and individuals who have been underrepresented in higher education, but also religious affiliation, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, foreign nationality, non-traditional student status, and other characteristics UMBC has won national recognition for its diversity initiatives University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 16 of 18 for undergraduate and graduate students The University is also conscious of a growing body of research that shows substantial benefits of a diverse faculty, including the introduction of new perspectives, greater community awareness, and higher departmental rankings To reap those benefits, UMBC has significantly increased underrepresented minority group members in faculty positions and women in STEM faculty positions, and offers numerous Diversity Fellowship Programs Current equity initiatives also include: The Meyerhoff Scholars Program The Meyerhoff Scholars Program is at the forefront of efforts to increase diversity among future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and related fields The UMBC Meyerhoff family is now more than 1,600 strong, with over 1,400 alumni across the nation and 256 students enrolled at UMBC Over 800 Meyerhoff alumni have earned graduate and professional degrees, and 300 are currently pursuing graduate and professional degrees in STEM fields The UMBC ADVANCE Program The recruitment and advancement of women faculty within the STEM fields still proves to be a challenge at universities across the country Various factors, including an increased share of family obligations and fewer opportunities for mentorship and networking, continue to present barriers In 2003, UMBC ADVANCE was awarded a $3.2 million Institutional Transformation grant from the National Science Foundation Since then, the primary mission of UMBC’s ADVANCE Program has been to develop and implement policies that promote the recruitment and advancement of women faculty in STEM While the ADVANCE program primarily focuses on the needs of women faculty in the STEM fields, its benefits have been felt university-wide STRIDE Reporting to UMBC’s Committee on the Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Underrepresented Minority (URM) Faculty, the STRIDE committee is charged with providing peer education to support the efforts of search committees, departments/programs, and colleges to recruit, retain, and promote diverse faculty and foster more inclusive and equitable academic spaces The PROMISE Alliance PROMISE has a long history not just at UMBC, but through the University System of Maryland, as PROMISE was originally developed as part of a state-wide alliance through an NSF Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant PROMISE is the hub of professional development for all graduate students and postdocs at UMBC and is a part of a PROMISE network across the University System of Maryland PROMISE provides a community of learning and support from the time students arrive on campus to the next stages of their career In 2018, PROMISE received new NSF AGEP funding directed at diversifying postdoctoral scholars and University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 17 of 18 transitioning them into tenure-track faculty positions This is an effort in alliance with four other University System of Maryland institutions The Center for Women in Technology The Center for Women In Technology (CWIT) at UMBC is a merit-based scholarship program for talented undergraduates majoring in computer science, information systems, business technology administration (with a technical focus), computer engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical/biochemical/environmental engineering, or a related program at UMBC CWIT is dedicated to increasing the representation of women in engineering and information technology CWIT Scholars receive four-year scholarships ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 per academic year for in-state students, and from $10,000 – $22,000 per academic year for out-ofstate students, to cover full tuition, mandatory fees, and other expenses Each CWIT Scholar participates in special courses and activities and receives mentoring from faculty and participating members of the IT and engineering communities U-RISE at UMBC The UMBC U-RISE Program is a preeminent undergraduate research training scholarship program with the goal of increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups who pursue Ph.D degrees and research careers in the biomedical sciences This program is funded by the National Institute of General and Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of The National Institutes of Health (NIH) The program provides scholars with individualized academic advising, guided preparation for graduate school, continuous administrative support, and professional development activities to ensure a competitive edge in today’s scientific arena The success of the U-RISE Program at UMBC, and the MARC U*STAR Program that came before it, is rooted in a solid foundation of three key elements: outstanding student achievement, research mentor excellence and comprehensive administrative staff support Community Engagement The Shriver Center The Shriver Center has stood at the center of UMBC’s community engagement work for decades, preparing and connecting faculty, staff, and students from all academic programs with community partners The Shriver Center’s applied learning experiences have helped thousands of students to develop as community-minded agents of change and hundreds of partner organizations to meet their goals Center for Democracy and Civic Life The Center for Democracy and Civic Life helps people develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to create healthy communities and tackle challenges together Its work builds from University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page 18 of 18 the premise that civic life encompasses everyday settings and relationships through which people can generate the power to shape their world The Center produces, inspires, and shares innovations in civic and democratic engagement, and supports collaborative activity that helps to build thriving civic cultures at UMBC and in communities involved in the Center’s work In particular, BreakingGround is a long-standing UMBC community engagement initiative with significant impacts on and off-campus, and it now sits within the Center This initiative supports work by students, staff, and faculty to address issues they care about, as innovative coalition builders, problem solvers, and agents of social transformation Examples of projects funded by BreakingGround include environmental justice initiatives and work to improve Baltimore City’s aging water infrastructure Baltimore Traces The Baltimore Traces project, a collaborative teaching initiative in the arts and humanities, amplifies the community voices of Baltimore residents and neighborhoods through various media This key example of community-engaged teaching, which has been recognized by the National Humanities Alliance, has produced short video documentaries, a website, an interactive map, and radio programming that aired on Baltimore’s WEAA 88.9 FM Community-Based Scientific Research UMBC trains future scientists and engineers to conduct community-based research The National Science Foundation-supported Bahama Oriole Project, a collaborative research initiative with Bahamian scientists and conservationists, works to save the critically endangered Bahama Oriole An affordable infant incubator that originated in a UMBC engineering course is now in clinical trials in India and recently won the 2019 Global Health Research Award from the Academic Pediatric Association And UMBC’s Engineers Without Borders student group has taken trips to Kenya and Costa Rica, working collaboratively with local communities and local university students to improve access to clean water Local Community Initiatives UMBC is highly invested in the local community, and is recognized as a major stakeholder in the economic vitality and social development of the region Recently, the University celebrated the opening of OCA Mocha, the brainchild of students in an entrepreneurship class OCA stands for Opportunities for Community Alliances The coffee house and community activity space is located a few minutes from UMBC’s main campus and has already found success hosting UMBC and non-university groups and bringing them together in conversation Additionally, UMBC’s Education Department trains teachers and provides professional development opportunities for teachers throughout central Maryland in partnership with Maryland school districts UMBC Training Centers provides non-credit training to thousands of individuals changing careers or looking to advance their skillsets  ... end of this document THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY Founded in 1966, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is a mid-sized public research university in the Baltimore- Washington... colleges The University offers 51 majors in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS); University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 10 majors in the College of Engineering... the whole of the University is greater than the sum of its parts The University seeks an open, engaging, and highly communicative University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Page of 18 leader