UMBC Receives BRAC Higher Education Investment Fund Grant

UMBC has received a grant from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Higher Education Investment Fund. The grant money will support the development of courses in UMBC’s Engineering Management and Electrical Engineering master’s programs that will assist the needs of professionals relocating to Aberdeen and Fort Meade.

UMBC has received a grant from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Higher Education Investment Fund. The grant money will support the development of courses in UMBC’s Engineering Management and Electrical Engineering master’s programs that will assist the needs of professionals relocating to Aberdeen and Fort Meade.
Vice Provost for Continuing and Professional Studies John Martello said, “This grant will enable UMBC to meaningfully respond to BRAC workforce needs, and will usefully extend our reach and reputation in areas of critical need through our professional master’s programs in Engineering Management and Electrical Engineering.”
UMBC will enhance two existing degree programs in order to respond to BRAC workforce needs:
*M.S. and Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management: In order to provide convenience for working students, reduce commuting time and increase classroom capacity, UMBC will convert five graduate courses to a hybrid format. Four of the five courses comprise a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management that will have broad appeal with a variety of technical or engineering managers at Fort Meade and Aberdeen. All of these courses also transfer into UMBC’s Engineering Management master’s program.
*M.S. in Electrical Engineering: Based on feedback from a series of focus groups with engineering CEOs and managers in organizations moving to Fort Meade and Aberdeen, UMBC will develop four new graduate courses in electrical engineering that are responsive to workforce needs. These new courses will become part of UMBC’s existing M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and four of the courses will comprise a new graduate certificate.
“Congratulations go to Chris Morris, director of new program development in Continuing and Professional Studies and lead author and Co-PI on the project, as well as our colleagues in the College of Engineering and Information Technology,” added Martello. “We are very proud to have been selected, and we are grateful for the leadership and collaboration on the part of the Provost, Dean’s Council and faculty who contributed to this effort, particularly Charles Nicholas, professor and chair of computer science and electrical engineering; Ted Foster, assistant dean, College of Engineering and Information Technology; and Charles LaBerge, instructor, computer science and electrical engineering.”