Travel Reimbursement Rates

Effective July 1, 2011, the reimbursement rate for the use of a personal vehicle on authorized university business is .555/mile. The travel/miscellaneous expense form has been updated to reflect this change. The per diem rate for meals remains at $42/day and the breakdown is as follows:

$8.00 – Breakfast
$10.00 – Lunch
$24.00 – Dinner

Financial Services Authorized Signature Forms for FY 2012

In order to better serve the campus and maintain internal controls to ensure against unauthorized purchases and expenses, Financial Services is requesting that all departments update their authorized signature forms. The authorized signature forms are necessary to validate approvals for the payment of goods and services via payment request forms, working fund and petty cash, and for the processing and payment of miscellaneous and travel expenses. The form can be found on the Financial Services website at umbc.edu/FinancialServices under “What’s New?”

Please forward your completed forms to Peggy Ingle, supervisor, Business Services, 306 Administration Building, by August 19, 2011. If you have any questions concerning this request, please contact Ms. Ingle at ext. 5-2316 or pingle@umbc.edu. Outdated signature forms result in unnecessary delays in processing your important financial transactions, so please provide your updated form as soon as possible.

Space Still Available for All Remaining Weeks of UMBC’s Summer Day Camp

Visit us at www.umbc.edu/athletics/Recreation/DayCamp for more details.

Decorated Player and Coach Ray Martin Added to Men’s Basketball Staff

Ray Martin has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at UMBC, head coach Randy Monroe announced today.

Martin has spent over three decades in the coaching profession and comes to the Retriever program after a four-year stint as an assistant coach and assistant head coach at North Carolina Central University.

Read the complete press release on umbcretrievers.com.

Roadwork on 695 to Begin This Summer

Beginning later this summer, the State Highway Administration (SHA) will be replace the 55-year old bridge carrying the four northbound lanes of I-695 (Beltway Inner Loop) over Wilkens Avenue (MD 372).

Additional work includes upgrading roadway lighting in the interchange area to enhance safety, adding lighting under the bridge and widening a small portion of Wilkens Avenue for bicycle compatibility. During construction, SHA will close and detour ramps from the Inner Loop of I-695 to Wilkens Avenue. However, all four existing through lanes on the I-695 Inner Loop, two existing through lanes on Wilkens Avenue and access from I-695 to Wilkens Avenue within the interchange will be maintained at peak travel times. Construction will continue through 2012.

The SHA will hold an informal meeting to discuss the project and answer any questions. The details of the meeting are as follows:

When: Wednesday, July 13, 5:30-7 p.m. Citizens may arrive at any time to view project display boards at their own pace and speak with project representatives; there is no formal presentation.

Where: Halethorpe Elementary School Cafeteria, 4300 Maple Avenue, Baltimore MD 21227

Why: The I-695 Inner Loop bridge over Wilkens Avenue, built in 1956 and widened in 1963, is one of several bridges that SHA is addressing under its interstate system preservation program. Most of the bridges along I-695 are more than 50 years old, dating back to the original construction of the Baltimore Beltway. SHA is replacing the Charles Street bridge over I-695, the I-695 Inner and Outer Loop bridges over Liberty Road and the Frederick Road bridge over I-695. SHA replaced the I-695 Outer Loop bridge over Wilkens Avenue in 2004 as part of its project to widen the Outer Loop to four lanes. The new Inner Loop bridge will have the same design and appearance as the 2004 Outer Loop bridge.

The SHA’s website is www.roads.maryland.gov.

Appointment of Acting Dean, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

From Philip Rous, Interim Provost

I am pleased to announce that Bill LaCourse has agreed to serve as Acting Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, effective July 1, 2011. Dr. LaCourse will serve in this capacity until the search for the Interim Dean of CNMS is completed.

I would like to thank Dr. LaCourse for his willingness to support the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences by serving in such an important role during this transitional period.

Temporary Power Outages in Four Buildings at 2:30 p.m. Today (Friday, July 1)

From Terry Cook, Associate Vice President, Administration and Finance

During a periodic maintenance check, Facilities Management staff discovered the need to repair a transformer leak. This effort requires power to be shut down beginning at 2:30 p.m. today (Friday, July 1) in the following buildings:

• Math/Psychology – 30 minute outage
• Administration – 3 hour outage
• Sondheim – 3 hour outage
• RAC – 3 hour outage

Staff in these four buildings ONLY are granted administrative leave after critical work is completed as determined by the supervisor. Departments in these buildings in need of special support from Facilities Management may call Rusty Postlewate, assistant vice president for Facilities Management, at 443-610-6542.

Interim Dean, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

From Philip Rous, Interim Provost

Applications are invited for the position of Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) at UMBC. The Interim Dean serves as the chief academic officer of CNMS, directing the management and business functions of the college, and working with the chairs, faculty and staff of its five departments to promote their undergraduate, graduate and research programs.

The Interim Dean will lead a college with strong enrollments, a productive faculty and staff, a cadre of excellent undergraduate and graduate students, a strong research enterprise and growing ties to external supporters. The Interim Dean will need strong fiscal management skills, a commitment to strategic planning, familiarity with UMBC’s traditions of shared governance, the ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, department chairs and senior university leaders, an understanding of methods for advancing educational and research programs including raising public and private support. The Interim Dean will face specific challenges including ensuring the college’s financial stability; managing enrollments to ensure high quality educational experiences; developing clear criteria for faculty hiring that consider the inter-related factors of departmental needs, faculty retirements, space and start-up funding; supporting the development of research infrastructure; and increasing graduate student support. The Dean reports to the Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and is a member of the university’s leadership team.

Candidates for the position must be tenured full professors in CNMS. Candidates should posses a strong record of teaching, research, and external funding that demonstrates academic excellence, as well as strong credentials in managing academic affairs. Desired qualities include a collaborative leadership style; a strong commitment to undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral education, and faculty research; an ability to work with faculty across the disciplines and with other senior administrators; and a commitment to diversity.

Applications should include a letter of interest, a 2-3 page statement of the candidate’s understanding of the role of the Interim Dean and the challenges facing the college, and a current curriculum vitae in the UMBC format. Applications should be submitted electronically to Cathy Allison, Office of the Vice President for Research (allison@umbc.edu) no later than noon on Friday, July 15, 2011. The search committee will be chaired by the Vice President for Research, Dr. Geoff Summers.

It is anticipated that the appointment will begin on August 1, 2011.

UMBC IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Ed Stephenson Named Associate Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach

Ed Stephenson has been named associate head men’s lacrosse coach at UMBC, head coach Don Zimmerman announced.

Stephenson, who served as the head coach at Binghamton University since the program’s inception in 2001 until March of 2011, returns to Baltimore, where he was the first full-time assistant coach for the Retrievers from 1995-2000.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have Ed Stephenson return to UMBC,” Zimmerman said. “Coach Stephenson is a person of principle and strong character. He has proven himself to be one of the top defensive minds in the game of lacrosse and is admired and respected by his colleagues. His ability to relate to players both on and off the field is invaluable to their growth and development.”

Read the release at umbcretrievers.com.

Sarah Gardenghi Appointed Interim Director of English Language Institute

Sarah Gardenghi has been appointed Interim Director of the UMBC English Language Institute (ELI) effective August 1, 2011. She will replace Rebekah de Wit, who is leaving the ELI on that date.

Sarah has over 13 years’ experience in higher education, at Towson University, UMBC Training Centers and UMBC Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS). She served as Assistant Director for student services at the ELI since 2002, and most recently was appointed as Assistant Director for professional programs with CPS in 2011. Sarah’s colleagues at UMBC often comment on her passion for the work of the ELI, and for its students in particular. Her strong administrative, program development and educational background will be an asset to the ELI and the division.