Six-dollar Fridays at True Grit’s

UMBC Dining Services will be holding our last $6 Friday lunch this semester at True Grit’s on Friday, May 20. We want to thank everyone who stopped over and enjoyed a great meal at True Grit’s. We look to continue this special Friday promotion next fall with the first scheduled date Friday, September 9.

Hope to see you this Friday!

Undergraduate Commencement Volunteers Needed

From Sandra Campbell, Director of Advancement Operations, Office of Institutional Advancement

Commencement is right around the corner, and we are still in need of volunteers for the undergraduate ceremony, scheduled for 1 p.m., Monday, May 23, at 1st Mariner Arena. Transportation will be available from campus at 9:30 a.m. and we will provide lunch.

If you can help, email me at campbell@umbc.edu.

If you have questions regarding the undergraduate ceremony, contact Laura Arnwine at lmarnwine@umbc.edu or ext. 5-5897.

Thank you!

Provost Elliot Hirshman

From President Freeman Hrabowski

Join me in congratulating Provost Elliot Hirshman on his appointment to the presidency of San Diego State University. Elliot has done a superb job during his three years here, particularly leading the campus’s strategic planning process focused on building capacity for research and creative achievement, strengthening enrollment and student outcomes, advancing our commitment to the environment, and enhancing campus safety and security.

In the coming days, we will more fully recognize and celebrate Elliot’s contributions to UMBC. In the meantime, I wanted you to know that I have asked Dr. John Jeffries, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, to chair an internal search for an Interim Provost whose appointment will be effective Friday, July 1. We will provide more information about the search soon.

Again, join me in congratulating our colleague and friend, Elliot Hirshman.

To view the San Diego State University announcement, visit https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=72984.

Apply to be an Introduction to an Honors University Instructor for the 2011-2012 Academic Year

Applications are now being accepted to serve as an Introduction to an Honors University (IHU) course instructor. These one-credit Honors University seminars are offered to all new students coming to UMBC during the Fall and Spring semesters. Instructors for these courses will help new students make a successful transition to the university setting. Those interested in applying should feel comfortable in a classroom setting, be familiar with campus resources and possess a strong desire to support students in transition. Keep in mind that becoming an IHU instructor requires a significant time commitment.

For more information about what courses are offered in Fall 2011 and a link to the “New Instructor Application”, visit: http://www.umbc.edu/oue/ihu. Important: if you decide to apply, expect to attend a day long training on Wednesday, May 25, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feel free to contact Jill Randles, Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, with any questions or concerns at jrandles@umbc.edu or ext. 5-3715.

Changes to Library Hours

The Library is open for extended hours through Thursday, May 19. Beginning Friday, May 20, the Library will be on curtailed intercession and summer hours and closed on Saturdays for cost savings. Note especially that the Library will be closed Thursday, May 26 through Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day weekend. Part of the first floor will be closed for the construction on the Retriever Learning Center (RLC) beginning on Tuesday, May 31, through the end of the summer.

For a full listing of Library hours, see http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/hours/.

FY 2012 Pension Plan Reforms

From Valerie A. Thomas, Associate VP for Human Resources

The Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) has issued finalized updates related to pension plan reform. The Pension Plan Reforms chart may be reviewed on the Human Resources (HR) website at http://www.umbc.edu/hr/Benefits/index.html#Retirement. The chart reflects a general summary of the legislative changes and do not address every situation. The changes will be implemented effective July 1, 2011. The HR Department will make the necessary updates in the system to reflect the new pension requirements. Therefore, no action is required on the part of employees. In addition, these pension reforms do not affect members of the old Teachers and Employees Retirement Systems, or members of the Bifurcated Pension System.

A full outline of the legislative updates is available on the MSRA website at http://www.sra.state.md.us/. Feel free to contact Rochelle Sanders at ext. 5-3842 with questions regarding the pension plan changes.

University Health Services Converting to Electronic Health Records

Beginning Tuesday, May 17, University Health Services (UHS) at UMBC will use electronic health records. Electronic health records will streamline patient workflow throughout the facility and drastically reduce the time required to access and maintain patient records. This process will also be much friendlier on the environment, eliminating the use of paper charts.

Note that services at UHS may be a bit slower during the transition period. If you have an appointment scheduled, or you stop by UHS for a service, bear with us as we transition into this new system. If you have any additional questions about electronic health records or the transition process, call UHS at ext. 5-2542 or email uhs@umbc.edu.

Welcome Recently Hired Staff to UMBC

To our recent staff new hires and re-hires:

We are delighted you have chosen UMBC as your place of employment, and we welcome you to the campus community.

Each new employee comes to UMBC with a unique set of skills, abilities and talents. You have the opportunity to contribute directly to UMBC’s success and our primary objectives: (1) to be one of the best public research universities in the nation; (2) to be a major resource for Maryland and greater Baltimore; and (3) to create a campus community that finds enrichment in cultural and ethnic diversity.

Again, welcome to UMBC, and we hope that your experiences here are rewarding.

Clare Allen, Shriver Center
Denise Beasley, Grants & Contracts
Natasha Boyd, Shriver Center
Frances Flowers-Hipsley, Institutional Advancement
Barbara Holt, The Hilltop Institute
Aimee Howell, Grants & Contracts
Kena Jackson, Office of Enrollment Management
Amanda Kikola, MIPAR
Michelle Lovejoy, Residential Life
Sana Masood, Admissions
Sara Shannon, Human Resources
Evan Smith, Shriver Center
Julie Torchia, Shriver Center
Brenda Torney, Grants & Contracts
Towanda Williams, MIPAR

Special Commencement Information for Graduating Faculty and Staff or Their Immediate Family Members

If you, a spouse or a child are graduating this spring in the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 23, contact Fran Flowers-Hipsley in the Office of Institutional Advancement at fhipsley@umbc.edu or ext. 5-3706 as soon as possible. We will be able to offer reserved seating for up to six of your guests. We would like to hear from you so that we can plan accordingly.

Construction of New Surface Parking Lot

From Lynne C. Schaefer, Vice President for Administration and Finance

As part of our ongoing efforts to address campus parking needs, we will begin construction on an additional surface parking lot in early May. This new parking lot will be located in the area between Parking Lot #1 and Parking Lot #3 on the east side of campus inside the Hilltop Circle loop. This lot will create 121 new parking spaces.

As shared with campus governance groups, this parking will be designated for Commuter Students (Zone A). This additional parking will be an extension of Lot #1 and will be accessed from Park Road.

During the design of this project, consideration was given to the existing trees and shrubbery at this location. Discussions were conducted with the Landscape and Stewardship Committee. I am pleased to say that we will retain nine existing trees and add 18 more trees, along with over 550 plants (ornamental grasses and ground cover) as part of this project.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in August. During this period, construction activity will impact street conditions and traffic patterns in this area of campus. The contractor will provide appropriate barriers and manpower for traffic management. Everyone is urged to exercise extra care and attention while driving and walking in this area.

We look forward to the completion of this parking initiative to meet the needs of our campus community.