Parking Permits for Upcoming Academic Year

Parking permits for the upcoming academic year go on sale Wednesday, August 10. Eligible faculty/staff currently enrolled in the parking payroll deduction program will automatically be issued a new permit and it will be mailed to you at your campus department in August.

The faculty/staff parking permit annual cost in FY2012 remains $260 for a non-gated permit and $340 for a gated permit. All permits are handled through Parking Services. Permits are assigned to a vehicle(s). Vehicle registration (Parking Account Management) and parking rules & regulations are available online at my.umbc.edu/go/parking. Contact Parking Services with questions
at ext. 5-2551 parking@umbc.edu.

For Faculty/Staff, there are two (2) parking zone designations as follows: for non-gated permit holders the zone is ‘D-Purple’ and for gated permit holders the zone is ‘E-Purple’. Gated permit holders will continue to be assigned to a specific parking lot/garage. You will receive a UMBC Parking Map brochure with your permit which illustrates the parking zones by color/letter designation. The modified zone parking for the summer will end on Friday, August 26.

The new permits may be displayed immediately and must be displayed as of Thursday, September 1. Gated permit holders will continue to use their current visor-card with their new ‘E-Purple’ permit.

Permit purchase through parking payroll deduction: Eligible employees who wish to initiate participation in the payroll deduction program may sign up at Parking Services from August 10-23. Payroll deduction enrollment will be accepted for new employees only within two weeks of their hire date from August 24, 2011 to February 21, 2012. Payroll deduction will begin with checks dated September 1, 2011 and continue through checks dated May 24, 2012. The bi-weekly payroll deduction will be $13 for permit and $17 for a gated permit. Permit purchase by check or currency: Purchase your permit at Parking Services. You will need to provide your UMBC ID or driver’s license. Permit purchase by credit card or ACH: Purchase your permit online at:
my.umbc.edu/go/parking. Your permit will be mailed to the address on file. We accept American Express, MasterCard and Discover cards online only.

Faculty and staff who have outstanding debts to UMBC will be required to satisfy them before they can purchase new parking permits. The replacement cost for lost/stolen/misplaced permits and/or visor-cards is $25. All permit replacements are purchased at Parking Services with payment of check or currency. Refunds will not be issued for parking permit fees.

Blackboard Drop-in Sessions (8/22-9/9)

DoIT is offering drop-in Blackboard sessions to assist and help faculty prepare for the fall semester. View the schedule here.

DoIT IT Support Changes: Help Desk and AV Moving

Starting this summer, there will be a number of significant changes occurring in the way DoIT provides support to the campus community. The driver for this change is the new Retriever Learning Center (RLC) that will be opening in the Library this fall. The RLC will have a significant technology component and will provide 24-hour space for students. As part of this DoIT is making significant changes to our Helpdesk and establishing a student-focused unit named the Technology Support Center adjacent to the RLC.

This is one of the most exciting and important initiatives for students that has occurred on campus. So, to support the RLC, DoIT will be making the following changes.

First, we are renaming the Help Desk to be called the Technology Support Center, which will be located next to the RLC. This change is primarily designed to provide walk-up support of students, though faculty & staff are welcome, too. Managed by Jamie Harrison, the TSC will work closely with the Library to proactively meet student technology support needs in a much more visible location.

Second, we encourage all students, faculty and staff to search, request and track technical support using the myUMBC Help menu or directly at http://my.umbc.edu/help. In moving student technology support to the Library we will only have two, remaining full-time staff (distributed in the Engineering Bldg.) who are available for faculty-staff support issues. We are exploring possible collaboration with other functional offices, Departmental IT (DIT) support staff, as well as a way faculty might be able to request specially-trained students for one-on-one instructional technology assistance. All DoIT support groups will continue to monitor the primary 5-3838 technical support phone number, however given potential challenges in our capacity to respond immediately, we are working to improve the myUMBC Help interface so you can find, request and track your tech support needs in one location.

Third, to make certain that the technology classrooms in Engineering are properly supported we will be moving the Audio Visual (AV) services group from Academic IV-A 204 to Engineering 020. In addition to continuing to deliver mobile technology carts from this location, AV will oversee support for the computer classrooms in Engineering, including openings and closings.

Finally, to streamline management we are realigning the DoIT organization so that all three of these groups will be under the Instructional Technology and New Media unit led by Asst. VP John Fritz. As with any change, we know there will be some issues that will arise that we need to address. We are committed to working with the campus to make this a success and appreciate your patience while we make this change. If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please email them to John (fritz@umbc.edu) or myself (jack@umbc.edu).

Hybrid Learning Faculty Presentations (8/18)

Presentations by faculty participating in the Fall 2011 Alternative Delivery Program will take place on Thursday, August 18, noon-1 p.m., in ENGR 023.

Please consider attending and listening to the innovative techniques Katie Birger (PHED) will be using in her redesigned hybrid course (International Field Research) co-taught with Mary Stuart (HAPP). Cookies and beverages will be provided; feel free to bring your lunch.

For registration information, visit my.umbc.edu/groups/doit-hybrid/events/7225.

Engaging the Millennial Learner (8/25)

“Engaging the Millennial Learner” will be held Thursday, August 25, 1-4 p.m. in Commons 331, with lunch at 12:30 p.m.

What factors influence student motivation and desire to learn? Obviously, there are some influences beyond the professor’s control, but research in educational psychology suggests that one thing we can do to increase student engagement is to create learning environments that are in some ways linked to, and supportive of, the current student culture.

During this participatory session, we will briefly review the literature regarding the culture of the Millennial student and apply the findings of the presenter’s research regarding Millennial student culture. Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in activities that will require them to reflect on their own teaching methods and/or institutional practices.

For further information, email fdc@umbc.edu or call ext. 5-3916. To sign up, go to umbc.edu/fdc.

Men’s Soccer on Fox Soccer

For the second consecutive season, UMBC men’s soccer will be featured on the NSCAA’s “College Game of the Week” on Fox Soccer.

The Retrievers will host the New Hampshire Wildcats, Friday, October 14, at 7 p.m., as one of twelve men’s collegiate matches on Fox Soccer.

The rematch of the 2010 America East Conference title game will be UMBC’s second consecutive home game as part of the NSCAA’s package. The Retrievers hosted Boston University at UMBC Stadium on October 15, 2010, and drew a record crowd of 2,781.

This contest will take place on the plush Bermuda grass surface at the newly-renamed Retriever Soccer Park.

UMBC will be celebrating its Homecoming activities from October 12-15, and this men’s soccer clash will highlight the weekend festivities.

From Pat Lewis, Student Business Services: Thank You

From Pat Lewis, Student Business Services

To my UMBC family,

I would like to thank all of you for your outpouring of support, contributions and prayers regarding my daughter Sharee’s recent tragedy. Thank God her loss was only material things and not the loss of life.

It is heartwarming to know that in bad times like these, people can be so generous.

I cannot thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart.

Blessings to you all,

Pat Lewis
Student Business Services

Campus Jobs Fair (8/30)

All campus departments are invited to participate in the Campus Jobs Fair, Tuesday, August 30, noon-2 p.m. in the UC Ballroom. This annual Welcome Week event is a great opportunity to recruit student workers from UMBC’s diverse and competent pool of students. The Campus Jobs Fair is brought to you by the Welcome Week Committee and Career Services Center.

Register on the web at careers.umbc.edu/faculty/cjf2011reg.php. Deadline to register for this free event is Friday, August 19. If you have any questions, contact Caroline Coronado at carolc@umbc.edu or ext. 5-3975.

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.

• Joshua Cole, Center for Urban Environmentall Researcj and Education
• Edward Stephenson, Physical Education
• Mark Jarzynski, Imaging Research Center
• Dominic Merritt, Mail Services
• Justin Scott, Mail Services
• Jacqueline Aliotta, University Commons
• Shari Cain, Shriver Center
• Ray Martin, Intercollegiate Sports Administration
• Jeremy Tiedt, Intercollegiate Sports Administration
• Eric Newton, Intercollegiate Sports Administration
• Raevynn Ashley Williams, Shriver Center

Appointment of Interim Dean, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

From Philip Rous, Interim Provost

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. William R. LaCourse as UMBC’s Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), effective August 1, 2011. Dr. LaCourse’s appointment concludes an internal search begun in early July. I am extremely grateful for the outstanding service of the members of the search committee that was chaired by Dr. Geoffrey Summers, Vice President for Research.

Dr. LaCourse joined the UMBC community in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, holds the rank of Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry, and served most recently as Chair (2008-2011) of the department.

During the past nineteen years, Dr. LaCourse has established an exemplary record of leadership and service to advancing the mission of the University and the College. He played a founding role in the development and implementation of the Chemistry Discovery Center that has become a model of innovation in pedagogy at UMBC and across the nation. He has also played a leadership role in the Kauffman Entrepreneurship Initiative, which has served to infuse entrepreneurship across the disciplines. He also introduced a Chemistry Minor program and a BA in Chemistry Education. Dr. LaCourse’s research interests include basic and applied research on hydrodynamic electroanalytical techniques in liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis, adsorption phenomena at noble metal electrodes, and advanced sample preparation techniques. The results of his interdisciplinary research have been published extensively, including a sole-authored book and two issued patents.

The Interim Dean serves as the chief academic officer of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, directing the management and business functions of the college, and working with the chairs, faculty, and staff of its departments and centers to promote their undergraduate, graduate, and research programs. As Interim Dean, Dr. LaCourse 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 constituencies. The Interim Dean reports to the Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and is a member of the university’s leadership team.

On behalf of our faculty, students, and staff I would like to thank Dr. LaCourse for his willingness to serve our community in this new capacity to bring his experience and skills to the position of Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.