Check out Dr. Jarrell’s column about UMB benefits and read about student, faculty, and staff achievements; upcoming events; and news stories such as an employee celebrating 60 years of service.
To see previous editions of The President’s Message newsletter, go to the archives page on the Office of the President website.
President’s Column: The Benefits of Being at UMB
I often talk about the environment at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and how it is collaborative, inspires discovery and innovation, and includes people who care about each other as they live by UMB’s core values.
That environment exists because of the great people working here and the dedicated students who come here to pursue their passions. It is an honor to be your president, and I hope that you know how much I appreciate you. I also hope that you are taking advantage of the many benefits available to you as an employee of UMB.
I have taken advantage of using my annual leave to take some time off this summer — I hope you have, too. UMB’s generous benefits package for employees not only includes state of Maryland health plans and retirement accounts, but also generous leave time. But those are not the only benefits I am talking about.
Have you been thinking about your next degree or certificate? UMB offers tuition remission at University System of Maryland (USM) institutions. Eligible employees as well as dependents can take advantage of this program. All regular full-time faculty/staff employed at least 50 percent are eligible for tuition remission for up to eight credits per semester at any USM institution or reciprocal institution (Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College), excluding the MD and DDS programs at UMB. Part-time faculty and staff may receive tuition remission in proportion to their full-time equivalent.
There are many non-degree opportunities to improve your sense of leadership, accomplish professional goals, and explore new skill sets. In addition to self-paced learning courses through Percipio (UMB's learning management system), there are instructor-led workshops and several cohort programs for professional development appropriate for various roles and career stages. You can visit the Employee Learning and Development webpage to find opportunities that might interest you.
UMB also has a robust homebuying assistance program called Live Near Your Work, where UMB will contribute $16,000 per eligible participant toward a down payment and closing costs for homes in the West Baltimore neighborhoods of Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Harlem Park, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, Union Square, and Upton. Employees must live in the home for five years from the date of settlement to encourage long-term commitment to the neighborhoods. The program has awarded over $1 million to UMB employees.
If you are not looking for real estate or a new degree, there are still many benefits, perks, and discounts available to you as an UMB employee. Those include discounts at Lexington Market, transit benefits, shopping discounts, and even discounts on tickets to shows at the Hippodrome Theatre.
I hope that you take advantage of the many benefits of working at UMB! I also hope that you are enjoying the summer and taking some well-earned time with friends and family — the best benefit of all!
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
Laurels
See our monthly roundup of student, faculty, and staff achievements.
New Hires
See a list of new hires at UMB central administration and our seven schools.
News and Notes
William Groh, who has been a police officer and security officer at UMB since 1964, mans the front desk of UMB Police and Public Safety’s Pine Street Annex.
William Groh: 60 Years and Counting at UMB: In June, Police and Public Safety celebrated the remarkable service milestone of security officer William Groh, whose tenure at UMB began in 1964. “He is just a great person. ... I’ve learned a lot from him. He has absolutely been a model for how you act as a man, as a police officer, and as a security officer,” said assistant chief Tonya Bell.
Third Cohort Graduates from UMB CURE Scholars Program: The ceremony marks the students’ journey from hopeful sixth-graders to confident young scholars, ready to embark on their college careers. “Your dedication to CURE has prepared you for the exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,” said program executive director Yolanda Langhorne, EdD, MS.
Juneteenth Jubilee Brings Joy and Unity to UMB: The University celebrated its fourth annual Juneteenth Jubilee Community Day on June 13, honoring the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and creating a safe and joy-filled space for the local community to come together.
UMB Taking Action to Improve Campus Safety: The safety plan is well underway and includes training or reforms in seven areas including emergency and crisis communications, crisis services, active assailant recovery, and more.
Thriving at UMB: As part of its commitment to employees, Human Resource Services wants to help you discover and access all of UMB’s exceptional benefits, perks, and discounts — some of which you may have never heard of — that are tailored to enhance your professional and personal life.
“The Pulse” Podcast: The latest episode features snippets from the Class of 2024 graduation keynote speakers, including U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson, United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin.
Proud to Work Here, Proud to Give Here Campaign: June 30 marked the end of UMB’s sixth annual employee giving campaign, which featured 625 participants who supported numerous areas across the University with their generous donations.
Welcoming Our Clean Campus Ambassadors: This Environmental Services (EVS) team is tasked with helping to enhance the look, feel, and vibrancy of UMB’s outdoor spaces. “The goal was making sure we were keeping our exterior spaces as clean and healthy as our interior spaces,” said Denise Meyer, director, EVS.
The Clean Campus Ambassadors team was formed in 2023 to focus on maintaining UMB’s outdoor spaces.
Upcoming Events
Through July 28: 1807 Issue 5 Gallery: All members of the UMB community are invited to visit the Weise Gallery at the Health Sciences and Human Services Library to see an exhibition of artwork from the milestone fifth edition of UMB’s art and literary journal, 1807. Visitors will see a variety of different types of art, including photography, paintings, images of varied and visual arts, and the written word.
Through Aug. 22: Summer Fun on Eutaw: UMB’s EMBRACE Initiative has set up a family-friendly station next to Lexington Market to offer local community members fun activities and to highlight available resources on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is being held to improve efforts to engage the surrounding communities in well-deserved summer fun and to highlight available resources.
Aug. 6: National Night Out: Join UMB Police and Public Safety and the UMB Community Engagement Center for National Night Out. This annual community-building event includes free food, entertainment, resources, giveaways, and more.
Save the Date
The Fall Kick-Off concludes with the Campus Involvement Fair, held on the School of Nursing lawn.
Sept. 9-13: Fall Kick-Off: The Division of Student Affairs invites new and returning students from all seven UMB schools to celebrate the start of the academic year by eating local food, meeting new friends, engaging in inclusive conversations, and discovering valuable campus resources.
Sept. 9: State of EDI at UMB Convening of Schools: This event will feature the School of Graduate Studies, Francis King Carey School of Law, and School of Medicine giving a summary of the state of equity, diversity, and inclusion in their schools.
Sept. 12: Faculty Convocation: To celebrate the new academic year, UMB hosts an annual convocation that features speeches from faculty members and recognition of the newest Distinguished University Professors. The event will start at 10 a.m. at Koester’s Lot, in front of the Saratoga Building.
Oct. 7-8: Middle States Town Halls: UMB’s Middle States Accreditation self-study report draft will be discussed in two town halls designed to allow the UMB community to provide feedback — in person Oct. 7 at the SMC Campus Center and a virtual session Oct. 8.
Oct. 14-17: Founders Week: This year’s recognition of UMB’s founding will feature the Awards Recognition and Reception event, Student Cookout, and Staff Luncheon, plus a celebration of the Community Engagement Center’s 10th anniversary and a groundbreaking for the new School of Social Work building.
Video of the Month
The Community Engagement Center leads a 45-minute community walk on Tuesdays where UMB community members and city residents can meet fellow neighbors and explore West Baltimore.