Welcome to UMBC.
We’re so glad you are here!
The Division of Student Affairs departmental staff and students deliver the many programs and activities designed to enhance your experience outside of the classroom while supporting your academic work.
The diversity of our student organizations, all supported by the Student Government Association, reflects the many varied interests of our students and contributes to an exciting campus life. Students at UMBC are involved in everything from cultural and academic clubs, intellectual sports, service organizations and political groups to social fraternities and sororities, arts groups, dance clubs and martial arts. This is a great opportunity to make friends and just have fun too!
Your well-being matters, and we believe that well-being includes physical, mental, and spiritual health. Student Affairs and our campus partners work together to make sure you feel healthy, welcome, and cared for – from Retriever Integrated Health to Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Recreation to the Women’s Center, and more.
These are just a sampling of the many activities, organizations, resources, and opportunities that await you at UMBC. We encourage you to take full advantage to become engaged with your UMBC; these are the things that will make your educational experience exceptional. Again, congratulations on your acceptance. We look forward to seeing you this year.
UMBC Division of Student Affairs
First Things First
Questions You Didn't Know
You Had
MAIL LETTER OR PACKAGE... Campus Card & Mail Services on the first floor of the University Center.
BUY A TICKET TO AN ON CAMPUS EVENT... You can purchase tickets at tickets.umbc.edu
PRINT MY HOMEWORK... commonvision Print and Design Center on the third floor of The Commons has the cheapest printing on campus. You can also print from your device using Pharos MobilePrint at the library, Engineering, or in The Commons.
CHANGE MY MAJOR... The Registrar Sherman Hall – B Wing – 2nd Floor.
BUY LAUNDRY DETERGENT... The Yum Shoppe and Outtakes in True Grit’s both sell laundry supplies.
BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR MY CLASSES... The ground floor of The Bookstore offers materials for a variety of classes.
FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS… Check out the UMBC Event Calendar daily to find information on lectures, concerts, visual arts programs, athletic events, recreation and leisure activities, performing arts events, community celebrations, and so much more!
RUN ON THE TREADMILL OR LIFT WEIGHTS... The RAC offers a number of cardio machines, fitness classes, and has a fully equipped weight room. There are also basketball courts available for recreational use.
Life at UMBC
Want to get involved?
There are countless ways to get involved at UMBC. We have over 250 student organizations including religious and ethnic clubs, groups for a myriad of hobbies and sports, career and professional organizations, service and volunteer oriented groups, as well as 20 Fraternity and Sorority chapters. Make sure you attend Involvement Fest at the beginning of each semester so you can get to know some of the organizations you may be interested in joining. In addition, OCSS hosts events specifically for commuter and transfer students. You can find a list of all the student organizations on campus on the Campus Life website.
“The best choice I made at UMBC was living on campus and getting involved. Being part of different, clubs, organization, and working on campus really help me integrate myself into the fabric of the community and expanded my support structure for the moments when I needed help the most!”
-Arooj Rana, ‘06
UMBC Student Events Board
Did you know that (seb) hosts an event almost every single day of the semester? The Student Events Board plans tons of campus events, including live music, movie nights, trips, and more, because hey, we all need a break from studying sooner or later, right? (seb) is comprised of students just like you, and we work together to plan events that we’d want to go to ourselves.
Hungry?
Find out where to eat with Chartwells Dine On Campus!
MEAL PLANS
Meal plans are available for all students, faculty, staff, and parents. There are a variety of meal plans available. Visit Chartwells daily for updated menu options and hours.
OFF-CAMPUS LOCAL MERCHANTS
Several local vendors will accept the UMBC campus card as a method of payment using Retriever Dollars and Food Fund accounts.
Sorrento of Arbutus – 5401 East Drive – 0.6 miles
OCA Mocha – 5410 East Drive – 0.5 miles
Papa Johns – 1407A Sulphur Spring Road – 0.7 miles.
Martha’s Cafe – 5507 Oregon Ave. – 0.5 miles.
Papa John’s is the only off-campus merchant accepting Flex for payment.
YUM SHOPPE
Located on the ground floor of the UMBC Bookstore in The Commons, the Yum Shoppe provides affordable quick meal options including fresh sandwiches, a large ethnic food section, healthy food and vegan options, and a variety of snacks!
RETRIEVER ESSENTIALS
Retriever Essentials is a faculty, staff, and student partnership to tackle food insecurity in our university community. Students can access healthy foods and other essential supplies, free of charge. Paired with these resources are opportunities for UMBC community members to offer support through volunteering and financial donations.
Places to Know
Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery
The Albin O. Kuhn library includes a variety of study spaces, including the 24-hour Retriever Learning Center with comfortable, mobile furniture so that students can design their own study spaces, and movable whiteboards and large monitors.
The Albin O. Kuhn Gallery serves as one of the principal art galleries in the region. Items from the Special Collections Department, as well as art and artifacts from all over the world are displayed in challenging and informative exhibitions for the University community and the public. Moreover, traveling exhibitions are occasionally presented, and the Gallery also sends some of its exhibits throughout the state and nation. You may bring classes to the Gallery any time it is open and by appointment.
All gender single and multi-use restrooms are available across campus, including the residential community.
Center for Art Design and Visual Culture (CADVC)
The CADVC is located on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building. The CADVC is a non-profit organization dedicated to organizing comprehensive exhibitions, the publication of catalogs, CDs, DVDs and books on the arts, and educational and community outreach projects. All events held in the CADVC are free and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated.
Need a paper printed for class? commonvision has the cheapest printing on campus! But wait! They can do much more than just print essays. They can print posters, booklets, brochures, banners, flyers, business cards, tickets, and more. Plus student organizations can take advantage of the graphic designer’s and animator’s skills to create advertisements and promotions for their organization.
The Gameroom is located on the second floor of The Commons and offers billiards, foosball, board games, table tennis, video games, and snacks all for a very low price (board games are free!) For $5, Rewards Club members receive free entry to all Gameroom tournaments by presenting their card and get half-price play on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Gameroom is also a great venue for events!
The Mind Spa is a space curated to help you relax, improve concentration and memory, and be a successful student. It is equipped for the practice of mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, and overall self-care.
The Joseph Beuys Sculpture Park and Rock Garden is a great spot to relax under the shade of the oak trees and listen to the birds. This has been a great thinking spot for UMBC students for years. There is a journal hidden under one of the benches for anyone who finds it to write in. The entries are archived by the CADVC.
The Special Collections department collects materials of enduring historical and cultural value. Their diverse collections include a wide variety of formats such as rare books, photographs, manuscripts, archives, audio and visual recordings, digital items and artifacts. Some classes require you to visit here for special essays and papers. They are available for research use on site by all.
The UMBC Bookstore carries almost all of the textbooks required by professors in all subject matters. You can order online or go in person. At the end of the semester you can even return used textbooks for cash! The bookstore also has school supplies and awesome UMBC apparel and gear.
UMBC’s Police Department provides police service 24 hours a day throughout the year. The Police Department is located across the staff parking lot from the Performing Arts and Humanities Building. The Police staff includes sworn police officers, communications specialists, and student marshals. UMBC Police officers respond to criminal offenses, service requests, complaints, and other safety issues on campus.
The Women’s Center advances gender equity from an intersectional feminist perspective through co-curricular programming, support services, and advocacy for marginalized individuals and communities. We prioritize critical social justice with a deliberate focus on women, gender, anti-racism, and feminism. All are welcome as long as they respect women. Their experiences. Their stories. Their potential. Located on the ground floor of The Commons.
Need Extra Help?
Have you ever felt like you were falling behind in a class? No matter what academic issue you’re having, UMBC has an answer. Below is a list of different ways you can get help with homework, papers, course material, and test prep.
The Academic Success Center is dedicated to helping students reach their potential with a UMBC degree. We provide centralized support services to all undergraduate students at UMBC. Through a coordinated approach and an unwavering commitment to student success, the Academic Success Center fosters a welcoming environment that provides a one-stop opportunity through Academic Policy, Academic Learning Resources, and Academic Advocacy for students to achieve their academic goals and claim their future with a UMBC degree.
The Academic Success Center offers tutoring in most first and second level courses. The Math and Science Tutoring Center is available for drop-in math and science tutoring. The Writing Center is available by appointment for writing help in any UMBC course. Appointment Tutoring is also available for many UMBC courses.
SI PASS utilizes peer assisted study sessions to provide regularly scheduled review sessions in difficult academic courses.
“The Writing Center really makes you take a step back and go through your thought process rather than just fixing typos. It has really helped me become a stronger writer.”
Beyond Campus
We encourage our UMBC community to explore beyond campus by visiting our neighboring communities of Arbutus and Catonsville as well as Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
Getting around Retriever Town!
Many local businesses in Arbutus and Catonsville have special deals for UMBC students and families throughout the year and are accessible via UMBC Transit.
Division of Student Affairs
Our mission is to facilitate learning and prepare students for success in our multicultural and increasingly global society and workforce.
We accomplish our mission by:
providing and co-creating programs, services, systems, facilities and safe environments that foster learning and personal development.
collaborating with and facilitating relationships between students and among students, faculty, staff, and others from the university and community to integrate curricular and co-curricular experiences.
leveraging the expertise within student affairs to assist faculty, staff, and students in areas of strength such as interpersonal and cultural competence; civic engagement, community, and leadership development; work force and career development; public health and safety.
Division of Student Affairs Departments
Campus Life at UMBC significantly shapes the student experience. From getting involved in campus events to joining student organizations, from exploring diverse cultures to learning about spiritual practices, from shaping new leaders to serving local communities, from fraternity and sorority bonds to Student Government board meetings – students create their Campus Life. Students are the reason for it, they make it happen, and they create it with their passions, ideas, dialogues, and programs. Through involvement in the countless student activities, students have the opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and engage in learning opportunities that complement their academic experiences.
The UMBC Career Center aims to empower all students and graduates to create their own success stories. Our team of talented and dedicated professionals are here to help you explore your career options, weigh decisions, and gain experience through internships, co-ops, and research positions. We will also connect you to employers seeking to hire UMBC talent through on-campus networking events and career fairs.
There are dozens of resume workshops, job fairs, networking events, and other career building opportunities offered each semester. Make sure you are checking events.umbc.edu or the Career Center’s website to stay up to date.
Center for Democracy and Civic Life
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life helps people develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to create healthy communities and tackle challenges together.
The Center creates programs that expose participants to civic ideas and practices, inspire them with visions for community building and social change, and help them forge interpersonal connections.
Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging
Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) helps faculty, staff, and students develop the knowledge, awareness, and skills to cultivate an inclusive and social justice oriented campus community.
Through three identity-based spaces: The Mosaic, The Pride Centers, and The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, i3b affirms and celebrates the multiple, diverse, and intersecting identities of marginalized students and the wider campus community. i3b works collaboratively towards co-creating systemic, group, and individual change rooted in radical love and belonging.
Using public health approaches and strategies, the Office of Health Promotion contributes to a culture of well-being at UMBC by providing evidence-informed education, resources, skills, and support that are responsive to the needs of our community. We help foster a campus community that supports and empowers individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices at UMBC and beyond.
Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS)
The primary goal of OCSS is to offer ongoing services, programs, academic and social support, and educational opportunities to help off-campus students successfully navigate UMBC and life after college.
OCSS offers off-campus housing tours and partners with a number of local apartment complexes. OCSS also connects you with a roommate and assists with navigating housing policies.
The commuter gold card can be purchased at the OCSS desk in The Commons. The Commuter Gold Card entitles you to breakfast at good morning commuters and other additional benefits.
Residential Life is responsible for operating and maintaining the residential facilities as well as coordinating programs and services for the students who live on campus.
Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) brings together health services and counseling to work in a collaborative, holistic approach to support your well-being and success. Our team is committed to providing the UMBC community with high-quality services, support, and resources. RIH is an interdisciplinary team that includes our administrative staff members and a variety of healthcare professionals, representing disciplines of acupuncture, dietetics, health education, massage, nursing, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, counseling, and social work.
Student Conduct and Community Standards
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards supports the University’s dedication to student success and its educational purposes and goals by publishing, enforcing, drafting and interpreting standards of student behavior and related policies and procedures; facilitates student and community development and ethical growth opportunities promoting personal integrity, civility, self-responsibility, citizenship and appreciation for diversity; works to maintain a safe and productive environment supporting the University’s educational purpose and the students’ educational goals; and promotes the privileges and responsibilities associated with a student’s affiliation with the University.
If you need to get somewhere but you don’t have a car, or you just want to be more environmentally conscious and take public transportation, chances are UMBC’s shuttle or charter bus system can get you there. Shuttle routes cover residential communities near campus, as well as shopping areas surrounding UMBC. Bus schedules and maps are updated throughout the year.
The Commons
YOUR STUDENT UNION
Hungry? Bored? Tired? Need a place to study? Hang out? Meet new people? Get involved? The Commons is the answer to all of your questions. Sometimes referred to as the “Family Room” of campus, this is a place where people can gather together for lunch, a study session, a club meeting, or just hang out and relax. Below is a floor by floor listing of all the resources found in The Commons.
GROUND FLOOR
1ST FLOOR & LOBBY
Campus Information Center (CIC)
Lower Flat Tuesdays
Main Street
Main Street Lounge
Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS)
OUTSIDE
The Breezeway
The Terrace
The Quad
MEZZANINE & 2ND FLOOR
Center for Democracy and Civic Life
Student Org Space
Sports Zone
Student Government Association (SGA)
3RD FLOOR
commonvision, UMBC Design and Print Center and Student Affairs Creative Services
Conference Rooms
Fireside Lounge
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
Office of the VP of Student Affairs
The Skylight Room
Policies
SMOKE FREE CAMPUS
CLEAN AIR. CLEAN CAMPUS.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UMBC CAMPUS SMOKING POLICY:
University enforcement personnel will be issuing written warnings. Smoking outside designated smoking areas will result in a $50 fine. E-Cigarettes are not permitted indoors.
Enforcement is everyone’s responsibility. If you see someone smoking on campus please politely inform them of the policy. If you do not feel comfortable approaching someone violating the policy, we ask that you report the incident.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT and other related misconduct
UMBC’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University’s core values of inclusive excellence, equity, and diversity. OEI has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX as well as other civil rights issues, including discrimination, harassment, hate, and bias.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION POLICY
ACADEMICS
UMBC's academic regulations govern such issues as academic status, academic conduct, registration activities, and the handling of University records. The University assumes that all students have read and understand the policies and procedures discussed in the catalogs and the schedule of classes.
Integrity lies at the heart of the academic endeavor. The Undergraduate Student Academic Conduct Policy defines and strives to ensure academic integrity at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
Questions or need help?
Access frequently asked questions, submit a request, or connect with a department by visiting the myUMBC help page.
