National Institute for Student Success Engagement (NISS)
(Actively Engaged) Project leads: Dr. Yvette Mozie-ross and Dr. Carlos Jensen.
Through the strategic work of four dedicated workgroups, the NISS project has already led to significant improvements in our student success infrastructure. These accomplishments include: 1) Revising the SAP review process to occur each semester rather than annually which enhanced access to SAP indicators for both students and advisors to better support academic planning and recovery. 2) Establishing the Academic Advising Council to promote greater consistency and quality in advising across campus. 3) Launching the Course Outcomes Committee to monitor and address courses with high DFW rates that hinder students’ progress toward degree completion. 4) Reviewing student-facing communications to better understand how students prefer to receive information and which communication methods are most effective.6
Black Student Success Initiative (BSSI)
(Actively Engaged)Project Lead: Dr. Ronita Walker.
The UIA STARS (Students Transferring and Redefining Success) Program is a scholarship program available to entering transfer students. Program recipients receive a $1,000 scholarship ($500 per semester) for their first year at UMBC. This program employs a cohort-based model with peer mentoring/advocacy, support services and scholarships.
Work+Collective Institute
(Actively Engaged)Project Lead: Annie Bryd, James Devita, Melody Wright.
Purpose: The Work+ Working Group is a cross-campus initiative dedicated to strengthening student employment as a high-impact experience at UMBC. Bringing together partners from academic and administrative units, the group is developing a shared vision for Work+ that intentionally connects on-campus employment to career readiness, transferable skill development, and equitable access to opportunity. Through collaboration, the group is identifying strategies to better support supervisors, create meaningful reflection opportunities for students, and align student employment practices across divisions.
Listening Lab (Focus Group) Initiative
(Actively Engaged)Project Lead: Michelle Breen.
Exploring student awareness, utilization, and perceived value of career center services, we aim to identify gaps in engagement and barriers to access. The insights gathered will inform targeted strategies to enhance student outreach, increase participation, and communicate the tangible return on investment (ROI) of engaging with career services.
Work Integrated-Learning
(Actively Engaged)Project Lead: Dr. James Devita
This initiative seeks to empower students to explore, engage, and succeed in work integrated learning opportunities that lead to fulfilling career outcomes. Institutionally, the project supports the development of a scalable framework for WIL engagement and career development across disciplines, fostering a culture of collaboration and equity among all stakeholders.
Scaling Innovations In Higher Education.
(Completed project) Project Lead: Dr. Ronita Walker.
Developing a cross-sector-informed guide that integrates lessons from K-12, healthcare, and social innovation with the University
Innovation Alliance’s (UIA) real-world experience scaling innovation across 19 public research universities.
Learning Innovations Grant (Faculty Fellow)
(Completed project)Project Lead: Dr. Liz Patton.
Project object is to identify and document existing learning interventions and facilitate adoption of the best-fit intervention across additional campuses. UMBC’s Faculty Fellow Dr. Liz Patton completed a Metacognitive workshop with STARS UNIV 301 course and helped students identify their learning style. Students’ insights on UMBC resources were analyzed and evaluated.
Degree Completion Grant
(Completed project) Project Lead: Dr. Yvette Mozie-Ross.
Received a $45K grant to pilot UIA Degree Completion Grant Playbook and to explore the use of asset-based language in financial award notification. Grants awarded to students with outstanding balances preventing enrollment in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
Academic Recovery Grant Project
(Completed project) Project Lead: Dr. Delana Gregg. UIA Campus Observer.
Project objective is to pilot and study academic recovery interventions with each participating university scaling the interventions from GSU’s Accelerator Academy. Goal to decrease DFW rates in gateway courses.
University Innovation Lab
Lab Lead/ Ambassador: Dr. Ronita Walker
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- Unlimited access for UMBC faculty and staff
- A robust, growing library full of actionable resources
- Virtual workshops and interactive discussions
- Professional development opportunities, including self-paced courses
- Onboarding and support
- Access to additional UIA experiences, including learning cohorts and in person UIA-only events