We know that not every problem students face has to do with classes or studying. UMBC offers a variety of resources, offices and departments to help students bring their whole selves to campus and succeed.
The Gathering Space serves as a spiritually-centered space where students and UMBC community members can gather at the intersection of religion, faith, spirituality, and other lived experiences. The Gathering Space prioritizes individual religious practice, opportunities to explore holistic well-being connected to religion and spirituality, and creating opportunities to engage across difference, by centering the importance of interfaith work and dialogue.
The Gathering Space offers several prayer spaces on campus, hosts a variety of its own programs and events, and hosts many of UMBC’s religious and faith-based student orgs’ programs and events.
The Mosaic’s commitment is to empower all UMBC to be culturally conscious and informed members of our community. Doubling as a lounge and office space, this space is rarely empty. Guests frequently have discussions about their hot topics in pop culture, media, or sharing their personal experiences. A safe and inclusive space for all UMBC community members of all backgrounds, The Mosaic strives to develop innovative programs and initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity, equality, and social justice.
The Mosaic is a great hang out space and point of connection for students seeking belonging on campus.
The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, 2-spirit, “+” (LGBTQIA2+)-centered communal space that envisions, nurtures, and advocates for a flourishing, healthy, and inclusive LGBTQIA2+ community. We do this through connection, expression, social justice, and student leadership development-based initiatives.
The Pride Center is a great starting place for any student wanting to engage with students of similar identities, or for students seeking to ask questions or learn more.
The Women’s Center at UMBC 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 as our community value, with a deliberate focus on women, gender, anti-racism, and feminism
Not just for women and feminine-identified folk – this center offers programming for men and various other identities our students have, as well as a wealth of resources and a lounge open to all students.
Commuter and Transfer Programming offers events on-campus specific for commuting and transfer students.
If you’re a new transfer student or struggling to find friends and belonging on campus due to commuting, give their events a try!
Whether you’re a new or returning student, Veteran and Military Affiliated Services – an area within Retriever Student Support (RSS) and the Registrar’s Office – is committed to assisting service members, veterans, and dependents with services, advocacy, programming, and support to help you navigate and find community at UMBC.
This office helps students navigating things like how to use their GI bill on campus. They also center veteran and military affiliated student belonging.
Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) brings together the former University Health Services, and the Counseling Center offices 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.
RIH offers free short-term counseling for any UMBC student and assists students with finding off-campus counseling that accepts their health insurance. RIH also offers a variety of medical appointments and treatments, and they accept many health insurance plans.
The Office of Health Promotion contributes to a culture of well-being and inclusive excellence at UMBC by providing evidence-based prevention initiatives and community engagement that supports students in making well-informed decisions about their health and well-being.
OHP offers a Mind Spa as well as free menstrual and sexual health products in addition to their programming and events.
UMBC offers a range of financial aid and payment options so that all students may benefit from a UMBC education. Financial aid can come in the form of grants, work study, student loans, parent loans, scholarships and other awards.
Questions about loans or scholarships (including questions of academic standing and impact on loans or scholarships) should be directed here!
SBS is the office that bills students, collects tuition and fees and issues student refunds. We process student payments, tuition remission, military waivers and post payments to student accounts from outside agencies.
Have questions about loan disbursement or timing, or have a registration hold on your account related to tuition? This is the place to go!
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 networking events and career fairs.
If you have questions about how to get an internship or a job (either on campus or off campus) the Career Center offers general appointments as well as specific appointments tailored to your needs.
Retriever Support Services (RSS) serves as a referral source and entry point for all students, undergraduate and graduate, who experience social, basic needs, and emotional barriers to obtaining their individual and educational goals.
RSS offers three primary resources:
1. Retriever Essentials, which offers free food, toiletries, clothing, and meal swipes to students, faculty and staff2. Retriever CARE, which offers individual support to students struggling with any non-academic problems that cannot be addressed by one of the other resources or departments on campus
3. Off-campus housing resources, which can assist students living off campus with a variety of resources
UMBC Transit provides safe, reliable, responsive shuttle and charter bus services to meet the transportation needs of the UMBC community. Shuttle routes cover residential communities near campus, as well as shopping areas surrounding UMBC.
Do you know where our busses go, or how to connect to Baltimore city busses? Transit does!
Residential Life (RL) is responsible for operating and maintaining the residential facilities as well as coordinating programs and services for approximately 4,000 students who live on campus. UMBC’s Residential Life program not only provides living environments which are clean, secure, and convenient to classes, but it also provides you with growth and development opportunities.
If you’d like to live on campus or already live on campus and need assistance with a problem you’re having relating to your housing, this office can help.
Academic Advocates are dedicated to serving undergraduate degree-seeking students to assist them in resolving academic and institutional challenges that may adversely affect persistence, progression and timely completion of degree.
Your academic advocate can help solve for more than strictly academic problems – they can connect with any office on campus to get you support you may need!
UMBC’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University’s core values of inclusive excellence, equity, diversity. ECR 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.
ECR is the right place to report any experiences of sexual violence, discrimination, hate or bias that you or someone you know may have experienced. They also offer accommodations for pregnancy and other Title IX-related assistance.
The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery promotes intellectual growth and creativity by developing high quality collections, facilitating access to information resources, and furthering innovative teaching and learning. In support of the University’s mission, our Library is dedicated to diversity, social responsibility, and lifelong learning.
The AOK has more resources than you’d think! Did you know you can rent laptops, cameras and other equipment? They also have a Digital Media Lab!