UMBC Parent Preview

President Obama has named UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski chair of the newly created President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

In addition to advising President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the commission will work closely with the newly-formed White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, which is charged with coordinating federal agencies around this critical issue and identifying best practices nationwide. The commission also will lead a national dialogue – engaging the business, philanthropic, nonprofit and education communities – on African American achievement from early childhood through adulthood.

“The nation’s future will depend heavily on the extent to which we educate all of our nation’s children. This commission will work to ensure that increasing numbers of African Americans excel academically,” President Hrabowski said.

“The work of my colleagues at UMBC has demonstrated that education in America can be both inclusive and excellent,” he said. “Our African American students study with people from all over the world and achieve at the highest levels. I am delighted that the President is again committing to the success of all students.”

The President has set the goal for America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. This new White House initiative and commission will work toward that ambitious goal, complementing an existing initiative that strengthens the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

President Hrabowski has worked extensively on national education issues, including chairing a National Academy of Sciences committee that examined minority participation in the sciences. In its final report, that committee concluded that, to remain competitive, the United States needs to significantly increase its investment in young people of all races interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

You can read more about President Hrabowski here. To learn more about the role of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans, please visit the White House website.

UMBC freshman midfielder Pat Young (Ewing, N.J./Christchurch School) has been tabbed America East Rookie of the Week for games ending April 27, 2013.

It is the second honor in a three-week span for the Retriever first-year player.

Young scored four second half goals, including the game-winner with 1:18 remaining as UMBC rallied to defeat Binghamton, 10-9 and secure a berth in the America East Tournament on Saturday. He now has a team-best 28 goals on the season, which is the tied for the third-most for a UMBC freshman in its Division I history.

Young has three game-winning goals on the campaign, including two in the final three minutes of one-goal victories vs. Stony Brook and Binghamton. He is the leading freshman scorer in conference games in America East, with 3.60 points per game- good for seventh on the complete list.

UMBC is preparing for its tenth consecutive America East Tournament appearance and will face Hartford in the first semifinal contest on Thursday, May 2. The 4:30 p.m. start will take place at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium.

Every summer, new UMBC students get a jump start on their college career by participating in the Collegiate Success Institute (CSI). During this six-week summer bridge program incoming UMBC students can earn 4 to 7 credits, ease into campus life, and discover the UMBC campus and the surrounding area. With the CSI program, first year students get a chance to experience the UMBC campus before the start of the fall semester. The whole purpose of a summer bridge is to incorporate academics, campus exploration, self discovery, and social activities to prepare students for success at UMBC. What does this mean for students participating in CSI?

-CSI students have three courses to select from and these courses are exactly what new students need and enjoy. Getting an A or two over the summer is a great confidence boost!

-Interesting on- and off-campus activities introduce CSI students to the campus and local attractions. CSI students get to know each other through these activities, a community service project, structured study time, and evening and social events. We have many adventures outside the classroom including trips to the surrounding area (Baltimore and Washington DC) and a chance to learn about the campus. There are also evening activities such as trivia and movie nights as well.

-Students in CSI continue to receive individualized support for academic and personal concerns throughout their first year at UMBC. The assistant director and peer mentors will continue to mentor and advise CSI students during the fall and spring semesters to help in any way they can.

-The CSI program includes outstanding faculty members, professional staff, undergraduate peer mentors, and other students in the program. All of these people will get to know each CSI student and support them through their transition to UMBC.