Author: Bob Ludwig

University of Maryland Global Campus Taps MJ Bishop to Lead New Integrative Learning Design Unit

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Nationally Recognized Scholar Joins UMGC After Leading University System of Maryland’s 
William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation 

Adelphi, Md. (May 13, 2022)—University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has announced that MJ Bishop, Ed.D., a nationally recognized scholar and leader in the design and evaluation of effective learning environments, has been named vice president of the university’s new Integrative Learning Design unit. Dr. Bishop began her new role on April 25. 

“Dr. Bishop brings three decades of experience in learning design and an established record of impact and success to UMGC,” said Blakely Pomietto, UMGC senior vice president and chief academic officer. “She has experience both in the design and evaluation of optimally effective learning environments as well as in supporting postsecondary institutions and their faculty as they explore and adopt academic innovations aimed at improving access, affordability, and achievement for students.” 

Dr. Bishop will play a significant role in continuing UMGC’s shift to a more collaborative and holistic approach to defining, designing, and solutioning for a range of learning and learner experiences. She has a long history of collaboration with UMGC and a broad and deep understanding of the institution and the higher education landscape.  

“I am excited and honored to be leading this new unit, which will bring together UMGC’s faculty, students, learning design professionals, assessment experts, and data analysts through a collaborative design process that signifies an exciting change in how we operate and what we are offering our students,” said Bishop. “We are combining the best of what we know from subject-matter experts, the learning sciences, design research, data analytics, and the affordances of emerging technologies to create and continuously improve online courses and programs.” 

In 2013, Dr. Bishop joined the University System of Maryland (USM) Office of Academic and Student Affairs as the inaugural director of the William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, subsequently serving as assistant and later associate vice chancellor and introducing new ways of thinking about student success, equity, and inclusion across the 12 USM institutions.  

Dr. Bishop began her academic career at Lehigh University’s College of Education, where she taught for 13 years in the graduate Learning Sciences and Technology program, while exploring how cognitive processing, motivation, affect, aesthetics, group structure, communication, and systems theories inform our understanding of instructional message design and research on best design practice. 

Dr. Bishop graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and English and holds a master’s degree in English from Millersville University and a doctorate in instructional design and development from Lehigh University. 

About University of Maryland Global Campus 

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.   

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education.  

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

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Tamaria Wadley Applies Her New Skills and Helps Her Fellow Teachers Adjust to Online Instruction

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Tamaria Wadley started her Master of Education in Instructional Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) just weeks before her elementary school was forced into virtual classes by the onset of COVID-19. It didn’t take long before she was in demand by fellow teachers challenged by the overnight switch to online education. 

When Wadley receives her graduate degree at UMGC’s May commencement, she will also carry an accolade from her first year at Lyles-Crouch Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia. She was named Teacher of the Year for helping her colleagues navigate the jump to online education. 

Wadley said her UMGC classes were “perfect timing.”  

One class, K Through 12 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning, taught her how to streamline online learning programs to get the most out of virtual teaching. “That’s when I got into the mindset of using the computer for enhancement, not just playing games,” she said. “That’s how I taught online when the new school year started, and my principal saw what I was doing and she told other teachers about it.” 

Wadley was just beginning her job at Lyles-Crouch and knew nearly no one after transferring from another Alexandria school, but word got around. She started receiving emails from other teachers asking for help. 

Born in Texas to a military family, Wadley had begun her college education at Howard University as a computer science major. But during her first year, she volunteered in a D.C. elementary school, teaching math and literacy skills. 

“I saw that my need was better met in elementary teaching and not computer science,” she said.  

Howard had no undergraduate education degree, so Wadley transferred to the University of Texas at San Antonio. She taught fourth grade in Houston for five years. When her family moved to Virginia, she followed and taught for a year in Prince William County and then in Alexandria City Public Schools.  

“That’s when I found my love for computers again, finding activities for students on the computer or making activities,” she said. “Teachers would come and ask me for help. I found that there’s a position where you can get paid to do that, instead of doing it for free. I set my goal to become a technology integration specialist.” 

Wadley was attracted to UMGC because that is where her mother earned a degree—at age 56—after retiring from the Air Force and working as a government contractor at Marine Corps Base Quantico. 

“With her going back to school and working full time, I said, ‘Tamaria, you can do this.’ UMGC had the exact program I wanted. I would be able to teach teachers how to use technology, which is what I wanted to do,” Wadley said. 

She started the program in January 2020. When the pandemic hit in March, she assumed the students would be gone from classes only for a couple of weeks. Once the weeks stretched and virtual teaching kicked in full time, Wadley relied on her good understanding of computers from her time at Howard. 

“The difficult part came in helping my teammates. That’s when the UMGC courses came into play,” she said. “I had to make an entire website for one of my courses, and then I sent it to my teammates, and I said, ‘You can use all of this stuff on here.’”  

The UMGC program was asynchronous, so Wadley could fit it into her schedule. Most of the professors taught in public schools, and they had plenty of practical experience. What Wadley had to learn to do as a technology administrator was to get computer information to other educators. 

She said the feedback from her UMGC professors was unparalleled. 

“It wasn’t just one and done. They gave me their phone numbers. You could text them and get instant feedback, even at 9:30 at night. Some even offered face-to-face Zoom interaction, which is great because sometimes it gets lonely only learning online,” she said. 

With her degree in hand, Wadley is ready for the next step—becoming a technology integration specialist in her school and working one-on-one with teachers to introduce programs.  

“Say a teacher is doing a math lesson on decimals, and he or she says, ‘Hey, I really want to do something fun with technology-based teaching.’ I would come up with the lesson, and then teach it to the students and to the teacher,” Wadley explained. 

As she worked her way through her UMGC courses, Wadley had help from an unexpected corner: eager fourth graders whose work samples found their way into her college courses. 

“I like to tell my students they were my guinea pigs throughout my entire time at UMGC,” she said.  

Community College of Baltimore County Partners with University of Maryland Global Campus in Dual Admission Program

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Adelphi, Md. (May 11, 2022)—Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has partnered with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) to create the Degrees to Succeed Dual Admission Program, in which students are simultaneously admitted to both CCBC and UMGC. Under the new program, those students who complete an associate degree transfer credit seamlessly toward a bachelor’s degree at UMGC. The two institutions held a signing ceremony today on the CCBC campus.

The Degrees to Succeed program complements UMGC’s existing Maryland Completion Scholarship program, which allows Maryland community college graduates to transfer to UMGC and earn a bachelor’s degree for $12,000 or less.

“We are excited to partner with UMGC to give CCBC students this wonderful opportunity to fast track their educational goals,” said CCBC President Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis. “With the dual admission program, students who graduate from CCBC will be halfway toward their bachelor’s degree, and they will have access to both colleges’ resources along the way to help them succeed.”

Benefits of dual admission include acceptance of all CCBC transfer credits; co-advising with UMGC advisors to ensure CCBC courses align with the chosen UMGC program; and access to UMGC’s lifetime career services and library resources, including research help, guides, and writing and citation tutorials.UMGC also waives the $50 application fee for undergraduate transfer students enrolled at CCBC.

“Community college students are consistently shown to be high performers, and this new program builds on a proven—and affordable—pathway for CCBC students to transfer credit and continue their progress toward a bachelor’s degree at UMGC,” said Dr. Gregory Fowler, president of UMGC. “Knowing from the start that you have already been accepted to UMGC and have a scholarship that reduces the cost of a four-year degree can provide great momentum toward completion.”

UMGC was recently recognized by U.S. News Short List as the top university in the nation for transfer students. UMGC enrolled more than 9,500 new transfers in fall 2020. Even more, it has a 100 percent acceptance rate, compared with 65 percent for higher education as a whole.

For more information or to contact an admissions counselor, visit University of Maryland Global Campus Transfer Programs (ccbcmd.edu).

About the Community College of Baltimore County (www.ccbcmd.edu)

Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, nearly 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2021 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.

About University of Maryland Global Campus 

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.   

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education.  

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

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Mike Kelly Found a Way Out, and Up

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Mike Kelly was about at rock bottom. 

Born and raised in Maryland’s Calvert County, Kelly, 32, was forced to leave Catholic University before graduation because of family financial problems. He had a lot of debt he could not repay and no degree. He decided to see what he could do without a degree and landed a position in security at UMGC. 

He liked the people, and the work was okay. But he became more and more unhappy because he could not see how he would ever be able to advance into meaningful, well-paying work without a degree. He said he had hit “a brick wall.” 

“He felt like he was in a dead-end job and everything was dead, and he didn’t know what to do,” said George Trujillo his supervisor. His attitude was beginning to affect his job. 

To make matters worse, Catholic would not release his transcript until he did something about the unpaid debt, so he could not transfer credits to work on a degree.  

And then the house he had just bought burned down, leaving him with nothing. Even his cat died. 

All he wanted, he said, was to earn enough money to support a family comfortably. 

Oddly enough, the loss of the house may have turned his life around. 

As he worked to rebuild it, he made himself his own project manager, working on all of the specs and details in the construction. 

“I ended up finding a love for project management,” he said. 

Trujillo said he talked with Kelly about what was bothering him. When he learned that Kelly was frustrated by his job but was fascinated with project management, he connected Kelly with George Theoharis, UMGC’s senior project manager, under a mentorship program designed to help employees grow in their jobs. 

Theoharis counseled him about the basics of commercial project management, which whetted his appetite even more. Since pursuing a regular degree was closed to him because he could not get the Catholic credits, he launched into a certificate program in project management. 

“I was getting A’s and absolutely loving it,” Kelly said. But he still wanted that bachelor’s degree. What to do? 

“I just came up with the idea that I would write the president of Catholic University,” he said. “I told him the whole situation of the problems with my dad’s credit, and how I just want to be able to get ahead in life. I didn’t think anything would come of it, but in a couple of days, I got an email back, and it was authorization to release my credits. I’ll be honest with you. I broke down in tears.” 

With those 60 credits, he was just a year-and-a-half away from a UMGC degree in business management, the closest bachelor’s degree that would help him in project management. 

Trujillo saw the change in Kelly’s demeanor. 

“He took off like a rocket; he started taking all kinds of classes,” he said. “And his GPA is something like 3.98.  And you just saw this whole new transformation. He was outgoing, happy and giddy about the classes.” 

With graduation approaching, Kelly already has landed a new job with a contracting firm working for the Department of Defense, doing risk assessments for the Navy. His job is to find the active and passive risks before they become a threat that would throw a project off track. The job has great potential for growth. 

Kelly praised the support he had received from UMGC’s administration from President Greg Fowler on down. 

“What I loved about them is that even in a position of higher power, they always treated us with respect, as a human being and not as another worker,” he said. “It’s one thing that can really help somebody.” 

Kelly said his story shows that people can come from most any background and still succeed in accomplishing their goals. 

“Sometimes it’s the people you least expect that can make the biggest impact,” he said. “It’s not where you come from but how hard you work.”: 

Trujillo said Kelly’s gain is UMGC’s loss. 

“I can’t wait to see him at graduation in May,” he said. “The worst part is turning over one of my best security guards. I hate losing him. But I understood 1,000 per cent.” 

University of Maryland Global Campus’s Innovative In-Person “Grad Walk” to Recognize More Than 3,600 Graduates from Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022, May 16-22

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Some 1,700 Graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 to Return for Recognition

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has announced Spring Grad Walk 2022, an innovative in-person and online experience designed to accommodate thousands of graduates and guests while protecting the health and safety of the university community.  

The UMGC Class of 2022 will be joined by graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 the week of May 16–22 for the university’s first in-person graduation celebration in more than two years. More than 3,600 graduates have registered to attend, including some 1,700 from the classes of 2020 and 2021.  

The event will take place at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, with graduates selecting from multiple time slots to cross the stage and receive individual recognition.  

Special features of Spring Grad Walk 2022 include:  

  • Each graduate’s name will be called as they cross a formal commencement stage in regalia  
      
  • Family members and friends can cheer their graduate from a viewing area directly in front of the stage  
      
  • Professional photographers will be on site to take photos as each graduate crosses the stage, along with individual and group photos before and after recognition  
      
  • Each graduate will receive a video clip of themselves crossing the stage to keep as a memento and share online  
      
  • Graduates may take photos and selfies on UMGC’s beautiful grounds and at photo stations decorated with the colors of UMGC and the state of Maryland  
      
  • Graduates can commemorate their achievements with family and friends in a special Celebration Zone, where they can meet UMGC faculty, staff, and Alumni Association representatives and purchase UMGC Alumni apparel, gear and other mementos.  

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, UMGC has conducted its commencements online to help protect the health and safety of students, guests, faculty, and staff. This year, a special website has been created for the Class of 2022 that includes an on-demand ceremony with presentations by speakers, the formal conferral of degrees by UMGC President Gregory Fowler, a keynote address from UMGC alumna Ginger Miller, and an online “Gallery of Graduates” showcasing graduates’ personalized recognition slides that can be shared via social media or e-mail.  

Graduates in the Class of 2022 have received a mailed Grad Pack containing UMGC ‘swag’ to help jump-start the festivities. They are encouraged to share their achievements with fellow graduates via social media using #UMGCGrad.  

A profile of the UMGC FY2022 graduates: 

  • Number of graduates: 13,685 
  • Average age: 35 
  • Oldest graduate: 78 
  • Youngest graduate: 19 
  • Graduates come from all 50 states, four U.S territories and 20 countries 
  • Degrees awarded: 
  • Associate: 2,426 
  • Bachelor’s: 7,278 
  • Master’s: 3,980  
  • Doctorate: 34 

UMGC also conducts graduation ceremonies for military servicemembers and dependents overseas in Germany, Japan, Korea and Guam.  

About University of Maryland Global Campus 

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.   

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education.  

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

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University System of Maryland Board of Regents Recognizes UMGC Faculty Members for Outstanding Teaching, Public Service

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Professors Celeste McCarty and Sabrina Fu, Ph.D., Honored

Adelphi, Md. (April 29, 2022)—The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents today honored 17 members of its faculty at institutions across the system–including two from University of Maryland Global Campus–with 2022 USM Regents’ Faculty Awards.

UMGC’s Celeste McCarty, professor of psychology, was honored with the “Excellence in Teaching” award, while Sabrina Fu, Ph.D., collegiate professor and program director for Environmental Science and Management, was recognized with the “Excellence in Public Service” award.

“It is a pleasure every year to recognize these outstanding faculty members,” USM Board of Regents Chair Linda R. Gooden said. “I am especially grateful for their dedication throughout the many phases of the pandemic and pleased we can plan to recognize them in person, thanks to the work our campuses have done to keep their communities safe.”

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation.

“The bedrock of the University System’s quality, its prominence, its power to transform lives and change the world is, quite simply, our faculty,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “It’s a privilege to be able to honor them and celebrate what they make possible every day—possible for each individual student and for the body of scholarship that advances our progress and deepens our humanity.”

Celeste McCarty

Professor McCarty has taught for UMGC in the U.S. and on military bases in Asia. According to her nomination, McCarty’s approach to teaching is characterized by her use of real-world examples to bring the classroom to life.  Her classroom management style is defined by her responsiveness, actively engaging with students to ensure their development, progress, and success.

Her nominating letter also notes that McCarty focuses on discussions and assignments that help develop advanced critical thinking skills, psychological and clinical skills, and sound research methodology. She helps students become good consumers of information.

McCarty has received numerous awards for her teaching, including the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Award, the highest recognition awarded at UMGC for excellence in teaching.

Dr. Sabrina Fu

According to Dr. Fu’s nomination, she is the founder and inaugural regional coordinator of the Howard County Citizens Climate Lobby chapter, where she focuses on issues related to growth and environmental science-related service. She organizes public events, meetings, and presentations, as well as opportunities to lobby public officials. She is also a coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region of Citizens’ Climate Education, where she helps to empower diverse voices to talk to Congress about solutions to address climate change. She also is a Watershed Steward for Howard County.

Dr. Fu is a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious People, Prosperity, and the Planet award, where she was recognized for using her environmental science expertise and her passion for community engagement to make the community a better place.

The USM Regents’ Faculty Awards are the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary faculty members. In addition to teaching and public service, the awards honor excellence in mentoring, research, scholarship or creative activity, and innovation.

About University of Maryland Global Campus

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.  

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education. 

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler Named to The Daily Record’s Power 30 Higher Education List for Second Consecutive Year

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Maryland’s influential newspaper for business, legal and government leaders has published its Power 30 Higher Education List for the second consecutive year, and once again UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler is among those in this prestigious group. 

“Maryland has justly earned a reputation as home to some of the finest institutions of higher education in the nation,” The Daily Record said in announcing its list. “The men and women who make up our second annual Power 30 Higher Education List are among the reasons why. They are presidents and other senior administrators leading their colleges and universities, policymakers charting a course for the future, advocates striving to improve access and equity and faculty members on the cutting edge of research and the liberal arts.” 

Fowler is a nationally recognized scholar and leader in developing innovative learning models and experiences for adult and nontraditional populations, as well as a highly sought-after speaker at national and international conferences. 

He began his tenure as president of UMGC in January 2021, and has led several major initiatives, including the implementation of a success coach model that provides each student with consistent support throughout their academic career at UMGC, that have built on the university’s deep history of innovation in serving adults in the workforce and in the military in Maryland and around the world. 

Fowler’s commitment to meeting students where they are and providing quality academic programs, as well as wrap-around services from admission to graduation and beyond, is transforming the university at a time of revolutionary change in higher education and the devastating economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on all levels of education. 

In the newspaper’s Power 30 Higher Ed profile of Fowler, he was asked to identify the most important thing he does in his job. His response: “Create an environment where our team members can remove barriers and create pathways for students to succeed who have not always had access to opportunity—which in turn can transform lives, communities, and our world.”  

Fowler was also asked if he had a significant mentor in his life, and what he learned from that person. Fowler said it wasn’t a single person. “My family as a whole has taught me to endure, accepting success and failure with grace and humility,” he said.

This list was chosen by the newspaper’s editorial team, who also reached out to readers and others for input and perspective. According to the newspaper, they “explored how these leaders view the higher education landscape, how it now exists and what it may look like in the future. And we’ve tried to provide a glimpse into the kind of people they are, what drives them to excel, to serve, to teach.”

University of Maryland Global Campus and College of Lake County Establish Transfer Agreement to Accelerate Pathway to a Bachelor’s Degree

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Adelphi, Md. (April 28, 2022)—University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and the College of Lake County in Illinois (CLC), a community college located in suburban Chicago, have announced a partnership that will expand the reach of UMGC’s 90 online academic programs and increase the affordability of a bachelor’s degree to CLC’s 14,000 students.

Under the alliance’s transfer agreement, students can transfer a minimum of 60 credits when they complete an associate’s degree and be guaranteed admission to a UMGC bachelor’s degree program in a complementary field of study.

“Our partnerships with four-year colleges help students continue their educational journey,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “Online programs like UMGC allow students to stay in Lake County and give them the flexibility they need to set their own time for learning. UMCG’s commitment to military students aligns with College of Lake County’s focus on the veteran student population.”

All degree-seeking CLC students, graduates, and employees of the college, as well as their spouses and dependents who attend the college, will receive a waiver of the UMGC application fee and a discount on out-of-state tuition for most programs of study.

“We are extremely proud to join with College of Lake County to increase access to quality online bachelor’s programs and accelerate the pathway to a four-year degree,” said Gregory Fowler, president of UMGC. “It is critical to provide a seamless process for community college students to ultimately achieve their educational goals as efficiently and affordably as possible.”

UMGC has an enrollment of some 90,000 students, more than half of whom are active-duty military personnel and their families serving on military bases around the world. CLC offers veteran student services that provides individualized care to maximize the use of qualifying benefits and credits for military experience and training.

UMGC offers award-winning online programs in disciplines including biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, and information technology that are in high demand in today’s increasingly technical, global workplace. UMGC also offers cost savings through its use of digital resources, which have replaced costly publisher textbooks in most courses.

For more information, visit the university’s national community college alliances webpage.

About University of Maryland Global Campus

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.  

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education. 

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

About College of Lake County

College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. More than 70,000 students graduated with degrees and certificates since the college opened in 1969. College of Lake County is the only higher-education institution ranked among the top 15 best places to work in Illinois by Forbes and is a national leader in many areas, including sustainability and conservation.

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UMGC Academic Integrity Initiatives Honored with UPCEA Award for Excellence in Advancing Student Success 

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Leading Association for Professional, Continuing and Online Education Recognizes
UMGC’s Efforts to Support a Culture of Academic Integrity and Accountability 

Adelphi, Md. (April 27, 2022)—UPCEA (the University Professional and Continuing Education Association)—the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education—announced that University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was recognized with the UPCEA Award for Excellence in Advancing Student Success for supporting a culture of academic integrity and accountability. 

“UMGC’s holistic approach to creating a culture supportive of academic integrity is a great source of pride,” said Blakely Pomietto, the university’s senior vice president and chief academic officer. “Our developmental approach, which focuses on building skills that are applicable academically and to the practice of professional ethics in the workplace, is a direct extension of our open access mission and our commitment to accountability and workforce readiness. 

“The team in our Office of Academic Integrity and Accountability exemplifies UMGC’s learner-centric focus and supports our efforts to keep students engaged and progressing toward their academic and professional goals,” added Pomietto. “I am so proud to see their work recognized on a national stage.” 

Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members’ outstanding contributions to the Association and the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications and many other areas. 

UMGC was honored at the 2022 UPCEA Annual Conference, held April 11–14 in Orlando, Florida. 

“The exceptional submissions for this year’s awards exemplify the breadth and depth of the impact our members continue to make on higher education,” said Tanya Vincent, program manager for Online Student Services at Western Kentucky University and co-chair of the UPCEA Awards Committee. “We congratulate and recognize each of this year’s recipients for the myriad ways they serve today’s learners and the online and professional continuing education field.” 
 
About University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) 

UPCEA is the leading association for online and professional continuing education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. The association supports its members with innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Learn more at upcea.edu. 

About University of Maryland Global Campus 

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.  

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education. 

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

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UMGC to Participate in Federal Government Virtual Education & Professional Development Symposium, May 5

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UMGC to Present Session on Careers in Contract Management

Adelphi, Md. (April 21, 2002)—As part of Public Service Recognition Week, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is teaming up with members of the Federal Academic Alliance to host the 4th biannual Federal Government Virtual Education & Professional Development Symposium on May 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT.

Among the symposium’s presentations, UMGC will host a session entitled: “Contract Managers are in Demand: Is it the Right Career Choice for you?”

The federal government community, including military servicemembers and their spouses, will have the opportunity to meet representatives from UMGC and other Federal Academic Alliance schools to learn how to take advantage of available education benefits. There is no cost to attend.

For more information about the symposium and to register, visit fedgovedfair.vfairs.com.

Key objectives of the symposium include:

  • Informing federal employees and their families about the benefits available through the Federal Academic Alliance
  • Providing a wide array of presentations that directly corresponds to the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management’s mission critical occupations and leadership development directives
  • Providing professional development and learning opportunities through forums and workshops
  • Supporting career pathways for Federal employees by providing information on how to obtain college degrees/certificates and/or college credit from an institution that best meets their academic needs

UMGC will have representatives available to discuss the university’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online programs, as well as its discounted tuition program with OPM. UMGC also offers cost savings through its use of digital resources, which have replaced costly publisher textbooks in most courses.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) created the Federal Academic Alliance in 2014 to assist the federal government in addressing critical skills gaps. UMGC was a founding member of the alliance, which offers higher educational opportunities to the federal workforce by providing current federal employees with the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education at reduced tuition rates. Today, the alliance has grown to include 26 colleges and universities from across the country. Each of these schools offers unique benefits to federal employees, spouses, and dependents to advance their education.

About University of Maryland Global Campus

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations. 

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education.

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at more than 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans.

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