Each Fall semester, UMBC holds an opening ceremony known as Convocation. Faculty, staff, and students are all invited to attend. The incoming freshman participate in a processional along Academic Row to the Retriever Activities Center (RAC) for the…
The first homecoming celebration at UMBC was held in February 1976, after several false starts in the years preceding. The 1976 event included the Almost Anything Goes tournament, where student organizations competed against each other for prizes; a…
In 1970, the Office of Residential Life was created at UMBC. The university's first residence hall, called Dorm I but now known as Susquehanna Hall, also opened to students that year. Susquehanna was followed by the openings of Dorm II (Chesapeake…
In 1970, the Office of Residential Life was created at UMBC. The university's first residence hall, called Dorm I but now known as Susquehanna Hall, also opened to students that year. Susquehanna was followed by the openings of Dorm II (Chesapeake…
In 1970, the Office of Residential Life was created at UMBC. The university's first residence hall, called Dorm I but now known as Susquehanna Hall, also opened to students that year. Susquehanna was followed by the openings of Dorm II (Chesapeake…
Places where students could socialize were limited during the early years of the campus. One popular location in 1971 was the Rathskeller, which was located in the basement of Hillcrest Building. The Ratt was a popular location that served alcohol on…
UMBC celebrated the first Quadmania on Saturday September 19, 1981, and it has since become a treasured campus tradition. Part concert, part carnival, Quadmania has been UMBC’s main social event ever since for students, alumni, and the surrounding…
In 1986, UMBC commissioned alumna Paulette Raye ‘87, philosophy, to create a bronze-cast model of the Retriever for the school’s 20th anniversary. Raye worked in a studio at Towson University, using a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Nitty Gritty as…
The Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award was established in 1988 to honor an alumnus or alumna who had achieved national recognition in his or her field. The first award was presented to Dr. Winston Griner ‘74, biological sciences, for his…
Each Fall semester, UMBC holds an opening ceremony known as Convocation. Faculty, staff, and students are all invited to attend. The incoming freshman participate in a processional along Academic Row to the Retriever Activities Center (RAC) for the…