In any given semester, it is typical for a few CSST faculty members to be the primary instructors of UMBC courses. Reflective of the breadth of expertise in CSST, this has included serving as the instructor of courses in the Department of Physics; the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; and the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems. Faculty members interested in teaching should coordinate with the CSST center director with as much lead time as possible. Teaching typically covers 25% of the instructor’s effort during the semester when the teaching is taking place.
In addition to full responsibility for courses, CSST faculty members have also regularly given guest lectures, supervised independent studies and projects (for pass/fail course credit).
Finding Funding for Undergraduate Researchers
Within UMBC, there are several funding programs available for CSST faculty members to seek support for hiring undergraduate research assistants. These programs exist in part because UMBC’s graduate students are typically funded by grants, and UMBC seeks to incentivize the additional inclusion of undergraduates in research. These programs include:
Supplement for Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) – faculty members apply and receive funding to support undergraduates who are in their first four semesters at UMBC (including transfer students). This is meant to support students who aren’t yet positioned to apply for URA awards.
Federal Work Study (FWS) – FWS is a national program based on financial need which allows the university to create university jobs for FWS-eligible students.
Membership on the UMBC Graduate Faculty
Members of the CSST faculty can apply to become members of the graduate faculty. There are two types of members: associate and regular. Members of the CSST faculty are well-positioned to be initially accepted as associate members; please contact the Director of CSST if you’d like to pursue this. Being a member (associate or regular) is a prerequisite for teaching graduate level courses, advising graduate students, and serving on thesis or dissertation committees. Each degree-granting department has its own additional policies regarding how people participate in the various roles within their graduate programs. After developing a record of being involved with graduate students, associate members may apply to become regular members of the graduate faculty.