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SustainableUMD News
Celebrating Decades of Progress at Campus Sustainability Month
Every October marks Campus Sustainability Month where colleges celebrate sustainability on their campuses. On Thursday, October 17th, the Office of Sustainability hosted a Campus Sustainability Month Celebration at Hornbake Plaza in conjunction with UMD Homecoming Week and partnering with the Depart...View Article Details for Celebrating Decades of Progress at Campus Sustainability Month 
Since 2018, Student Concern for the Environment has Increased
Last week, the The Campus Assessment Working Group (CAWG) published a report on Sustainability Culture Among First-Year Students from a 2023 survey administered to first-year students. CAWG partnered with the Office of Sustainability to develop questions that gauge students’ concerns about climate c...View Article Details for Since 2018, Student Concern for the Environment has Increased Green Chapter Dumpster Painting
Have you ever noticed colorful murals on the dumpsters throughout campus?As part of the Office of Sustainability’s Green Chapter program, fraternities and sororities at the University of Maryland are given the opportunity to participate in the annual dumpster painting event, which is sponsored by Fa...View Article Details for Green Chapter Dumpster Painting EarthFest Fun on McKeldin Mall
The Office of Sustainability attended EarthFest on McKeldin Mall to celebrate Earth Day and engage with the campus community. EarthFest is put on annually by SGA’s Sustainability Committee. For 2024, the event was held on Friday, April 19th, on McKeldin Mall from 11am-3pm. The Office of Sustainabili...View Article Details for EarthFest Fun on McKeldin Mall Plant Giveaway and Pot Painting at the Farmers Market
The Office of Sustainability participated in the Farmers Market on 4/17 to host events for students, faculty, and staff.For the student activity, students were provided terracotta pots of different sizes that they could decorate for future usage like potting a plant. There were a wide range of creat...View Article Details for Plant Giveaway and Pot Painting at the Farmers Market Informative Sustainability Career Panel Held
The Office of Sustainability put on a Sustainability Career Panel with three alumni of the University of Maryland, College Park. This event brought together a culmination of careers in the field of sustainability that helped show students different avenues that can be taken when looking for a future...View Article Details for Informative Sustainability Career Panel Held
Feature Stories
Feature stories highlight multi-year collaborative projects and visually explore the resulting improvements and opportunities for a more resilient and sustainable campus. Written by Office of Sustainability staff in partnership with the SustainableUMD Network, these stories celebrate the success of interdisciplinary efforts around campus.
Small Fee, Big Impact
T. Brinks & V. Maneval/ Mar. 4, 2026
The Sustainability Fund, a student-driven grant program, has shaped campus sustainability operations and education for 15 years.
Transportation at the Intersection of Sustainability, Safety, and Learning
N. Pilsbury / May 9, 2025
UMD's Dept. of Transportation Services has a long-standing commitments to accessible and sustainable transportation opportunities
Growing Gardens from Grants
C. Gallagher / Dec. 15, 2023
A $30,000 grant from the Sustainability Fund helps the Community Learning Garden grow to support learning, community, and food security at the university.
10-Years of Sustainable Food
C. Lundquist & E. Hightower / Nov 02, 2022
UMD’s award-winning Dining Services program has served as a leader for sustainability initiatives on campus for over a decade. Green Dining programs aim to educate the community while progressing UMD's carbon neutrality goal.
Measuring Campus Forest Carbon
E. Hightower / Oct 12, 2022
Forests and other green spaces provide important benefits to mental and physical health, education, and campus operations. Students and researchers at UMD partner to better understand forest carbon sequestration and flux.
A Year in Review: 2020-2021
E. Hightower / Mar 25, 2022
The University continues to strive for excellence in climate action, aiming to achieve the visions embodied in campus, community, and global sustainability goals. The 2020 calendar year highlights the University’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and climate action even as financial and social challenges mounted with the impacts of the global pandemic.
Building a Sustainable Future
S. DeLeon / Nov 18, 2020
At the local scale, UMD and partners in government and business are guiding future planning with a deep commitment to “smart growth.”