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SustainableUMD News
UMD Community Collaborates to Compete in BioBlitz
On May 6th, UMD students, faculty, golfers, neighbors and wildlife experts conducted a species-count at the University of Maryland Golf Course. Over 131 identifiers validated 875 observations of more than 300 species on the golf course.View Article Details for UMD Community Collaborates to Compete in BioBlitz Community Members Experience Campus Life at Maryland Day
On April 29th, the University of Maryland hosted the 25th annual Maryland Day celebration. Visitors came from across the state to interact with the activities provided through organizations like the Office of Sustainability.View Article Details for Community Members Experience Campus Life at Maryland Day Students Experience EarthFest Festivities
The Student Government Association (SGA), with support from Residence Life, the Residence Hall Association (RHA), and the Office of Sustainability presented the annual EarthFest celebration. The festival promoted campus sustainability work and allowed students to explore opportunities for involvement with the SustainableUMD Network.At the Office of Sustainability tent, students provided feedback for a free succulent. Students responded to three different prompts:View Article Details for Students Experience EarthFest Festivities Funding for the Future: Internships, Biodiversity, and more!
What do raised garden beds, insect displays, glass recycling, and sustainability internships have in common? The Sustainability Fund! Every academic year, a group of outstanding students join two staff members on the Sustainability Fund Review Committee (SFRC). With the support of the Fund Administrators, this group meticulously reviews all proposal submissions. The SFRC endorses all projects that fulfill the established criteria such as campus affiliation, innovation, an itemized budget, and plan for metrics and reporting.View Article Details for Funding for the Future: Internships, Biodiversity, and more! 
Pedaling for the SDGs: SustainableUMD’s New Outreach Bike
Zooming through campus on a new electrical assist bike, the Office of Sustainability is excited to talk about sustainability — and the SustainableUMD turtle is leading the way. In 2021, the Office of Sustainability received funding to create a mobile outreach center, now known as the SustainableUMD Outreach Bike.View Article Details for Pedaling for the SDGs: SustainableUMD’s New Outreach Bike Campus Celebrates Bike Week
April 3rd through April 7th was Bike Week at UMD. The new SustainableUMD Outreach Bike joined DOTS outside STAMP Student Union on April 3rd and the Farmers Market on April 5th to celebrate biking on campus.View Article Details for Campus Celebrates Bike Week
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.”