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Office of Sustainability
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Measuring Progress
How to Use Tableau Carbon Footprint Carbon Offsets Education for Sustainability Local and Global Impact Smart Growth Sustainable Water Use Waste Minimization Progress Summary (Table)
Guiding Commitments
Sustainability at UMD Climate Action Plan Sustainability Council Goals AASHE STARS Report
Celebrating Stories
SustainableUMD News Maryland Today: Sustainability Climate Change Research Other Resources for Sustainability at UMD
Our Sustainability Goals
University-Level Goals State-Level Goals Global Goals
Climate Action Plan Carbon Offset Program Resilience to the Changing Climate Climate Justice Climate Emotions Climate Research
How to Use Tableau Carbon Footprint Carbon Offsets Education for Sustainability Local and Global Impact Smart Growth Sustainable Water Use Waste Minimization Progress Summary (Table)
Sustainability at UMD Climate Action Plan Sustainability Council Goals AASHE STARS Report
SustainableUMD News Maryland Today: Sustainability Climate Change Research Other Resources for Sustainability at UMD
University-Level Goals State-Level Goals Global Goals

SustainableUMD News

Home Celebrating Stories SustainableUMD News

 

Contact sustainability@umd.edu with story suggestions, partnership opportunities, or other feedback.

SustainableUMD News

  • Students Learn at Bike Safety Month

    The Department of Transportation Services and the Office of Sustainability brought the blender bike to the October 5th Farmer’s Market. 
    View Article Details for Students Learn at Bike Safety Month
  • Chefs Share Cool Food Options with Students

    View Article Details for Chefs Share Cool Food Options with Students
  • Terp to Terp Campus ReStore

    Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store

    Moving into a new apartment and realized you left your box of kitchen supplies behind? Don’t worry, set up an appointment with the free Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store and grab what you need.
    View Article Details for Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store
  • Student photo booth at EarthFest (Photo Credit: Emily Hightower)

    Getting Greener: Sustainability Fund Updates in Fall 2022

    This semester, it may be easier than ever to spot students around campus in the coveted green-and-black SustainableUMD Terp t-shirt. With the support of a $45,000 grant from the Sustainability Fund, the Office of Sustainability is piloting an expanded outreach program which includes seven paid internships, more than a dozen Sustainability Ambassadors, and a focus on empowering students as peer-educators. The grant will support the development of in-depth training, leadership, professional development, and service learning for students engaged with sustainability on campus.
    View Article Details for Getting Greener: Sustainability Fund Updates in Fall 2022
  • UMD's Journey to Curbing Waste

    All levels of action, raining from campus policies to individual habits, are integral to UMD's journey to cut waste. From changes in the global recycling system to demand for disposables rising in response to COVID-19, new challenges keep arising in the campus efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost and more. Despite the obstacles, UMD's departments have achieved major improvements in reducing waste and improving recycling, composting, and reuse systems.
    View Article Details for UMD's Journey to Curbing Waste

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.

Faculty and students in yellow vests walk in a line through a row of trees

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.

Read this feature story
Bus driving past McKeldin Mall

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

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Students working in the community garden

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.

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Students in South Dining Hall

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.

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Students sitting on Mickeldin Mall

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.

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President Pines at Inauguration Ceremony

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.

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Route One Mural

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.”

Read this feature story
Office of Sustainability
4716 Seneca Building, Suite 0103 / College Park, MD 20742
sustainability@umd.edu 301.405.1000