Archived Communications

I am pleased to announce that, with the approval of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, the Main Administration Building at UMD is now named in honor of Maryland Senator Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, Jr.

While this semester has not turned out how any of us expected, we are still making plans to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the Spring Class of 2020. It is important to do so, because commencement is an important rite of passage. It marks the end of an academic journey and the start of a new chapter in one's life journey.

On May 29, 2020, the White House issued an executive order on "Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People's Republic of China."

Over the past several weeks, the University has been engaged in an extensive and collaborative effort to develop a framework and plans for the phased reopening in fall semester 2020. 

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with President Darryll Pines about beginning his role in the middle of the pandemic and economic crisis.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with President Darryll Pines about beginning his role in the middle of the pandemic and economic crisis. Listen to the interview on NPR.org

In honor of the public memorial for George Floyd, the University will offer administrative leave on the afternoon of Monday, June 8, 2020, for any University employee who wishes to take time to remember his life. Additional information for supervisors will follow from University Human Resources. I encourage supervisors to continue to check in with their employees and be flexible with leave requests.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., once said that: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy."

We are grieving the killing of George Floyd, McKinsley Lincoln, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, and Ahmaud Arbery, and all who came before.

For several weeks, dozens of faculty and staff divided into seven work-groups – Safety and Health; Education; Research; Student Life; Human Resources; Fiscal Planning; and Intercollegiate Athletics – have been planning a phased re-opening of on-campus activities this fall.