Archived Communications

Now that the State and USM have provided the green light to begin planning for reopening, the University leadership team is making plans for a safe and gradual process for the resumption of in-person operations. There will not be a single date for the full reopening of the physical campus. Like the statewide plan, our transition will be guided by public health expertise.

I write with heartbreaking news, the loss of the first University staff member from complications due to COVID-19. I share this information with the family's permission.

I write to share the heart-breaking information of the first known death, on April 1, 2020, of a member of our University community due to complications related to COVID-19. I do so with the consent of the family. He is Distinguished University Professor David C. Driskell, a renowned artist, art historian, collector, and curator.

Under the Governor's directive, all Maryland residents must now shelter at home, except to leave for "an essential job or for an essential reason, such as obtaining food or medicine ... or other necessary purpose." Over one-half of the states are under a similar order. 

On Wednesday, March 25, at 1:30 AM, the U.S. Senate and House leadership, together with the White House, agreed to inject $2 trillion into the economy -- the largest stimulus package in our nation's history.

Governor Hogan announced yesterday that all non-essential businesses in Maryland must close and reminded us that we are all in this together. We must continue to practice important preventive measures and social distancing, if we are to slow the transmission of this pandemic.

Amidst the uncertainty of an invisible and rapidly unfolding health crisis, I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and well.  Though we must keep our physical distance from each other, our resilience and actions are rooted in our obligations to each other. Our vulnerability connects us. This global emergency will demand much from us all, but our community is up to the challenge. Together we have the capacity to make it through, with determination and compassion.

I would like to wish a safe and enjoyable break to our students who are leaving for spring break next week, and to our faculty and staff who will have a couple of days of well-deserved break next week. 

I am pleased to provide testimony to the General Assembly for our FY 2021 capital budget request.  We greatly appreciate the General Assembly’s ongoing support of our capital requests, which is transforming our campus and the state’s economy.  Together, we are constructing the state’s future.  The University deeply appreciates all that your support makes possible.

President Pines is formally announced as the 34th president of the University of Maryland's College Park campus, after leading engineering school since 2009.