Communications

On my first day in office, I announced 12 initiatives and recommendations to reaffirm our commitment to our core mission and values, and to one another. I am grateful that due to the work of our incredible staff, faculty and students, we have fulfilled these commitments. My two priorities remain strong - to promote excellence in everything we do, and to create an inclusive, multicultural campus environment where every person can reach their full potential. These initiatives foreshadowed our mission to pursue excellence and impact for the public good as outlined in Fearlessly Forward: The University of Maryland Strategic Plan.

In the first months of my presidency, I charged a Community Policing Task Force to provide recommendations to enhance public and community policing to help move our campus toward more collaborative and trusting partnerships between our public safety officials and our university community.

For the last two years, COVID-19 has disrupted our travel plans. Though our campus vaccination and booster rate is extremely high and case counts are dropping on campus and across the country, we urge every member of our community to remain vigilant during Spring Break. If you are traveling, please monitor conditions in your destination and follow CDC guidance. There may be restrictions for entry and departure.

I am pleased to provide testimony to the General Assembly for our FY 2023 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.

Today, we announce plans for a plaza to honor and remember Lt. Richard W. Collins III, the patriot, leader, son, and friend who was killed on our campus on May 20, 2017. Just before he was set to graduate, beloved Bowie State student Lt. Collins was killed in an act of hate by a white UMD student. We must never forget what happened here, and we will continue to honor the life of Lt. Collins as we pursue an anti-racist, inclusive culture at our university. In our TerrapinSTRONG program, we tell the story of Lt. Collins to every new faculty, staff and student, because from tragedy, we must commit ourselves to eradicate the ideology of intolerance. 

I am pleased to provide testimony to the General Assembly for our FY 2023 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.

Join us for the University of Maryland's Giving Day on March 9 and help Terps move fearlessly forward! Your gift, no matter the size, funds scholarships, clubs and organizations, academic departments, arts, athletics and critical student services. Support #GivingDayUMD and make a difference for future generations of Terps!

As a global community comprised of faculty, staff, students, families and alumni from over 100 countries around the world, we are all impacted by the attack on Ukraine. There is a ripple effect in ways we can and cannot see. As global citizens committed to building a better world, the horrifying images of the invasion are distressing to us all. And it is even more heartrending for our fellow Terps with loved ones in Ukraine.

Earlier today, Prince George’s County announced the lifting of the indoor mask mandate, effective Monday, February 28. This follows a previous announcement by Governor Larry Hogan lifting indoor mask requirements in all state buildings updated guidance released today from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Effective Monday, February 28, we will lift the indoor mask mandate on campus for all faculty, staff, students and visitors.

President Darryll Pines connects the university’s role in helping to solve the grand challenges facing society with redefining the instution's infrastructure and growth of Greater College Park.