---
title: A Snowy Start to a New Semester
date: 2026-02-02T15:00:00-05:00
author: Nicole Joie
canonical_url: "https://president.umd.edu/news/a-snowy-start-to-a-new-semester"
section: News
---
# A Snowy Start to a New Semester

*February 2, 2026* — by Nicole Joie
> Welcome back! While this isn’t the message I originally planned to send, I want to express my sincere appreciation to all who have been working diligently to enable our campus to open and operate safely. In addition, I want to thank all of our faculty for their flexibility in this unconventional start to the semester. 

Fellow Terrapins,

Welcome back!

While this isn’t the message I originally planned to send, I want to express my sincere appreciation to all who have been [working diligently to enable our campus to open and operate safely](https://click.email.umd.edu/?qs=eyJkZWtJZCI6Ijc0ZjBiNmY3LTZiYmUtNGEwOC05YWE4LTZkYTkxZDkxNDk1OSIsImRla1ZlcnNpb24iOjEsIml2IjoiN2J3cjg4ZkJBdEhBUEpQbWFuMkFtUT09IiwiY2lwaGVyVGV4dCI6Ilhwb3UzSWhyblByVUZDTnlPOVZGZ0VObjhzUVdHK1F4bSt6ejVSRGRlekxOeXI3TWwra0NpOFIrNjd0TXNXVCtKTFJsMDVMUHhsU01iV1BvTitwZ25ub053KzQxQXUyOEsvUEh3UUxSd0R5VDVtcDlnSms9IiwiYXV0aFRhZyI6InhsU01iV1BvTitwZ25ub053KzQxQWc9PSJ9). In addition, I want to thank all of our faculty for their flexibility in this unconventional start to the semester.

And importantly, I want to thank our students for understanding our limitations and for reminding me that while multiple snow days pose challenges, they are also an opportunity to feel like a kid again. [Everyone, be careful out there!](https://click.email.umd.edu/?qs=eyJkZWtJZCI6IjBlZmEwN2Q5LWZmYTktNDkyOC1iMmEzLWFjMzM0ODg4NTNkMyIsImRla1ZlcnNpb24iOjEsIml2IjoiVUs0cW9yTmpveWtKUlkwTkZhQWFyZz09IiwiY2lwaGVyVGV4dCI6ImZvc2c3dkZjTENrSUVPWThCRkpibGhjYTBUTWdwRlhwT0hJek5oQnlESU12RVNTaHYzYkd4MXQ3dWdXbDBndkdMVTgvem42MzNVc3RBRXE5VEtaZm5qWlFzZ0ExVkZDdUtxS3pZNk1wQ1VXTkRSV2dHcTQ9IiwiYXV0aFRhZyI6IjNVc3RBRXE5VEtaZm5qWlFzZ0ExVkE9PSJ9)


*Various photos of students playing in the snow on campus*


Terps, I hope that this semester brings new knowledge and inspires you with a sense of fearlessness that carries you forward in 2026.


**Signature of President Darryll Pines**

**Darryll J. Pines**  
*President, University of Maryland*  
He/Him/His

X: [@President\_Pines](https://twitter.com/President_Pines)  
Instagram: [@President\_Pines](https://www.instagram.com/President_Pines/)