News

While much of campus slows down during summer, Facilities Management (FM) shifts into overdrive. With quieter streets and empty classrooms, crews take on projects that range from routine repairs to major upgrades—work that sustains the university all year long. Planning begins as early as winter, and once Commencement wraps, teams move quickly to make the most of the short summer window. From fresh paint and lighting improvements to ADA compliance and large-scale renovations, FM’s efforts touch nearly every corner of campus life.

Campus moves to a bag-free recycling system following changes from the processing partner. If you've heard recent buzz about changes to campus recycling procedures, you're not imagining things. The University’s mixed recycling processor, Olive Street Processing, LLC, was recently acquired by Waste Management, Inc., and with the new ownership comes a key change: Plastic liners are no longer accepted in campus recycling.

Fleet Services is bringing vehicle rentals closer to campus with the soft launch of its new self-service kiosk at Regents Drive Garage, part of a broader effort to improve convenience and accessibility for university departments.

Most families talk about sports or the weather at Thanksgiving. The Kramers? They talk ants, roaches, and beavers. For brothers Travis and Joe Kramer, pest control isn’t just a job—it’s a family tradition. Their father, Charlie Kramer, spent 30 years protecting UMD from pests of all kinds and helped shape FM’s pest control program into what it is today.

In 2023, UMD received $1.7 million in funding from a Maryland Department of Natural Resources grant to continue work on the Campus Creek Restoration Project. FM’s Planning & Construction team has played a key role in this transformative effort, which aims to reduce pollutants, improve water quality, and restore aquatic habitats within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.