News

Five Facilities Management (FM) team members start their day with one goal in mind: ensuring that campus facilities customers receive excellent service and that work requests run smoothly, no matter what comes their way. Whether coordinating with FM staff for a quick repair or overseeing a large-scale renovation, as the vital link between building occupants and FM services, Facility Managers are the go-to professionals who make sure every request is handled efficiently and effectively, while keeping everyone aligned throughout the process.

Each year, on the last Saturday in April, tens of thousands of visitors flock to UMD’s College Park Campus to celebrate Maryland Day. This campus-wide celebration of learning, discovery, and fun features hundreds of free exhibitions and events. “I consider Maryland Day a Triple Crown event of campus celebrations (along with Commencement and Family-Homecoming Weekends),” said Gabe Purviance, Assistant Director of Building & Landscape Maintenance.

Temporary vehicle and bike lane striping was completed in Lot Z over Spring Break as part of a major initiative aimed at improving campus connectivity, safety and accessibility. The Alumni Drive Complete Street is the first of several planned complete streets outlined in the 2023 Campus Facilities Plan and supports the university’s strategic vision by creating a more pedestrian- and micromobility-friendly environment while ensuring efficient road use for all campus travelers.

While many of us take mail delivery for granted, it plays a crucial role in keeping UMD running smoothly. Even in the digital age, physical mail remains essential to students, faculty, and staff. Facilities Management’s (FM) Mail Services team ensures the seamless delivery of more than 206,000 letters and packages each month, with that number surpassing 300,000 during peak periods like the start of the fall semester and the holiday season. Every piece of mail is delivered within 24 hours of arrival—an impressive feat considering the scale of operations.

Mail Services will operate on a reduced schedule from Dec. 24 to Jan.1, 2025. On Dec. 31, mail will be delivered to designated departments. Dec. 24-31, mail will be available for pick-up and drop-off at the Campus Mail Facility after 10 a.m. days that Mail Services is open as indicated below: At the Severn Building Mail Facility, 5245 Greenbelt Rd.

Imagine having a map that doesn't just show you where to go but helps you plan, manage, and even predict the best way to navigate a campus as dynamic as UMD's. Thanks to FM’s Enterprise GIS team, the UMD campus map is more than just a set of directions—it's a powerful tool that integrates data from multiple sources to transform how the university operates. From streamlining daily navigation to supporting large-scale planning efforts, this cutting-edge GIS platform has become an essential resource for students, staff, and administrators.