News

On September 16, a group of FM housekeepers attended a special luncheon celebration at University House, the home of President Pines. The purpose of the celebration was to honor housekeeping staff nominated for their exemplary contributions in facilities. This year, FM had 15 nominees recognized for their outstanding performance, alongside housekeepers from Residential Facilities. President Pines and Interim VP Bob Reuning were among the guests in attendance to applaud these hardworking FM staff members. Congratulations to all!

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.