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FM Staff News

  • June 30, 2025

    Rooted in Growth: UMD’s Summer Arboretum Internships

    This summer, the UMD Arboretum team is helping students dig into something meaningful—literally. With the support of a $59,831 Sustainability Fund Grant, the Arboretum has launched its first-ever paid summer internship program. The funding supports eight student interns for 320 hours of paid work and includes educational opportunities designed to connect them with professionals in the field.

  • June 30, 2025

    What’s the Buzz? FM Relocates Honeybee Colony from Reckord Armory

    Thousands of honeybees made an unexpected home high atop the Reckord Armory in June, drawing attention from passersby and prompting a uniquely delicate Facilities Management response. The swarm settled more than 30 feet up on one of the building’s east portico columns, creating a sizable nest just as crews were preparing to repaint the area. What followed was a careful, collaborative removal effort involving FM’s Pest Control team and experts from the Department of Entomology — all carried out with the goal of protecting both the bees and the building.

  • June 13, 2025

    Arshad Mughal: A Legacy Five Decades in the Making

    Almost fifty years ago, a high school student followed his appreciation of art and science to study architecture at UMD, where he took a part-time job in the Department of Physical Plant, the forerunner of Facilities Management (FM).

  • June 05, 2025

    5 Ways to Level Up Your Out-of-Office Message This Summer

    Vacation mode: activated. But before you log off for a well-earned summer break, take a moment to set your out-of-office message. This quick task helps keep communication flowing smoothly while you're away—and shows our commitment to great customer service even when we’re off the clock. Here’s how to make your message count:

  • May 07, 2025

    Space Wizards: How FM Planning Optimizes Every Inch on Campus

    On a typical day, Facilities Management’s Space Management team is juggling space change requests, analyzing space-use data, and collaborating with campus partners to find efficient, data-informed solutions for evolving space issues. Part puzzle, part problem-solving, university space management is about making sure the rooms and buildings on campus, like classrooms, offices, study spaces, and labs, are being used in the best way possible. 

  • May 06, 2025

    Bright Ideas: How FM Keeps Campus Lighting Safe, Efficient, and Sustainable

    Lighting plays a critical but often overlooked role in making the University of Maryland campus safe and welcoming after dark. From pedestrian pathways to parking lots, Facilities Management’s (FM) Electrical Services Exterior Lighting team is responsible for keeping more than 2,600 pole lights operating smoothly across campus.

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