As we plan for the upcoming winter break, Facilities Management asks for your help in readying our campus buildings. With overnight lows expected to dip below freezing, these actions will help conserve energy, maintain comfortable temperatures inside buildings, and protect building systems, pipes, and equipment. Please help us by taking the following steps:

At 4:47 a.m. on Monday, October 23, an alarm alerted Facilities Management (FM) staff to a drop in water pressure at two campus buildings. That alarm was the first signal of a major water main break that would impact more than 60 buildings. 

The UMD Arboretum has reinstituted tours for mothers and infants that were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new organization has launched at UMD: the Latinx/a/o/e Employee Association (LEA). Its goal is to bring visibility to the diverse Latinx/o/a/e community on campus and advocate for relevant needs and interests. The group also aims to strengthen the sense of community among Latinx/o/a/e employees, increase the recruitment and retention of Latinx/a/o/e students, staff, and faculty, support professional development, and engage in outreach and mentoring initiatives.

If the Halloween season turns your thoughts to mysteries of the macabre and supernatural, we invite you to enjoy the lore of ghostly secrets that linger within the very walls of the UMD campus. Founded in 1856, the University of Maryland boasts a history steeped in eerie tales involving campus buildings. FM’s GIS department has created a map of haunted sites on the main campus. Take the tour if you dare!

In today's higher ed business landscape, exceptional customer service is no longer an option; it's a necessity. With Facilities Management’s customer base of 50,000 students, faculty, and staff on a campus that operates 24/7, having an effective customer service strategy is essential. 

On September 21, 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 who were nominated for the Cintas Custodian of the Year Award. FM had 18 nominees who were recognized for their outstanding performance, alongside housekeepers from Residential Facilities. President Pines, VP Carlo Colella, and Bob Reuning were among the guests in attendance to applaud these hardworking FM staff members. Congratulations to all! 

The Wheels Off Walkways (WOW) program officially relaunched on Monday, August 21 just in time for the start of the fall semester.