Dear USG Students, Faculty and Staff:

Welcome back! We hope you’re as excited as we are about the start of a new semester.  As always, we want to thank each and every one of you for being such a vital part of our campus community. USG is firmly dedicated to our mission of supporting student success. Whenever you step on this campus, we want you to feel welcome, inspired, challenged and supported in all of your endeavors. As the semester begins, I wanted to share with you a few highlights of what’s ahead in 2019.

When the Dust Settles…

Our construction team is making great progress on the spectacular new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education (BSE) Facility, the fourth and largest building on the growing USG campus. As of now, the project is right on track for its scheduled opening in fall 2019. We know that everyone will be thrilled when “the dust finally settles” and we can fully benefit from the opportunities that the BSE’s opening will bring for our students and the greater community.

The BSE will provide state-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories, clinical training facilities, active learning classrooms, academic offices, and an expanded level of student services necessary to support the growing number of students who enroll in degree programs on campus.

We’re working with our partner universities to bring in additional academic programs and we’ll be inviting an array of elected officials, university colleagues, and business and community leaders to learn more about the BSE in the months ahead. We also look forward to working with our state legislators and with our Student Government and our Board of Advisors, as we prepare for the legislative session in Annapolis.

­­Stay Connected…

There are several ways you can stay connected to what is happening around campus. The USG Mobile app provides notifications for special announcements and events on campus, the ability to schedule appointments and view the weekly dining menu, and more. Follow USG on social media and sign up for USG Alerts to receive information on news and events, as well as campus closings (especially with the weather this time of year).

You can find out what students are doing around campus on USG’s student blog, Around the Grove, and read interesting guest blog posts on DiscoverUSG.  We invite you to participate in the Town Hall meetings of our Student Council and Graduate Student Association. Each of their advocacy efforts help to benefit the USG community. I would encourage you to get involved and be a part of campus life.

Around the Campus…

USG staff are working to strengthen our campus services today and into the future. The Priddy Library is currently developing a strategic plan, which will serve as a guide for it to continue providing high quality services and resources in the most efficient manner. The library team is seeking input from many stakeholders through focus groups and individual interviews. If you are interested in participating, please contact Eileen Harrington at eharring@umd.edu.

Have you heard about Mobile Market Mondays at USG? The Campus Rec Center has partnered with the Capital Area Food Bank to provide fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, and other food items at no cost for distribution to the campus and community. Those in need are invited to bring their grocery bags to campus on the fourth Monday of every month to Parking Lot 5 (visitor’s parking lot), to pick up some free food.

Several events and activities are planned throughout the semester by our partner universities as well as our Student and Academic Services centers. I encourage you to subscribe and read the USG Weekly which highlights upcoming events and activities each week.

The Center for Student Engagement and Financial Resources has some exciting upcoming events. All are invited to International Night on Thursday, February 21st, from 5-8pm. in the Multipurpose Room (MPR) in Building II. Enjoy delicious cuisine from around the world and witness the pride in our diverse student body.

The next USG Civic Engagement event will be on Thursday, March 28th. The topic is #Transthriving, which will explore transgender visibility and support in the community.

And, if you are graduating this year, make sure you mark your calendars for the Graduation Celebration and the Graduate Gala on May 9th and May 10th, respectively.

Thanks to all of you for helping to make USG such a great community! I look forward to seeing you around campus.

Stew