Office of Sustainability | SustainableUMD

About our Office

The University of Maryland Office of Sustainability supports and advances campus environmental performance and literacy, engagement, financial stewardship, and social well-being. The office facilitates the development and implementation of sustainable policies, practices, and programs for the campus community.

As part of the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk, the Office of Sustainability reports to the Vice President for Administration.

Click the buttons below to learn more about what the Office of Sustainability does to support UMD in it's mission to be a leader in sustainability among higher education institutions.

Outreach & Education

Metrics Tracking & GHG Accounting

Sustainability Fund Management

Vision

Empower the university community to imagine and co-create a vibrant future for people, ecosystems and the planet.

Mission

Through technical expertise and partnerships, the UMD Office of Sustainability works to align the university’s culture with sustainability principles. We strive to integrate these principles into all areas of education, research, and operations. In this process, we seek to continuously improve environmental conditions, well-being, health, safety and community for all life on Earth today and into the future.

Values

Leadership: Guiding, empowering and mentoring key partners across the university to imagine and implement necessary change to create a more vibrant world.

Diversity: Valuing different perspectives, ideas, ways of understanding, and approaches to solving challenges.

Collaboration: Supporting and relying on the collective strength of people and teams for greater gain.

Dignity: Offering respect to all.

Resilience: Recognizing uncertainty, encouraging adaptability, and providing flexibility in solutions.

Experiential Learning: Learning by doing and valuing experimental pilots as part of the learning process.

The Office relies on these Values to carry out its Mission by

Educating the campus community about the evolving concepts of sustainability
Developing sustainability programming that affects student education and campus operations
Fostering collaboration between various university units
Consulting with campus departments (administrative and academic)
Coordinating efforts to meet the goals of the Carbon Commitment and Climate Action Plan
Measuring and reporting on campus performance through the SustainableUMD Progress Hub and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System
Responding to inquiries from individuals and organizations both internal and external to the university
Supporting the University Sustainability Council