Each year, students in Professional Writing and other courses select campus sustainability as the focus of their semester projects. Because many students write proposals for initiatives that campus facilities managers are already working on (installing solar panels on campus buildings, installing energy efficient lights in residence halls, etc.), the Office of Sustainability constructed the following list of possible research projects to guide students toward research topics that will help us create a more sustainable campus.

The University of Maryland's Living and Learning Programs are unique programs that integrate academics into student living space. Students have the opportunity to live in the same residence hall as fellow members of their Living and Learning Program, forging friendships while simultaneously exploring academic interests. Living and Learning Programs cover areas ranging from engineering to creative writing, and many programs involve a central research activity or project.

Many research centers housed at the University of Maryland are involved with finding solutions to environmental problems, in the local community and at global scales. The following are just a few of these centers.

Although most majors relate to sustainability, there are undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Maryland that specifically address environmental issues and sustainability.

This list is a helpful starting resource for students interested in preparing for work or further study in an environmentally related field; however, environmental problems are typically so far reaching and interdisciplinary that people from all backgrounds are needed to uncover solutions.

Find your passion and discover ways of making your lifestyle and work more sustainable.

When university employees make purchasing decisions for supplies and services, they should think about environmental stewardship in addition to managing potential fiscal and social impacts of these decisions. In line with global goals for sustainability, the university emphasizes responsible consumption and production. The State of Maryland also emphasizes green purchasing and administers an environmentally preferable purchasing program that university employees can use to help guide their decisions.

UMD Green Labs Program

How to Get Certified

All students can be Green Terps by getting involved with sustainability through academics, research, student groups, professional opportunities, and by taking individual action. Whether you are already involved or just getting connected to sustainability on campus, follow the Green Terp Instagram (@greenterp) and subscribe to the student newsletter for tips on how to take action towards a more sustainable future.