The Wellness Series starts this week!

 

Struggling with focus? Feeling stressed about school? Want to learn to improve your mental health and relationships? Check out the Wellness Series drop-in virtual skills sessions available Tuesdays-Thursdays at 4:00 PM all semester. Students can attend any or all sessions. No appointment necessary to join.

Sign Up

Explore ALL 16 topics available this semester at this link We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in our programs. To request disability accommodations, contact Allison Asarch at aasarch@umd.edu.  If you'd like to advertise the Wellness Series on campus, please find the marketing toolkit here.

Check out these topics coming up in the next few weeks:

Effective Communication Skills September 9 Communication is at the core of all of our relationships. Explore the different styles of communication, see which styles you use the most, and learn about best practices for communicating with people around you.

Navigating Change and Uncertainty September 10 Every day we face uncertainty, whether brought on by big life transitions or everyday experiences. Adjusting to life’s changes and unknowns can be a challenge. This session provides strategies to help you cope with uncertainty and adapt to new experiences.

Skills for Socializing September 11 We often meet new people, but it's not always easy to make new friends. This session will focus on the ins and outs of making friends, including tips for approaching new people and progressing from acquaintances to friends. We'll also address ways to manage social discomfort.

Taking Control of Your Thoughts September 16 We’ll help you control your thoughts so they are not controlling you. This session will provide concrete techniques for recognizing, understanding, and altering unhelpful patterns of thinking.

Time Management September 17 This session will help you prioritize your obligations and organize your schedule so that you can take care of responsibilities in a timely manner and make time for self-care too!

Successful Study Skills September 18 Not all study strategies are created equal! Learn about best practices for note-taking, paper-writing, studying, and more.

Mastering Mindfulness September 23 Practicing mindfulness can help you manage your emotions, accept your reality, and stay grounded. Learn techniques to build your mindfulness skills and practice with brief mindful meditations.

Surviving Difficult Emotions September 24 Sometimes our emotions are so intense, it feels like they will never end. This session provides strategies to help understand our emotions and to cope with the associated discomfort and distress.

Coping with Stress September 25 Stress is a normal part of life. It has a bad reputation but it’s not always a bad thing. Join us to learn about the different types of stress, common reactions to stress, and best practices for coping with various stressors.

[AGNR-UNDERGRADSTUDENTS] AGNR Weekly Announcements - 9/9/2025 🐢

 

From the Blog:

AGNR & Campus Involvement or Leadership: AGNR Welcome Back Bash "Endless Summer" - 9/22 RSVP to WBB if you have dietary restrictions Add your favorite songs to the WBB playlist AGNR Tailgate - October 4th!  Sustainability Fund Review Committee (SFRC) -- Recruiting Student Members Apply Now! ODK National Leadership Society

Academic and Personal Support: Time Management Accountability Group Wellness Series Fall 2025

Career Development: NOAA Career Day - 9/19 Careers in GIS - 10/1 Environmental & GIS Career Fair - 10/21 Career Chat - Agriculture Communications - 10/22

Scholarships & Fellowships: NOAA Hollings Scholarship for Environmental Science - RISING SOPHOMORES! NSF Graduate Research Fellowships - Start your Application! Truman Scholarships for Leadership/Public Service

Jobs & Internship Postings: Sustainability Internship Opportunity with Boeing On Campus internship - Dept of Geog Sciences, Campus Forest Carbon Project

Career Development & Exploration

Explore More Opportunities

Jobs in the College of AGNR

Help Advertising Iceland and Costa Rica Study Abroad Program ENES 220 FYI

 ENME 407:  SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS 

COSTA RICA - WINTER 2026 [January 4th - 19th] 

ICELAND - SPRING BREAK 2026 [March 13th - 22nd] 

Are you interested in Sustainability?  Do you like to travel?  If so, you should consider signing up for ENME 407: Sustainability, Climate Change and Renewable Energy Systems.

These exciting courses, housed in the department of Mechanical Engineering, offer students a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the natural wonders of Iceland or Costa Rica and to learn about a variety of sustainable technologies to combat climate change like geothermal and hydroelectric energy production.   

The program will be offered in two different locations this upcoming year:  

Costa Rica - Winter 2026 [January 4th - 19th] 

Iceland - Spring Break 2026 [March 13th - 22nd] 

The course can satisfy a number of academic requirements and can double count toward the UMD Sustainability Minor as a Science and Technology course.  Please see the course flyer for more specific academic details and reach out to your advisor should you have any questions.  Applications are due by Tuesday September 30th 2025.

To learn more about these programs please:

• See the attached informational flyer,
• Check out a video of the Iceland trip,
• Visit the course website for the Iceland program,
• Visit the course website for the Costa Rica program

If you have any more questions about these programs please email Professor Mike Galczynski at mgalczyn@umd.edu

Position Announcements

 Please view the following position announcements below for the college. Feel free to share with your networks. As always, thank you for your support! Have a great day! 

 

Extension Educator, FCS (Baltimore City)

Extension Educator, FCS (Cecil County)

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development (Wicomico County)

AEES GBM #1 | Fall 2025

The American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES) is dedicated to developing sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with the environment for the benefit of both. The UMD chapter of AEES pursues this mission on campus through student-led, designed, and constructed projects that aim to benefit both the campus environment and students. We provide students with hands-on experience with real-world projects and various workshops throughout the course of the semester. So far, our club has raised over $160k in grant funding for our various projects and is happy to give students a platform for their own projects. If you are interested in joining our club, we hope to see you at our first GBM on Monday, September 15th from 8-9pm in the SORC Student Involvement Suite in Stamp (Student Union). We will be giving an overview of the club, any and all majors and years are welcome to join!

Please reach out to umd.aees@gmail.com with any questions!

 

Two environmental anthropology research opportunities

 Two environmental anthropology research opportunities related to food security and sustainable agriculture are now open and hiring. One investigates alternative food systems in Baltimore, MD and the other explores farmer preferences to produce for Guam's local market.

 

Project Title: Urban Foodways: Mapping the Networks of Gardeners, Farmers, Foragers, and Fishers

Applications open for part-time student research assistant position. Sept 15 best consideration date.

Project Description: Join our exciting and hands-on project in Baltimore City, where we explore food self-provisioning (FSP) activities that connect diverse community agents and practices. From backyard gardeners and youth educators to on-shore fishing spots and pop-up markets, our research maps these vibrant networks, referred to as Alternative Urban Food Provisioning Networks (AUFPNs). As a student, you'll contribute to this dynamic project, engaging in activities that highlight communal harvests, mutual food aid deliveries, and more. For more information about the position, and to submit your cover letter and resume, click the link below. 

Baltimore Alternative Food SystemsLinks to an external site.

 

Project Title: Guam Farmer Preferences in Growing for Island Markets

Applications open for one Fall position as a research assistant. This position is unpaid but can be completed for internship or independent study credit. Sept 8 is the best consideration date.

Project Description: Like many small, tropical islands in the Pacific, the US territory of Guam is highly dependent on imported food. Prior to WWII, the island was self-sufficient but agricultural production has declined precipitously due to a number of cultural, economic, ecological, and political reasons. Currently, Guam imports 95% of its food, making food security a top priority.
For the past year, our research team has been interviewing farmers, agricultural policy makers, and agricultural-food security experts on Guam to learn more about the challenges farmers face in growing food for the local island market, as well as the benefits Guam’s island community could gain from local food production. As a student research assistant, you’ll contribute to this dynamic and applied project to build out island food security. Your primary duties will be to prepare interview transcripts for analysis, conduct text analysis with our team, contribute to discussions about what these results mean, and assist with the development of an online, follow-up farmer survey. For more information, see the attached job description.

Please submit your cover letter and resume at lshaffe1@umd.edu

Students needed for LIbraries advisory Board

Good afternoon,

Please consider nominating one student (undergraduate or graduate) to serve on the UMD Libraries Student Advisory Group. I hope you will consider nominating not only students who may have served last year, but also students for whom this will be a new and fruitful experience. We try to make the experience a mutually beneficial one; the appointment has the potential to enrich students'  leadership experiences on campus and enhance their resumes.

The Student Advisory Group:

• Suggests ways to improve student experience within the University Libraries (McKeldin Library and branch libraries)
  
• Gives input and feedback on initiatives underway
• Makes recommendations for purchases to advance the technological environment within University Libraries
• Evaluates the impact of actions and purchases resulting from recommendations 
• Attends meetings (generally 2 per semester, or as needed)

Please submit your recommendation to Blaze Buck bbuck@umd.edu by Friday, September 12. 

SustainableUMD Opportunities, Events, & Updates 🐢

September 2025 The Office of Sustainability welcomed six interns to the team for the 2025-2026 year. Welcome Back, Terps! The Office of Sustainability is excited to reconnect with the campus community and resume our monthly SustainableUMD newsletters. Over the summer, our team was busy developing the new Green Terp Bucket List Challenge (coming soon!), updating data on the SustainableUMD ProgressHub, meeting incoming students at New Student Orientations, and preparing for the 2025-2026 Sustainability Fund grant cycle. We can’t wait to see you around campus at the many new events we have planned! To stay up to date with upcoming events, hear about additional ways to get involved, and learn tips for living sustainably on campus, follow us on Instagram (@sustainableUMD and @greenterp) and explore our website. New and Noteworthy Serve on the Sustainability Fund Review Committee — The Sustainability Fund Review Committee (SFRC) is a team of undergraduate students who assess incoming Sustainability Fund proposals. The application to serve on the 2025-2026 SFRC is now open. Students interested in joining the SFRC must review the criteria and apply by September 15th. LEARN MORE & APPLY HERE Food Recovery Network Volunteering (FRN) — Want to give back to your community and earn volunteering hours? Join the FRN! Volunteers recover surplus food from campus dining halls, athletic venues, and catering kitchens and donate it to local community partners. Join the GroupMe to find information about recovery schedules and sign ups. JOIN THE GROUPME Become Green Workspace Certified — The Office of Sustainability is seeking offices, departments, and other staff teams to participate in the Fall 2025 Green Workspace cohort. Join the many workspaces across campus committed to mindful consumption, thoughtful purchasing, commuting smart, and conserving energy. The interest form is due September 10th. SUBMIT THE INTEREST FORM E-Micromobility Reminders — Students living in on-campus properties, such as residence halls and South Campus Commons, are not permitted to bring personal e-micromobility devices to campus. If you are using a privately-owned e-scooter or e-bike on campus, you are required to complete the micromobility training before registering your vehicle with DOTS. MORE INFO Sustainability Lesson for First-Year Students — The Office of Sustainability offers a 30-minute presentation led by student Sustainability Advisors. This presentation introduces first-year students to the concept of sustainability, local challenges related to climate change, and opportunities for UMD students to take action. First-year instructors can request a presentation here. LEARN MORE Upcoming Events Wednesdays, September 3rd- November 19th 11:00am-3:00pm The Farmers Market is Back! Every Wednesday from 11 am- 3 pm, stop by the UMD Farmers Market at Tawes Plaza to purchase local produce, student-made crafts, and connect with campus departments. Wednesday, September 10th- Saturday, September 13th 11th Annual Environmental Justice and Health Disparities Symposium The 11th Annual Environmental Justice and Health Disparities Symposium is a landmark event that brings together community leaders, experts, and activists dedicated to advancing environmental justice and addressing health disparities. Now operating as a grassroots nonprofit, CEEJH INC is proud to present this transformative symposium – an immersive, hybrid experience designed to spark dialogue, share innovative solutions, and INpower communities in the face of environmental challenges.  Be sure to register in advance. Friday, September 19th 9:15am-2:00pm Sustainability in Business Conference Join the Fall 2025 Sustainability in Business Conference: Driving Change Through Bold Leadership to explore how visionary leaders are reimagining the role of business in addressing today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. This half-day event invites industry impact leaders, students, faculty, and mission-driven organizations to engage in conversations on the state of sustainability and how we can move from ambition to action. Register here. Friday, September 19th- Friday, November 7th Sustainability Fund Information Sessions From the plant walls in Stamp and McKeldin to the Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store, the University Sustainability Fund has helped many students, staff, and faculty bring their projects to campus. Join the Office of Sustainability at one of our upcoming information sessions to learn about the Sustainability Fund and Sustainability Mini-Grant opportunities, the application process and eligibility for each, and relevant deadlines. Register for a session(s) here. Wednesday, October 1st 5:00pm-6:30pm Careers in GIS Join to hear perspectives and insights from UMD alumni in a variety of industries utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) in their work. There will be a moderated panel followed by an open Q&A session.  Check out the event on Handshake for information on panelists and don’t forget to register! Shareable Bytes  Resource: The University of Maryland tracks its progress towards key sustainability goals through the SustainableUMD ProgressHub. In the ProgressHub, you can find articles spotlighting key programs and people, interactive dashboards of UMD sustainability data, and resources on topics like carbon offsets and climate research. Tip: September is National Preparedness Month. With growing instances of extreme weather and flash flooding, stay safe by reviewing these tips for handling flooding events. UMD Spotlight: Since July 2025, the Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store has diverted over 54,000 pounds of waste from the landfill. The store collects and distributes small appliances, kitchen items, room accessories, clothing, and school supplies donated throughout the year. All items are FREE for UMD students. Students “shop” for free items at the Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store in Harford Hall. Photo Credit: Terp to Terp SustainableUMD represents the University of Maryland’s commitment to advance sustainability through teaching, research, service, and operations. The UMD Office of Sustainability celebrates these efforts through the SustainableUMD newsletter, website, social media, and more. Have a question or want to submit content for the SustainableUMD Newsletter? Contact tbrinks@umd.edu with the subject line: “Newsletter Content”