A Return to In-Person Programming

When we talk about the Maryland Residential Experience, themes of friendships and connections, academic support, and student development are vital to the conversation and relate directly to how we impact the student experience through programming. As fall 2021 comes to a close, it is amazing to consider how different this semester has been compared to the more virtual experience of the previous academic year. We have still had to consider health and safety measures throughout the fall, but a renewed energy and appreciation for in-person programming has been evident. Here are some of the highlights of this past semester:

Fall Welcome With the exceptions of mask-wearing and the prevalence of hand-sanitizer, the events of Fall Welcome 2021 returned a sense of community building and energy far above the experience of the previous year. When Bend & Bagels filled Orem Hall at the Alumni Center with over 200 students, an additional outdoor yoga session formed just outside of the Alumni Garden. As students stood in line for their cookies at Midnight Munchies, groups formed and exchanged contacts to continue hanging out at a later date. Eager students filled the Cambridge Community Center and Prince Frederick Hall Multipurpose Room to play board games and win prizes at Trivia Night. FreeFest experienced its highest turnout ever with over 5,000 attendees connecting with campus and community resources. The Student and Community Development Programs team and the Fall Welcome committee were proud of the success of these events and thankful to all of the staff who helped contribute to and support a strong start to the year. Glow Dodgeball As part of the Terps After Dark program (which focuses on providing late night events for students during the first six weeks of the fall semester), the Department of Resident Life hosted Glow Dodgeball in the Grand Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union in early October. The space was transformed into a dodgeball arena with an additional area for glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Students registered teams and competed to prove that they could dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge with the best of them. There were ringers who subbed in across multiple teams and some that just wanted to dance to the music provided by the entertainment company, Party Crew, but it was clear that the students loved the experience.

While these were some of the large-scale events hosted by our department, the Communities Team has been continuously providing engaging and enriching programs and experiences for their students. Block parties included food, music, crafts, and pie throwing in the quads. Resident Assistants have hosted numerous opportunities for their students to connect over a meal or movie, learn about sexual health, take photos for their LinkedIn profiles, and go to many of the other programmatic offerings throughout the campus. We can be proud of all of our efforts this fall and look forward to a fantastic spring semester!

Terps Take Care Fair Out on McKeldin Mall, the Terps Take Care Fair provided an opportunity for students to connect with campus resources related to breaking down the stigma of discussing and attending to mental health and learn about wellness and self-care. There were therapy dogs, lawn games, giveaways, and a resource fair with offices and organizations focused on health and wellness. This was the fifth year of the event, and it saw its highest turnout yet of over 1,000 attendees. Homecoming Food Truck Festival Looking to contribute more to the UMD Homecoming experience, the Student and Community Development Programs Office planned a food truck experience featuring some of the Maryland-DC area’s most popular hits. Included in the event were Federalist Pig, Trini Vybez, and Reba’s Funnel Cakes. Members of the campus community got to enjoy some delicious barbecue classics, curry platters, and carnival treats. Many community members also participated in our raffle, which included UMD branded socks, keychains, and Homecoming scarves.