Office of Undergraduate Studies : About Us

Mission

The Office of Undergraduate Studies shapes undergraduate education for all students.

We build bridges across the campus and collaborate with our surrounding communities to guide students as they navigate their learning, make meaning of their experiences, and prepare for the future.

cyclist Ryan Collins — Mettle to the pedal

IVSP Alum Ryan Collins ’16 is racking up records as an elite ultracyclist

video thumbnail — Meet the scholars

Need a smile? Watch the new IAP cohort receive their acceptance news

cover of Constitution — First Year Book

The U.S. Constitution is the 25-26 First Year Book

Some additional highlights:

globe — Boren Awards Announced

10 Terps receive fellowships to study foreign languages abroad; UMD Ranked Among Top Recipients of Honor

students talking on campus — Embedding Civic Learning

New program embedding civic learning in classes across campus reaches over 1,000 Students

students painting mural — New mural by Honors students

Artwork on Regents Drive Garage designed by Honors Humanities students

Erin Thompson — Monumental Questions

Campus visit from author Erin L. Thompson who says statues reveal “a whole lot” about America

Gilman badge — Scholarship Producer

UMD Named Top Producer of Gilman Scholars; Commitment to Study Abroad Opportunities

Exterior of the Maryland State House and U.S. Capitol — UMD Fellows

Expanded Maryland, Federal and Global branches of the UMD Fellows Program prepares undergraduates for careers in public service

cover of first year book — 2024-25 First Year Book

Poverty, By America, this year's First Year Book asks why income inequality persists in America

mother and daughter pose on stairs — 25 Years of Asian American Studies

From one generation to the next: mother and daughter celebrate AAST milestone

student pulling weeds — New RADical Health Program

New peer-led program is offered through Carillon Communities and College Park Scholars

exterior of M engraved in door — Scholarship Top Producer

UMD Ranked Among Top Recipients of Boren Scholarships to study foreign language abroad

books stacked in window — Air Force ROTC Unit Ranked Nationally

UMD’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment ranks in the top 10% nationwide

student pulling weeds — Accepting IAP invitations

Watch the incredibly moving reactions of the new Incentive Awards Program scholars

From the archives:

students chat in ballroom — Maryland Fellows Program launches

A new branch of UMD Fellows Program prepares undergraduates for careers in local and state public service

students chat in ballroom — Day in the life of a cadet

From practicing ambushes to pulling a 90-Pound sled, UMD Army ROTC cadets learn to lead

students chat in ballroom — How Safe Are Voting Machines?

Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students supports DOD-funded lab to find vulnerabilities

books stacked in window — 2023-24 First Year Book

"Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments" explores past, present and future of monuments

student pulling weeds — College Park Scholars Service Day

W-USA News features new Scholars pulling invasive plants threatening DC Parks as part of annual event

UMD ranks in Top for Entrepreneurship

Top 10 Nod From The Princeton Review, Entrepreneur Magazine because of programs like Southern Management Leadership Program

two faculty standing on football field — Guest Coaches from UGST

UGST Faculty have a chance to wear the proverbial coach's cap as part of Maryland Athletics’ guest coaching program

hand writing with prison bars in background — Writing Course at D.C. Corrections

Honors College Executive Director Peter Mallios alongside UMD undergraduates help students in jail learn different forms of writing

artist rendering of diversity — Merrill scholars

Merrill Presidential Scholars Program Recognizes 19 Stellar Students along With K-12 teachers and UMD Faculty Mentors

artist rendering of diversity — DIVERSITY EDUCATION

How is UMD preparing students for a changing, globally interconnected world? Learn more about how undergraduate courses will promote inclusion and equity

hand holding up one finger with grad cap — Mitchell Scholar

Neelesh “Neel” Mupparapu '22, a Gemstone alum, was awarded a George J. Mitchell scholarship to pursue graduate study in Ireland

hand holding up one finger with grad cap — McNair
Funding

$1.65M grant from the Department of Education for Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to fund doctoral studies and careers in academia

hand holding up one finger with grad cap — First Gen Terps

UMD observes National First-Generation College Student Celebration Day, celebrating expanded higher education access to historically marginalized students

capitol dome — Grant news

Upward Bound Program Awarded 5-year, $3M grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support Prince George’s high school students

stop asian hate protestors — One Year Later

Dr. Janelle Wong, an Asian American Studies Professor, is part of team that finds continuing hate crimes impact all non-White groups

teacher in classroom — Teaching Prize

Donna B. Hamilton Teaching Awards recognize undergraduate teaching excellence in Gen Ed and in Office of Undgraduate Studies programs

bike architect's sketch — Gemstone Research

The Honors College's Gemstone teams present and defend their research projects, culminating four years of work

student holding cellphone with app — An app for that!

An undergrad developed an iPhone app called CollegeRO to make it easier to pursue opportunities in the Maryland Student Researchers database

student holding cellphone with app — 15+ years

Southern Management receives inaugural Presidential Flagship Award for support of the College Park community and Leadership Program

professor outside Arundel Hall — Scholar in Residence

Honors College Scholar-in-Residence Spends Semester Among Students in Residence Hall

cambridge university landscape — 2022 Churchill Scholars

Two Terps have been awarded Winston Churchill Scholarships at the University of Cambridge

Commencement Speaker

College Park Scholar Kiara Anthony '21 delivered the Winter 2021 address

stethoscope and judge's gavel — Health Justice Community

A new Carillon Community considers how information creates and intensifies health disparities

bird nest in tree — Featured Photographs

A New York Times op-ed features photographs by Dr. Leslie Brice, assistant director of the National Scholarship Office

Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars

Celebrating outstanding seniors and the impact of K-12 and faculty mentorship

happy birthday stamp — AAST Student creates a postal stamp

Rodolfo Castro ’21 and his wife created the new Happy Birthday stamp for the U.S. Postal Service

Gilman badge — Scholarship Top Producer

UMD Named Top Producer of Gilman Scholars; Commitment to Study Abroad by Students With Financial Need

SMLP student in front of lecture hall — Top 10
Ranking

UMD Ranked in Top 10 for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Southern Management Leadership Program recognized

artist rendering of badges — New UMD
Badges

UMD-branded badges are available for undergraduates to show skills not represented by traditional transcripts

protest signs and flowers on sidewalk — New Honors Programs

Students Will Gain Tools to Address Societal Challenges Through Interdisciplinary Curricula in Business and Global Affairs

Former president Mote at podium during luncheon — New name
for IAP

Incentive Awards Program is named for Former UMD President C.D. “Dan” Mote, Jr. who helped create the program

protest signs and flowers on sidewalk — Black and Asian Solidarity

Here’s what Black and Asian American solidarity could look like at UMD co-written by Dr. Julie Park, Director of Asian American Studies

students putting together a box — I-Series In the classroom

Architecture Class (both an I-Series and Scholarship in Practice course) Leaves Terps on the Edge of Their Seats

ann smith with Kirwan and Pres pines at ceremony — Kirwan
Award

Ann Smith, assistant dean in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, is honored for her efforts to promote team-based learning experiences

voting reminder on sticky notes — Vote for next First Year Book

The First Year Book Committee is accepting nominations for next year's book. Please share your recommendation

collage of currrent event icons — Presidential Distinguished Forums

The entire campus is invited by President Pines to hear experts working grand challenges

First Year Book cover — 2021-22 First Year Book

"What the Eyes Don't See" by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha Addresses Environmental Racism

New SMLP Director

Sara Herald, an experienced campus leader, is the new Director of the Southern Management Leadership Program

student at tv interview — Scholars Partner With Afghan Refugees

The project was among 20 completed as part of Scholars' annual Service Day

UH students hold up house t-shirts — UH Competition begins

University Honors Students join houses for community-building and competition that culminates in the "House Cup"

pulitzer medal — Honors Humanities alum wins Pulitzer

Megha Rajagopalan ’08 is a member of the BuzzFeed News correspondent’s team that won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize in the International Reporting category

hello written in different languages on chalkboard — Critical Language Scholarships

Twelve University of Maryland students were awarded the U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for intensive language study in summer 2021

welcome mat — New
Assistant Dean

Dr. Lawrence M. Clark joins UGST as Assistant Dean to work on learning outcomes assessment, General Education, diversity and inclusion, faculty and curriculum development, and more

storm seen from satallite — NOAA
Hollings
Scholarships

Five Terps win prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarships to study oceanic and atmospheric science

graduation stage — Honoring the graduates

Students involved in UGST programs are senior marshals and medialists. A Gemstone alum is the student speaker

female student in lab with lots of beakers — Top Undergrad Researchers

Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research honors the achievements of seven undergraduate researchers

Incentive Awards Program

Celebrating two decades of the Incentive Awards Program, which helps underserved students thrive

interesting library shelves — 20-21 National Scholarships

Congratulations to the recipients of these prestigious scholarships, fellows, awards and honors

grads throw caps in air with words: congrats terps — Top
Seniors

Students from the Honors College, College Park Scholars, and Federal Fellows among the top seniors

classroom in background words donna b hamilton teaching awards — Donna Hamilton
Teaching Awards

Two faculty members are recognized for excellence in undergraduate teaching

Lt. Collins
Scholarship

The first recipient is Joshua Winston ’22, a Germantown native and member of Army ROTC

helicopter with cadets — Chopper lands
on Chapel Field

ROTC cadets from Maryland’s Detachment 330 learn about Air Force careers as part of training exercise

Testudo mascot in stands with students — Cool
Classes

College Magazine features ten Gen Ed coures at UMD that show how interesting Gen Ed courses can be

vigil on sidewalk with signs and flowers — Stop Anti-Asian Racism

Learn about the history of Anti-Asian Bias and importance of reaching across racial lines

illustration of computers, campuses connected — Dinosaurs to Diets

OneClass highlights 15 interesting Gen Ed Classes at UMD

Jackie Lee and Gross couple stand together — Incentive Awards Program

$6.8M Gift to Expand the Incentive Awards Program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary

illustration of computers, campuses connected — Welcome Class of 2024

Hello to all 4,300 first-year Terps, including these students from CP Scholars, Gemstone and more

illustration of computers, campuses connected — 2020 Merrill Scholars

The Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honors UMD's top seniors and their mentors

frederick douglass statute — AAP Awarded Federal Grant

Funds provide additional counseling and academic services to low-income and first-gen college students

stickynote with words: don't be afraid to try different clubs, classes, majors — First Gen
Terps

Contribute to a new website for Terps who are the first in their families to attend college

Dr. Lewis at podium — AAP Celebrates 50 years

For 50 years, Academic Achievement Programs (AAP) has provided thousands of low-income, first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students with college access and retention support services

illustration of computers, campuses connected — Big 10 Course Sharing

Want to take a course on animal-computer interaction, but it’s not offered? Intrigued by a class called Pests, Plagues, Poisons and Politics? Register for a class offered through the Big Ten Academic Alliance Online Course Sharing Program

placeholder — University Honors Reimaged

From tracing the links between the American Revolution and SoundCloud rappers to brainstorming ways to improve campus, University Honors students step into a redesigned program meant to stretch the bounds of their thinking

sample9 — 2020
Resources

Keep Learning with strategies for being successful in an online learning environment, including advising resources and FAQs about policies. Plus: information about Internet access, Zoom, and study spaces

illustration of life scout badges — New Course for Post-College Life

In the newest UNIV offering, students learn the practical details of life after college, from 1099 forms to developing career goals and retirement plans

placeholder — 2020-21 First Year Book

Maryland Today highlights "Weapons of Math Destruction" by Cathy O'Neil and the importance of exploring biases in algorithms

Gemstone's 25th anniversary

The Honors College's Gemstone Program is celebrating 25 years of inquiry and impact

Dr. Pines at computer desk — Grand Challenges

Freshmen take course taught by President Pines looking at tough issues of our times and to share their own stories in hopes of effecting change