The Office of Family Engagement believes establishing a relationship with parents and family members is an important component of a successful University of Maryland experience for students. We are here to offer support to you—as parents and family—so that you can, in turn, provide the necessary guidance, direction, advice, and support for your students. We are also here to provide you with opportunities to get involved in the University of Maryland community and contribute to the educational experience of your student.
Please use this website as your main source for information at the University, to help connect you with valuable resources and services, to inform and educate you about important student issues, and to facilitate your involvement as a parent or family member. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunities that await you, and that you will continue to play an active role in your student's life. Go Terps!
First-Year Student
The first year of college is a time of big transitions, and support from family can play an important and helpful role during this critical year. Take a look at the transition timeline so you can anticipate some challenges and discover ways to provide support.
Second-Year Student
The second year can be a time of uncertainty and soul-searching as students find their direction, continue exploring their interests, choose a major, and more.
Third-Year Student
At this time in their academic career, students are often enrolling in more rigorous and specialized courses, and identifying internships and other opportunities that can serve them well in their life after Maryland.
Fourth-Year & Beyond Student
This is a time of finalization, reflection, and transition as students complete their degree requirements and solidify post-graduation plans--all while trying to make the most of their remaining time at UMD. It can also be a time of great uncertainty.
Land Acknowledgment
Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment. Truth and acknowledgment are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference. So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl, and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life. This Land Acknowledgement is a reminder for each of us as two-leggeds to ensure our physical environment is in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations.
