‘Terps in Service’ Initiative Encourages Employee Volunteerism

University President Darryll J. Pines sent the following message to faculty and staff today:

The University of Maryland has a long history of service to our surrounding communities. From our annual Good Neighbor Day events to the numerous partnerships between campus groups and community organizations, Terps make a genuine difference in the lives of our neighbors.

Our collective commitment of service to humanity is why I am encouraging the campus community to make volunteering a regular part of our lives. The Terps in Service initiative is designed to support employees who want to volunteer time to help our communities. Patterned after and in support of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's Just Serve initiative, Terps in Service unites employees in volunteer efforts and recognizes the exceptional community service that occurs year-round.

Employees are encouraged to volunteer at any time during the academic year, and particularly now through Oct. 10, to coincide with the governor's initiative. Regular and Contingent 2 employees are eligible for up to four hours of paid administrative leave for service performed as part of this program through May 31, 2022. University Human Resources will send details about how to record this leave.

We want to hear about your volunteer experience. I encourage you to submit a brief summary of your service opportunity to the Office of Community Engagement. This will help us to showcase UMD's commitment to active volunteerism.

You can learn about volunteer opportunities at area organizations by visiting the governor's Just Serve website or the UMD Office of Community Engagement website.

We encourage all faculty and staff to give back to the community through volunteer service. Your efforts make a difference!

Sincerely,

Darryll J. Pines
President, University of Maryland
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