University President Darryll J. Pines sent the following email to the particular campus community today:
My fellow Terrapins,
Welcome to the Fall 2022 semester!
It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating our graduates at spring commencement, but the events of this summer demonstrate that our world is moving forward fast. If there’s a theme of our forthcoming semester, it is this: Do not sit on the sidelines to see what happens next. Help create the world, community plus university you want.
Every year, our university offers countless ways to engage in critical and evolving issues. I challenge every member associated with our campus community in order to find ways to get involved, advocate for your beliefs, listen respectfully to other perspectives and embrace our own open marketplace of ideas. Our campus is where change can begin.
Taking on grand challenges
This summer, the particular Supreme Court handed down decisions that have significant impacts upon our ability to safeguard rights for women, fight climate change plus regulate guns. We saw the income gap continue to widen, with more American families in hardship.
As an college, as scientists, as innovators, as truth-finders, it is our duty to be at the forefront of today’s most pressing issues. Here at Maryland, we are uniquely positioned to take on the grand difficulties of the time, and we should rise proudly to that call for action. We do not take our mission to serve the public good lightly, and as an administration, we will perform our part.
In June, our country was divided by a Supreme Courtroom decision that will undermines individuals’ ability to make personal health choices. Maryland will be one of about a dozen states that long ago took measures to preserve abortion access. Here on campus, our own University Health Center plus Counseling Center will carry on to provide a wide variety of services and support to the campus local community. But these privileges should not be taken for granted, and I encourage anyone who feels strongly about this issue to keep on to advocate for your values, your rights and the legal rights of others.
Our own outstanding faculty and researchers across campus are working in order to address weather change–from global policy to atmospheric chemistry. In fact, this year’s First Year Book , “All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the particular Climate Crisis, ” is usually an anthology of essays, poetry and art with a diverse group of women leading the charge on environment solutions. One of my very first announcements as president has been to commit this university or college to carbon neutrality by 2025 on an accelerated timeline. A carbon-neutral campus is a significant step, but now it’s time to set our sights on greatly reducing dependency on fossil fuels. I am announcing today that we are committed to a fossil fuel-free power plant under the NextGen Energy Program simply by 2035.
I feel proud in order to be top a call for modify on gun violence with the launch of a new partnership with George Mason College as well as the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The 120 Initiative, named in honor of the more than 120 people who die on average each day from rifle violence, brings together experts from 15 area universities to research solutions aimed at reducing gun violence. This is definitely an uniquely American grand challenge.
And as for wages, I am proud to announce nowadays that we will be raising the minimum wage for every student employee to $15 an hour, effective January 1, 2023—three years before the state requirement. This is a significant multimillion-dollar investment in a key pillar of our strategic plan : in order to invest in people plus communities.
These initiatives are important, but I’ll say it again. Do not sit back and watch. We all live in the same globe, and we all need to contribute to solutions to improve our planet for almost all humankind.
A changing campus
While there are traditions on our campus that I hope never change—may Testudo’s bronze nose never grow dull! —we can always count on alter that helps reshape our own leadership, surroundings and daily routines.
First, all of us welcome three new deans as bold leaders with regard to the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Behavioral plus Social Sciences, and University of Education. Deans Stephanie Shonekan, Susan Rivera and Kimberly The. Griffin bring decades associated with expertise, exemplary research in their fields, and a strong sense of identity and inclusion to the particular work that will lies ahead.
Second, we welcome the Class of 2026 to College Park. This class is the most diverse in our history and includes increased numbers of students of color, first-generation college students and low-income students. This amazing diversity reflects our commitment to creating the multicultural neighborhood where each Terrapin can reach their full potential and embark on a good educational journey to release their careers.
Third, the campus landscape is also changing. With the opening of Johnson-Whittle Hall plus Yahentamitsi Dining Hall, our new Heritage Community is now complete. We announced upon my first day while president the importance of honoring those who have shaped our own past and present, and I is proud that we right now have four new structures that honor Maryland trailblazers. The new state-of-the-art home for the School of Public Policy has opened its doors, plus ground will be broken soon with an interdisciplinary engineering building.
And finally, College Park’s worst best-kept secret will be that Trader Joe’s will certainly open on Baltimore Avenue this fall. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Leading the change
All of the incoming teachers, staff and students today know what it is in order to be TerrapinSTRONG : to engage diversity, acknowledge our history, show Terrapin pride and take action to advance equity, addition and social justice. A program that is usually only a year old, it perfectly embodies the two priorities a person will hear me condition again plus again: to promote excellence within everything we all do; and to create an inclusive, multicultural campus environment.
Come early july, our understanding of the distant universe expanded. We were dazzled by a glimpse of interacting galaxies along with a new view from the cosmos. Thank you, science. We furthermore recognized 50-year milestones of both the Pell Grant and Title IX, each hailed for increasing opportunities plus equity in higher education.
As we enter into a new academic 12 months amidst tremendous change, I am reminded of the words associated with two trailblazers. First, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Fight for the particular things you care about, yet do this in a way that will lead others to join you. ” Second, the late Congressman from Georgia John Lewis: “Never ever be afraid to make some noise and get into some good trouble, necessary problems. ”
Let’s have a great school year together, Terps, as we look Fearlessly Forward.
Sincerely,