Free expression, civil discourse and understanding your rights

Dear campus community, 

As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, we are reminded that a healthy democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas, respect for differing viewpoints and care for one another. The University of Maryland is a community grounded in these values. 

We aim to create an environment where people can learn, teach, work and succeed—all while striving for excellence. We are proud that this happens every day on our campus, where we invest in people and communities. Just as our nation's strength lies in the diversity of people who comprise it, so too does our campus community.

College campuses are places where ideas are debated, knowledge is shared, viewpoints are expressed and, even when viewpoints differ, respect guides how we engage with one another. These are principles both foundational to our democracy and to higher education. Upholding them and maintaining this environment takes practice and adherence to shared values and guidelines. 

As we celebrate this anniversary for our country and begin a new semester on our campus, we are providing resources and information to help us uphold these principles.


Community Spaces for Expression on Campus
Our community grows stronger as we welcome new ideas and a variety of perspectives. UMD supports lawful expression and offers multiple pathways for sharing our voices on campus.

When expressive activities are planned, university representatives work with organizers to provide guidance, coordinate security and offer support through a trained resource team. As always, campus safety remains paramount, and our university police assess each situation in close coordination with campus leadership to determine appropriate safety measures.

Designated expressive spaces on campus, such as McKeldin Mall and Hornbake Plaza, may be reserved by internal or external groups whose views may or may not reflect the university’s values. As a public institution, we cannot discriminate on the basis of content or viewpoint.

We encourage students, faculty and staff to visit freespeech.umd.edu for our Statement on Free Speech Values and guidance on protected and unprotected speech, academic freedom, civility and respect. We also encourage any member of the community who feels they’ve experienced threatening or intimidating conduct, bias, discrimination or harassment to promptly report such incidents through one or more of the resources listed on the above website.


Federal Law Enforcement Activity and Campus Safety
We understand that recent federal changes and national events may have caused concern for some members of our community. 

Please know that at this time, we are not aware of any planned activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Office of Inspector General or other agencies on campus. We encourage you to review the campus guidance we have shared regarding interactions with government officials. 

UMD has followed, and will continue to follow, the law.

In addition, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Maryland (OAG) offers a resource, Know Your Rights, which addresses several issues, including immigration matters. The OAG has also compiled a comprehensive website with resources to support our Maryland immigrant community. 

UMPD follows the OAG’s guidance for interacting with federal law enforcement agencies. We encourage you to contact UMPD if you have questions or concerns about any activity you observe on campus.


Additional Campus Resources
We also invite you to make use of the resources available on the university’s federal relations webpage and the International Students and Scholars Services’ news webpage. In addition, if students have any questions or concerns, they should contact the Dean of Students Office. Also, the Thrive Center for Essential Needs provides short-term emergency support and long-term support services that address the most essential needs necessary for student well-being, belonging, academic success and thriving.


Promoting Civil Discourse
UMD also offers a range of programs and initiatives designed to support the free exchange of ideas, civic engagement and respectful dialogue. For example:

• The Maryland Democracy Initiative helps support the development of knowledge and skills for people to engage thoughtfully in civic life through interdisciplinary, community-centered research, teachings and programs.
• The Center for Community Engagement facilitates community partnerships to support impact-driven and community-centered teaching, research and service that advances the public good.
• Students can also find significant civic engagement and service volunteer opportunities through the Leadership and Community Service-Learning office in the Stamp.
• The Intergroup Dialogue (InDi) Training Hub offers training and workshops rooted in research‑based practices to help participants listen across differences, communicate with empathy and engage thoughtfully on complex topics.
• The TerpsVote Coalition is a nonpartisan initiative at the University of Maryland whose mission is to increase civic engagement at UMD by providing educational resources to our community and institutionalizing positive voting behavior.
• The Common Ground Dialogue Program provides structured, peer-led discussions where students can practice respectful dialogue on challenging or contemporary issues.

These programs provide practical ways for all of us to engage thoughtfully, learn from one another and strengthen the sense of community that makes UMD a place where everyone can be heard and feel a sense of belonging.

Thank you for the care and respect you show one another every day. Together, we will continue to foster a safe, respectful and engaged campus community.

Sincerely,