Our Progress Moving Fearlessly Forward
August 26, 2025
Dear Terrapin friends and supporters,
At the University of Maryland, our mission is clear: to offer an accessible, affordable, and world-class education that empowers students, and to transform lives across our community and beyond through our research, scholarship and creative activities.
As we prepare for a new academic year, we continue to be guided by the vision we’ve set forth to dedicate ourselves to the public good, which is ingrained in our work through our strategic plan, Fearlessly Forward: In Pursuit of Excellence and Impact for the Public Good.
Three years into the implementation of Fearlessly Forward, our community has come together in an unprecedented way to reimagine learning, take on humanity’s grand challenges, partner to advance the public good and invest in people and communities.
While the full report shares a broad look at our progress, I want to highlight a few key ways we’re turning vision into impact:
Educating the next generation of leaders
We are offering our students unique academic programs that meet today’s workforce needs. In partnership with the Arts for All initiative, our Immersive Media Design program, which doubled its enrollment last year, blends computer science and the arts to prepare students for careers in growing fields like medical simulation, virtual instruction and interactive design.
The Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland is UMD’s hub for AI research, education and collaboration. Our experts are working on projects that will personalize health care, help teachers improve learning outcomes, protect our food supply and so much more. In response to rapid workforce demand, we’ve launched two new AI degree programs, with three more underway. Our free online certificate in AI and Career Empowerment has attracted over 25,000 registrants worldwide in just three months.
With support from our Teaching Innovation Grants, faculty are integrating technology, real-world experience, and inclusive practices into hundreds of courses—like one using virtual reality to take students inside a working manufacturing plant to show supply chain management in action. These efforts are helping thousands of students build job-ready skills.
Our graduates’ success speaks for itself—91% report going on to the workforce, pursuing advanced degrees, starting businesses, serving in the military or volunteering for public service within six months of graduation.
Fueling Maryland, its economy and people
As the state’s flagship institution, we’re proud to offer an affordable, accessible and value-rich education to Marylanders across every county—with an in-state tuition well below average among leading public research universities across the country. We’ve invested over $30 million back into state residents through our Terrapin Commitment need-based aid program—supporting more than 5,700 Maryland students with the greatest financial need.
We’re also a powerful economic engine for the state—helping to launch 75+ startups, employing over 15,000 people, and creating a $3.7 billion economic benefit. This year, Governor Moore launched the Capital of Quantum, a $1 billion initiative to make Maryland a national leader in quantum technology, centered in UMD’s Discovery District, which could bring hundreds of new jobs to the state.
Our support for the state stretches beyond its economy, straight to its people, amplified by the launch of our Center for Community Engagement. The Center is making connections across communities, including strengthening the impact of our Do Good Campus initiative. This year’s annual Do Good Challenge included student-led efforts to support patients at Children’s National Hospital, recover surplus food and empower youth entrepreneurs.
Impacting life and lives
At UMD, we are focused on impacting society in real and meaningful ways. Our Grand Challenges Grants program funds big ideas with real-world implications. It’s already attracted nearly twice our original investment from outside funders.
These projects span the globe, with more than 30,000 people engaged in 55 countries, and impact reaching every Maryland county. In addition, over 1,500 students are gaining hands-on experience in research and community work.
We’re helping communities prepare for extreme weather with new sensor towers, supporting urban farms in Baltimore with sustainable water systems, and collaborating with state leaders to improve student literacy—just a few examples of our impact in action.
Moving fearlessly forward
Our momentum is strong. We have maintained our prominence as one of the country’s top institutions of higher education, reaching our highest overall ranking from U.S. News & World Report at No. 44—rising 20 spots since 2020—and our highest ranking in over a decade among public universities at No. 17. I am certain our ascent is not done.
While these times are both exciting and challenging, we are ready to meet the moment in support of our ambitious goal to improve the lives of every person on Earth.
We will dedicate ourselves to advancing the public good because our individual well-being is enduringly bound to our collective well-being.
Fearlessly Forward Strategic Plan
It takes a whole community—from our students, faculty and staff to our alumni, supporters, state leaders and partners—to make this plan a success. In just a few years, we’ve made a significant impact, and I’m excited for what’s still to come!
To our fearless future,
Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost
She/Her/Hers