Save the Date: Campus Sustainability Month this October

October is recognized nationally as Campus Sustainability Month. The Office of Sustainability will be hosting multiple events during the month along with campus partners. Keep an eye out on our website and for a special newsletter update announcing the events along with sign-up links. 

Sustainability Work-Study Opportunity

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Office of Sustainability is seeking a Federal Work-Study student for a Program Administration-Sustainability position. The selected student will help implement programs and initiatives supporting UMB’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, including efforts to reduce waste, increase recycling, expand composting opportunities, and promote sustainability across campus. To apply, email a résumé to sustainability@umaryland.edu

Read the full Elm article to learn more.

Campus Involvement Fair

Friday, Sept. 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

School of Nursing Lawn

Find the Office of Sustainability at the Campus Involvement Fair! We will be joining a variety of student organizations, campus departments, and local nonprofits tabling. Our office will provide answers to questions, share resources, and give away reusable swag. We hope to see you there.

This event is part of Fall Kick-Off. View the UMBengaged page for the most up-to-date information.

September SustainabiliTea Session



Tuesday, Sept. 1, 9 a.m.

Virtual, Microsoft Teams

The Office of Sustainability will be hosting our September open office hour virtually via Microsoft Teams. Stop in to say hello, ask questions, or share ideas. BYOT (bring your own tea!)

Join the Sustainability Community Microsoft Team to learn more.

September Walking Wednesdays!

Join the Office of Sustainability for Walking Wednesdays! To celebrate the start of the academic year, we're partnering with Student Success, Leadership, and Engagement, the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE), Officer Summers, and the UMB Police comfort K9 for a special Fall Kick-Off: Walking Wednesday x Place to Place event. Meet us at noon in front of the SMC Campus Center (621 W. Lombard St.) as we walk through UMB's BioPark to OCCE's Community Engagement Center at 16 S. Poppleton St.

The other walks will proceed as planned on the second and fourth Wednesday! Meet at the Lexington Building at 12 p.m. to go on an approximately 30- to 45-minute walk with us around campus.

September Dates:

• *Special Fall Kick-Off Walk* Sept. 2, 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
• Sept. 9, 12 p.m.-12:45 p.m. with special guests Officer Summers and police comfort K9, Poe
• Sept. 23, 12 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Join the Sustainability Community Microsoft Team and follow the Walking Wednesdays Channel for the most up-to-date information and reminders.

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Conference in Baltimore

UMB is proud to be a host institution for the 2026 AASHE Conference & Expo, taking place in Baltimore. As one of the premier sustainability conferences for higher education professionals, the event brings together leaders, practitioners, researchers, and students to share innovative solutions and best practices that advance sustainability on campuses and in communities.

UMB is partnering with fellow University System of Maryland institutions and other regional organizations to welcome attendees from across the country and showcase the sustainability work happening throughout Maryland.

A registration discount is available through UMB and other host institutions. For more information on the conference and how to access the discounted registration rate, please contact sustainability@umaryland.edu.

Sierra Iola

Sierra Iola is a Baltimore-based artist whose work explores the experience of living in cities designed for cars rather than people. Through her art, she examines how suburban and urban planning models contribute to environmental degradation, social inequity, and feelings of isolation. Her work also raises questions about the connections between land use, consumption, expansion, and the historical legacy of white supremacy. Iola's work is currently on display at the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL).

Read about Iola's exhibit at the HSHSL.

Individual Compost Bins for Students

Did you know that UMB students can receive a free compost bin? Thanks to funding from the University Student Government Association (USGA), the Office of Sustainability has approximately 75 compost bins available for students. Compost can be dropped off at on-campus collection sites in the SMC Campus Center and the Community Engagement Center.

Reach out to sustainability@umaryland.edu if you are a student interested in a compost bin.