Our focus has been on the health and well-being of our entire campus community, and our plans have been coordinated with state and county health officials, with additional guidance provided by the University System of Maryland.
On this page:
UMD does not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. However, COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended. We encourage students, faculty and staff to assess their personal COVID-19 health risk and take appropriate measures.
Students, faculty and staff do not need to be tested regularly.
On-Campus Testing With or Without Symptoms
Off-Campus Testing
If you have been notified that you are a close contact and do not have symptoms, you should get tested 5-7 days after exposure. You may also need to quarantine, if you are not up to date on your vaccines.
Wearing a mask is not required while indoors. However, masks are a significant defense against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, so wearing a high-quality mask is recommended while indoors for added protection.
KN95 masks are still available free of charge to all members of our campus community.
All university-related travel is permitted. University-related travel is travel for educational, research or business purposes tied to the traveler’s affiliation with the university, regardless of funding source.
We are in an ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. The CDC recommends making sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel and avoiding travel to certain high risk destinations.
If you are unvaccinated and travel, your risk of contracting and getting seriously sick from the virus is higher compared to individuals who are up-to-date with their vaccine, and it is critically important to assess your health risk with your healthcare provider and to follow CDC recommendations prior to and during travel.
Some people should not travel. Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine. Don’t travel with someone who is sick. If you are immunocompromised, do NOT travel without first seeking advice from your personal physician.
Make sure to plan ahead. When traveling in the US, check the current COVID-19 Community Level at your destination. If traveling to an area with high or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, and you are, live with, or are visiting someone with a weakened immune system or at increased risk for severe disease, plan to take steps to prevent getting sick.
When traveling internationally, check the COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination and follow these recommendations to protect yourself and others while traveling.
If, at any time while you travel, you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or begin to feel unwell, please stay away from others and get tested as soon as possible. If you test positive, report your results at return.umd.edu. You are also advised to seek medical attention immediately, especially if you have a chronic health condition or are immunocompromised.
If you travel, please heed all CDC, federal, State and local guidance regarding travel. CDC guidance is updated regularly. CDC guidance can be found at the following links:
Individuals with a weakened or compromised immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19, including an increased risk of hospitalization and death. If you are unvaccinated and have a weakened or compromised immune system, you are at the highest risk for contracting and becoming severely ill from the virus.
State of Maryland
Prince George’s County
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The University of Maryland is one of the world’s premier research institutions. With our strategic location and scores of partnerships with government and businesses, UMD conducts groundbreaking research on some of the biggest challenges facing our global community, including cybersecurity and terrorism, bioengineering, public health equity, food safety and climate change. We strive to discover new knowledge and put it to work through innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing economic development and transforming lives.
The newly launched Innovation Gateway will guide you to the resources, programs, partners, and spaces you need to activate and scale your fearless ideas into innovations that launch new ventures, catalyze growth, and advance economic development.
Home of the Terrapins, the University of Maryland has one of the nation’s most recognizable and successful athletics programs. More than 550 student-athletes compete each year in 20 intercollegiate sports—12 for women and eight for men. Since 2005 alone, Maryland has won 19 national championships, including NCAA titles in women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men's lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014, UMD has won a combined 32 regular season and tournament championships. Fear the Turtle!
The Terp experience extends beyond classrooms, labs and studios. It encompasses residence halls and dining halls, clubs and sports, fraternities and sororities, campus events and performances, and countless off-campus destinations. Maryland touts 800-plus student organizations, dozens of prestigious living and learning communities, and countless other ways to get involved. Students here can create a unique identity and grow as individuals, even as they’re part of a close-knit and diverse community.