FAQs

Mold is a substance that commonly and naturally occurs in indoor and outdoor environments.  It is not unusual for the university to respond to 250 reports of mold in residence halls in an academic year.  The fall 2018 semester was highly unusual, however.  After three weeks of intense and prolonged rainfall, high heat, and sustained high humidity, we received 1,750 reports of mold from residential students.  Many other higher education and K-12 institutions in Maryland and elsewhere also experienced excessive mold during this same time period.  Experts in mold remediation reported that similar weather conditions had not existed in Maryland in 120 years.

As the unusually large number of reports of mold were received, the university responded promptly to address the situation.  We consulted with and followed the recommendations of the University of Maryland Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk; the federal Environmental Protection Agency; and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding remediation practices.  Calls and reports of mold in residence halls were responded to typically within one day, and were addressed based upon the source of the moisture.  Mold on surfaces was remediated in accordance with national guidelines.

The university hired five independent companies to assist.  We used one outside consultant to investigate sources of visible mold and make recommendations regarding the appropriate course of action.  We hired remediation specialists to do a comprehensive cleaning of rooms, following industry standards.  These specialists also cleaned and verified the working condition of each fan coil unit in the individual air conditioning units in residence hall rooms.  Another contractor provided an independent verification that the cleaning and remediation was complete and acceptable prior to re-occupancy.  University of Maryland Residential Facilities management staff remained on site and supervised all work.

To facilitate a thorough cleaning of Elkton Hall, students were moved temporarily, floor-by-floor, to local hotels.  The HVAC system in Elkton Hall does not recirculate air from room to room or floor to floor; thus, it was not necessary that the entire building be evacuated at one time.

Going forward, we will engage in a multi-faceted approach to ensure moisture control and dehumidification in our residence halls, while responding to any issue that may arise promptly and thoroughly.  Examples of planned work include but are not limited to roof replacements, HVAC system enhancements, installation of portable dehumidifiers, and storm water management.

Shortly after fall opening, our region experienced an extended period of unusually high heat that lasted into mid-September. As the hot weather persisted, Resident Life staff worked with partners in Residential Facilities to take the following actions:

• We purchased nearly 400 fans and made them available at service desks in buildings without air conditioning.
• Residential Facilities installed large fans in many hallways without air-conditioning to increase air circulation.
• We notified students about cooling locations within each hall (e.g., A/C lounges), adjacent to non-A/C halls, and in other areas of campus (such as the Eppley Recreation Center and South Campus Dining Hall).
• We extended card access to Prince Frederick Hall for Worcester, Wicomico, and Carroll Hall residents to allow them to access Prince Frederick floor lounges for study and cooling stations.