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Confidentiality

The Importance of Confidentiality

The search for the next President of the University of Maryland, College Park will be a considered, deliberative, and confidential process designed to incorporate diverse perspectives from across the University community. While the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland holds ultimate responsibility for selecting the next President, the Board seeks input from key internal and external constituencies, alumni/alumnae, and local, state, federal, and other public and private partners of the University. A Search Committee has been established to advise the Board of Regents. The composition of the Search Committee reflects the critical importance of inclusion to the process and was developed to incorporate a broad range of perspectives and a diverse set of ideas and input; the Committee is charged with overseeing the confidential search process, evaluating the pool of potential candidates, and providing recommendations on a slate of the best-qualified finalists for the Board’s consideration.
 
Throughout the search process, the identities of candidates will be protected to ensure that the Search Committee can attract the deepest, most diverse, and most highly qualified pool of candidates possible. Many prospective candidates expect confidentiality in searches at the presidential level so as not to endanger their current positions. The strongest candidates are unlikely to be “on the market,” and instead are likely to be engaged in important work at their current institutions. Candidates have a vested interest in maintaining good relations with their leadership, donors, and constituents, which could be jeopardized if their interest in a new position were to become public information. Given the importance of recruiting the strongest pool of candidates possible, each member of the Search Committee signed the following confidentiality agreement to ensure that they uphold the principles of the search:
 
As a member of the search committee for the search for the President of the University of Maryland, I recognize and respect the essential need for confidentiality and integrity in the conduct of this search. By my signature below, I pledge to adhere to the following:
 
  1. I agree to protect the confidentiality of all deliberations, written materials, and other communications related to the work of the search committee. This includes information developed and received about prospects, candidates and their employing institutions. I understand that this is necessary to attract the highest quality candidates, to avoid putting their current positions in jeopardy, and to protect the University of Maryland’s integrity.
  2. I agree that I will not discuss or communicate in any manner any such confidential information with anyone other than members of the search committee or people expressly designated by the search committee co-chairs to receive such confidential information.
  3. I recognize that my obligation to maintain confidentiality as described above applies before and after the search committee completes its work.
  4. I acknowledge that only the co-chairs of the search committee are authorized to speak to the news media on behalf of the search committee.
  5. I certify that I am not a candidate for the position.
  6. I agree to disclose promptly to the co-chairs of the search committee any real or potential conflict of interest, or appearance thereof, in a relationship between me and a prospect or candidate.
  7. In my conduct on the search committee, I will abide by these general principles: I will adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct; I will guard against inaccuracies, carelessness, bias, and distortion made by either emphasis or omission of information; I will strive to treat issues impartially and handle controversial subjects dispassionately; and I will treat all members of the committee with civility and respect.
  8. I pledge that I will not contact individuals for informal references or other information on candidates unless this is specifically requested by the search committee.
  9. If requested, I will give accurate and complete reports on candidates to the co-chairs of the search committee.
  10. I will place the best interests of the University of Maryland ahead of all special and personal interests, and I will use common sense and good judgment in applying ethical principles to all search committee work.
  11. I consider the letter and spirit of this statement to be a matter of personal responsibility.

Search Guidelines (PDF)

 

About

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

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Academics

Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 300 degree-granting programs, many of them ranked among the best in the country. Our faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. And our students, who include the highest achievers in the state and nation, enjoy experiences unique to our location just outside the nation’s capital, including internships, research, and leadership and service opportunities.

Schools and Colleges

Research and Innovation

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.

Arts

At the University of Maryland, the arts, the humanities and the sciences intersect to address important societal issues and shed new light on the human experience. Our vibrant campus arts community collaborates with local and national cultural organizations such as the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center and Folger Shakespeare Library. Student and faculty artists, designers, historians, writers and performers are exploring new media, presenting new perspectives, investigating new techniques and engaging new audiences.

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Athletics

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!

Student Life

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. 

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Terps are bold, smart, curious and proud. We do good, in our communities and out in the world. We are fearless. And we are always looking to expand our ranks. Interested in becoming a University of Maryland student? This is where to start.

 

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Giving back is a fearless Terp tradition, and there are many ways you can not only keep it alive, but also make an instant impact. 

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