Residential Services

The University of Maryland’s Residential Facilities work each day to:

• Deliver the highest standards of safety, cleanliness and comfort for those who live and work at the university.
• Improve services and the residential environment now and for the future.
• Build a satisfying relationship with customers.
• Create and maintain a reputation for competent, reliable and responsive service.
• Support the academic mission of the university and the achievement of academic excellence by individuals.
• Serve as advocates for the needs of residents and solve facility issues.
• Show a genuine respect for individuals and their differences.
• Make our organization a good place to work.
• Participate in programs and activities that benefit individuals, our campus, our community and the environment.

Green Cleaning
Building Services is a certified provider of Green Cleaning for all Resident Halls. Certification is granted by a third party surveyor of the program and certifies that Building Services is in compliance with all Cleaning Industry Management Standards (CIMS) as well as the Green standards for buildings (CIMS-GB). Building Services’ goal is to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals in the cleaning environment while still providing a clean and healthy environment. Green products are typically free from scents and dyes that could cause allergic reactions in residents and staff. The majority of our products are Green Seal certified, including paper products and plastic liners.

Integrated Pest Management
The department’s in-house IPM program is designed to reduce use of pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals while emphasizing the use of non-pesticide techniques and strategies. The overall program objective is to minimize the environmental impacts of the department’s pest management operations and help protect the health of both employees and building occupants.

Cleaning for Health
Building Services provides cleaning services to Resident Hall and Recreation Facilities (Eppley Recreation Center). They utilize hospital grade disinfectants to ensure that surfaces in the facilities are cleaned and free of harmful germs that could affect the learning environment. During the school year when the Flu or other germs are present they implement enhanced cleaning of Frequently Touched Surfaces in public areas, such as: community bathrooms, lounges, corridors, elevators, lobbies, meeting rooms and classrooms.

24-Hour Service Center/After Hours Response
Residential Facilities provides 24-hour response to residence halls through the 4WORK Call Center. Staff will respond to various calls as they are requested. These calls can include: utility interruptions, no heat, flood response, elevator outages, disinfection needs, spill clean-up and other similar emergencies.

Snow Removal
Residential Facilities staff plans for and responds to inclement weather events such as snow. Outside contractors, as well as Residential Facilities staff, are on site to clear walkways around halls to enable students, staff and guests to get to class, dining halls, etc. safely.

ADA
The University of Maryland’s buildings currently provide many levels of compliance and accessibility. All new construction and renovations will follow 2010 ADA. Prior to 2010, Building Services have focused on providing program access within residence halls and Greek chapter houses in coordination with Accessibility and Disability Service. They have ensured compliance and accessibility within new/renovated restrooms, community bathrooms, public spaces and academic program spaces. The Resident Life Assignments and Residential Facilities staff work with residents and their families on an individual basis to best match available facilities across both North and South campus with student needs for accessible features and proximity to classes.

The University of Maryland’s Department of Resident Life provides educational programming, campaigns and policies related to safety, health and wellbeing.

Safety and Security Initiatives

• Be Safe and Protect Your Shell: A poster series shared throughout residence halls educating students about safety tips and reminding students of available university resources.
• Safety Email Campaigns: Safety messaging and resources are sent to all residents at the start of the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Fall Welcome Program: The Fall Welcome Program introduces students to various health, safety and wellness messages both formally through welcome meetings and informally through engaging programs like FreeFest, Bend and Bagels, Late Night Terp Thing, RecWellcome, and Sunset Yoga.
• Lock Your Door Campaign: These campaigns include messages about personal safety, keeping doors locked, and preventing tailgating in the residence halls.
• Safety and Security Programs: Resident Life partners with the University of Maryland Police Department to host community programs focused on safety and security.
• Off-Campus Housing Resources: The Off-Campus Housing office distributes a safety and security handout at the Off-Campus Housing Fairs, leasing events and makes it available in their office and on their webpage.
• Resident Assistant Meetings: Resident Assistants provide education and orientation of safety and security messages at First Unit/Floor Meetings.
• Community Bulletin Boards: Community Bulletin Boards with a variety of safety messages are distributed throughout all residence halls.
• Residence Hall Conduct Policies: Residence Hall Conduct processes are in place to ensure community accountability, education regarding Rights and Responsibilities and staffing to support education and policy enforcement.
• Hate-Bias Response Resources: Residence Hall Hate-Bias Response and “Rightful Place” resources are provided to residents.

Safety and Security Policies, Procedures, Practices and Staffing

• Residence halls are locked 24/7 with access limited to building residents and staff.
• An electronic card access system is used in all traditional residence halls, and additional card access is required for elevator use.
• Call boxes are provided on Residence Hall entrances for guests to contact the person they are visiting. Residents must meet guests at the front door to allow them access to the building.
• Security cameras are installed in building entrances and foyers.
• Spare key loans are provided for residents who are locked out of their room.
• Fire drills are conducted once each semester in all residence halls.
• Residence hall service desks are staffed 24/7 for mail, packages, room lockouts, and student assistance.
• Resident Life staff is available 24/7 through a multi-layered, robust duty system that includes Resident Assistants, Resident Directors, a Community Director, and Assistant and Associate Director level staff.
• Resident Assistant duty rotations are in place through residence hall communities after business hours.
• Resident Life staff conducts Health and Safety room inspections four times throughout the academic year. These inspections include in-room visits to inspect several areas related to the health and safety of residents.

Health and Wellness Initiatives

• Resident Life facilitates Community Living Agreements with residents to discuss roommate expectations and provide staff mediation assistance.
• Resident Life collaborates with the University Counseling Center to provide staff support for programming and follow up on crisis situations.
• Resident Life partners with the University Health Center to co-sponsor The Gold Code campaign to educate students in safe and responsible drinking habits, which includes a distributed poster series, cell phone wallets and educational messaging provided during Fall Welcome events.
• Resident Life partners with the Division of Student Affairs to sponsor Terps After Dark, alcohol free, late-night programming on campus.
• Resident Life works collaboratively with the University Health Center regarding alcohol assessments.
• Resident Life supports the Cover Your Cough educational campaign during cold and flu season by posting mirror clings, posters and bulletin board materials in the residence halls.
• The Resident Life Student and Community Development Programs (SCDP) office partners with the Health Center to host an STI testing events.
• The SCDP Office partnered with the UMD Sexual Assault Prevention Committee to host the Terps Step Up! For Spring Break event to provide residents with information about bystander intervention.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives

• Resident Life updated its mental health transport follow-up protocols.
• Resident Life collaborates with Mental Health on-call system of support during crisis situations.
• Resident Life created two new Resident Life Case Manager positions to follow up and serve as a direct liaison with students of concern to help connect them to university resources.
• Resident Life created the Terps Take Care Website to:
  • Provide a centralized location for resources and contact information
  • House newsletters which are emailed to students twice a semester. The newsletter offers tips about self-care (importance of sleep, support networks, mindfulness, etc.) and spotlights on-campus resources.
  • Offer a blog containing entries from students and staff to provide additional new content between newsletters. The blog contains spotlights on on-campus resources, student reviews of wellness apps, and experiences with mental health.
  • Provide the Terps Talk About Mental Health Video Series. This project involves a series of videos in which students share their stories and encourage others to seek help.
• Resident Life created and hosted the Terps Take Care Interactive Mental Health Fair. This resource fair engaged more than 25 groups and organizations that support students, friends and families regarding mental health.
• Resident Life distributes resource cards surrounding mental health.
• Resident Life provides Mental Health First Aid training to student staff, student leaders and professional staff. Resident Life provides From the Case Files of the Case Managers Lunch & Learn Series. This is an ongoing training program for Residence Hall staff and Living Learning Program staff addressing issues related to Mental Health. Topics for this year include: food scarcity, second-hand trauma, ADHD, imposter syndrome, nutrition and supporting trans students.

Community Development Strategy
The Department of Resident Life has a robust Community Development Strategy to guide Resident Assistants (RAs) who serve as the architects of their community. The development of the community relies on the RAs developing genuine relationships with and between residents and is enhanced through purposeful programs and activities.
As a part of community development, RAs are expected to educate residents on a number of topics centered on safety, health and wellbeing by hosting both active and passive programming.
Resident Life has also identified a number of important talking points for RAs to discuss with residents. These include sexual assault, fire safety, theft, securing belongings, safety in the residence halls and on campus, tailgating, alcohol use/safety, and marijuana use/safety.

Assignments Considerations

• Resident Life provides the Assignments Consideration Form for residents to alert them to housing needs and considerations.
• Resident Life provides Mixed Gender and Gender Inclusive Housing options.
• Resident Life provides Substance Free Housing options.
• Resident Life supports The Haven recovery residence and Outpatient Center.
• Resident Life hosts the Room Exchange process for students who wish to receive a new residence hall assignment.
• Resident Life enforces a policy supporting Emotional Support Animals in the residence halls.