Commuter Student Resource Guide

Check out the page for Transfer and Off-Campus Student Life! You can subscribe to their newsletter to stay up-to-date on events for off-campus students. Their office is located in the Engagement Office on the ground floor of the Stamp Student Union.

Check out some tips from our student union on commuting from off campus! There is a variety of options for transportation through UMD and local/regional transit, which you can explore on the Transportation Services commuting guide. The UMD Campus Department of Transportation Services also posts schedules for the different UMD shuttles.

If you ride a bicycle to campus, you can join the Bike Commuter Incentive Program to get access to a secure bike pen and shower facilities. And through the Rainy Day Bike Rewards program, you can get a free daily parking pass for every 5 round trips to and from campus you make on your bike. Note that these passes do not carry over to the next semester.

Need a place to park your car? Take a look at the UMD parking map. Parking is free after 4pm in the lots marked with black lettering (those in red have more restrictions), but you will need a permit for these lots during the day. Explore the different parking permit options and choose the one that's best for you.

If you drive an electric car, you can save 20% on an annual parking permit through the Green Vehicle Discount program. Charging is available at a fee of $0.20/kwh (beginning Spring 2024).

If you'd like, you can arrange to carpool with other commuter students through the Smart Commute program. This will save you 50% on an annual parking permit!

TerpLink is the easiest way to discover events on campus. You can sort by date, theme, category, and perks (like free food), and join organizations you're interested in.

The Office for Transfer and Off-Campus Student Life regularly hosts events specifically for other transfer and commuter students. Commuter students can enjoy free coffee, juice, muffins, and bagels on the first Wednesday of every month from 9-11:30am in the Prince George's Room in the Stamp Student Union.

• MICA's Cozy Corner in the Stamp Student Union is a great place to study or relax.

• Hungry? Campus dining offers a list of the hours and locations of UMD dining facilities, including restaurants, shops, and cafes. There are microwaves in Stamp Student Union near the Maryland Dairy in the food court.
• Need Other Study Space? Can't find space in our six on campus branches or is it too late for your favorite spot? Campus has more spaces too! Check out the Campus Quiet Spaces, it's a page that lists many indoor and outdoor quiet spaces across campus that are ideal for studying solo or in a group.

• Figure out your route to campus ahead of time and practice it a couple times before the semester begins if possible. If you're driving, consider planning a backup route in the event of road closures.
• When parking, make sure a license plate is visible to anyone passing by to avoid fines.
• Maximize your time on campus. If you can get your homework done before going home, you won't have to worry about it after your commute at the end of the day.
• Pack a lunch if you don't want to spend money on food.
• If you don't want to carry around a lot of cables, just bring the essentials and rent anything else at the McKeldin TLC Tech Desk or at the STEM Library.
• Remember - regardless of where you sleep at night, you're as much of a Terp as your on-campus peers are! Go to events, join clubs, and take advantage of the resources made available to you.

*Credit to Phil Mathew '23