University of Maryland, College Park
EN-9: Staff Professional Development

The Division of Student Affairs had developed a set of Sustainability Standards which includes a section on Education, Training and Outreach (see https://studentaffairs.umd.edu/about-us/sustainability#/division-of-student-affairs-sustainability-standards). All staff are trained annually on departmental, divisional and campus sustainability goals, practices, behaviors. The Department of Facilities Management provides regular lunch-and-learn training on green building design standards and campus green building requirements to its project managers and other interested university staff. The President's Energy Conservation Initiative Task Force invites facility managers from all departments on campus to participate and provides information on financing energy conservation initiatives, tools to measure energy consumption on campus, and networking opportunities with technical consultants and faculty experts. University Sustainability Fund - Staff can apply for funding for projects that promote environmental sustainability, and positively impact and enhance the student experience at UMD. This incentive has provided some motivation for staff members to develop their skills and understanding in sustainability-related areas. University staff and retirees are offered tuition remission for UMD courses, including those with sustainability content.

The Division of Student Affairs provides support for appropriate staff members to remain current with the sustainability trends of applicable “industry” through conference programs, articles, professional associations and other means. Provide specialized training as needed regarding specialized concepts, practices and equipment management for staff such as HVAC systems, green cleaning and building dashboard systems. The Engineering & Energy Unit in Facilities Management provides funding and support for facility managers and campus tradespeople to attend training related to energy conservation, recommissioning and building operation in line with campus sustainability goals.