Family & Supporter Registration & Schedules

In-Person Terp Family & Supporter Orientation

Join us for a one-day, in-person program focused on creating meaningful connections and building a supportive community for Terp families and supporters. This program is separate  from New Student Orientation, but runs at the same time and provides an engaging opportunity to explore how you can support your student’s success at UMD.

What to Expect: 

• Opportunities to engage with faculty, staff, and campus partners
• Insights into campus resources and strategies for student success
• Interactive sessions designed to foster connections with other Terp families
• Perspectives shared by current students about their experiences
• And more!

This program is perfect for family members & supporters who want to strengthen their connection with the University and feel empowered to support their student's transition to like at UMD. 

For questions or assistance, please contact our office at 301-314-8217.

Dates & Schedule

The 2025 Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Dates & Schedule will be available soon!

Terp Family & Supporter Onboarding Hub

We're making significant change to enhance your experience and better support you and your student's transition to the University of Maryland!

The Online Onboarding Hub will:

• provide essential academic, campus, and support resources for you and your new Terp
• highlight "need-to-know" information, next steps, and deadlines

The Onboarding Hub will be your go-to resource for preparing to support your student's journey as a new Terp. 

Access to the Terp Family & Supporter Onboarding Hub will be available soon!

In-Person Program Registration

While we update our website, rest assured you will still be able to register for our in-person Family & Supporter Orientation program once the dates are announced. Stay tuned for more updates!

For any questions, please contact our office at 301-314-8217

Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Fee and Cancellation Policy

There is a fee to attend the Terp Family & Supporter Orientation program.

Cost of fee will be available soon!

This fee covers:

• Cost of meals
• Materials provided during the program
• Parking
• Building locations 

*Please Note: The budget of the Office of Student Orientation and Transition is entirely self-support, meaning we receive no state or institutional funding. This fee is solely intended to offset the cost of all Orientation programs and UNIV100 office operations, professional staff and undergraduate student staff.

Students will not be charged until AFTER they have attended New Student Orientation. Both New Student Orientation and Terp Family & Supporter Orientation charges will be billed to the student account. Please avoid paying for New Student Orientation and/or Terp Family & Supporter Orientation until the charge appears on the student account, as paying ahead of time may complicate the payment process. Specific program fees and FAQs regarding fees and payment can be found on our 'Paying for New Student Orientation' page. 

Cancellation Policy

If you no longer wish to attend the Terp Family Orientation Program, please notify us at least 24 hours from the program date, via phone or email.  If family members or supporters do not cancel before that time period we will charge the full amount and no refunds will be processed.

*Please Note: If your Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Program is on Monday, contact us via email by Sunday and as long as we have record of this we will honor the request and remove any charges associated with the Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Program.

If you need to reschedule your orientation date, please contact our office at (301) 314-8217 or email us at terpfamilyorientation@umd.edu!

There are two ways to pre-register for our Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Program:

• If your student is attending an in-person orientation on the same day you would like to attend in-person Terp Family Orientation, your students can register you and any other attendees via the online registration portal. Please make sure they include all attendees' first and last name and email address when filling out the form!
• If you would like to attend a Terp Family Orientation on a different day than your student or you would like to attend online, please contact our office to register. We can be reached at (301)-314-8217 or email us at terpfamilyorientation@umd.edu. When emailing, be sure to include: 
  • Your student's name 
  • Student's 9-digit UID number
  • Date of the program you would like to attend
  • The first and last name of all attendees
  • The email addresses of all attendees

We understand that this is not only a time of transition for your student but for you as well. This program will give you the opportunity to explore the beginning of that transition and how the University can support you and your student. You will have the opportunity to hear from campus partners and resources that play a key role in your student's success at the University of Maryland. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and understand the best way to assist your student as they begin their journey at UMD.

Terp Family & Supporter Orientation and New Student Orientation are two separate programs. Check-In and Morning Welcome will be held in the same location for both family members and supporters and students. Following the Morning Welcome, students will proceed on with one of our Orientation Advisors to their separate New Student Orientation program. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), family members and supporters are not permitted to attend the New Student Orientation program. We advise you to discuss any concerns or questions that you may have regarding advising and course registration with your student before they attend New Student Orientation, so that they can ask the advising staff and provide you with information after the program.

For more information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act please click here!

Meals at Orientation

What is provided?

Morning: Light refreshments, including water, coffee, and granola bars will be available at check-in. We recommend having a hearty breakfast before arriving to the program to keep yourself energized until lunch. 

Lunch: Lunch locations will be provided soon

• Lunch will be provided during our in-person Terp Family Orientation Programs. 

Dietary Restrictions

If you have any dietary restrictions please refer to the following information:

Kosher meals: Once your student registers for a New Student Orientation Program they will fill out a Pre-Orientation Form to prepare for their arrival on campus. Within this form, students can request Kosher meals for themselves and any members attending Terp Family Orientation. Please note that there is separate cost associated with Kosher meals which will not be covered in the Orientation fee.

Halal: One of the dining locations at the Stamp Student Union Food Court, Moby Freestyle, serves  Halal. Their summer hours will be available soon.

Allergies: 

The Stamp Student Union houses our campus food court with a variety of options. To find more information about the options available and potential allergens click here!

**If you do not see an option that works for your dietary needs, you can bring your own lunch and we can store it our office refrigerator for you. You will still receive a Terrapin Express card (included with the cost of Orientation) that you or your student can use on campus at a later time for snack, coffee, or shopping at the bookstore!

If you have any questions, email us at terpfamilyorientation@umd.edu

Requesting Accommodations

If you need any accommodations during our Terp Family & Supporter Program, please contact us directly at terpfamilyorientation@umd.edu. Please keep in mind that some services, such as interpreters, require us to contract out. Therefore, please get in touch with us at least two weeks prior to your orientation date. 

What to bring

• Parking Pass(will be available soon)
• Cell phone charger/portable battery pack
• Refillable water bottle
• Umbrella/poncho/rain gear
• Notepad/Journal/Tablet - To take notes

Download the UMD Mobile App

The Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Schedule will be built into the UMD mobile app. Be sure to download the app before arriving to campus for parking information, directions, and a built in schedule. 

The UMD App puts essential campus services right at your fingertips! It gives quick access to vital campus services, and offers a view that’s custom to you:

• Interactive Map: Find lecture halls, libraries, cafes, and more
• Direct access to our website
• Access to our Terp Family & Supporter Resource Guide

Plan Your Route

The University of Maryland currently has significant construction due to the Purple Line Project.  Our goal is to provide you with the appropriate resources to ensure your arrival on campus is as smooth as possible. Please remember that construction updates are ever changing and may provide additional challenges to your visit.  This page will include the most up to date information you will need to know as you visit us on campus.  

Please use caution when entering campus and allow yourself more time to navigate to your destination than usual.

Access to campus is changing daily with the construction occurring from the Purple Line project. We strongly encourage you to use the University Blvd/Stadium Drive entrance at the BACK OF CAMPUS for easiest access to Lot 1d for NSO parking. The University Blvd/Stadium Drive Entrance is located by Clarice Performing Arts Center. You may also utilize the Route 1/Campus Drive main entrance of campus for your Terp Family & Supporter Orientation Session.

Parking

Parking pass will be available soon

We will have a few on-site if necessary but we encourage printing beforehand!

New Student Orientation attendees will park in Lot 1, however we recommend to park in Lot 1d during their sessions.  The easiest way to arrive is through the back of campus from Stadium Drive. If you search for “Lot 1d” in your navigation maps, it will direct you to the appropriate parking. Please print your NSO parking pass before arriving to campus and display it in your vehicle during your stay. 

Parking Advisories

• Lot 1 is located near 1c, Z, JJ2, JJ3 and Lot 3. Please ensure that you are parking in Lot 1d only. There will be parking signage located in the lots to let you know you are in the right space
• The Orientation parking permit is not valid at meters or parking garages
• Vehicles without permits may be cited

Check-In

A confirmation email with more detailed instructions, including check-in location, about a week prior to your scheduled Terp Family & Supporter Orientation.

Check-in for all programs begins at 8:00am. However, please leave yourself time to navigate campus. While we encourage you to arrive as early as possible, please make sure you check in before 8:20am.

Parking

Parking pass will be available soon

Please print one before arriving to campus, we will have a few available on-campus, just in case. 

New Student Orientation and Terp Family & Supporter Orientation attendees will park in Lot1. We recommend parking in Lot 1d. Make sure to print out a parking permit and place it in your dashboard. 

Getting to Campus

Please arrive at campus for on the date of the program you would like to attend at 8 a.m. The University of Maryland currently has significant construction due to the Purple Line Project. Please make sure you use the campus entrances on University Boulevard (Maryland Route 193) at the intersection with Stadium Drive (near The Clarice). 

What to bring

1. Cell phone charger/portable battery pack
2. Refillable water bottle
3. Umbrella/poncho/rain gear
4. Sweater/Jacket - the rooms are cold!

More information will be available soon!