Overview
- The flagship campus in College Park, which announced the move Monday, imposed a campus-wide hiring freeze that halts new staff positions and pauses interviews not yet at the offer stage.
- University officials said as many as 150 positions could be eliminated through retirements, layoffs, and removing vacant roles, with the final number dependent on vacancy reviews and upcoming retirements.
- Roles paid fully by outside money, such as grants or gifts, are exempt from the freeze, and candidates who already received offers may still be hired.
- Travel is now restricted, major service contracts require the chief financial officer to verify funding in the 2027 budget, and capital projects are limited to health and safety, legal compliance, continuity of operations, and critical mechanical systems.
- Leaders pointed to a $104 million drop in UMD’s base budget between 2025 and 2027, the state’s $70.8 billion budget that allocates $871.9 million to UMD, and higher utility and infrastructure costs as the drivers of the clampdown.