Maryland Today

Star wide receiver Stefon Diggs returns to Maryland to play for his hometown team, the Washington Commanders. He’ll be joined by another former Terp, tight end Chig Okonkwo, while fellow wideout D.J. Moore will take the field for the Buffalo Bills, perennial Super Bowl contenders. They’re among the most prominent former University of Maryland players in the professional ranks, but they have lots of company.

Crochet something. Catch a comedy show. Swap clothes, browse books and zines, dance to a DJ or check out a car show. This year’s NextNOW Fest, kicking off Wednesday, welcomes the community back to campus with more than 50 free performances, workshops, exhibitions and other creative experiences. This year, the annual multiday arts festival will take place at an even wider range of spaces. Alongside longtime hubs like The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and the Adele H.

The University of Maryland has expanded its array of degree and certificate programs in Fall 2026 to meet the interests of students and the demands of a changing workforce. As this semester’s scheduling adjustment deadline of Sept. 14 approaches, it’s not too late to consider picking up a course that can open the door for a new major, minor or graduate degree or more.

Student Entertainment Events aims to double the laughs at its 2026 Homecoming Comedy Show featuring co-headliners Sal Vulcano and Josh Johnson at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Xfinity Center. Tickets are required for entry and cost $20 for the UMD community, $40 for Terrapin Club Alumni Association members, and $50 for the general public. Only one ticket can be purchased per UMD ID, shown in person; others can buy up to two tickets.

“I can say without hesitation that my wife’s and my personal involvement with the Incentive Awards Program has been the most rewarding and inspiring time of our lives,” said Daggs, who is also a member of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees.

Student Entertainment Events will host actor and comedian Lamorne Morris at its annual Back to School Lecture at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Grand Ballroom of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. The event for the UMD community will feature a moderated Q&A and audience Q&A. Tickets are free and required for entry online through UMD’s ticket office.

Discovering nighttime pollinators and promoting biodiversity in nearby Hyattsville. Supporting veterans with post-traumatic stress and brain injuries as they train service dogs. Teaching girls in Madagascar about women’s health. Terps may have scattered over the summer, but they brought their determination to do good everywhere they went.

The University of Maryland earned high marks for the value it provides to students and its contributions to research and innovation in Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide and Rankings. The publication evaluated 1,504 colleges nationwide on ”how much they help ordinary middle- and working-class students get ahead in life, and whether they encourage those students to participate in their democracy,” it said.

Academic support for University of Maryland students doesn’t stop at the classroom (or office hours) door. University Libraries and the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC) are here to help Terps with a wide range of resources to ensure their success in their coursework and research.

Six University of Maryland staff members who have played outsize roles in supporting the Division of University Relations (UR) in Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless have been honored with its inaugural Partner-in-Advancement Award. The UR team is partnering with many others at the university and in the community in order to reach the fundraising initiative’s $2.5 billion goal. Following its launch last October, the division sought to spotlight those efforts.