TerpsEXCEED (Terps EXperiencing College for Education and Employment Discovery), an inclusive post-secondary education program led by the College of Education, is among the University of Maryland’s six inaugural Do Good Campus Signature Initiatives, announced Wednesday.
The new Signature Initiative designation recognizes programs that equip students to become social impact leaders, foster collaborative partnerships and translate academic work into tangible solutions. The inaugural cohort was selected from 27 proposals submitted by colleges and units across the university.
“The University of Maryland is proud to be the nation’s first Do Good campus, and these initiatives bring that vision to life in powerful ways,” said UMD’s Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice. “By connecting classroom learning with meaningful action in communities, students are being prepared to lead and contribute to solutions that improve lives across Maryland and around the world.”
The initiatives, identified with support from the Do Good Campus Strategic Leadership Council, expand opportunities for students to engage in hands-on work, while building the skills needed to make an impact now and lead in careers focused on service and social innovation.
TerpsEXCEED provides Maryland students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in a college experience for two years, culminating in a certificate. The program advances inclusive higher education through a peer mentorship model that pairs UMD students with young adults with intellectual disabilities.
By strengthening mentorship and leadership development, TerpsEXCEED continues to build a more inclusive campus while preparing students for careers rooted in advocacy and service. The initiative’s next phase will formalize its mentoring leadership program, introduce a senior capstone experience and further study the impact of mentorship on participants, mentors and the broader university community.
The six Signature Initiatives “represent the very best of what it means to be a Do Good Campus,” said Tania D. Mitchell, associate provost for community engagement. “They empower students as changemakers, strengthen partnerships with communities and demonstrate how universities can play a direct role in addressing complex societal challenges.” Mitchell is part of the Do Good campus leadership team, along with Robert Grimm, director of the Do Good Institute, and James Stillwell, faculty director of the Do Good campus.
The university will support the initiatives through funding, partnerships and programming, with additional Signature Initiatives expected in the coming years.
“Maryland’s Do Good Campus is about empowering students to make an impact today on a cause they are passionate about,” said Grimm, the Levenson Family Chair in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. “We look forward to partnering with these initiatives to advance our Do Good efforts.”
Together, these initiatives span disciplines and communities, reflecting the breadth of Maryland’s Do Good commitment. Read more about all six 2026 Do Good Campus Signature Initiatives in Maryland Today.
Photo by John T. Consoli
This story is adapted from an article that first appeared in Maryland Today.
