Participate

Take the Onboarding Course

Current faculty, staff and students can begin the onboarding here.

You must have a directory ID to enroll. Employees who do not have computer work stations or would benefit from an in-person delivery of the material, they can register to attend an existing TerrapinSTRONG In-Person Session.

for Faculty for Staff for Graduate Students for Undergrads

What Is in the Onboarding Course?

TerrapinSTRONG onboarding should be thought of as a first doorway through which all new Terps enter the university. It sets a tone of welcome and community. The TerrapinSTRONG onboarding course is organized into five modules. Each module includes a video and/or written content and a reflective activity. At the end of the five modules, new Terps create an action plan on ways they will stay involved. Participants then download a certificate of completion and receive a free scoop of ice cream at the University of Maryland Dairy, courtesy of President Pines.

President Pines' Welcome and Vision of TerrapinSTRONG

Strategic Commitments of the Fearlessly Forward Action Plan: We Reimagine Learning. We take on humanity's grand challenges. We invest in people & communities. We partner to advance the public good. — How the University Works

Who Takes the TerrapinSTRONG Onboarding Course?

Each new undergraduate and graduate student, staff and faculty member participates in TerrapinSTRONG campus onboarding as part of their required orientations to the University of Maryland. Following this experience, which opens a door to the University of Maryland and the TerrapinSTRONG vision, new Terps are further welcomed by colleges, divisions and unit leaders providing more opportunities to become TerrapinSTRONG.

User Experience

All new undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff will receive a personal invitation to participate in TerrapinSTRONG onboarding via the Canvas Open Learning platform. All new Terps should use their University ID number and login credentials. You may also go directly to the links provided above to access the course.

For staff members who do not have computer work stations, we offer TerrapinSTRONG sessions in person on a monthly basis. To attend a session in person in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole, talk with your supervisor.

TerrapinSTRONG onboarding is in compliance with the University of Maryland Web Accessibility Policy, which ensures compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, specifically, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

All videos in TerrapinSTRONG have both a written transcript and closed captions. ELMS-Canvas also offers Immersive Reader functionality for those who would like to have the site content read aloud.

The staff version of the onboarding is also translated into Spanish and Haitian Creole. Opportunities are available for staff members who do not have computer workstations to participate in TerrapinSTRONG onboarding in person.

TerrapinSTRONG takes at least 45 minutes to complete. All four videos are less than five minutes each. Reviewing the additional content and participating in the reflective activities are done at your own pace, which accounts for wide variation in the length of time someone will spend in the course.

In person TerrapinSTRONG onboarding sessions last between 60-90 minutes.

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