University of Maryland, College Park

College Park, United States

The University of Maryland is a public research university offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including law studies. It is recognized for its contributions to research, education, and public service.

CCI Score

-12.77

0.02% April 18

Latest Event

UMD Law Professor Advocates for Progressive Criminal Justice Reform

Leigh Goodmark, a law professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, was quoted expressing hope that reforms like the Georgia Survivor Justice Act would lead judges to consider the complex realities of domestic abuse in sentencing. This commentary highlights a commitment to progressive, anti-authoritarian approaches in criminal justice.

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ENABLER

University of Maryland, College Park is currently rated as an Enabler.

-10 to -19 CCI Score

Companies in this segment facilitate authoritarian practices while claiming neutrality. They provide resources or support that indirectly bolster oppressive regimes, thereby undermining democratic accountability without overtly endorsing the regime.

Latest Events

MAR

30

2025

UMD Law Professor Advocates for Progressive Criminal Justice Reform
50.00

Leigh Goodmark, a law professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, was quoted expressing hope that reforms like the Georgia Survivor Justice Act would lead judges to consider the complex realities of domestic abuse in sentencing. This commentary highlights a commitment to progressive, anti-authoritarian approaches in criminal justice.
JUL

16

2024

UMD Settles $500K Over Grant Disclosure Violations
-46.35

The University of Maryland, College Park agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to disclose current and pending foreign support—including funding from Huawei Technologies and Taobao Software Co., Ltd.—in federal grant proposals.
-50

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 30

The settlement highlights a serious lapse in ethical and regulatory compliance as UMD allegedly failed to properly disclose foreign funding sources in its federal grant proposals. This violation of the False Claims Act undermines institutional accountability and fairness in the distribution of federal research funds, which is contrary to the standards of ethical business conduct.

UMD College Park Agrees To $500K Settlement In Federal Grant Proposal Case
JUL

16

2024

UMD settles foreign funding allegations with $500k payment
-27.81

The University of Maryland, College Park agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to disclose research funding, including undisclosed support from three Chinese companies.
-30

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 30

UMD settled allegations that it violated the False Claims Act via omission of key funding disclosures, including support from Chinese companies. This raises concerns over ethical responsibility and transparency in its business practices, undermining public trust and accountability.

University of Maryland pays $500,000 to settle foreign funding allegations
JUL

16

2024

UMD Settles False Claims Act Violation Over Undisclosed Foreign Funding
-37.08

The University of Maryland, College Park agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that it failed to disclose foreign research support from entities including Huawei Technologies and Taobao in federal grant proposals, a breach that undermines transparency in research funding.
-40

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 30

UMD's settlement, involving a $500,000 payment to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act due to non-disclosure of foreign grant support, highlights a serious lapse in ethical responsibility and transparency. This breach can erode trust in federal research administration and reflects poorly on the institution’s commitment to public accountability.

University of Maryland, College Park Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Resolve Allegations That It Failed to Disclose Foreign Research Support in Federal Grant Proposals
JUL

16

2024

UMD Settlement Over False Grant Disclosures
-37.08

The University of Maryland, College Park has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that its researchers submitted grant proposals without disclosing additional funding from major Chinese companies, including Huawei and Alibaba. This failure to disclose foreign funding sources jeopardized the transparency required in federal grant awarding processes.
-40

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 30

UMD's alleged failure to disclose significant foreign funding in its grant proposals represents a serious breach of ethical responsibility. This negligence undermines transparency and accountability in the use of federal research funds, weakening public trust and potentially opening pathways for undue foreign influence from companies with ties to authoritarian regimes.

UMD to pay $500,000 over claims of false grant proposals - WMAR 2 News
SEP

21

2023

UMD Criticized for Opposition to Graduate Student Unionization
-59.79

On September 21, 2023, graduate student employees at the University of Maryland, College Park rallied for unionization. The rally highlighted longstanding opposition by the university’s administration to collective bargaining efforts, which critics argue undermines fair labor practices and worker rights.
-70

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 30

The university's resistance to graduate student unionization is seen as a negative approach towards upholding fair labor standards. The public rally underscored deep dissatisfaction with UMD's opposition to collective bargaining, reflecting broader issues in labor relations and contributing to an authoritarian dynamic in managing workers' rights.

Graduate students rally for a union at University System of Maryland institutions
SEP

21

2023

Campus Unions Rally at UMD for Collective Bargaining Rights
76.87

On September 21, 2023, a diverse group of graduate students, undergraduate students, professors, and staff united at Hornbake Plaza in support of collective bargaining rights. The rally, organized by multiple labor unions, underscores a grassroots push for improved working conditions and a unified voice against divisive employment practices at the University of Maryland.
+90

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 30

The rally exemplifies strong worker mobilization and a push for collective bargaining rights, promoting fair labor practices and unity among the university community. It supports enhanced worker rights and stands in opposition to divisive, authoritarian practices, which aligns with anti-fascist values.

Campus unions unite in push for collective bargaining rights
SEP

07

2023

UMD's Mixed Approach to Graduate Workers' Labor Rights
-20.88

Amid a public campaign by the Graduate Labor Union pushing for collective bargaining rights at UMD, the university touted recent improvements in graduate assistant stipends and housing investments while some administration members have testified against granting union rights before the state legislature. This mixed record highlights contentious labor relations and political engagement regarding worker rights at the institution.
-20

Executive Political Engagement

March 30

UMD administration’s active participation in testifying against collective bargaining rights reflects a politicized stance that undermines graduate workers' efforts for unionization. This executive political engagement, despite concurrent improvements in stipends and housing, indicates a reluctance to affirmatively support worker rights, a stance viewed negatively from an anti‐authoritarian perspective.

UMD graduate student group continues fight for collective bargaining rights
-30

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 30

While the university has announced positive measures such as increasing minimum graduate assistant stipends and investing in graduate housing, its resistance to granting formal collective bargaining rights—evidenced by administrative testimony opposing unionization—underscores a deficient commitment to robust labor relations and human rights. This mixed approach detracts from the progressive goal of empowering marginalized graduate workers.

UMD graduate student group continues fight for collective bargaining rights
JAN

01

2023

University of Maryland Lobbying Expenditure Report 2023
0.00

According to OpenSecrets, the University of Maryland, College Park spent $104,000 on lobbying activities in 2023. The report details the university's engagement in political lobbying, a common practice among large public institutions seeking to influence legislative and regulatory outcomes.
+0

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 30

The university’s reported lobbying expenditure is a factual disclosure of its political engagement. While lobbying can influence policymaking, in this case there is no evidence that the funds were used to support authoritarian or far‐right initiatives. As a public institution, the spending appears to be within the norm for advocacy and protecting academic interests, resulting in a neutral score.

University of Maryland Lobbying Reports • OpenSecrets