Nearly 150 Buildings Lose Heat as UMD Cancels Classes Jan. 29-30

Nearly 150 buildings across the University of Maryland College Park campus lost steam heating and had little-to-no hot water during a significant outage that forced the university to close and cancel classes for Jan. 29-30. The interruption affected residence halls, dining operations and campus services, pressing students and staff to seek temporary accommodations and follow emergency guidance to stay warm.

The university’s Central Energy Plant lost steam service twice that day, around 6:30 a.m. and again at about 1:15 p.m., according to Residential Facilities. UMD Alerts told the campus that “Facilities Management has identified the source of the problem and is working on solutions throughout the morning,” and officials said crews were on site repairing the system but offered no timeline for full restoration. Dining halls were affected and delays were expected, and the advisory urged weather-essential employees to communicate with supervisors.

The outage had immediate effects on daily life in Prince George’s County’s largest college community. Residential students reported interrupted showers and limited hot water for food preparation; some considered returning home rather than wait out repairs. The Diamondback quoted a senior computer science and international relations major saying, “Many of the folks I’ve been talking to here at [Yahentamitsi Dining Hall] were telling me they wish they had just waited to move in until next week.” The paper also reported that some students said they did not receive a Wednesday evening email from Facilities Management suggesting temporary relocation.

Administrative decisions followed the operational stress. The university issued multiple alerts and closed campus operations for Wednesday, Jan. 28, while later announcements canceled classes Jan. 29 and 30 and allowed instructors discretion to hold scheduled classes or shift to asynchronous virtual instruction. One local report noted that “Classes were canceled for Wednesday due to the continued cleanup from the Superstorm Fern,” underscoring parallel weather-related strain on campus services. Officials additionally warned that even cleared sidewalks may remain icy, complicating commutes and outdoor activity.

Conflicting reports emerged about transparency: two outlets said a full list of affected buildings had been posted online, while another said no list had been released. Campus communications stressed that residential students “will receive more guidance” as repairs continue. The university’s statement and Alert UMD also provided safety and support contacts for students and staff, including University of Maryland Police emergency 301-405-3333 / #3333 from a mobile phone (AT&T and Verizon Wireless) / 911, non-emergency 301-405-3555; Prince George’s County Police non-emergency 301-352-1200; UMD Police walking escort/non-emergency 301-405-3555; NITE Ride 301-314-6483; Help Center 301-314-4357; Counseling Center 301-314-7651; CARE 301-741-3442; Health Center 301-314-8180; Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct 301-405-1142; TitleIXcoordinator@umd.edu.

Residential Facilities told reporters that the contractor partner that operates the university’s boiler plant had prepared for winter months in advance but that recent cold temperatures put significant stress on the energy system. The episode highlights the operational and financial vulnerabilities of large campus steam systems when extreme weather coincides with aged infrastructure and high demand. For local residents, the outage shows how campus energy disruptions ripple into housing, dining and public safety services across College Park and Prince George’s County.

Repairs remained ongoing with no clear timetable for full restoration; campus leaders said they would share updates through UMD Alerts as crews continue work.