TerpsEXCEED

University of Maryland

College Park, Maryland

Instagram: @terpsexceed_umd

TerpsEXCEED is an inclusive post-secondary education program at the University of Maryland, College Park that provides Maryland students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in a college experience for two years, culminating in a certificate. 

TerpsEXCEED APPLICATION closed Feb 1st, we are no longer accepting applications.

For questions, email terpsexceed@umd.edu

Introducing the TerpsEXCEED Podcast series! Hosted by Adrian Forsythe, TerpsEXCEED Podcaster.

TerpsExceed Student Spotlight of the Week: Luke!

Luke is a senior in the TerpsEXCEED program studying Weather and Climate! This semester, he has an internship with UMD’s AOSC department, where he has the exciting opportunity to broadcast the weather with the UMD weather broadcasting team. Additionally, Luke is working with Mesoterps, shadowing their instrumentation team. Soon, he will begin collecting photos for the weather writers. Click on the image below to check out one of his latest weather reports!

TerpsEXCEED spent much time in Annapolis in February! With both a Senate and House bill for state support of TerpsEXCEED in front of legislators this session, the TerpsEXCEED Director, students and mentors were invited to testify in front of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. The bill is getting much support and moving through the process!

Then a team of TerpsEXCEED students, mentors, staff, and family spent all day at DD-Day (Developmental Disabilities Day) in Annapolis, where we were able to meet with many state senators and house delegates to talk about inclusive higher education and thank them for support of our bills!

Meet TerpsEXCEED graduate Billy as he talks about his job in the UMD Department of IT!

Giving Day!

Thank you to all who gave to TerpsEXCEED on last Wednesday's UMD Giving Day! We raised nearly $10,000 to help support students and mentors!

The University of Maryland college of education is transforming education for good - including TerpsEXCEED!

TerpsEXCEED and Best buddies at UMD paired up and plunged! We raised over $5000 for Special Olympics Maryland at the 2025 Polar Bear Plunge!

Thanks to Best Buddies UMD and TerpsEXCEED students, graduates, mentors, and staff!

Post Secondary Transition Podcast

Hosted by Howard County Special educators Patrick Cadigan and Meghan Smallwood; Featuring TerpsEXCEED’s Director Amy D’Agati. Episode 038 Learning Beyond Limits: TerpsEXCEED & the Inclusive College Experience.

Endeavors Magazine!!

The University of Maryland’s College of Education has mentioned TerpsEXCEED in their Endeavors Magazine! Our first graduates Hari and Zach were interviewed along with Amy D’Agati during the 2023 graduation. Hari expresses that “I loved the community of TerpsEXCEED [and] the family I created there.” Zach has his own plans for after graduation, “I’m working in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. I love theater, and this is a dream job for me.”

Bryant Rivera Cortez, one of our current Lead Peer Mentors has also been highlighted in another article! Bryant speaks about how he spent last summer teaching circus arts at a camp last summer, his future aspirations, and how his teachers have influenced him. We can’t wait to see how Bryant will continue to shape new minds and influence the hearts of those he meets.

UMD President Dr. Darryll Pines greets the TerpsEXCEED staff, students and peer mentors at the UMD Dairy for ice cream on the first day of classes this fall!

Congratulations to Hari and Zach: our first TerpsEXCEED graduates!

NBC Washington covers TerpsEXCEED graduation!

TerpsEXCEED’s own Peer Mentor Amira Dacy has been awarded the 2022-2023 Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellow position! She is a Dietetics major and Disability Studies minor at UMD. She started our program as a freshman and has since become a lead peer mentor and undergraduate researcher. Amira describes her position and how it has impacted her: “My job is to support the inclusion of TerpsEXCEED students in every space on campus classrooms, athletic events, dining areas, performance spaces, the gym. I also educate others about maximizing accessibility and engage in research designed to evaluate the success of post-secondary education programs like TerpsEXCEED.” The President of the University of Maryland distinguishes Amira through her leadership and motivation, “Her commitment to civic engagement and leadership will undoubtedly continue to inspire others and create positive change in the world." We cannot wait to see what our mentors can accomplish next. Amazing job Amira! Read more Here.

A glimpse into what TerpsEXCEED students and mentors have been up to lately!

We Made an IMPACT

We were honored to be featured on the cover of IMPACT Magazine for our inclusive higher education program. You can view the cover page and read the full article.

Open House

Do you want to learn more about TerpsEXCEED? View the Power Point of our open house. The open house included a presentation, including an opportunity to hear from current students, as well as a Q&A session. Download the presentation slides here or click the image below to view them.

Thanks to initial funding from the Maryland DD Council, Ellen and Paul Gaske and Alison Clarvit, and continued funding from the Developmental Disabilities Administration - along with a partnership with the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services the University of Maryland College Park launched in 2021 a 2-year fully inclusive higher education experience for students with intellectual disabilities on campus. It is growing each year.

TerpsEXCEED Mission: For students with Intellectual Disability, create access to UMD courses to develop a course of study aligned with individual career goals; ongoing career development that includes work experiences on and off campus; participation in campus social clubs and community organizations; use of all campus facilities; ability to earn a credential recognized by UMD; and inclusion in housing and residential life.

Currently, we are only open to Maryland in-state students. We hope to expand funding and become available to out-of-state students within the next few years.