Maryland Engineering Student Organizations (MESO): Terp Engineers in Action

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MESO

The Clark School of Engineering provides support for all 50+ Engineering related student organizations. Join a team today and bring a friend!

Students work together in their organizations

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Terps Racing

Engineers Without Borders

American Society of Civil Engineers (Concrete Canoe Team)

Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Terrapin Rocket Team

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Satellite Development Program (Sat Dev)

About Maryland Engineering Student Organizations (MESO)

Organizations and clubs provide students opportunities to:

  • Develop their leadership skills
  • Work as a team
  • Build lasting friendships and a network of people with similar interests
  • Apply both their technical and engineering knowledge
  • Gain exposure to hands-on projects
  • Have a positive impact on their UMD, local, and global communities
  • Strengthen their resume and professional development, including these NACE Career Competencies.

NACE Career Competencies List of Skills: suitcase (professionalism), chat boxes (communication), light bulb (critical thinking), gears (teamwork), thumbprint (technology), person (leadership), world (equity and inclusion), compass (career and self development)

What is MESO?

The MESO network empowers Engineering student organizations by: 

  • Connecting orgs to resources and supporting them in reaching their goals
  • Developing a community of Engineering student org leaders

MESO works in partnership with campus’ Student Organization Resource Center (SORC), providing additional resources that are unique to Engineering student organization interests and needs.  

How to Become Recognized

1. Review your org’s eligibility below. If your org is not first registered with SORC, you should register with them by April 30.

2. If eligible, orgs can complete the MESO New Recognition Form also by April 30. 

 

Eligibility

Student organizations can become recognized as either a MESO Member or a STEM Affiliate based on their eligibility. Both recognition types have access to all MESO benefits. The different classifications help Maryland Engineering better track student organization needs, engage with interdisciplinary engineering organization, and note when other departments/schools are providing support. 
 

MESO Members and STEM Affiliates

Benefits

MESO Launch

  • Organizations can still take advantage of most resources for this school year as they complete their MESO recognition process. Beginning Fall 2026, orgs will need to be actively recognized by MESO to receive its benefits, including access to tabling at the Maryland Engineering Student Org Fair.
  • The MESO committee will prioritize launching an equitable space allocation process to be rolled out in 2026-2027. The Clark School of Engineering is exploring options for spaces to be equitably provided to Engineering student organizations and developing processes to ensure streamlined allocation of available spaces.

 

MESO Grants

  • Overview: 
    • Application Cycles: 
      • Spring 2026: Applications open March 9 and close March 24 at 11:59pm. This deadline was extended to March 29. 
      • Fall 2026: Opening August 31
    • This small, pilot grant program is launching now but we plan to expand in future semesters.
    • This will take the place of Dean’s Office funding moving forward. Please keep in mind that UMD budgets were reduced from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026 due to state budget restraints. Requests beyond $10,000 will be assessed on a case by case basis.
  • Student Org Eligibility
    • Recognized as a current MESO Member or STEM Affiliate
    • Has a Worktag (internal UMD finance account): You will need this number to apply
    • At least 1 of your org advisors is within Maryland Engineering

A table that lists the MESO Grant Cycle for 2026-2027

The Maryland Engineering Student Organizations (MESO) network has 3 grant cycles: Fall, Spring A, and Spring B. Spring B will be a smaller cycle. Orgs that are recognized by the MESO network, have a Worktag, and a Maryland Engineering advisor are eligible

Other Engineering Funding

  • MESO Fundraising Tips:
    • Slides showing fundraising options, online platforms, tangible strategies for requesting donations, and contacts
    • Recording of fundraising training tied to the slides above (33 minutes)
  • MESO Members and STEM Affiliates: Orgs recognized by MESO will have access to extensive resources for pursuing corporate sponsorships, Giving Day, general fundraising tips, and cross-campus funding opportunities.

 

Across Campus

  • SGA Funding (Student Government Association): MESO Members and STEM Affiliates are strongly encouraged to apply for SGA funds. It is an expectation from the Clark School that orgs are taking advantage of various existing funding resources and this is factored in when reviewing future MESO grant applications. Learn about the most up to date SGA funding policies and procedures for SORC registered organizations. There are six budget deadlines throughout the academic year. While exact dates change each year, they are typically early September, early October and late October for the Fall semester, and early February, late February and late March for the Spring semester. 
  • UMD Launch Page: A crowdfunding platform for specific campaigns to help MD community members launch big ideas to change the world.
  • Pepsi Enhancement Fund: Apply from mid-September through mid October each year.

Get Involved

  • Join an Engineering student organization! Check out the different types of organizations below and attend an upcoming event.
  • Apply for your current organization to become recognized by MESO.
  • Check out upcoming student org events on campus.
  • Learn about the campus-wide Student Org Resource Center (SORC).

MESO Advisory Board

The Office of Global Engineering Leadership will be creating a new advisory board for student org leaders! The MESO Advisory Board members will serve as a bridge between students and academic leaders, collaborate on college-wide initiatives, provide feedback to enhance the student experience, and offer student perspectives on new initiatives.

  • The purpose of the MESO Advisory Board is to have students play a role in giving feedback on the decision-making process within the Maryland Engineering Student Organization (MESO) Network.
  • The MESO Advisory Board members are expected to advance inclusion and contribute to a culture where students feel they belong, matter, are represented, and heard!

If you are interested in learning more and/or applying for the MESO Advisory Board, please be on the lookout for an upcoming email from MESO and check out our MESO website for more info in the coming weeks! Questions? Email MESO staff at meso@umd.edu

Upcoming Deadlines and Events

Deadlines:

  • September 1- Maryland Engineering Student Org (MESO) Fair Student Org Table registration

  • September 3- Coffee Drop-In Hours: Marketing & Recruitment Focus (RSVP link)

  • September 8- MESO Fair!

General MESO Fair Registration

Interested in attending the MESO Fair? Please RSVP here! Please note this is a separate RSVP from the tabling registration below!

For MESO student leaders/E-board members only: 

MESO Fair Student Org Registration

It’s time to showcase your student org by tabling at the Maryland Engineering Student Org (MESO) Fair! Register for a table at the Fair by September 1. Space is limited and this is first come first serve. Register early!

Beginning this Fall, only orgs recognized by our MESO network are able to table at the Fair. If you are not recognized by our network yet, please contact meso@umd.edu. It still may be possible for you to apply for recognition and potentially have a table at the Fair. 

Timing

  1. Tuesday, September 8th, 1:00 - 4:30 PM at the Clark Hall Leidos Innovation Lab and Forum

Table Registration Next Steps: By September 1

  • Complete this table registration survey. Please complete 1 registration entry per organization. Remember, space is limited so register early!
  • Update or include a slide for your organization/unit here. 

Attend the September 3 MESO Coffee Drop-In Hours: (Marketing & Recruitment Focus)

Coffee Mug with a QR code for Coffee Drop-In Hours

RSVP now: Have coffee and snacks while meeting your fellow student org leaders, Engineering Communications staff, and the MESO team!

The UMD Engineering community will receive an email with general information on the Dean’s Welcome Social and Maryland Engineering Student Org Fair events soon. We're excited to see you at the Fair!

Students in front of a mechanical engineering sign with a wrench and gadgets. One student holds a UMD Mechanical Engineering sign

Aerospace Engineering

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Satellite Development Program

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at The University of Maryland (SEDS) 

Sigma Gamma Tau National Honor Society (SGT)

Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics

 

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 

Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WECE)

 

Mechanical Engineering

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)  (in photo)

Mechanical Contractors Association

Pi Tau Sigma (PTS) - Mechanical Engineering Honor Society

MESO in the News

Photos & News

Instagram Spotlights

Each month, we highlight at least one student organization on our Clark Instagram page. To be featured in a future spotlight, complete this form. 


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