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

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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 Dec. 4.​​​​​​

2. If eligible, orgs can complete the MESO New Recognition Form by an upcoming cycle: December 4 or April 30.

 

How to Become Recognized with MESO Zoom Info Sessions: All staff, faculty, and student org members are invited to attend a MESO info session, which will provide an overview of eligibility, benefits, and recognition. RSVP here.

  • Oct. 21 from 3:30-4:30 pm
  • Oct. 23 from 6:30-7:30 pm
  • Nov. 14 from 1:00-2:00pm

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.

 

Engineering

  • 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.
  • MESO Grants: Information on MESO grants will be shared in 2026.
  • Engineering Community Success Mini-Grants: This program is designed to support individuals and organizations in the Clark School who want to promote initiatives that strengthen the ability of all our constituents to excel and succeed in their engineering student groups, organizations, units, departments, and centers. Grants range from $250-$1500. Sign in with your UMD email to access next steps here.

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.
  • Self Generated Revenue: Miscellaneous fundraising opportunities supported by UMD.

     

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).

Upcoming Events

  • October 21, October 23, and November 14: How to Become Recognized with MESO (Zoom Info Sessions)
    • Zoom: October 21: 3:30 - 4:30 pm, October 23: 6:30 - 7:30 pm, November 14: 1:00 - 2:00 pm 
    • RSVP: Engineering student org leaders and the wider UMD Engineering community are welcome. This will provide an overview of eligibility, benefits, and recognition. 
  • November 20: Coffee Drop in Hours: Connect Your Student Org to Your Career
    • 11:30 am -1:30 pm, Martin Hall 1131b
    • RSVP: Engineering student org leaders  are invited to stop in. Bring your resume if you'd like it reviewed!

Coffee mug with engineering and science related symbols

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

Aerospace Engineering

AEROCorps

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Maryland UAS Club (Unmanned Aerial Systems)

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

Cybersecurity Club

ECE Undergraduate Student Council (coming soon)

Eta Kappa Nu National Honor Society (HKN)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Student Association (ECEGSA)

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 

Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WECE)

 

Mechanical Engineering

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

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

Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

Mechanical Contractors Association

Pi Tau Sigma (PTS) - Mechanical Engineering Honor Society

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

 

Student grasps arm using 3D printed device

 

Biocomputational Engineering

Biocomputational Engineering Club

 

Bioengineering

Accessible Prosthetics Initiative (in photo)

Alpha Eta Mu Beta

Biomedical Engineering Society 

 

Chemical Engineering

American Chemical Society

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

ChemE Car at UMD

Chemical Engineering Graduate Students (ChEGS)

Omega Chi Epsilon National Honor Society (OXE)

 

Materials Science & Engineering

Undergraduate Materials Engineering Society (MatES)

Materials Science Graduate Society (MSGS)

Electrochemical Society Student Chapter (ECS)

Students take a selfie at a conference event

American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI)

Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects (AAAEA)

Asian Engineering Student Association (AESA)

Black Engineers Society (BES) (in photo)

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) STEM Community

oSTEM: OUT! In Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in
Science

Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) - UMD Chapter

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

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

Monthly Newsletter

Each Fall and Spring semester, we send out a monthly newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter!

Submit content for an upcoming edition. Check out our recent Engineers in Action: Student Organization Newsletters below! 

  • October 2025: Featuring Orgs from the Maryland Engineering Student Org Fair
  • September 2025: Featuring American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • May 2025: Featuring End of Year Accomplishments
  • April 2025: Featuring the Arab American Association of Engineers & Architects (AAAEA)
  • March 2025: Featuring Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WECE)

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