Make life-long connections in fire protection engineering student organizations, where you will have opportunities to develop relationships with your peers and alumni through professional and social events.
Alumni cup competitionMaryland DayFPE Student Ambassadors
Members of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers student chapter.
Outstanding students in the program are eligible to join Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society.
Fire protection engineering students are also able to join many of the 50+ Maryland Engineering Student Organizations and can explore the 800+ Student Organizations on campus.
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) is the professional society representing individuals who practice the field of fire protection engineering and fire safety engineering. Worldwide, the Society has approximately 5500 members, 120 chapters, and 20 student chapters.
The UMD Student Chapter has recently received the 2025 Gold Award for Chapter Excellence from the SFPE Board of Directors, as well as the Silver Award for Chapter Excellence in 2024 and 2023.
The SFPE UMD student chapter has opportunities to network with professionals within the fire protection industry, as well as connect with students interested in fire protection engineering. Society meetings are held twice a month, featuring a variety of activities, including workshops, guest speakers from the field, and social functions.
Any Maryland Engineering students interested in fire protection engineering are strongly encouraged to join! Visit the UMD SFPE Chapter website to learn more about Membership and find Upcoming Events.
Contact: MarylandSFPE@gmail.com
The Salamander Honorary Society, national in scope, was founded in 1922 at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Dedicated to the promotion and recognition of scholarship, the promotion of original investigation, and the objectives of fraternal association within the profession, the Beta Chapter was initiated at UMD in 1967. Fire protection engineering students are invited to join the group based on academic achievement. To be inducted, candidates must demonstrate involvement in the department through fire protection engineering research, teaching/tutoring, and/or special event participation.
The UMD Chapter of the Salamander Honorary Society hosts events that promote research, scholarship, and community in the department, including guest speakers, tours of fire research labs at local companies, and the annual Salamander Research Image Competition.
Contact: umdsalamander@gmail.com
Explore: 2026 Salamander Research Image Competition