Registration and Class Schedule
Online registration is available from mid-semester of the current term until the day before the start of classes for the subsequent term.
See the Academic Calendar for specific dates. Some programs, however, have an earlier ‘cut-off’ date for registration via SURFS. Check with your program. Course registration is on a first come, first served basis, so early registration is encouraged.
If you are a new/first year student, your program or department may complete your first-time registration for you.
Before registering, you and your advisor are expected to engage in a discussion which will result in proper course selection. The department’s signature on the Course Registration Form indicates that advisement has taken place and that you and your advisor have reviewed your course selection.
Graduate Research Assistants (GRA’s) must register for ABGA 900; Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA’s) register for ABGA 901. These are non-billable (no cost) credits. Neither ABGA 900 nor 901 registration counts toward the tuition remission awarded as part of graduate assistant benefits and you may not use these credits to fulfill graduation requirements. These credits do, however, count toward your full-time enrollment status requirement. If you do not register for this course you are not considered a graduate assistant; more importantly, the Internal Revenue Service may not recognize you as working students and may tax your assistantship earnings for Social Security (FICA).
Selecting and Registering for Courses ▾
After you have met with your adviser, bring your signed Course Registration Form to your graduate program coordinator or program administrator who will...
enable your eligibility for on-line registration. Then:
- Go to the SURFS website http://www.umaryland.edu/surfs/
- Log-in at the “SURFS Secure Area” icon. Login using your “myUMB Login and Directory Authentication.” Click Student Services and Financial Aid
- Click Registration
- Click Select Term and choose the desired semester. Do not combine registrations for two semesters on one form. Use separate forms for each semester.
- Click Add/Drop Classes and then scroll down to the Add Class section. Enter the course number(s), CRN number(s) and section(s). Carefully follow the on-line instructions if you are registering for a variable credit course.
- Click Submit Changes and your courses will appear in the Current Schedule area.
Note that you might encounter the following registration errors:
- Time conflict – You have selected classes that meet at the same time.
- Closed Section – Course is full and closed for further registration.
- Class Restriction – You are not eligible to register for the course.
- Holds – Student Health, Foreign Student, Outstanding Balance, and Admissions holds. Contact the appropriate office to have them removed.
- Course Prerequisites – You have not met the requirements to register for the course.
Don’t forget to print your schedule. Click “Student Schedule by Day and Time” for a quick table format, or click “Student Detail Schedule” for a more detailed version.
Additional Registration Information ▾
Changes to registrations made after the start of classes each term requires a paper transaction using an Add/Drop form with the program and the Graduate School.
Web registration may not be used for inter-institutional enrollment and registration, nor is it available for non-degree students. Non-degree students must register through the Graduate School.
Students needing help with SURFS “myUMB Login and Directory Authentication” must contact the ASC Help Desk - Phone: 410-706-HELP or individuals needing accommodation under ADA should contact the Office of Educational Support and Disability Services and the respective Graduate Program Director in a timely manner.
Other important information such as the Academic Calendar, schedule adjustment dates, graduation information and Graduate School policies and procedures are available online at the Graduate School’s website.
Changing a Schedule or Course Registration(s) ▾
Students must register for coursework each term (except summer, winter) to maintain eligibility for a degree.
Adjustments to course registrations should only be made prior to the start of the semester and should be undertaken in consultation with the students’ instructors and/or advisors. Following the start of the term, changes may only be made in accordance with stated timetables. Further, students must file the necessary form(s) for registration changes with the appropriate university officials’ signature(s) of approval before changes are complete or official.
Add
- Week 1: Fall, spring or summer term: Students may add course(s) through the end of Week 1 only. (Winter term: Students may add course a through the end of Day 2 only.) Complete Add/Drop form.
Drop
- Week 1 – 3: Fall, spring or summer term: (winter term, through end of day 2) – Students may drop course(s) through the end of week 3 with proper approvals and with no notation on transcript. Complete Add/Drop form with instructor and advisor or program director. Partial (80%) or no refund depending upon Drop date.
- Week 4 – 8: Students may drop course(s) through the end of week 8 with instructor and advisor or program director approval. A notation of “W” will appear on the transcript. Complete Add/Drop form with instructor and advisor or GPD. Course(s) dropped counts as an attempt. No refund.
- Beginning the 9th week of the term (or from day 3 to end of winter term), students are not permitted to Drop a course. The student must complete the course, negotiate/request an Incomplete, or request the instructor to grant a Withdraw Pass or Withdraw Fail (WP/WF – use Course Withdraw Form). No refund.
Graduate nursing students, i.e., non-degree/CWO, PhD, MS and DNP students, are expected to abide by the registration change ( Add/Drop) timelines, rules, and guidelines established by the School of Nursing.
Withdrawing from a Course - Withdraw Pass/Withdraw Fail
If a course withdrawal is approved beginning 9 weeks after the start of a fall or spring semester course or after the first two weeks of a summer course, the student will receive a withdrawal mark of “WP” or “WF” for each course attempted. A withdrawal mark of “WP” means that the student was passing the course at the time of withdrawal and a withdrawal mark of “WF” means s/he was failing at the time of withdrawal. Each “WP” and “WF” mark will appear on the official transcript. “WP/WF” marks are not included in the calculation of semester, term or cumulative grade point averages. However, “WF” marks are included as course failures when determinations of academic probation or academic failure are made. There are no refunds for WP/WF marks. Completion of a signed, approved Course Withdrawal Request is required.
Cancellation of Registration
Registered students compelled to leave the university before the start of a given term must file a letter of cancellation of registration with the Graduate School. Failure to file this letter and to obtain approval by the Graduate School will result in loss of refund. Once the semester begins students are subject to the other schedule adjustment guidelines, policies and procedures (Add/Drop, Withdrawing, etc.) cited herein.
Leave of Absence
Students who wish to continue in a degree program, but cannot study in a particular semester, session, or year, must take a leave of absence with the approval of their academic advisor and the Graduate School. Students must complete a Leave of Absence Request form and present it to their program director and to the Graduate School for approval. The Graduate School notifies students of leave approvals and of the terms of re-enrollment. While there is no minimum number of times a student may request a leave of absence, leaves do not extend the time required to complete degree requirements. Completion of a signed, approved Leave of Absence (LOA) Request is required.
Withdrawing from the Graduate School
Once admitted to a graduate program, students are obligated to continue their course of studies. Students who desire or who need to cease pursuing their degrees after registration and after the start of the term must submit a notice of withdrawal from the university, bearing the proper (program/department) signatures, to the Graduate School. The date used in computing a refund is the filing date of the document for withdrawal. Students who withdraw during a semester and do not file an application for withdrawal receive marks of failure in all courses and forfeit the right to any refund which they would otherwise receive. Students seeking to re-enter graduate study following withdrawal must reapply for admission and compete with a new entering class.
Students who withdraw from all classes in any one semester or session will be credited with tuition refunds* as follows:
Before the first day of classes: 100 percent; First 10 percent of term: 90 percent; 11 to 25 percent of term: 50 percent; 26 to 50 percent of term: 25 percent; After 50 percent of term: no refund.
*Determined each semester and session by Student Accounting.
Completion of a signed, approved Notice of Withdrawal from Graduate Studies form is required.
Change of Degree Intent
An enrolled student who needs or desires a change of degree intent (master’s to PhD or vice versa) must submit a written request to her/his advisor and program director. The request should include the reason(s) for the request and the effective semester of change. The request must be approved by the advisor and the program director, and then forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval.
Change of Program
An enrolled student who desires to change her/his degree program of study within the Graduate School must submit a written request to the program director of the desired program. The request must include the reason(s) for the request and the effective semester of change. The request must also be copied to the departing program director and advisor, and to the Graduate School. In most cases, a new ap¬plication for admission is required.
Fiscal Policy ▾
Tuition and fees are due in full on the first day of classes.
Students who have registered in advance should receive bills three weeks before the due date. Students must call Student Accounting at 6-2930 if they have not received a bill before the start of the semester or session.
Mail or make payments to the UMB Cashier’s Office in Student Accounting. Make checks payable to the “University of Maryland.” The university accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express as forms of payment.
If payments are postmarked or remitted in person after the due date, students are subject to a $100 late payment fee or 5 percent of the balance due, whichever is less. Students must pay all previous semester or session debts before they may register for a new semester or session or request services, such as transcripts and diplomas.
