Open Learning

Open Learning enrollment is open to current UMD students, staff, and faculty, and/or non-UMD participants. Enrollment is processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants who enroll in Open Learning courses are subject to the rules, policies, and regulations found on the Registrar and UMD President websites.

Open Learning courses do not post to a University of Maryland transcript and do not appear on a student's academic record. Participants do not earn a grade or credit. In addition, no awarded certificate (Open Learning Certificate of Completion or UMD CEU Certificate) posts to the transcript. Non-UMD participants do not receive a university ID nor are they given access to university facilities such as recreation facilities, transportation, and campus events. Non-UMD participants may access UMD Libraries as Visitors; see University Libraries - Information for Visitors. 

Participants view and select courses via the Open Learning Catalog. Current UMD students, staff, and faculty use their UMD credentials to enroll. Non-UMD participants must create a UMD Associate Account wherein they are assigned UMD credentials, permitting enrollment. The student-focused Open Learning Getting Started Guide provides complete user information. In addition, campus units can direct students to How to Enroll in an Open Learning Course.

Registered participants access course content (static and active) through the university’s ELMS-Canvas and receive support from Instructure-Canvas Support. Campus units manage all aspects of student enrollment including drops, withdrawals, access, and refunds. Students should contact the course instructor with all questions relating to the Open Learning course or its requirements. 

Non-UMD international students currently in the U.S., must have possession of a valid visa permitting non-credit course enrollment. UMD does not issue documentation permitting study for non-credit courses. International participants outside of the U.S. may enroll in 100% online non-credit courses.

Payment Overview

For fee-based offerings, students submit payment via the Open Learning platform. Open Learning does not offer payment installments. Non-credit courses are not eligible for financial aid and do not qualify for tuition remission.

• Payment is due at the time of enrollment and enrollment is not complete until successful payment has posted.
• The Open Learning Payment Gateway accepts Discover, American Express, MasterCard, or Visa.
• Revenue collected is instantly distributed to the account tied to the course’s subcatalog payment gateway.

Payment Confirmation 

Participants use their UMD login credentials to access Open Learning.

• Upon enrollment (which includes payment), students receive an email confirming payment. This acts as confirmation of payment (receipt). The confirmation of payment is sent to the email tied to the student’s course enrollment.
• The payment confirmation email will say “Transaction Receipt” in the subject line.
• Students may view confirmation of payment via their Open Learning Student Dashboard under "Purchases and Enrollments." In addition, students may reference How do I view my Catalog purchases and enrollments history?.

Open Learning Payment Confirmation

Upon enrollment (which includes payment), students receive an email confirming payment. This acts as confirmation of payment (receipt). The confirmation of payment is sent to the email tied to the student’s course enrollment.

• The payment confirmation email will say “Transaction Receipt” in the subject line.
• Students may view confirmation of payment via their Open Learning Student Dashboard under "Purchases and Enrollments." In addition, students may reference How do I view my Catalog purchases and enrollments history?.

Request Formal Invoice or Confirmation

• Students may request an invoice or confirmation of payment on university letterhead so that their organization/institution can pay or reimburse for the training.
• The campus unit is responsible for providing such documentation.

Campus Unit Responsibilities

Campus units manage Open Learning enrollment, including access, cancellations (prior to course start date), and withdrawals (once the course starts). Campus units determine their own refund policy, including eligibility and timing.

• The course refund policy, eligibility, and how a student requests a refund should be posted within the course syllabus. 
• Example: Students are eligible for a 100% refund before the first day of the course, provided the student first drops themselves from the course. No refunds are available after students have gained access to the course content. For assistance to drop the course, see How do I drop a Canvas Network or Catalog course or program?.

Guidelines

Campus units send approved Open Learning student refund requests to Extended Studies: openlearning@umd.edu.

• EXST issues the refund via the Open Learning Payment Gateway and will only process refunds within 120 days from the student’s course enrollment or transaction date. Students receive an email confirmation of their refund.
• Refunds requested 120 days after the payment transaction, are no longer accessible in the payment gateway and will need to be processed by the unit. This could take more than 6-8 weeks to process.
• Note: The payment gateway does not update Open Learning with refund information. Open Learning revenue and enrollment data within Analytics and Reports do not reflect refunds.

Required Documentation

The request for processing a refund must come from the campus unit in the form of an approved request. After dropping the course, the student should provide the campus unit with a statement requesting a refund and one form of payment confirmation (listed below). The campus unit approves and forwards the request to openlearning@umd.edu with a statement that the approved request should be processed. The subject line should be: “Open Learning Refund, (Reference ID).

• Payment Confirmation #1 (Student Forwards to Campus Unit)
  Course Enrollment Confirmation Email (contains payment information) 
  OR
• Payment Confirmation #2 (Student Emails to Campus Unit)
  Course Title
  Participant Name:
  Participant Email Address:
  *Reference ID or Transaction ID (found at bottom of confirmation email):
  *Purchase Date:
  Course Cost (Amount Paid): 
  Refund Amount:

*Note: If the student cannot find their confirmation email, the Open Learning administrator can find the Reference ID and Purchase Date by going to the Revenue tab under Open Learning’s Analytics and searching for the student’s name.

Dropping the Course (Cancellation or Withdrawal) 

• Campus unit should ensure that the student is no longer enrolled and has access.
• To cancel enrollment or withdrawal, direct the student to drop the course through their Open Learning Student Dashboard. See How do I drop a Canvas Network or Catalog course or program?.
• Once the student drops, they are removed from the ELMS-Canvas course and no longer have access. Their status updates to "dropped" in Open Learning's Enrollment Analytics.
• Note: It is strongly recommended that students initiate the drop through their Open Learning Student Dashboard to maintain accurate Open Learning Analytics and Reports. Neither the course instructor nor the Open Learning course administer should initiate the drop on behalf of the student.

Course Cancellation

In the event that a campus unit cancels a course before it was offered and the course has enrolled students or to prevent (further) enrollment, follow these steps:

• ELMS-Canvas: Un-publish the course to restrict participant access.
• Open Learning: Close enrollment and update the "Visibility" to "hide listing" so that it is not viewable on the storefront nor accessible via link. 
• If there were enrolled students (free or fee-based course), email EXST at openlearning@umd.edu for additional instructions.
• If there were enrolled students and the DIT Technology Fee quarterly billing had already been processed, email ITSupport@umd.edu. The subject line should read: "Open Learning - Tech Fee Reimbursement.” 
• In either email (to EXST or DIT), include the following information: Catalog ID, Catalog Name, Listing ID, Listing Name, Canvas Course ID.

Types of UMD Non-Credit Credentials

Students who have a LinkedIn account may ask how to access credentials earned if awarded a certificate. Below are the two types of credentials.

• Open Learning Certificate of Completion: View and Download from the Student Dashboard 
• UMD CEU Certificate of Completion: PDF certificate provided by campus unit.

Instructions 

This information is not posted on the student-focused Open Learning Getting Started website. Campus units are encouraged to share the following LinkedIn’s Instructions with their students via the course syllabus if awarding a certificate.

1. Add Certificate/Course Name.
2. Add University of Maryland as the Issuing Organization. This field will search and pre-populate when typing begins. 
3. Enter completion date as the Issue Date/Month/Year. Unless otherwise determined by the unit, select, “This certificate does not expire.”
4. Skip the Certificate ID section. Neither the Open Learning Certificate of Completion nor the UMD CEU Certificate of Completion have a credential ID or issuance number.
5. Add a direct URL link to the certificate under Credential URL by first uploading the certificate to Google Drive, and using the sharing link provided by Google. When sharing the link, be sure the accessibility is set appropriately and not set to a restricted audience. Example: “Anyone with the link.” 
6. Once saved, the certificate will be visible on the profile.

• For issues related to offering Open Learning courses, contact Extended Studies: openlearning@umd.edu.
• For questions concerning course design within ELMS-Canvas, Administrator Access, or the Technology Fee, contact the Division of Information Technology: itsupport@umd.edu.
• For technical support for an Open Learning course, contact Canvas Technical Support: 877-399-4090 or live chat.