Professional Graduate Programs

EXST provides administrative services for a variety of self-support graduate programs, including the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Public Health (MPH). In addition, EXST provides services for professional doctoral degrees such as the Doctor of Education (Ed.D), as well as Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s programs (i.e., 4+1).  

The determining factor for these services is not the type of degree, but rather if the program is self-support (i.e., does not receive or use any state resources). EXST should provide services for all self-support graduate programs unless the academic unit has received written permission from the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost to self-administer the program.  Programs that are self-administered are assessed a campus administrative fee plus campus overhead. 

Self-support graduate programs follow the University’s Programs, Curricula, and Courses (PCC) approval process. Course approvals and modifications follow the University’s VPAC Course Approval Process. Approved programs are published in the Graduate School Catalog – Programs and follow the all Graduate School and University policies and procedures. Approved course descriptions are published in the Graduate School Catalog – Course Listing.

Programs that use the Professional Studies template (MPS or Graduate Certificate) have a shorter approval timeline. These programs are not required to be sent to other USM institutions for review to determine if it conflicts with an existing program at that institution. Additionally, programs that use this template do not require formal approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). On average, a Professional Studies program can take six-nine months for approval; however, this can vary greatly depending on the time it takes for the program to be approved at the college level and the time of year the proposal is submitted. For example, the Programs, Curricula, and Courses Committees (Senate PCC and Graduate School PCC) do not meet over the summer; therefore, a proposal submitted in June will not be reviewed until September at the earliest. Regardless of the program type selected, it is strongly recommended that new programs allocate at least nine to twelve months for marketing/recruiting after the program is approved.

Self-support graduate programs can use the Approved Semester Calendar (fall, spring, and potentially 3-week Winter Session and/or Summer Session [6-week I or II]) or the Approved 12-Week Term Calendar (a quarter-based calendar consisting of 12-week fall, winter, spring, summer). Programs that elect to use the term calendar are required to sign the Office of the Registrar Memorandum of Understanding acknowledging the policies and procedures that govern term programs.

Academic units select the calendar type during the PCC process. Each calendar type has its own specifications for full-time enrollment. See the Graduate School Catalog – Designation of Full-Time and Part-Time Status.

Programs can be offered in-person, blended, or 100% online. The delivery method is selected during the PCC process. All arrangements for off-site delivery are the responsibility of the academic unit.

Self-support graduate programs follow the Graduate School – Admissions Process. Admission is at the sole discretion of the program and the Graduate School. Program staff should sign up for admission systems training and obtain access to University systems. EXST does not facilitate the admissions process nor make admission decisions. 

Graduate programs are listed at The Graduate School website as follows:

• Graduate School Catalog: in alphabetical order by program with assigned major code. EXST has the ability to update this information.
• Graduate School Admissions – List of Programs: in chart form, in alphabetical order by program title with major code, school/college, and degree type. Only the academic program has the ability to update this information.

In addition, EXST-administered programs are listed at the Professional Graduate Programs microsite first by school/college and then in alphabetical order by program title. 

Self-support graduate programs follow the standard scheduling process and timeline as outlined by Office of the Registrar Course and Classroom Scheduling Services. Scheduled course are published on Testudo (Schedule of Classes).

EXST provides detailed scheduling instructions that contain program-specific information on requirements for section #’s, delivery methods, calendar types, and more. Program staff work with their Departmental Scheduling Officer to enter or review scheduling information or can request EXST to process.

Courses offered must meet the Maryland Higher Education Commission's (MHEC) policies on "contact hours".

For complete information on syllabi, textbooks, final grades, inclement weather and more, see the Office of Faculty Affairs – Teaching Policies and Guidelines. 

Term-Calendar Programs and Grades

The Graduate School processes academic probation and dismissal notifications based on the grade submission schedule. Graduate programs that use the term calendar have a shorter time frame for these processes. International students on an I-20 will be in violation if dismissed and will be required to leave the country immediately. Incompletes cannot be used for grade calculations. The grade submission deadline is included in all instructor contracts. It is the program’s responsibility to ensure compliance. Due to the short time frame to determine, review, and notify students of probation and dismissal decisions, graduate programs that use the term calendar should be available to assist the Graduate School with the review process if questions arise. It is the academic unit’s responsibility to inform an instructor of the above.

General

Students register for courses via Testudo (Schedule of Classes). International students have specific registration requirements and their registration and time to degree completion is monitored by International Student and Scholar Services. Each calendar type has its own specifications for academic-related actions (see Office of the Registrar – Academic Deadlines). SIS indicates what calendar type is associated with a specific program code.

Registered students access course content (static and active) through the University’s Enterprise Learning Management System (ELMS) (i.e., Canvas) and receive support from DIT. Credits and grades earned post to the student’s official University transcript. EXST oversees the Appeals: Exception to Academic Policy process for students who request for an exception relating to their registration.

Self-support graduate programs follow the standard Graduation and Commencement protocols. Degrees are issued from the University of Maryland Graduate School and lists the full degree title (MPS, MA, MS, MPH, etc.). The diploma that students receive does not reference EXST.

Registration Eligibility and Calendar Type

The Graduate School has determined that any UMD graduate students may enroll in any UMD graduate course, regardless of student or course program type (traditional or self-support) subject to appropriate permissions.

Students admitted into a program that uses the semester calendar may not enroll in a program that uses the term calendar and vice versa. Summer Session is the exception for students in semester programs. Students in term programs may only register for courses in term programs regardless. Programs that do not wish to permit non-program student enrollment may specify such a restriction. Programs that wish to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis may also specify such a consideration.

UMD graduate students means any degree-seeking master or PhD student (state- or self-support), graduate certificate student (state- or self-support), or non-degree seeking student. This does not include Consortium or Golden ID. Non-degree seeking students are admitted into the semester calendar and may not register in a term calendar program (except in Term IV).

Semester Calendar Programs

Term Calendar (12-week) Programs

To accommodate non-program UMD graduate students who seek registration in EXST-administered graduate programs, EXST has developed the following procedure: 

• Inquiries for registration in an EXST-administered graduate program should be forwarded to exst@umd.edu.
• EXST vets the type of calendar (semester or term) graduate program into which the student has been admitted.
• If student is in the same type of calendar:  Student provided with registration instructions via email.
• If student is not in the same type of calendar: Student informed via email that they may not register. Term IV (summer) is the exception for students in a semester program.
• In the registration email, EXST informs the student the following: 
  • They must first obtain permission from their academic program advisor via email.
  • They must then contact the program via email and provide copies of all relevant permissions, as well as their full name, UID, course, section, and semester/term.
  • The program makes the determination whether or not to permit enrollment, ensuring that sufficient seats remain to accommodate program-admitted students. 
  • If permission is granted, the program enters a permission to enroll stamp on the student’s record for that course, section, and semester, and emails the student informing them that the stamp is in place. If the program chooses not to grant permission, the student must be informed. 
  • Should a student receive permission, upon such registration charges for the course will post at the rate for the program in which the course is offered.
• Exceptions and permissions (i.e., BPO stamps) are the responsibility of the program. Accordingly, program staff must receive the required SIS access for these processes. 

Upon registration, students are assessed program tuition, mandatory fees, and course fees (if any) which post to the student’s financial record. Approved tuition and fees rates are for the academic year that runs fall semester through the end of Summer Session.  Rates are posted on the EXST-administered individual program’s microsite. If a program student registers for a course in a program with a higher tuition rate, the student will be billed at the higher rate. If a program student registers for a course with standard tuition, then the student is assessed tuition at their residency rate. Determination of residency status is made according to the Board of Regents Policy on Student Residency Classification.

Tuition

Programs can use the following options: The standard graduate per credit rate or a special rate (per credit or per course). 

• Standard tuition: Based on the approved University in-state and out-of-state graduate per credit rate. The program does not need to take any action as this is the default. 
• Special rate (per credit or per course):
  • Requires request with justification and approval from the Senior Vice President and Provost. 
  • The minimum per credit rate cannot be lower than the University-approved in-state graduate rate.
• Special rate based on the in-state graduate per credit rate: Once approved, rates adjust accordingly to University-approved rates.
• Special rate that is higher that the in-state graduate per credit rate: Rate increases cannot exceed the % associated with the approved in-state graduate rate % increase for any given year. 
  •  Increases that are higher require justification and approval from the Senior Vice President and Provost (typically February for any given year).

Mandatory Fees

Assessed standard University mandatory fees based on learning option (in person or online) and total registered credits. Students assessed the campus mandatory fee have full access to all campus services.

Course Fees

Assessed if student registers for a course with a University-approved fee (lab, studio, materials).

Student Payment Schedule

The payment schedule for registration associated with classes offered in Self-Support Graduate Programs is in alignment with University protocols and is posted at Professional Graduate Programs – Payment Information. 

Financial Aid, Tuition Remission, Third-Party Billing, Program Scholarships

• The Office of Student Financial Aid provides expert assistance on all financial aid-related questions, including to students who rely on federal financial aid or receive funding from their workplace. 
• UMD-employed students who qualify for tuition remission should contact University Human Resources – Tuition Remission to determine eligibility guidelines. Tuition remission will only cover standard tuition. Tuition remission benefit questions should be directed to University Human Resources. Students who are employees of University of Maryland System schools must contact their institution’s human resources unit for this information. Each institution has their own processes.
• Students who rely on their employer to pay their tuition use Student Financial Services – Third Party / Sponsored Billing.
• Programs may award a scholarship using the Student Award System.

Extended Studies Administrative Fee  

For provided administrative services, EXST charges 10% of gross tuition revenue.

Direct Expenses

• Course-related costs includes instructional salaries, fringe benefits, and the EXST administrative fee. Programs that use the MPS template are assessed a Graduate School fee of $60 per student. This fee is assessed prior to distribution and sent to the Graduate School.
• All other program costs (staff salaries and benefits, course-related expenses, offices, telecommunications, goods, and/or services [travel, marketing, rentals, etc.]) are the academic unit’s responsibility and should be reimbursed via net tuition revenue distribution.

Net Revenue 

Distributable tuition revenue less direct expenses.

Distribution  

• Distribution based on an academic unit’s entire suite of course/section offerings rather than individual courses, allowing for the occasional under-enrolled course as needed for timely degree completion.
• Distribution timeline is as follows:

Overhead

EXST absorbs the campus overhead rate on all direct expenses.

• For program assistance, contact Matthew Nessan, Associate Director, Professional and Continuing Education, at 5-8240 or mnessan@umd.edu. 
• For budgeting, distribution, and operational assistance, contact Andrew Leighton, Director of Finance and Operations, at 5-0212 or aleighto@umd.edu.
• For Self-Support Graduate Programs, academic units should use exst@umd.edu (general questions) or pp-sched@umd.edu (scheduling-related questions).