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University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM)

Overview

Located in California, MD (near the Naval Air Station Patuxent River) the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs from five Maryland public universities in one location. Similar to the Universities at Shady Grove, the undergraduate programs offer small class sizes and offers state-of-the art facilities. For complete information on how USMSM works, see USMSM – About Us.

As one of the five participating institutions, University of Maryland (UMD) offers an approved selection of undergraduate degree programs at USMSM. Undergraduate Programs at USMSM (UG Programs at USMSM) serves local community college undergraduates who complete upper-level degree requirements for certain majors and graduate with a University of Maryland degree. All undergraduate degree programs must be approved by Academic Affairs, USMSM, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission. For complete information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Beise, beise@umd.edu.

A list of UMD undergraduate programs and academic directors may be found at the USMSM microsite.

Students apply to UMD through the Undergraduate Admissions application, specifying the major to which they are applying. Applicants must notify the academic college directly of their interest in enrolling at the USMSM location. The academic college shares this information with Undergraduate Admissions.

Whereas academic directors review applications and make recommendations, Undergraduate Admissions makes the final determination. UG Programs at USMSM has admissions deadlines of June 1 (for fall) and November 15 (for spring). Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a rolling, space-available basis.

Students are admitted as undergraduate transfer students directly into their degree (unique major code). Students also receive a College Park UID, directory ID, and email.

Each UG Program at USMSM has an academic program director who serves as liaison between the UMD home academic unit and USMSM. Responsible for managing overall scheduling and instruction, the academic program director also oversees marketing and recruitment (primarily with local community colleges), admission, orientation, registration, on-going advising, academic exceptions, and graduation clearance.

As admitted UMD students, participants are subject to all University policies and procedures. Students appear on regular class rosters and grade sheets; grades submitted in the same manner as for College Park students. Students register and access course schedules, grades, request grade reports, etc. via Testudo. Students may also take courses at College Park in the fall or spring semesters providing they meet course requirements and obtain advisor permission.

The academic unit provides complete oversight on the course selection and scheduling process. Courses offered align with degree requirements. The Department of English also offers sections in Professional Writing for students to complete that requirement.

EXST meets with program directors to determine interest in upper level courses that would be offered to meet General Education requirements. The program features traditional in-person instruction. Some courses are offered via online learning. In-person classes meet in Southern Maryland campus classrooms. Whereas classroom services, including technology needs, are provided by USMSM, student technology is covered by UMD’s Division of Information Technology.

Courses offered in the fall or spring semesters follow the Undergraduate Programs Scheduling Guidelines. Courses offered in summer or winter follow the scheduling guidelines of either Summer Session or Winter Session. Courses offered must meet the Maryland Higher Education Commission's (MHEC) policies on "contact hours".

UG Programs at USMSM use the Approved Semester Calendar and follows the standard 15-week semester calendar (fall or spring) with the standard final exam schedule. For specific start and end dates with corresponding technical, record integrity, and financial-related specifications, see the Office of the Registrar - University Calendars and Deadlines.

Individual program microsites provide information on the admission process, course offerings, advising, orientation, registration, requirements, services and resources, academic and financial deadlines, tuition and fees, and payment information.

 Teaching Policies nda Guidelines

  • For information on syllabi, textbooks, final grades, deadlines and more, see Office of Faculty Affairs - Teaching Policies and Guidelines.
  • The process for arranging textbooks with the bookstore and adding this information into Testudo is the same one utilized for College Park undergraduate courses. Students taking courses at USMSM can purchase textbooks at the University Book Center at the College Park campus.
  • Final grade insertion deadlines for USMSM sections are the same as those for College Park undergraduate courses.

Closing or Delayed Openings

The decision to close or delay opening is based on existing conditions at USMSM.

Tuition

Assessed standard undergraduate tuition based on University-approved residency rates. 

Mandatory Fees

Students have the option to pay the College Park Campus Mandatory Fee to gain full access to College Park services. Students are registered for course/section SGRV001 which generates a charge on the student’s account for College Park student 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 Undergraduate Programs at Southern Maryland is in alignment with University protocols and is posted at Student Financial Services - Billing Schedule.

The information below pertains to undergraduate programs offering courses at USMSM in the fall and spring semester.

Extended Studies Administrative Fee

  • For provided administrative services, EXST charges 10% of gross tuition revenue. 
  • This does not include differential tuition which is deposited directly into the College account.

Direct Expenses

  • Course-related costs includes instructional salaries, fringe benefits, and the EXST administrative fee.
  • Information on allowable expenses are published in the scheduling guidelines.

Net Revenue

  • Distributable tuition revenue for UG Programs at USMSM major-coded students after all direct course expenses have been deducted.

Distribution 

  • Distribution based on academic unit ownership of course/section offerings and not program-based. 
  • 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.
  • Net revenue, fall semester, is distributed by March 1; net revenue, spring semester, is distributed by third week June. All net revenue is distributed to the program.
  • Net revenue for courses offered in Summer Session or Winter Session are part of those sessions’ distribution protocols.

Overhead

  • EXST absorbs the campus overhead rate on all direct expenses.
  • For course and program assistance, contact Anne Baum, Associate Director, Summer, Winter, and Undergraduate Programs, at 5-7762 or abaum@umd.edu.
  • For budgeting, distribution, and operational assistance, contact Andrew Leighton, Director of Finance and Operations, at 5-0212 or aleighto@umd.edu.
  • For UG Programs at USMSM, academic units use exst@umd.edu (general questions) or oes-ug-sched@umd.edu (scheduling-related questions).
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