Reopening FAQs

All students, faculty and staff must complete the following before returning to campus:

• An online training and pledge agreeing to abide by CDC-recommended health and safety regulations
• Daily self-monitoring and reporting of temperature and any onset symptoms, beginning at least 14 days prior to arrival
• Mandatory COVID-19 testing and reporting of results
• Students, whether they live in on-campus residence halls or off-campus accommodations in the Greater College Park area, who depart College Park for Thanksgiving recess and return for the remaining three weeks of the fall semester will be required, upon return, to:
  • Be tested for COVID-19 during the week of November 30—either during an on-campus testing event or at an off-campus facility—and report any positive result through the HEAL Line; and,
  • Sequester as much as possible upon return, limiting activities and interactions and not attending in-person classes for 14 days (until December 12).

     

UMD Campus Affiliate and Visitor Guidelines during COVID-19
The University System of Maryland guidance only mandates testing for students and employees, but it requires "all visitors" to meet health and safety requirements related to face coverings, physical distancing, compliance with local guidance on events and gatherings, hand hygiene, and daily symptom monitoring as stipulated by individual institutions. All visitors will be required to adhere to the University's current health-and-safety requirements, which may become more stringent and may include testing based on the amount of time these groups are on campus and the likelihood of close contact with UMD community members. Contractors and vendors must abide by UMD Contractor Requirements for Conducting Business During COVID-19, available at purchase.umd.edu.

UMD Campus Affiliate and Visitor Guidelines during COVID-19
Affiliates who plan to return to campus or a UMD facility are required to follow the same protocols as employees for COVID-19 testing and symptom monitoring. All affiliates must have a PCR-based test no more than 14 days prior to returning to campus or a UMD facility. Affiliates should confirm their negative test at return.umd.edu and begin daily symptom monitoring 14 days prior to arrival on campus or a UMD facility.

Contractors, including vendors, should abide by the Contractor Requirements for Conducting Business on Campus during Covid-19 which is available at purchase.umd.edu.

All members of our campus community will be required to follow these 4 Maryland healthy behaviors: 

• Wear a face covering at all times indoors, and outdoors when in the presence of others;
• Wash hands frequently and practice good personal hygiene;
• Practice physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart from others;
• Stay home if you feel sick, and report symptoms to the University Health Center and your personal doctor

If you are seeing fellow Terps not following 4 Maryland behaviors, here's what you can do:

ON-CAMPUS

• Ask: If you feel comfortable talking to the person, respectfully ask them to comply with the 4 Maryland healthy behaviors. Consider saying something like "mask up 4 Maryland".
• Offer: If you are comfortable, provide the person with information or options, such as suggesting that the person can obtain a face covering from a student ambassador or encouraging the person to move to a space more conducive to physical distancing.
• Leave: If they don't comply, calmly remove yourself from the situation.
• Report: You may report the incident to someone in authority (e.g. a Resident Assistant, a supervisor, a department head) or by using the UMD Compliance Reporting System.

To report a current campus gathering for immediate review and possible action, contact the UMPD non-emergency number 301-405-3555. Campus events and gatherings must follow the state and county executive orders that limit the size of gatherings.

OFF-CAMPUS

If you are off-campus, in the City of College Park, you can report large gatherings by calling the City's Code Enforcement 24/7 Hotline at 240-487-3588.

AMBASSADORS

In addition to the reporting options above, representatives from the Prince George's County Health Department, City of College Park code enforcement officers, UMPD Student Auxiliary unit, as well as a group of specially trained student ambassadors, will be assisting with keeping members of our community aware and accountable.

All information regarding mandatory testing requirements, as well as dates and registration for free COVID-19 testing on campus is available on the university’s COVID-19 Testing Information website. 

UMD will provide all students, faculty and staff with TerrapinSTRONG masks.

• Departments are responsible for providing face coverings to employees; visit the Printing Services Digital Storefront to order. 
• On-campus students will receive them in their welcome kits during move-in.
• Off-campus students can pick them up from their apartment complex now, or on Sept. 14 and 15 from 9-3 p.m. at tent booths located at the Xfinity Center, Physical Sciences Complex, and Tawes Plaza. More information can be found here.

The university launched a public COVID-19 campus dashboard to provide our community with transparent and timely data about the prevalence of COVID-19 within our campus, based on UMD-administered testing. The dashboard provides critical metrics, including UMD tests administered by week and cumulatively; new positive cases by week; positivity rate for UMD-administered tests; campus density measures; and quarantine and isolation bed availability. The metrics will be updated weekly and are an important part of our ongoing efforts to monitor and counteract the spread of the virus.

A key step in stopping the spread of COVID-19 is contact identification and contact tracing. Early contact identification is a step taken by the University Health Center upon learning of a positive case or that someone has symptoms of COVID-19. Contact tracing is conducted by the County Health Department. 

1. Early Contact Identification by University Health Center (UHC): When the UHC finds out someone has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, Early Contact Identification steps will begin in order to find others on campus who may have been a close contact of that person. This will occur before or concurrently with the County Health Department’s contact tracing. The earlier these individuals are identified and interviewed, the sooner they can begin quarantine and avoid exposing others. To aid in early contact identification should someone test positive for COVID-19, we have developed a voluntary way for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates to provide the names and contact information for UMD community members they frequently interact with. Close contacts are individuals who you interact with regularly in-person while working, studying, or in residence on campus or in the greater College Park community. This system is optional and not required. Identify up to five close contacts here.
2. Contact Tracing by the County Health Department: When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the County Health Department is notified by the testing agency. The person who tests positive will receive a phone call from the County Health Department to see who else might have been exposed. This is official Contact Tracing. You can read more about the Maryland State COVID Link System.   

• Employees who are positive will be asked to remain home in self-isolation until one of the following:
  • For those with symptoms, it has been 10 days since the onset of symptoms and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms are improved.
  • For those who never had symptoms, they must self-isolate for 10 days since their positive test.  
  • In either case, employees will receive specific guidance from their healthcare provider or the Health Department Contact Tracer and must bring documentation from their provider or the Health Department upon their return to work.  
• To stop the spread of COVID-19, the people who had close contact with the positive person will be contacted and asked to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of contact with the person who tested positive. The Health Department will not tell someone who potentially exposed them without permission.  
• At UMD, employees are responsible for letting their supervisor or their Human Resources representative know that they have received a positive COVID-19 test; the University is not necessarily notified by the County Health Department. Employees are not responsible for contacting coworkers and should refrain from doing so.

Please review the Facilities Management FAQs for information on cleaning and disinfecting of administrative and academic buildings. In addition: 

• We will ask instructors to be flexible and provide time for students to sanitize their work area before class and to similarly sanitize their own work area and whatever classroom equipment they plan to use in teaching. 
• Classroom seating will be arranged or marked to indicate safe seating distances. 
• Hand sanitizer stations will be available in proximity to classrooms for students, staff and faculty to use before and after attending class. 
• Instructors will be expected to deliver handouts and other types of course material digitally through ELMS-CANVAS and minimize exchange of papers and or any other type of instruction materials. 
• Signs will be posted to direct one-way traffic within campus buildings and to indicate safe distancing to minimize the likelihood of congestion in hallways, entrances, restrooms, stairways and elevators, etc.

The university has been working in close partnership with the City of College Park and Prince George’s County to prepare for the return of our community to campus, and promote and enforce healthy behaviors off-campus. This includes daily and weekly calls with UMD representatives from student affairs, student conduct and UMPD; the City of College Park’s mayor, city manager and code enforcement officer; as well as the County health department, police and many others. 

We recognize that some students will want to travel home for Thanksgiving. Please review the following options for students regarding plans for the break and the remainder of the fall semester:

• Students who decide to leave College Park for Thanksgiving recess may remain at a permanent off-campus residence for the remainder of the fall semester, providing their classes can all be completed entirely online.
• Students may elect not to travel over Thanksgiving and instead remain in campus residence halls or their off-campus housing during the break. If this option is chosen, students may then continue with normal campus activities and in-person classes through the end of the fall semester.
• Alternatively students may depart College Park for Thanksgiving recess and return for the remaining three weeks of the fall semester. However, all students who choose this option, whether they live in on-campus residence halls or off-campus accommodations in the Greater College Park area will be required, upon return, to:
  • Be tested for COVID-19 during the week of November 30—either during an on-campus testing event or at an off-campus facility—and report any positive result through the HEAL Line; and,
  • Sequester as much as possible upon return, limiting activities and interactions and not attending in-person classes for 14 days (until December 12).

Registration information for the week of November 30 testing, and additional guidance for students will be shared within the next few weeks.

Yes, whether you are residing in an off-campus house, apartment building/complex, townhome, or fraternity/sorority chapter house, all students are expected to adhere to University, local, state, and federal guidelines as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Be advised that all gatherings - including those that take place in a private home, such as house parties - are still restricted by Prince George's County Executive Order to one person or family unit per 200 square feet.

Students who do not comply with these expectations will face appropriate disciplinary action which may include a written notice, an informal meeting and/or a formal meeting where disciplinary charges for failure to comply, and sanctions as appropriate under the Residence Hall Rules and/or the Code of Student Conduct may occur. Sanctions for non-compliance include but are not limited to; loss of privileges to attend campus events, housing dismissal, removal from all on-campus activities including in-person classes, and dismissal from the University.

The Office of Student Conduct is responsible for holding students accountable for adhering to community expectations. We want to be sure that students understand what is required of them. The Code of Student Conduct applies to all students, whether on or off campus.

Whether on or off campus, all students are expected to adhere to University, local, state, and federal guidelines as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. The City of College Park also follows guidelines and requirements set forth by the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County. Those requirements include social distancing, wearing face coverings or masks and limiting gatherings. 

Prince George’s County restricts all gatherings to one person/family unit per 200 square feet of indoor square footage, or a maximum of 50 persons (whichever is lower) at all locations and venues--including private residences. For most single-family homes in College Park, this limits allowable gatherings to only 10-20 people, total, inside and/or outside.

For students living in on-campus residence halls, please consult the Fall 2020 information provided by the Department of Resident Life. Should students have specific questions about move-in please email reslife@umd.edu.

UMD faculty and staff have been working hard throughout the summer to prepare a fall semester that will be academically productive, exciting and as safe as possible. An updated schedule of classes with final course options is available on Testudo, including the face-to-face, blended or online delivery method for each course. Students who need further assistance should contact their academic advisers.

After a two week delay, in-person undergraduate instruction resumed as planned on September 14. Courses are being delivered three ways (the delivery method for each section of a course is indicated in the Schedule of Classes and Testudo’s Student Schedule):

• Face-to-face: The class meets together, physically on campus, for all class meetings. 
• Blended/hybrid learning: The class meets both in person and online.
  • Most blended courses physically gather in a classroom on some days and online on other days, as noted on the Schedule of Classes.
  • In a few blended courses, the class will be divided into smaller groups that alternate between face-to-face and online participation, such that on any given day, one group participates face to face while the other simultaneously participates online. In such cases, your instructor determines when each group will meet and how. These courses are indicated by the following note in the Schedule of Classes: “Alternating face-to-face/online class meeting. Please see instructor for details.”
• Online: The class meets online in one of three ways: synchronously, asynchronously or a combination of both. This is indicated with the following text on your Student Schedule: “This section is online.”
  • Synchronous: instructor meets with all students at a specified day and time, which will be reflected on your schedule and also in the Schedule of Classes.
  • Asynchronous: instructor provides content for students to review on their own, which will be reflected as “TBA” on your student schedule and on the Schedule of  Classes.
  • Combination: includes synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

View your Testudo Student Schedule to see the delivery method for each registered section.

Because maintaining six feet of physical distance between individuals limits the number of students that can be accommodated in a classroom, courses of more than 50 students will be delivered online. About 20% of undergraduate courses will be offered at least partially in person, with priority given to classes that particularly need in-person instruction, such as some labs, performance courses, senior capstone projects, clinical instruction and internships. Some of the innovations being developed by faculty this summer are aimed at using creative, blended instruction and hopefully will allow us to accommodate partial in-person instruction, even in some larger classes, through smaller breakout and discussion sections. 

The university is using in-person and remote course options to maximize flexibility and equity of access and to accommodate the needs of students and faculty who may not be able to return to campus because of risks associated with COVID-19. Given that fall registration is still ongoing, students who wish to take courses remotely can seek to build a schedule exclusively of online courses, as long as the courses of their interest are available.

Due to the ongoing state and county executive orders prohibiting large gatherings, this year's winter commencement on Sunday, December 20 will be a virtual event. Plans are underway to deliver a campus-wide celebration and individual school/college ceremonies, and details will be shared shortly on commencement.umd.edu.

Instruction for winter term will be delivered entirely online.

The spring 2021 schedule of classes is now available on Testudo. The semester will be conducted in a hybrid environment, with up to 25 percent of instruction delivered in-person. Delivery methods for Spring 2021 courses will be finalized by Dec. 4.

Anticipating the potential for unanticipated absences during the pandemic, self-certified notes will serve as documentation for COVID-19-related absences or missed course expectations. In providing academic accommodations for students, faculty should consider alternative assignments and make-up work. These course policies should be noted clearly in the syllabus.

Faculty are asked to work creatively and compassionately with students who have experienced extended excused absences to find ways to allow course completion. If that is not feasible, students should consult with an academic advisor.

The expectation that every undergraduate course will have a final exam is waived for Fall 2020 as it was for Spring 2020. Faculty are encouraged to use graded assessments throughout the course, in order that students can build their course grade cumulatively over the course of the semester. 

If you do decide to pause your education, we would encourage you to reapply for a future term of admission; visit here to learn more about the reapplication process for admission. 

Refund amounts are based on the timing and method in which you withdraw. Review the Fall 2020 academic deadlines and refund schedule here.

Yes, but there may be implications for your financial aid, on-campus housing or visa status. An undergraduate student is considered part-time if enrolled in 11 or fewer credits. Part-time tuition and fees are available here.

For the Fall 2020 semester, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider requests from admitted undergraduate students to defer their enrollment on an individual basis. Students who have confirmed their intention to enroll must have submitted their deferral request by July 24. More information is available here. Graduate students who wish to defer enrollment to the Spring 2021 or Fall 2021 terms should contact their graduate program’s department to see what steps may be involved for approved deferral.

Acceptability of AP/IB/CLEP/A-level/AS-level exams taken has not changed as a result of COVID-19.

We will accept passing grades earned in transfer coursework during this semester. These grades will be accepted for admission into the university and for limited enrollment program consideration. For more information, see lep.umd.edu.

The Graduate School maintains a coronavirus microsite, including an FAQ page, and contact information for students who need assistance.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions maintains a coronavirus microsite for Future Terps, including FAQs, admission requirements, and contact information for prospective students who need assistance.

Questions about the following can be found on the Office of the Registrar Service Modifications page found on the Registrar’s Office home page and on Testudo:

• Diplomas
• Residency
• Registration
• Transcripts

Please contact your adviser. Should you need assistance in determining who your adviser is, please use the list below.

All mandatory fees, as determined by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, will be assessed for Fall 2020 term. 

Certain fees were prorated during the Spring 2020 term in order to account for unforeseen modifications made in support of UMD’s COVID-19 response. For the 2020-21 academic year – regardless of the mode of course delivery (online, hybrid or in-person), full mandatory fees will be assessed, including, as applicable, shuttle, athletics, recreation services, Stamp Student Union, performing arts and cultural centers, student facilities and sustainability fees. In addition, should a shift to full online course delivery occur at any point during the fall 2020 term, fees shall not be prorated.  

All mandatory fees are published on a line-item basis to aid in transparency for students and their families to better understand the student services the fees support. Due to the significant cost of operating these facilities and services regardless of the number of students using them, the university must charge these fees based on the credit hours for which you are enrolled. 

Some of the services will be moved online to accommodate students who may have no physical presence for the Fall 2020 term, and in-person services will remain available for students to utilize whenever they access the campus.  

Additional information on Mandatory Fee Summaries (PDF) 

Certain courses may have additional fees, such as a lab fee, associated with them. The course fee list can be found here. 

Tuition charges will remain based on your residency status as determined by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes. The full policy can be found here.

Maryland taxpayers support instruction and university operations through state tax dollars; the nonresident surcharge helps to do the same for students from outside of Maryland. Current UMD students who are experiencing financial hardship should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (umdfinaid@umd.edu) to determine grant and/or financial aid options.

In order for us to all have the safest possible fall semester, it is imperative that everyone practice and enforce healthy behaviors. All members of our campus community will be required to follow these measures:

• Wear a face covering at all times indoors and outdoors when in the presence of others;
• Wash hands frequently and practice good personal hygiene;
• Practice physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart from others;
• Stay home if you feel sick, and report symptoms to the University Health Center and your personal doctor;
• Monitor your symptoms on a daily basis and submit them into the online reporting system located at return.umd.edu.

Faculty and staff members not in compliance will be subject to employee progressive discipline measures.

Even when State and County guidance allows for events or gatherings, great care must be taken to limit and prevent the community transmission of COVID-19 within our UMD community. With a focus on reducing the density of the campus population for fall semester, events and gatherings must be limited. Event organizers are strongly encouraged to prioritize alternatives to in-person gatherings. Those organizers who believe an in-person gathering is essential must adhere to the university’s engagement/event guidelines.

• Approval is required subject to allowances of the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County:  
• Appropriate VP or designee review for any event or gathering to exceed 25 persons.
• Maximum group size is currently 50 persons, in accordance with Prince George’s County Health Department Prince George's County Health Department Guidance
• Each vice president will develop a procedure for review and approval.

It is the responsibility of event organizers to monitor attendance at the event to ensure the number of attendees does not exceed permitted maximum occupancy and required physical distancing is maintained.

Event organizers must communicate to attendees the expectations of the UMD community and adherence to hygiene protocols. Organizers are responsible for enforcement of all policies and expectations with attendees.

University-sponsored events to be held off campus must comply with these guidelines. Events to be held out of the state must also comply with state/local laws (or guidance) in which the event is being held.

Event sponsors should have a supply of disposable face coverings to distribute to participants without one at the controlled entrance to the event. Participants who refuse will not be allowed to attend the event. Event organizers for both outdoor and indoor gatherings and events must make available alcohol-based sanitizers. Costs associated with the event will be borne by the event organizer.

Facility managers must designate separate entrances and exits when feasible.  Event organizers must ensure participant compliance. Whenever possible there should be a single entrance and a single exit. All exits must be available for emergency use and must be indicated with signage approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Lines to enter an event must comply with six-foot physical distancing (or current guidance) and be marked accordingly on the ground.

There must be at least one person at each entrance and exit to an event to control flow of participants and ensure adherence to safety protocols.Event organizers should be prepared for staff absences. This may require scheduling additional staff. All event staff must wear face coverings and have watched the Terps Protecting Terps training video at return.umd.edu.

Event organizers are responsible for providing appropriate supplies for all staff and/or volunteers working the event, such as hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, tissues, trash baskets, disposable face coverings, and cleaners and disinfectants.

All ticket sales or registrations must be in advance. No ticket sales or registrations will be conducted on the site of the event or gathering. 

Student organizations are expected to create virtual programming as alternatives to in-person events, meetings and programs. Student organization in-person events and meetings must be reviewed and approved by the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC). Student organization advisors will receive notice of a pending event in the Stamp and will be encouraged to work with their group’s planning and execution of the event. Students and/or registered student groups who fail to get approval may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

STAMP staff will craft and execute training for registered student organization advisors to provide them information about risk management, expectations for maintaining public health, and ways to enlarge impact using new technologies.  Students will be ineligible to organize events until the training is completed. STAMP staff from SORC and those that advise student groups will work to develop training, checklists, and other tools to be used in planning meetings and events. This material will detail what is required for event approval and will be provided to all colleagues in academic and student affairs units that advise student groups. 

Facility managers will hold the organizer accountable for compliance and will work with organizers to comply with guidelines.  Facility managers are authorized to close an event when procedures are not followed.

Third-party events hosted in University facilities by an external entity/organization must receive approval from the appropriate Vice President or their designee. All third-party events must have an assigned UMD facility coordinator and follow all established guidelines for events on campus.  When there is no clear facility coordinator (as is the case with some outdoor venues), third-party organizers must contract with Conferences & Visitor Services and are responsible for associated program management fees.