New Student Checklist

New Student Checklist

Pre-Arrival Preparation

Directory ID and Email account

Communication Set up

Immunization Records

English Language Proficiency

Final Official Transcripts

Housing

Payroll and Benefits Paperwork

Teaching Assistantship Application

International Teaching Assistants & ITA Exams

Academic and Administrative Affairs

University ID

Academic Year Preparation

IT Information Setup

CS Grad Office Form Directory

Wireless Access

PhD Course Waivers

Desk Assignments & Building Access

Residency Classification

Campus Life and Resources

Recreation Facilities on Campus

Parking

Graduate School Resources

Useful Links

Pre-Arrival Preparation

Directory ID and Email account 

After you officially accept the offer in TerpEngage, activate your directory ID and set up your email account. For instructions, please visit: https://identity.umd.edu/

If you have any problems obtaining your directory ID, or setting up your email, please contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) at itsupport [-at-] umd [dot] edu or (301) 405-1500. Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please note: OIT cannot send login or password information by email. 

  • Note: The most important part about activation is to make sure you change the DEFAULT directoryID provided to a PREFERRED directory BEFORE clicking "activate." Campus will provide a default directoryID, this is usually not the preferred ID. If you accept and then change later it causes issues.

Communication Set up

  • Sign up for our CS grad student listserv (Gradlist) using your .edu e-mail for important announcements from us.
  • Join the CS Grad Slack space, also known as Grad Lounge, for current UMD CS graduate students. Stay updated on activities, free food opportunities, apartment listings, and more.

Immunization Records 

English Language Proficiency for International Applicant

If your English Language Proficiency scores do not meet the threshold for full admission, you will be admitted with an English provision. The specific program requirement (Intensive English, English Bridge Program, or Advanced English Writing course) will be outlined in your official admission letter from the Graduate School.

You will have the opportunity to submit new scores by a specified deadline (which will be either July 1st or November 29th, depending on the term of your placement), as indicated in your letter. Failure to meet this requirement will necessitate enrollment in the required UMEI course, whose tuition costs are NOT covered by tuition remission or the department.

Final Official Transcripts

The Graduate School requires that all admitted students submit their final official transcript by the end of the 1st semester. Officially transcripts must be sent directly from your previous institution to the UMD Graduate School via mail or electronically. To avoid any delays in Spring registration, please arrange to have this done as soon as your qualifying degree has been conferred. Please have your transcript mailed to: 

             University of Maryland

             Enrollment Service Operations

             Application for Graduate Admission

             Room 3125 Mitchell Building

             College Park, Maryland 20742

Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions can be sent to: gradschool [-at-] umd [dot] edu if a student has attended a U.S. institution that sends official transcripts electronically. Electronic transcripts must be password-protected against editing or tampering to meet the Graduate School's security requirements. Ensure they are sent directly from the university and include the degree conferral information.

Students can also bring official/sealed envelopes in person to the Graduate front desk which is located in:

             University of Maryland

             The Graduate School

             2123 Lee Building

             7809 Regents Drive

             College Park, Maryland 20742

Housing 

There are many housing options to consider, and we recommend you start by visiting these sites: 

 

Payroll and Benefits Paperwork 

The CS Business office will send you the necessary forms over the summer to set up your payroll and health insurance. If you haven't received the paperwork by the end of July, contact Jodie Gray at jgray2 [-at-] umd [dot] edu.

Teaching Assistantship Application 

Details on how to apply for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) will be shared during the summer. For detailed TA policies, please refer to the Teaching Assistants site.

M.S. students, including first-year students, are eligible for graduate assistantship appointments. Faculty members may appoint them as Research Assistants (RAs) depending on their research needs and available funding. Typically, MS students are considered for Teaching Assistantships (TAs) only after Ph.D. students and undergraduate hourly TA positions have been filled.

International Teaching Assistants & ITA Exams

The Graduate School requires that ITAs who are non-native speakers of English be evaluated to have their proficiency in spoken English assessed. The ITA Evaluation is not required of students who serve only as graders or researchers, or whose entire education has been in the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Anglophone Africa, or the Commonwealth Caribbean. 

From Spring 2024, International Teaching Assistants (ITA) can be exempted from spoken English support through one of the following:

  • Achieving a speaking sub-score of 24 on the iBT TOEFL, 7.5 on IELTS, or 76 on PTE in their admission English proficiency exam.
  • Being exempt from submitting English proficiency exams for admission, based on Graduate School guidelines (refer to the section 'Exempt from Submitting TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Scores').

The Graduate School accepts superscores, so consider retaking your test to improve your speaking scores before the start of the semester. Without clearance for teaching, you will only be eligible for non-teaching duties, which may limit the courses to which we can assign you as a TA.

You will have the opportunity to submit new scores by a specified deadline (which will be either July 1st or November 29th, depending on the term of your placement), as indicated in your letter. Failure to meet this requirement will necessitate enrollment in the required UMEI course, whose tuition costs are NOT covered by tuition remission or the department. 

Academic and Administrative Affairs

University ID

Students need to be registered for classes for the current or upcoming semester to qualify for a student ID card. Once registered, you can obtain your ID card from the Office of the University Registrar Front Counter, located on the first floor of the Mitchell Building, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Remember to bring a photo ID for verification. The initial issuance of the card is free of charge. However, a $20 fee will be applied for replacing a card that is lost, stolen, or intentionally damaged (like a hole punch).

For more information, please visit University ID Cards. 

Academic Year Preparation

When to Do It

What to Do

How to Do It

Upon admission

Review Policy Manual
Before semester starts

Meet with advisor

Before semester starts

Understand academic deadlines

Before registration

Check class schedule & Review registration policies

Registration period

Register for courses

During add/drop period

Learn about schedule adjustment

As needed

Course permission request

After registration

Order textbooks

 

  • It's crucial to keep your local and permanent addresses up-to-date throughout your enrollment. The University sends important documents to your local address. For instructions on how to update your contact information, please refer to the Mailing or Email Address Change section and/or Change of Personal Information.
  • Add department events to your personal calendar using this link:webcal://www.cs.umd.edu/events/ical/umdcs_calendar.ics. Utilize Google Calendar's "Add by URL" feature to stay informed about upcoming talks and events.
  • Discounted computers can be purchased from the Terrapin Technology Store and Academic Computers for Terps. Find them online or in the Stamp Student Union.
  • Laptop purchase reimbursements [PhD Students Only] - If offered this reimbursement as part of your admission, we will ask you to complete a form and provide a receipt.
  • If you haven’t done so, Submit your final official transcripts to the Graduate School at 2123 Lee Building to complete your admission process. Failure to do so may restrict your ability to register for second-semester classes. 

IT Information Setup

  • CS Account: Create your cs.umd.edu account (also known as "Junkfood") to enable mail forwarding from directoryID [-at-] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu to directoryID [-at-] umd [dot] edu.
    • Your CSD account activation is scheduled for early August. We appreciate your patience until then. After your CSD account is activated by the IT office, please drop by Staffworld (IRB 2109) to set up your password. Our helpdesk is available to assist you from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
  • CS Website Profile: Establish your CS website profile and schedule regular updates each semester! Refer to the CS website user guide creating and editing your profile after obtaining your cs.umd.edu account.
  • If you encounter any issues with a CS account/website account, contact helpdesk [-at-] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu. For additional support, refer to the CS Department Technical FAQ

CS Grad Office Form Directory

For your convenience, we've set up a centralized Graduate Office Form Directory. It serves as a one-stop hub for students to access and submit forms relevant to the CS Graduate Office. This directory is an internal page and requires CSD account activation.

Wireless Access 

The University of Maryland provides the umd-guest network for visitors, and eduroam wireless network for faculty, staff, and students. 

You can connect to eduroam using your DirectoryID [-at-] umd [dot] edu in the Username field and your directory ID password. Please visit UMD Wireless Connection for more information.

PhD Course Waivers

Under the PhD Qualifying Course policy (see here), PhD students can request waivers for certain course requirements based on their previous academic work. Students should thoroughly review the policy to identify potential courses for waiver eligibility. It is important to consider these options and submit waiver requests by the specified deadlines to ensure consideration.

Desk Assignments & Building Access

All new students will receive general swipe access to the building by early August.

To secure a desk in the CS-managed graduate student office spaces (located on floors 1, 2, and 5 in IRB) for the Academic Year 2024-2025, please complete the desk request form. 

Desk assignments are made on a semesterly basis, with allocation based on specific criteria. Ensure you have a completed form on file to be considered as desks become available.

Students who are allocated a desk will also receive access to specific rooms.

Residency Classification

When you were admitted to the university, your residency classification for tuition purposes was established and indicated on your acceptance letter. If your assistantship ends, the tuition remission benefit will be terminated, and you will be charged the tuition rate based on your original residency reclassification for the current and future semesters.

If you were classified with an out-of-state designation and believe you have met all the criteria for establishing in-state residency as defined in the Board of Regents policy, you can file a petition for reclassification. For more information, go to Petitions for Residency Reclassification or email resclass [-at-] umd [dot] edu. 

Campus Life and Resources

Recreation Facilities on Campus 

Upon receiving your UID card, you will gain access to the campus recreation facilities, located at the Eppley Recreation Center (ERC) and others. These facilities offer various health and wellness programs. If your UID card does not work, visit the Member Services Desk inside the ERC for assistance. The ERC operates from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays during the regular Fall Semester. For detailed information about the facilities and their offerings, visit the University of Maryland Recreation and Wellness website.

Parking 

To obtain a parking permit, visit the University of Maryland Transportation Services website. Before applying, ensure you review the registration and fee details.

The Department of Transportation is located in the Regents Drive Garage, 8056 Regents Drive, Building #202, operates from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Registering your vehicle or bike is essential, and familiarize yourself with the parking policy for athletic events to prepare for alternative parking arrangements on game days.

Graduate School Resources

The Graduate Student Life Handbook provides a comprehensive guide for graduate students, covering essential aspects like student life, academic policies, campus and financial services, and assistantship benefits.

Useful Links