PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS
Academic Policies
CREDIT OVERVIEW
The semester hour is the unit of credit. University of Maryland students who are pursuing a degree or certificate will be given credit toward the appropriate degree or certificate for satisfactory completion of each course. Each student is responsible for determining the applicability of courses selected to the degree or certificate program and is urged to consult with her or his academic advisor.
AUDIT GRADING OPTION
A student may register to audit a course or courses in which space is available. Tuition and fees are the same as when taken for credit. The notation “AUD” is placed on the transcript for each course audited. Courses taken for audit are not included in the calculation of full-time/part-time status.
PASS/FAIL GRADING OPTION
GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE PASS-FAIL GRADING for courses numbered 400 and above.
DESIGNATION OF FULL & PART-TIME STATUS
The Graduate School uses a unit system in making calculations to determine full- or part-time student status. Please note that graduate units are different from credit hours. The number of graduate units per credit hour is calculated in the following manner:
- Courses in the series: 000-399 carry 2 units/credit hour
- Courses in the series: 400-499 carry 4 units/credit hour
- Courses in the series: 500-599 carry 5 units/credit hour
- Courses in the series: 600-897 carry 6 units/credit hour
To be certified as full time, a graduate student must be officially registered for a combination of courses equivalent to 48 units per semester. Audited courses do not generate graduate units and cannot be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.
CANCELLATION & WITHDRAWAL POLICY
To withdraw from a course on or after the first day of the course, students must make a formal request by e-mailing spoc@umd.edu. Withdrawals are made effective the date the request is received. Students may withdraw from a course at any time during the term without academic penalty; however, withdrawals are recorded on final transcripts.
Fees are non-refundable when a student withdraws from a course. Tuition refunds are granted based on the refund schedule below:
There is a 100% refund for classes canceled prior to the first day of the course.
There is a 70% refund for withdrawals processed within the first week (seven calendar days) from the first day of the course.
There is a 50% refund for withdrawals processed within the first two weeks (14 calendar days or more) from the first day of the course.
There is no refund granted for withdrawals processed after the first two weeks (15 calendar days or more) from the first day of the course.
TUITION REFUND POLICY
The University of Maryland will not automatically refund a credit balance. However, students may request a refund by visiting http://www.testudo.umd.edu/apps/saracct/.
Tuition refunds are based on the date of withdrawal or cancellation as described above. These dates may be different from the University's official deadlines. As a result, students should wait until the proper amount is credited to the account before requesting a refund in order to avoid additional charges.
Credit card payments are refunded by crediting the original credit card account. Refund requests are usually completed within two to three weeks from the date of receipt of the request. Payments made by check are refunded with a check made payable to the student within three to four weeks.
COURSES CANCELED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
The University of Maryland reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other valid administrative reasons. Once a course has been canceled, students enrolled in that class are entitled to a full refund of tuition and fees associated with that course. Cancellation of a course may occur close to the first day of class; however, the university makes every effort to inform students of such changes so that there is an opportunity to make alternate course selections or arrangements.
FINAL GRADES
Final grades are available online approximately one week after then end of each course.
Grade reports are not mailed automatically at the end of each term. However, students may submit a request to have a grade report mailed to their home address by accessing www.testudo.umd.edu, clicking on “Records and Registration” on the left of the page and then “View Grades.” A directory ID and password will be required to access this information.
Grade reports are usually mailed within two weeks of the initial request. Grade report requests will not be honored for students owing a financial obligation to the University.
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
Students may request transcripts free of charge by visiting www.testudo.umd.edu, and clicking on “Records and Registrations,” then “Transcript Request.” A directory ID and password will be required to access this information.
Transcript requests received via the Internet are mailed the following business day, unless otherwise specified.
Transcripts may be requested prior to completing a course using the “hold for grades” option available on the transcript request page. Students selecting this option are authorizing transcripts to be mailed once the term has concluded and final grades have been reported.
Transcript requests will not be honored for students owing a financial obligation to the university.
GRADUATION
Students beginning the last semester of their certificate program requirements should contact SPOC. SPOC will review your progress towards the certificate and request your certificate be posted at the end of the appropriate semester. An official University of Maryland certificate will be mailed approximately one month after the certificate has been posted to your academic record. You may request official transcripts as noted above as soon as the certificate has been posted.
Any questions regarding graduation eligibility may be directed to SPOC.
IMMUNIZATION POLICY
The University of Maryland requires all students, including graduate and transfer students, to provide proof of immunization dates. Please visit http://www.health.umd.edu/forms/Immuform07.pdf to download the immunization form. This DOES NOT apply to online students. Please contact SPOC if you have any questions about immunization forms.
ALL OTHER POLICIES
Any policy not addressed above will follow the official University Policy as found in the Graduate Catalog found at www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog. Please contact SPOC if you have any question on policies and how they apply to your program.
