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Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. What is the University System of Maryland (USM)?

2. Where can I find driving directions to USM institutions?

3. I am an employee or prospective employee and I have questions about pay, benefits, job classification, etc. for USM employees.

4. How do I donate to the University System of Maryland or one of its institutions?

5. I am working on a publication/special event and need photographs of System officials or a copy of the USM logo.

6. I am interested in doing business with the University System of Maryland; how do I learn about opportunities to bid for contracts with the USM?

7. I am an employee/student at a USM institution; is it possible for me to use resources or facilities at other USM institutions?

Academic Issues

8. How do I apply to a USM university?

9. How do I transfer to a USM university?

10. What are the tuition and fees for USM institutions?

11. How do I find out which USM institutions offer the major I want?

12. How do I get my transcript from a USM University?

13. Where can I find more information about online programs and distance education?

14. How do I qualify as a Maryland resident for in-state tuition?

15. I am a student at a USM institution and am interested in a course at another USM institution that is not offered at my home institution; is there any way for me to enroll in this course?

16. Does the USM have a veterinary school?

Public Services

17. I read an article in the paper about gardening and it mentioned the Cooperative Extension Service.
    Where can I get more information?

18. Does the Dental School offer dental care to the general public?

19. Are there law students available to offer legal assistance to people unable to afford legal counsel?

20. How do I reach the University of Maryland Medical Center?

21. What is the Golden ID program?

22. How do I obtain an employment verification for a current/former employee of the USM?

23. How do I obtain a degree or enrollment verification for a current/former student of the USM?

General Information

1. What is the University System of Maryland (USM)?

The University System of Maryland (USM) is Maryland's system of public higher education. Its members include all public universities in the State, with the exception of Morgan State University and St. Mary's College. In addition to its 11 universites, the USM also includes two research institutions. A complete listing of USM institutions is available on our USM Institutions page. The USM is the twelfth-largest university system in the nation, and our 13 institutions offer over 600 academic programs to more than 126,000 students at 200 sites worldwide.

2. Where can I find driving directions to USM institutions?

Click the links below for driving directions and/or maps to USM institutions.

USM Universities

• Bowie State University
• Coppin State University
• Frostburg State University
• Salisbury University
• Towson University
• University of Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• University of Maryland University College

USM Systemwide Education Centers

• The Universities at Shady Grove, Montgomery County
• University System of Maryland at Hagerstown , Washington County

USM Research Centers

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

• Appalachian Laboratory
• Horn Point Laboratory
• Chesapeake Biological Laboratory

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute

• Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB)
• Center for Marine Biotechnology (COMB)
• Medical Biotechnology Center (MBC)
• Institute of Human Virology (IHV)
• Center for Agricultural Biotechnology (CAB)

 

3. I am a USM employee or prospective employee and I have a question about pay, benefits, job classification, etc.

Please contact the USM Human Resources Office at 301.445.1968.

4. How do I donate to the University System of Maryland or one of its institutions?

Please contact the office of Leonard Raley, President & CEO of the University System of Maryland Foundation at 301.445.1941 for further assistance or Make a Gift

5. I am working on a publication/special event and I need photographs of System officials or a copy of the USM logo.

Please contact Mary Carroll-Mason in the Office of Communications at 301.445.2756 or mcmason@usmd.edu for further assistance.

6. I am interested in doing business with the University System of Maryland; how do I learn about opportunities to bid for contracts with the USM?

Please contact Jim Salt in the USM Procurement Office at jsalt@usmd.edu or 301.445.1987 for additional information.

7. I am an employee/student at a USM institution; is it possible for me to use resources or facilities at other USM institutions?

It depends. While USM institutions do share resources and services whenever practical, resources do not always allow institutions to open their facilities to students or employees from other USM institutions.

8. How do I apply to a USM university?

You can contact individual campuses for admissions information. The following list of links will take you to the appropriate sites to gather this information from each of our member institutions.

• Bowie State University
• Coppin State University
• Frostburg State University
• Salisbury University
• Towson University
• University of Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• University of Maryland University College

In addition, you can apply online using the University System of Maryland Undergraduate/Graduate Online Application for Admission.

9. How do I transfer to a USM university?

Visit ARTSYS, the USM's online articulation and transfer system, for information on Course Equivalencies, Transcript Evaluations, Recommended Transfer Programs, Search For Majors and more.

10. What are the tuition and fees for USM institutions?

This list represents tuition, fees, room and board for USM institutions. Institutions may have additional fees related to specific course selections, programs or campus services. Please contact the individual institution for the total cost estimate of attendance.

11. How do I find out which USM institutions offer the major I want?

Use ARTSYS, the USM's online articulation and transfer system, to search for major programs of study at USM institutions and at local community colleges.

More specific questions should be directed to the individual institution.

12. How do I get my transcript from a USM university?

To obtain official transcripts from USM institutions, you may send a written request to the institution attended or, at some schools, you may request a transcript online. Visit our Transcripts page for complete information, including mailing addresses and where to order online (where available).

Tip: If you were in the military and attended school overseas, you will need to contact UMUC for a copy of your transcript.

13. Where can I find more information about online programs and distance education?

The University of Maryland University College is a pioneer in online education and offers more than 20 complete degree programs available online. For more information, check out its Orientation to Distance Education.

In addition, the University of Baltimore offers the webMBA -- a complete MBA program online. Find out more about the webMBA and UB's other online programs at UBOnline.

14. How do I qualify as a Maryland resident for in-state tuition?

The Board of Regents policy on residency is available here.

Additional questions and answers regarding the Residency Policy can be found here.

For additional questions, please contact Tracey Jamison in the USM Office of Academic Affairs at 301.445.1996.

15. I am a student at a USM institution and am interested in a course at another USM institution that is not offered at my home institution; is there any way for me to enroll in this course?

Yes, according to the USM Board of Regents' policy on concurrent enrollment, students at USM institutions may take courses at other USM institutions with some exceptions. Interested students should contact the registrar's office at their home institution for more specific information.

16. Does the USM have a veterinary school?

The University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia Tech cooperatively operate the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM). Its main campus is on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, but also operates the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center at the University of Maryland, College Park and the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

17. I read an article in the paper about gardening and it mentioned the Cooperative Extension Service. Where can I get more information?

For gardening questions, the Cooperative Extension Service offers the Home and Garden Information Center Hotline at 1.800.342.2507. For other questions, visit Information Central; Information Central offers timely information about gardening, yardwork, home, family, youth, farm, finances, and more.

18. Does the Dental School offer dental care to the general public?

Yes. The Dental School at the University of Maryland, Baltimore operates a clinic staffed by student dentists and faculty members. To learn more information or to schedule an appointment, call 410.706.8127 or visit their website.

19. Are there law students available to offer legal assistance to people unable to afford legal counsel?

The University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law offer legal clinics that take a limited number of cases from the general public. For information on the Clinical Law office at the University of Maryland School of Law, call 410.706.3295. At the University of Baltimore School of Law, the Clinical Law office can be reached at 410.837.5713.

20. How do I reach the University of Maryland Medical Center?

    Contact the University of Maryland Medical Center at 410.328.UMMS (8667) or 1.800.492.5538. Other important phone numbers are available here.

21. What is the Golden ID program?

The Golden ID program allows Maryland senior citizens certain privileges at USM institutions as outlined in this policy.

Golden IDs are issued at each USM institution; please call the registrar's office at the institution you are interested in for more details.

22. How do I obtain an employment verification for a current/former employee of the USM?

Call the Human Resources office at the campus where the individual is or was employed.

23. How do I obtain a degree or enrollment verification for a current/former student of the USM?

Contact the Registrar's Office at the campus where the individual is or was enrolled as a student.