REGISTRATION

In order to attend classes at UMES, all students must process an official registration. Instructions concerning registration are given in the Schedule of Classes issued at the beginning of each new semester or term.

Current UMES students will be registered late in the semester proceeding the semester for which they are registering. The dates for this registration are listed in the Schedule of Classes for each semester or term and in the Academic Calendar.

The signature of the designated faculty advisor must appear on the registration schedule.

Entering freshmen and transfer students will be registered for their first semester’s courses during the regular registration period. No student is permitted to attend a class if his or her name does not appear on the class list.

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Adding and Dropping Classes

Students who are properly registered may add courses during the first week of instruction each semester. Students may drop courses during the first ten weeks of the current semester. Only in exceptional cases and with the permission of the Dean will a student be permitted to enter a class later than one week after the beginning of instruction or drop a course later than the end of the drop or withdrawal period.

The change in registration is effective on the date the form is submitted to the Office of Admissions and Registration. Section changes are considered to be changes in registration and must be made through the Office of Admissions and Registration. Students must have the approval of the department Chair and advisor for all transactions regarding registration or change in registration.

Dropping a Class

Should a student officially exit a class prior to the end of the drop period, no grade will be recorded on the transcript. The end of the drop period is published in the Schedule of Classes for each semester or tem and in the Academic Calendar.

Registration at Other Institutions

Written permission must be obtained from the department Chair and the Dean before students advance their hours earned toward a UMES degree through study at another institution of higher learning or at another campus of the University of Maryland. The appropriate forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Registration. After having obtained the approval of the department Chair and the Dean, the permission form should be filed in the Office of Admissions and Registration. The same rule applies for both the fall and spring semesters and for any summer or winter sessions.

Credits earned at institutions other than the University of Maryland campuses do not carry quality points and have no effect on the student’s grade point average. The cumulative grade point average is based solely on credits attempted at the University of Maryland campuses.

No student with 60 or more credits may receive credit for a course taken at a two-year community or junior college.

Students requesting permission to register in the summer or winter program of another school will not be permitted to take more semester hours than there are weeks in that school’s summer or winter session.

A student who earns a grade of "F" or "D" in residence at UMES may not advance credit hours earned toward a UMES degree by repeating the course at another institution.

Ordinarily, all students must take their final thirty (30) credit hours at UMES. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Dean may grant permission to take a maximum of six hours of the final thirty (30) hours on another campus. However, in no case doe this permission waive the minimum residence requirement of 30 semester hours.

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WITHDRAWALS

Withdrawing from a Class

Should a student officially exit a class after the drop period, but before the end of the withdrawal period, a grade of "W" will be recorded on the transcript. The end of the withdrawal period is published in the Schedule of Classes for each semester or term and in the Academic Calendar.

Withdrawals from the Institution

If a student desires or is compelled to withdraw from UMES for any cause at any time during the academic year, the student should complete an application for withdrawal from the Office of Admissions and Registration, obtain the proper signatures as indicated on the form, and file it with the Office of Admissions and Registration. The Office of Admissions and Registration will record a grade of "W" for all courses.

Withdrawal grades are not included in the computation of grade point averages or in the determination of the level of the total hours attempted.

In the case of a minor, withdrawal will be permitted only with the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian.

Penalties for Unofficial Withdrawal

A student who fails to withdraw in the required manner will not be entitled to an honorable dismissal, will forfeit the right to any refund which might otherwise be entitled, and will receive marks of failure in all courses being carried.

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ACADEMIC DISMISSAL, READMISSION AND REIN-STATEMENT

When a student is academically dismissed from UMES, he/she is not eligible to register with any campus or program of the University of Maryland. To become eligible for registration once again, he/she must complete the Application for Readmission/ Reinstatement prior to the desired date of reinstatement. Forms can be obtained by writing to:

Office of Admissions and Registration

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Princess Anne, Maryland 21853

A student wishing to transfer to another program at UMES must wait until reinstatement has been granted before applying for admission to that program. The UMES Academic Appeals Board will not normally grant reinstatement until at least one semester has elapsed from the time of the student's dismissal.

A student who withdraws from UMES must apply for reinstatement. A student who is reinstated after academic dismissal will be on academic probation. The same conditions of probation may be imposed on any student who seeks admission by transfer from another university or college and whose record at the previous school warrants this action. The Academic Appeals Board permits only in unusual cases and after a review admission of such a student.

Any appeal concerning the regulation governing academic probation or academic dismissal shall be directed to the Academic Appeals Board which is empowered to grant relief in unusual cases if the circumstances warrant such action.

No student on academic probation is permitted to register for more than fourteen (14) semester hours. The student on academic probation should carry twelve (12) academic semester hours in order to absolve academic probation in one semester. Students on probation are urged to work with a faculty advisor before registering to take full advantage of the exceptions and special provisions designed to help them discharge their probation.

A student who has been dropped from UMES for scholarship reasons, and whose petition for reinstatement is denied, may again petition after a lapse of at least one semester.

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TUITION, FEES, AND EXPENSES

Fee changes are subject to change and approval by the Board of Regents. All charges are announced in advance of the fall semester. A schedule of charges is available from the Office of Admissions.

The university reserves the right to make such changes in fees and other charges as may be necessary.

For the 2000-01academic year, the fee structure has been approved as follows:

FULL-TIME TUITION AND FEES

Students enrolled for nine or more credit hours pay the full amount of fixed charges.

Maryland Residents

Out-of-State Residents

*Lodging is for students residing on-campus. Students living in the Student Residential Complex efficiency units add a $300 fee per year. Students wishing to have a single room should add $100/year.

**All on-campus residents except those living in the Student Residential Complex are required to purchase dining services.

PART-TIME TUITION AND FEES

Part-time students are required to pay the undergraduate part-time rates per credit hour as listed below:

Undergraduate rate per credit hour (eight credits or less)

In-state — $124.00
Out-of-state — $265.00

Graduate rate per credit hour

In-state — $151.00
Out-of-state — $272.00

Student fees-per semester — $25.00

Supplementary Charges (all students) Fees

Commencement Fee — $35.00
Credit-by-examination Fee per semester hour credit — $20.00
Application Fee — $25.00
Enrollment Fee — $25.00
Laboratory Fees (per course) — $25.00
Library (varies)
Lost Bar Code — $0.50
Overdue book (per day) — $0.25
Lock Replacement Charge (for lost/missing room key) — $15.00-25.00
Lost HAWKEXPRESS Card — $10.00
Motor Vehicle Registration — $20.00
Late Registration Fee — $12.00
Change in Registration (made after the end of the registration period) — $1.00
Transcript of Academic Record* (per copy, first copy is free) — $2.00

*No transcript of a student's record will be furnished to any student or alumni unless the student's financial obligations to the university have been satisfied.

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GENERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING PAYMENT OF FEES AND EXPENSES

Payment by Check or Money Order

All checks and money orders should be made payable to UMES for the exact amount. In most cases, payment should be made at the Office of Student Accounts, unless otherwise instructed.

Returned Checks

Any checks returned for any reason will result in a returned check fee of $25.00. The student's account will thereafter be stamped "No Personal Checks" and all future payments must be paid by cash, money order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard), or cashier's check.

Payments from Scholarship Funds

A student awarded a Legislative Scholarship and/or grant will have the amount of the award applied towards his/her account in the Office of Student Accounts. However, all fees not covered by the scholarship/grant must be paid by the scheduled dates of payment or the student will be withdrawn from the University. This applies to veterans as well.

No student whose account is in arrears will be admitted to classes or to the Dinning Hall. Any student indebted to the University is likewise prevented from having a degree conferred or a transcript released until the total debt is cleared.

Collection Procedures of Past Due Accounts

In accordance with State of Maryland regulations, past due accounts are subject to a collection fee of 17% and are forwarded to the Maryland State Central Collection Unit for further action.

WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND OF FEES

Any student who desires or is compelled to withdraw from the University for any cause at any time during the academic year should secure an application for withdrawal from the Office of Admissions, obtain the proper signatures and file it in the Office Admissions.

The effective date for withdrawals, with regard to refunds and grades, is the date the form is filed at the Office of Admissions and Registration. No student may withdraw after the last scheduled day of classes in a given semester. Exceptions will be referred to the Academic Appeals Board.

Students withdrawing from the University during a semester will be credited for all academic fees charged to them, in accordance with the following schedule.

Period from First Dayof Instruction   RefundablePercentage

Two weeks or less — 80 percent
Between two and three weeks — 60 percent
Between three and four weeks — 40 percent
After four weeks — No refund

No part of the charges for room and board is refundable except where the student officially withdraws from the University or is given permission by the appropriate officials of the University to move from the residence facility and/or to discontinue dining hall privileges. When permission is given to discontinue dining hall privileges, the meal card must be turned in to the Office of the Vice President for Administrative Affairs. In these cases, the room refund will be computed by deducting ten percent (10%) of the charge for the semester as a service charge and the remainder will be prorated on a weekly basis. Refunds to students for board (dining hall) charges will be calculated in the same manner. No room and/or board refunds will be made after the fourteenth week of the semester. Weekly basis shall be defined as a complete week or any fraction thereof.

Withdrawal and Refunds of Fees for New Title IV Recipients

Students withdrawing from the University who are first time attendees and are first time recipients of Title IV aid will be credited for that portion of the tuition, room and board, and other fees charged to them, in accordance with the following:

Period from First Day of Instruction   Percentage*

One week or less — 90 percent
Two weeks or less — 80 percent
Three weeks or less — 80 percent
Four weeks or less — 70 percent
Five weeks or less — 70 percent
Six weeks or less — 60 percent
Seven weeks or less — 50 percent
Eight weeks or less — 50 percent
Nine weeks or less — 40 percent
Ten weeks or less — 40 percent
After ten weeks — No Refund

*The refund amount calculated using the appropriate refundable percentage shall be reduced by an administrative fee to equal the lesser of 5% of the tuition, fees, room and board and other charges assessed the student, or $100.00.

Refund of Fees for Change in Registration

Students who officially change their enrollment status from full-time to part-time (eight hours or less) by dropping a course or courses, will be eligible for a refund in accordance with the following.

1. If the change in enrollment status occurs during the first two weeks following the beginning of classes, fees will be assessed on the basis of the appropriate part-time fees plus 25% of the difference between the full-time and the appropriate part-time fees.

2. The effective date of the change in registration is the date the change is filed in the Office of Admissions. No refund will be processed for changes in registration which occur after the first two weeks of classes.

PROPERTY DAMAGE FEES

Students will be charged for damage to property or equipment. Where the responsibility for the damage can be fixed, the student will be billed. Where responsibility can not be fixed, the cost of repairing the damage or replacing equipment will be prorated among all individuals held responsible.

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IN-STATE STATUS

General Policy

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to grant in-state status for admission, tuition, and charge-differential purposes as defined by the University of Maryland Police on Student Residency Classification for Admission, Tuition, and Charge-Differential Purposes (See complete policy below).

Procedures for the Determination of In-State Status for Admissions, Tuition, and Charge-Differential Purposes

An initial determination of in-state status for admission, tuition, and charge-differential purposes will be made at the time a student's application for admission is under consideration. The determination made at that time, and any determination made thereafter, shall prevail for each subsequent term until the determination is successfully challenged in a timely manner.

A student may request a re-evaluation of residency status by filing an Application for Change in Residency Classification (hereinafter referred to as Application). A student must meet the requirements for in-state status and submit a completed Application (including all documents therein) by the last day of late registration for the term the student wishes to be classified as in-state. No change in status requested by the student shall be given retroactive effect prior to the term for which a timely Application was filed. A student may file only one Application per term.

A determination of in-state status is valid only if a student actually enrolls in the term in question. Determinations which are made in cases where the student does not actually enroll are not valid for a subsequent term, with respect to which requirements must be independently satisfied and a new and timely Application submitted.

Change of In-State Status

Students classified as in-state for admission tuition and charge-differential purposes are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions in writing within 15 days of any change in their circumstances which might in any way affect their classification.

University of Maryland Policy on Student Residency Classification for Admission, Tuition and Charge-Differential Purposes

I. POLICY

It is the policy of the Board of Regents of the University of Maryland System to recognize the categories of in-state and out-of-state students for purposes of admission, tuition, and charge differentials at those institutions where such differentiation has been established. The student is responsible for providing the information necessary to establish eligibility for in-state status.

A. Students who are financially independent or financially dependent, as hereinafter defined, shall have their residency classification determined on the basis of permanent residency. For purpose of this policy, a permanent residence is a person's permanent place of abode as determined by the following criteria. Such students will be assigned in-state status for admission, tuition, and charge differential purposes only if the student (if financially independent) or the student's parent, guardian or spouse (in the case of a financially dependent student):

1. Owns or rents and occupies living quarters in Maryland. There must exist a genuine deed or lease in the individual's name reflecting payments/rents and terms typical of those in the community at the time executed. Persons not having such a lease may submit an affidavit reflecting payments/rents and terms as well as the name and address of the person to whom payments are made which may be considered as meeting this condition. As an alternative to ownership or rental of living quarters in Maryland, a students may share living quarters in Maryland which are owned or rented and occupied by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse;
2. Maintains within Maryland substantially all personal property;
3. Pays Maryland income tax on all earned taxable income including all taxable income earned outside the State;
4. Registers all owned motor vehicles in Maryland in accordance with Maryland law;
5. Possesses a valid Maryland driver's license, if licensed, in accordance with Maryland law;
6. Is registered in Maryland, if registered to vote;
7. Receives no public assistance from a state other than the State of Maryland or from a city, county or municipal agency other than one in Maryland; and
8. Has a legal ability under federal and Maryland law to reside permanently without interruption in Maryland.

B. In addition to meeting all of the criteria set forth in the preceding section, to qualify for in-state status on the basis of permanent residence, a student or, if the student is financially dependent, the parent, legal guardian, or spouse, must have resided in Maryland for at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to and including the last date available for late registration or the forthcoming semester or session and must have continuously resided in Maryland during the period.

C. If a student is financially dependent as hereinafter defined, the permanent residence of the parent, guardian, or spouse on whom he/she is dependent shall determine in -state status. If a student is financially independent, the permanent residence of the student shall determine in-state status.

D. In-state status based on permanent residence is lost at any time a financially independent student establishes a permanent residence outside the State of Maryland. If the parent, guardian, or spouse through whom a financially dependent student has attained in-state status established a permanent residence outside the State of Maryland, the in-state status is lost. In each instance, the student will then be assessed out-of-state tuition and charges beginning the next semester or session.

E. In addition, the following categories of students shall have in-state status:

1. A full-time or part-time (at least 50 percent time) permanent employee of the University of Maryland System;
2. The spouse or dependent child of a full-time or part-time (at least 50 percent time) permanent employee of the University of Maryland System;
3. A full-time active member of the Armed Forces of the United States whose home of residency is Maryland or one who resides or is stationed in Maryland, or the spouse or a financially dependent child of such a person; and
4. A graduate Assistant.

F. Students not entitled to in-state status under the preceding paragraphs shall be assigned out-of-state status for admission, tuition, and charge-differential purpose.

II. PROCEDURES

A. The date on which conditions for in-state classification must be met is the last published date to register for the forthcoming semester or session. In those instances where an entering class size is established and where an application deadline is stated, institutions may require that conditions for in-state classification must be satisfied as of the announced closing application date.

B. A change in status must be requested in writing by a student prior to the last published date of registration in order to be effective for the semester or session. A student applying for a change in-state status must furnish appropriate documentation as required by the institution.

C. The student shall notify the institution in writing within fifteen (15) days of any change of circumstances which may alter in-state status.

D. In the event incomplete, false, or misleading information is presented, the institution may, at its discretion, revoke and assignment of in-state status in addition to other disciplinary actions provided for by the institution's policy.

E. Each institution of the University of Maryland System shall develop and publish additional procedures to implement this policy. Procedures shall provide that on request the President or designee has the authority to waive any residency requirement as set forth in IA and IB, if it is determined that the student is indeed a permanent resident and application of the criteria creates an unjust result. Such procedures must provide for appeal to the President or designee of any residency determination using a system-wide petition form. These procedures shall be filed with the office of the Chancellor.

III. DEFINITIONS

A. Financially Dependent: For purposes of this policy, a financially dependent student is one who is claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, or who receives more than one-half or his or her support from a parent, legal guardian, or spouse during the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the last published date for registration for the semester or session. If a student receives more than one-half of his or her support in the aggregate from a parent and/or legal guardian and/or spouse, the student shall be considered financially dependent on the person providing the greater amount of support.

B. Financially Independent: A financially independent student is one who (1) declares himself or herself to be financially independent as defined herein: (2) does not appear as a dependent on the Federal or State income tax return of any other person; (3) receives less than one-half of his or her support from any other person or persons; and (4) demonstrates that he or she provides through self-support one-half or more of his or her total expenses.

C. Parent: A parent may be a natural parent, or, if established by a court order recognized under the law of the State of Maryland, and adoptive parent.

D. Guardian: A guardian is a person so appointed by a court order recognized under the law of the State of Maryland.

E. Spouse: A spouse is a partner in a legally contract marriage.

F. Support: (1) Except as set forth in (2) below, support shall mean financial or material support, including gifts, services, and trusts, including income or benefits derived from one's family.(3) Support shall not include grants, stipends, awards, and benefits (including Federal and State student aid, grants, and loans) received for the purpose of education or by virtue of an individual's status or prospective status as a student. Such resource shall not be considered in calculating a student's financial dependence or independence.

An initial determination of in-state status for admission, tuition and charge-differential purposes will be made by UMES at the time a student's application for admission is under consideration. The determination made at that time, and any determination made thereafter shall prevail in each semester until determination is successfully challenged. The deadline for meeting all requirements for in-state status and for submitting all documents for reclassification is the last day of late registration for the semester the student wishes to be classified as an in-state student.

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