November 5, 2024

Dear New International Students,

Congratulations! I’m honored to welcome you to the University of Maryland. All of you have taken different paths to arrive at UMD, and together we create a diverse community. We are excited to get to know each and every one of you. The University of Maryland is a vibrant, active, and committed community able to meet your academic needs during this time of change.

Your journey here may have been long, short, or through winding roads. But now it is time to seize this moment! As new students, I want to impress on you that your time with UMD will go by fast. It may not seem like it now. So, take advantage of the various opportunities to connect with students, faculty and advisers, immerse yourself in this new culture, and learn from your peers and faculty members. UMD has over 300 student-run organizations on campus. Get involved in student organizations, volunteer, and serve in leadership roles. Discover more about yourself and explore new interests while at the university.

The Office of International Student & Scholar Services is here to support you throughout your studies. From questions about immigration to how do you access campus resources. We are here to help you. We look forward to meeting you!

We have many pre-arrival activities to prepare you for your arrival, read the tips of the week emails you will receive, review our website, and access our online orientation.   You will find the answers to many of your questions through these resources.  Finally, join us on Saturday, January 25, 2025 for our welcome events where we can meet in person.   

Once again, congratulations! 



Susan-Ellis Dougherty

Director, International Student & Scholar Services

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), at the University of Maryland, is excited to welcome you to our community! Over the next several months, you will receive a weekly email from our office that will answer important questions about the university, explain processes you need to complete, and prepare you to begin your studies in person with UMD. ISSS is here to support you every step of the way.



Tip of the Week - Topics

• Welcome
• Visa and Travel
• Housing
• Immunizations
• Orientation
• Student Account Management
• Getting Involved
• Health Insurance
• UMD Arrival
• Final Reminders

Your Directory ID

As a student, your Directory ID will be your designation for your email address as well as your username for accessing UMD systems across campus. To set up your Directory ID, please click here and follow the on-screen instructions. For more information on activating your Directory ID, please click here and for signing in to UMD email, click here.

Testudo

https://www.testudo.umd.edu/

Testudo is an interactive web portal that allows students to complete transactions related to their course registration and academic record. Services available on Testudo include:



• Registration (Add/drop courses)
• Ability to search for in person courses, hybrid or fully online courses
• Degree Audit (uAchieve)
• Graduation Application & Diploma Status
• Transcript/Enrollment Certification Request
• Unofficial Transcript
• Waitlist Check-In
• Student Schedule
• GPA Calculator

Some of these features, such as adding or dropping classes, may only be available to you once you have attended an orientation session. Undergraduate students might find this Testudo: How to video helpful on registration, transcript request and waitlist check-in.

The University of Maryland adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Buckley Amendment). It is the policy of the university to limit disclosure of personally identifiable information from educational records without the student's prior consent.

Students can grant parents and/or legal guardians limited access to their student information. Access must be renewed annually; information includes: current course schedule, mid-semester grades, and final grades.

The UMD app delivers access to popular institutional services and resources, and a custom view of your campus experience.

• Interactive campus map: Find lecture halls, libraries, cafes, and more.
• Events: List of campus events so you don’t miss a thing.
• Dining: Your account balance info (if you have a plan), a “busy meter,” offering real-time information on dining hall traffic, link to menus.
• Resident Life: Package pickup up notifications from your Community Desk, roommate details, keys, swipe and mailbox combo tracking, and RA events.
• Class Schedule: See your personal class schedule.
• Campus Safety Info: Emergency and non-emergency resources, tips for emergency preparedness.
• Counseling Connection: quick links to Counseling Center services.
• Shuttle-UM tracking: Integrates with Shuttle-UM’s TransitApp.
• ISSS: See the welcome events and get direct access to the ISSS website and appointments/chat. 
• Push Notification Subscriptions: Subscribe to in-app notifications about campus life… and more!

Go to "Additional Resources" to locate ISSS Office!

You will be interacting with many different systems and portals during your time at UMD. You might find the following chart a helpful document that reviews some of the popular systems you will access as you enter the University.

The Student Financial Services and Cashiering office generates student ebills. Their website is a great resource for students asking questions like: “When is my bill due,” or “How do I set up a payment plan?” Watch out for more info on our Tip of the Week “Billpay” coming in the next few months.



Connect with us 

Ask your questions via our Live Chat, available on our website Monday-Friday from 9:00 -11:00am ET.

You can also schedule a Virtual Appointment with an ISSS advisor. Appointments can be scheduled under newly admitted students Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET.

If you need to reach us by email please use the following address: isss-admissions@umd.edu



For important reminders and updates, and to keep aware of any upcoming events, please follow our office at our social media accounts. We've recently launched our new ISSS Instagram!

We hope that you find these emails informative and helpful. You are receiving

them because you have been accepted to the University of Maryland for the Spring 2025 semester. If you do not intend to enroll at UMD, please inform ISSS via your iTerp checklist, your department, and either the Graduate School (graduate students) or the undergraduate admissions office (undergraduate students-please fill out this form) that you decline your admission.