Enrollment Checklist

There are lots of additional tasks to review before you start classes! Use our enrollment checklist to prepare for your first semester as a member of Retriever Nation.

Use Checklist for Home Campus for the Catonsville campus, and Checklist for Shady Grove for the Rockville campus.

Checklist for Home Campus

  • Accept your admission offer and pay your nonrefundable enrollment fee in your myUMBC account.
  • Complete your online Orientation modules for important transition topics and resources to understand before coming to your campus orientation.
  • Complete your math placement test. Unsure if you are exempt? Check out the FAQs on the Placement Testing page to know for sure!
  • Register for your campus orientation and virtual advising session.
  • Submit your photo for your Campus Card so that you can “retrieve” it at your campus Orientation day!
  • Submit your final high school or college transcript indicating your most recent completion of courses and degree, along with any official test scores (AP, IB, etc.) directly from the testing service that could award you college credit.

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights has developed and implemented a comprehensive training plan for all UMBC community members to ensure we are living up to our value of Inclusive Excellence. Our training program includes sexual violence prevention as well as information on how to report instances of sexual violence and hate/bias to ECR. This mandatory training is assigned to all students and faculty/staff each year.

  • Click here to use your UMBC single sign-on to access and complete the annual the training.

Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) brings together Health Services and the Counseling Center offices to work in a collaborative, holistic approach to support your well-being and success. Please take care of these important steps to be sure your first semester on campus is a successful one.

UMBC requires all parked vehicles to have a valid UMBC virtual permit, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, excluding visitor pay to park spaces. All vehicles must be registered before being driven to campus.

  • Go to the Parking Account Portal to request a permit.  To log in, please use your myUMBC credentials.  Please Do Not Create A Visitor Account.  Contact parking@umbc.edu with questions or inquiries.

UMBC has partnered with Omnilert to create an emergency alert system using your text messaging or email. Emergency alerts also will show in myUMBC.

NOTE: This service will only be used for alerts deemed as urgent or critical to the UMBC community. UMBC will not “spam” users via text messaging.

On Campus Housing: If you are choosing to live on campus, be sure to visit Residential Life for New Student Information on securing your housing. Here is a timeline and steps to be sure you are on track!

Off-campus Housing: If you are choosing to live off campus, UMBC has provided both our students and local landlords an online database of student rentals to better serve students needing quality, safe off-campus housing in the Baltimore area.

Whether you are living on campus or commuting, it is important to understand your campus dining options and which meal plan may be best for you.

Students who wish to use disability-based access accommodations in classes or housing at UMBC must be registered with the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS). Students are encouraged to begin the SDS registration process early after admission to UMBC, before their placement testing date.

Be sure to review the technology resources available to you as UMBC students. Below you can see guidance on technology recommendations and requirements, essential software and applications, and valuable links to campus resources.

The UMBC bookstore is your place for all your Retriever Gear and course material needs.

  • Curious of what course materials are suggested for a successful academic experience? Explore our Course Materials Catalog for you classes!
  • Our Course Materials Initiative (CMI) provides access to digital course materials (eTextbooks and/or courseware) through Blackboard. CMI billing is through the student account. Participation is automatic.
  • Renting textbooks means paying a lower ‘rental fee’ upfront and returning the materials at the end of the semester.
  • The Course Material Deferred Partial Payment Agreement allows students the opportunity to partially pay for their Course Materials during the first two weeks of the semester and pay the balance owed via UMBC student account in October (Fall)/April (Spring). Course Materials are any materials needed for a course; examples are textbooks, ancillaries, clickers, art supplies, and lab supplies.

Welcome Week is one of UMBC’s favorite traditions and the continuation of your Orientation experience. At the beginning of each semester departments and offices from across campus come together to welcome new and returning students to UMBC!

Checklist for Shady Grove Campus

  • Accept your admission offer and pay your nonrefundable enrollment fee in your myUMBC account.
  • Submit your final high school or college transcript(s) indicating your most recently completed courses and degree, along with any official test scores (AP, IB, etc.) directly from the testing service that could award you college credit.
  • Submit your photo for your UMBC Retriever Card.

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights has implemented a comprehensive training plan for all UMBC community members to ensure we are living up to our value of inclusive excellence.

The training program includes information on sexual violence prevention and on how to report instances of sexual violence and hate/bias to ECR. This mandatory training is assigned to all students and faculty/staff each year.

Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) brings together Health Services and the Counseling Center to work in a collaborative, holistic approach to support your well-being and success. Take care of these mandatory health-related requirements before joining us on campus.

The Universities at Shady Grove is a commuter campus.

Students who wish to access disability-based accommodations must be registered with the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS). Students are encouraged to begin the SDS registration process as soon as possible after admission to UMBC.

  • View the New Student Technology Checklist for guidance on recommendations and requirements, essential software and applications, and valuable links to resources.
  • Explore our Course Materials Catalog for your classes.
  • Be aware that our Course Materials Initiative (CMI) provides access to digital course materials (eTextbooks and/or courseware) through Blackboard. CMI billing is through the student account. Participation is automatic.
  • Consider renting textbooks to pay a lower ‘rental fee’ upfront and return materials at the end of the semester.
  • Consider the Course Material Deferred Partial Payment Agreement, which allows you to partially pay for course materials during the first two weeks of the semester and pay the balance owed via your UMBC student account in October (Fall)/April (Spring).