New Student Onboarding

Onboarding Checklist

Program "Cheat Sheets"

Welcome to the Department of English at the University of Maryland! Please review the onboarding guide outlined below, the links to program-specific "cheat sheets" and the condensed downloadable version of the onboarding checklist found above.

Before Orientation 

• Complete the general online Graduate School Orientation
• Set up your Directory ID and your UMD Email and Password
• Upload your COVID Vaccination Information 
• Complete the three University-wide required trainings: TerrapinSTRONG, Civil Rights Compliance Training, and Defend Your Shell.
• Set up an advising appointment with Robert Burgard (rburgard@umd.edu)
• Register for classes on Testudo
• Pay your tuition and/or student fees and review the financial onboarding checklist provided by the university

During Orientation

• Get your UMD ID card at the Mitchell Building
• Connect to eduroam on your phone and on your laptop
• Map out your semester with our Campus Maps 

Before Your First Day 

• Reconfirm your classrooms’ locations by visiting https://testudo.umd.edu/.
• Review Campus Parking and select a parking pass.
• Log in to ELMS and review where you’ll access assignments, syllabi, grades, etc.
• Buy or rent your textbooks at the UMD bookstore
  • Tip: check out the UMD Libraries’ website to see if you can get your books for free.

Onboarding For TAs and GAs

For TAs and GAs

• Fill out your tax documents and review your benefits. For additional information, visit the Business Office page. 
• Check your UMD bill to ensure your tuition remission has been applied. Graduate Students do not have to complete any forms for remission to be applied. If you have any issues with tuition remission, please visit the Tuition Remission page

For TAs Only

• Visit the Graduate Student Instructors page
• Register for and attend the Graduate Student Teacher Orientation held in January and August. 
• Log on to ELMS/Canvas and complete your faculty ELMS training
  • Access the AWP ELMS site or the PWP ELMS site. If you do not have access, please contact Scott Eklund and Helen McClung respectively.
• Review the Academic Calendar for important deadlines and University holidays
• Learn how to use UMEG, the UMD grade reporting tool.
• Review the Student Support section in the Getting Started page. 
• Visit the PTK Onboarding Page for additional information on teaching in the Department of English and for common contacts.