University of Maryland Graduate School

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The health of the UMB community is a top priority for the Graduate School. This site will be updated with resources and communications for the Graduate School community. You are advised to check the UMB COVID-19 Site for the latest information about the outbreak, measures implemented to reduce its spread, and the impact on travel and other activities.

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19

This section will be updated periodically with information pertaining to current and future students, Graduate School operations and events. 

We are transitioning for students to use the UMB SAFE on Campus email monitoring system to report test results. What does that mean for current students on campus? ▾

Existing guidelines are still in place for requiring a test on file, including coming to campus for the first time and having possible COVID-19 exposure.

If you are required to upload a test in the future, here is what you do:

  • For students who have yet to submit or are waiting on results for tests conducted prior to Oct. 5, 2020, you should upload your COVID-19 test results into CastleBranch. 
  • For all tests conducted on Oct. 5, 2020, or later, students should upload their test results into the secure, confidential, and HIPAA-compliant UMB SAFE on Campus (SAFE) daily symptom monitoring form that you already receive.
  • If you are on a pause from the SAFE form, upload your test by using the Episodic Symptom Monitoring Report Form. For those not receiving SAFE emails, please bookmark this link in case you need to come to campus or upload a test in the future. 

The move to SAFE will help to address technology challenges experienced by some students using CastleBranch. SAFE will also allow for the collection of daily symptom monitoring and COVID-19 test results in one location. 

If you are required to get an additional COVID test, you will be notified by UMB or the Graduate School.

Mandatory COVID-19 Testing ▾

COVID-19 Testing Locations
Submitting Test Results
  • Students: For all tests conducted on Oct. 5, 2020, or later, students should upload their test results into the secure, confidential, and HIPAA-compliant UMB SAFE on Campus (SAFE) daily symptom monitoring form that you already receive.
    • For students who have yet to submit or are waiting on results for tests conducted prior to Oct. 5, 2020, you should upload your COVID-19 test results into CastleBranch. 
  • Employees: Upload evidence of negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result to the secure, confidential, and HIPAA-compliant UMB SAFE on Campus app once it is launched. Directions on uploading results will be provided as part of the SAFE on Campus app launch.
COVID-19 Testing Costs

There is free COVID-19 testing offered in the state of Maryland. With Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance, there are no co-pays for a COVID-19 test. Therefore, UMB will not cover any medical costs associated with COVID-19 testing for students or employees.

I'm a graduate student and have encountered unexpected emergency expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Can I apply for financial assistance through the Student Emergency Fund? ▾

The Student Emergency Fund (SEF) was established to support students who have unexpected emergency expenses, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis, such as illness, medical emergency, or the need for housing, food or transportation. I am proud to say that in the face of these challenges, the Graduate School has pulled together and is meeting each and every challenge with grit and determination.  

We encourage you to apply by filling out the online application link listed below and provide documentation of the financial hardship that you are experiencing. 

Please note that the SEF awards cannot be used to cover any of the following expenses:

  • Tuition, lab fees, health insurance
  • Parking tickets and other university-imposed fines
  • Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel

Request will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine applicants’ eligibility and an interview may be required (on-line or via phone call) with a representative from the Graduate School as well.  

The Graduate School has developed a Pass/Fail option for all spring 2020 courses that continue after March 22, 2020. What are the requirements and guidelines to apply? ▾

Recognizing that our students’ lives have been significantly disrupted by COVID-19, we have developed a option in which students will be able to opt-in to Pass/Fail grading on a course-by-course basis with permission of their Graduate Program Director (GPD), course director and the Graduate School. 

The deadline to request Pass/Fail grading is April 24th.

Review the guidelines for the Pass/Fail Grading Option. 

Has COVID-19 delayed or changed daily Graduate School operations? ▾

To the fullest extent possible, admissions, enrollment and registration, grade acquisition & posting, and student progression-related, and degree certification activities and functions will continue through the mandatory telework time period.  Some activities and processes may slow down and take longer to complete - and there will be postal mail delays - but otherwise we hope and expect to provide our full, normal support.

I am scheduled to defend my dissertation or thesis in the upcoming weeks. How do I proceed? ▾

The Graduate School fully supports your successful completion of your degree program including your upcoming defense.  

  • All defending students will establish a method for videoconferencing (examples include WebEx, Zoom or Skype) the open presentation portion of the defense and defense exam.  
  • All committee members may participate remotely in defenses.  
  • If the conferencing technology fails and the examiner can not fully participate, the committee may fail to reach its quorum. In this case, the examination must be rescheduled.   
  • The Report of Examining Committee will be sent to the Graduate School Dean's Representative in advance of the defense.  
  • All committee members are encourage to sign the document electronically.  
  • Student will submit the form to the Graduate School within 48 hours.

Recent recommendations and policies regarding COVID-19 require modifications to previously established Procedures for Examination of the Master's Thesis and Procedures for Examination of the Doctoral Dissertation.

I am applying to the fall semester, but my GRE or TOEFL test has been cancelled due to the closing of testing centers. Am I still able to apply? ▾

ETS has introduced a solution for students who have been impacted by the coronavirus to take the TOEFL iBT® test and the GRE® General Test at home until test centers can reopen. TOEFL® testing is scheduled to begin on March 26, and GRE testing will begin on March 27.

Testing will be conducted through the use of live remote proctoring serviced by ProctorU®. This high-touch, real-time human monitoring of test sessions limits the number of seats available. Students can register beginning today in the following countries:

  • United States
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Hong Kong (China)
  • Macau (China)

Find more details about security measures and answers to other questions you may have on the TOEFL and GRE web pages dedicated to this purpose.

Have more questions? You can find additional FAQs on UMB’s Coronavirus page. 

Guidance and Letters to the UMB Community

Archived Letters to the UMB Community ▾

Summer 2020

Spring 2020

Updated January 5, 2020 at 10:50 a.m.

Photo Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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