Audit

Students may choose to audit a lecture course if they wish to broaden their academic program but do not need to take the course for credit. Students must register for audited courses which appear on the student's official transcript but carry no academic credit. Courses taken for audit carry the same credit cost as courses taken for a grade. Any audited course taken as an overload is subject to an additional fee.

Drop/Add and Withdrawal Deadlines

If students decide to drop a class before the first day of a new semester, the course will not appear on their transcript. If students withdraw from a course after the drop/add period is over (usually the first week of classes) a "W" grade will appear on their transcript. Please refer to the academic calendar for the last day to withdraw from a class.

An official withdrawal requires that a course withdrawal form be completed and signed by the student and the advisor, then processed in the registrar's office. Students who fail to officially withdraw from a course and who simply stop attending will receive a grade of "F" and will be liable for full payment of all remaining tuition and fees.

Students may confirm receipt of a drop/add or withdrawal form by logging in to their WebAdvisor account and checking their semester schedule.

Exam Schedules

Exam days/times can be found online.

FERPA

Federal Family Educational Right to Privacy Act of 1974 (see Privacy Rights of Students listed below).

Independent Study

Most academic departments at Notre Dame allow students to do an independent study project in a specific discipline under the guidance of a full-time faculty member of the department. This project is a serious commitment by a student to explore a topic or area not covered in a course taught at the University. An Independent Study Form and Registration Form will be required along with appropriate signatures for approval. 

Only students with junior or senior status may take an independent study course.

Location of Classes

Classes meet on the main Charles Street campus, University Center in Harford County, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC), Arundel Mills and Arnold campuses of AACC, as well as in local schools through partnerships with local public school systems. Indication of location is available in the semester schedule on SelfService.

Major

Forms and instructions for declaring or changing a major are available in the office of the assistant academic dean. In order to give sufficient time to complete the major courses, students should officially declare their major by the time they reach the second semester of their sophomore year (or completion of 45 credits).

Matriculant

A matriculant is a degree-seeking student who has been formally accepted into Notre Dame of Maryland University as a result of satisfying all prerequisites for admission.

Nonmatriculant

A nonmatriculant is a student who is registered for classes at Notre Dame, but who has not yet been formally admitted to a program. Students seeking graduate certification and recertification as well as adult students who are taking classes for personal enrichment often register as nonmatriculants. Limits as to the number of courses completed as a nonmatriculant are listed in the UG/GRA catalogs.

Pass/Fail

A student may choose to take one graded elective course in any semester for a Pass/Fail grade with a maximum of our Pass ("P") grades for graduation. A Pass grade for the course is not computed in the student's grade point average, but the credits earned are counted as credits toward graduation. However, a Fail ("F") grade for the course will be included in the student's grade point average.

In order to graduate with honors, a student may not graduate with more than four courses with Pass grades. (Petitioning for credit, standardized testing and transfer credit are not counted in toward this limit.) Notification of the choice to take an elective course for a Pass/Fail grade must be filed with the registrar's office before the end of the drop/add period. The Pass/Fail option is irrevocable.

Prerequisites

Course prerequisites are indicated in the course schedule booklet. When not satisfied, the permission of the instructor is required.

Privacy Rights of Students

Notice is hereby given that Notre Dame of Maryland University is prepared to comply with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 90-247, as amended) and any regulations that may be promulgated there. Students and others who want specific information regarding their rights to access institutional educational records maintained in their names are advised to contact the registrar in Gibbons Hall.

Registration

Registration for spring and winterim semesters is typically held in October/November and registration for summer and fall in March/April.

Repeating a Course

A student must repeat a required course that has been failed. A student may only repeat a course in which she or he has received an unsatisfactory grade (i.e., D or F). If a student chooses to repeat a course, she or he may only do so once.

The higher grade will be counted on the student's cumulative GPA. Only the credits for the current attempt at taking the course will be counted towards the credits needed for graduation. However, both grades will appear on the student's official transcript.

Signatures

All forms and written consents submitted by a student to the registrar's office must be accompanied by the signature of the student.