ANNAPOLIS – With one stroke of the keyboard, high school students may now apply to any of the 11 University of Maryland System’s campuses through the World Wide Web.
The new online application — located at http://www.umsa.umd.edu/umsapp/ — was demonstrated Friday at the Board of Regents’ meeting.
Future undergraduates may fill out a standard form common to all 11 campuses and then enter the “supplemental admission page” for each particular campus.
The “University of Maryland System’s Common Electronic Undergraduate Application” gives users a number — essentially, a password — that allows them re-entry to their personal information. That information remains active for 30 days after the application was first opened or the admission deadline passes. It is not formally filed to the desired campus until the student gives the “send-to” command.
The application is identical to one that students receive in the mail.
Prospective students fill it out page by page — but without the hassle of adjusting typewriters and printers to the correct line. The computer will not continue to the next page until all the previous page’s information is complete. Easy to see red alert lights point out which information is incomplete. Space is even provided for essay questions and descriptions of extracurricular activities.
With a click of the mouse, users may learn the application deadlines for both the spring and fall semesters. The web page also has links to the home pages of the campuses.
Fees may be paid over the Internet using credit cards. Some schools will allow checks and money orders to be sent in separately.
Prospective students won’t learn their fates electronically, however. Ira Block, an assistant professor of nuclear engineering at the College Park campus, said yes/no responses from the colleges will still be sent through the mail.
George Marx, vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the board that Maryland is also the first state allowing transcripts to be sent electronically, saving about three weeks of mail and processing time.
In other developments, University of Maryland at College Park President William Kirwan presented the campus’ master plan to the board. It includes replacing Cole Field House, improvements to teaching laboratories and classrooms, refurbishing of dormitories and upgrades to the physical plant.
Kirwan said that even with an increase in construction, he would make sure open areas are “not cluttered with too many buildings.”
He also plans eventually to eliminate cars from the center of campus. Student would park on the outskirts and be bussed to their classes.
Kirwan said the campus was supporting development of the College Park Metro station as a place for businesses and organizations. This, an initiative of the City of College Park, not only would bring jobs to the area but give students the opportunities for jobs and internships, particularly in the computer science and agriculture fields, he said.
Kirwan called the area around the Metro station, located just off Paint Branch Road, “the largest piece of undeveloped land inside the beltway.” The estimated cost of all of the campus’ proposed projects in the next 10 years is about $521 million. -30-