New Student Advising, Registration, and Orientation
Online Orientation
The College of Southern Maryland offers new students an online orientation that will cover the important aspects of being a student at the College of Southern Maryland. These aspects include educational programs, guided pathways, student life activities, and the many technological resources students will use to complete coursework, communicate with staff and faculty, and be successful. The online orientation can be found on the landing page after a studnet logs into their my.CSMD account.
First Year Experience
The First Year Experience is academic and student success programming designed to help students transition into college and to challenge students to meet academic and personal goals. Whether a student is working toward a two year degree to transfer to a four year institution, working toward a credential to enter the workforce, or pursuing academic enrichment, the first year is a critical time to connect and engage with other students and faculty. For more information, visit www.csmd.edu/fye.
First Year Seminar (FYS-1010 or FYS-1010A)
A college course to connect students with academic and social resources for success, strengthen critical thinking skills, build student and faculty connections through shared learning experiences, expose students to our diverse campus community, connect students with an academic advisor, and engage students in considering a career focus and transfer opportunities.
CSM Mobile App
Make life as a student easier with the College of Southern Maryland Mobile App, available for Android and iOS. With the app, students can access everything about CSM, from news and events to maps of the campuses. Students can organize class schedules, add to-do lists, and more. Students can also chat with fellow students, share events, manage classes, and find out more about clubs and organizations. Find the app on iTunes or in the Google Play store today.
Online Services
The college’s Online Services, through my.CSMD, provides students with a convenient method to register for classes and access information about their student bills, financial assistance, schedule of classes, apply for graduation, request a transcript or enrollment verification and other student services. Online Services can be accessed at my.CSMD.edu.
Advising, Career, and Transfer Services
Maintaining contact with a CSM Academic & Career Advisor will ensure you are meeting your program requirements and accomplishing your personal goals. CSM advisors can assist with:
- Program Selection
- Course Selection
- Transfer Information
- Graduation Requirements
- Student Planning
- Student Progress
- General Career Services
- Questions about classes, instructors, grades, and more
Students are required to consult with an advisor prior to registering for their first semester, again at 18 credits and then again by 36 credits. If you are at this milestone at the time of registration, you will receive an error message stating that it is time for your program review. Until meeting with an advisor you will be unable to use online services to register for classes. Students can consult with an academic advisor by making an appointment or walking in during open hours at any location. Go to www.csmd.edu/academicadvising for additional resources or for advising hours of operation.
Career & Technology Education
The Career & Technology Education program (formerly Tech Prep) allows students to earn college credits through a sequence of academic and technical coursework while still enrolled in high school. Students successfully completing a Career & Technology Education (CTE) program in High School may receive articulated credits which are applicable to designated letters of recognition, certificates and associate of applied science degrees in a career field at CSM at no cost! For more information, see the college’s website at www.csmd.edu/cte.
Career Services
A variety of services are available to assist students and job seekers as they make career and employment decisions. Learn more at www.csmd.edu/careerservices.
Career Planning and Decision Making
Career satisfaction is directly related to how well students can define themselves and match their careers to their own interests, values, and skill sets. Academic and Career Advisors work with students one-on-one, using a variety of self-assessment tools. For more in-depth research, the college offers a three-credit course, Career Decision Making and Life Planning (STU 1050 ). A computerized guidance program helps develop structured career decision-making skills and a reference library is available for researching specific occupations.
Job Search Assistance
Job Connection is a quick and easy way to connect to current local or regional job openings. It’s free for students, alumni, and community members. Academic & Career Advisors can assist in resumé preparation, interviewing, and identifying skills. In addition, each spring the college hosts the Tri-County Job and Career Fair on the La Plata Campus.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education (co-op) is an academic course that allows the student to combine classroom theory with supervised work experience in a professional environment. This experience can be full-time or part-time in a paid or non-paid format. Co-op sites include public and private sector employers as well as government agencies. Students are required to work 225 hours for each three-credit co-op course. The co-op opportunity is available for students who are already employed in their field of study as well as those seeking entry into employment related to their program of study:
- Students already employed in their field of study should provide a current position description and submit a complete intake form to Career Services at least four weeks prior (8 weeks prior for EDU 1910 & 2910) to the start of the semester. This form is available on the website at www.csmd.edu/cooperative.
- Students who are not currently employed in their field of study are advised to complete the co-op intake form and contact Advising & Career Services (ACS) at least eight weeks prior to the semester they wish to enroll. Academic & Career Advisors can assist students with resume construction and job search information. Students may use that assistance as they locate a site for their co-op experience.
Students planning to transfer to another college should contact that institution to assure transferability of credits for co-op courses. Additional information, specific to each co-op course, is available on the web at www.csmd.edu/cooperative.
Transfer Services offers many activities, services, and resources specifically designed to increase awareness among all students, and to inform transfer-bound students about their options. Visit us on the web at www.csmd.edu/transferservices.
College Representatives
Representatives from four-year colleges and universities visit CSM regularly to advise students individually and provide information pertaining to transfer eligibility, program requirements, admissions policies, and financial aid. In addition, Transfer Services offers a Transfer Fair each September and February. A Transfer Fair gives students an opportunity to meet with representatives from other colleges on campus.
Library Services
The College of Southern Maryland Library maintains locations at the La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick campuses. The library provides services, resources, and facilities that support the academic, vocational, and enrichment programs of the college. Many of the resources are available through the Internet. The library’s participation in the Maryland Community College Library Consortium and the Maryland Interlibrary Loan Organization makes it possible for students to borrow materials not owned by CSM. This free service enables the pursuit of research beyond the limits of any one library, and library staff can assist in identifying suitable materials. Library staff also provide help in seeking information, locating materials, using library resources, and doing research. Students are encouraged to ask for individual assistance at any time. Library collections include books, reference materials, course reserves, periodicals and indexes in print and electronic formats. Electronic information sources are available for doing research in many subject areas. Students enrolled in credit courses have off-campus access to library research databases. Within the library, workstations are available to access many resources including the Internet and course-related software. The library maintains collections of paperbacks, music CD’s, and audiobooks. Multimedia resources are available for use within the library. Currently registered students may check out library circulating materials and course reserve materials by presenting a student ID card which is obtained at the library after presenting proper ID. Community members may borrow library materials by registering at the library with their public library cards.
Waldorf Center for Higher Education Library Services
Library services for alliance students are available from both the University of Maryland Global Campus and the CSM Library. Access to electronic databases is available in the Waldorf Center for Higher Education computer labs. Students can borrow books from the University System of Maryland libraries; they can request reference assistance via e-mail and by phone. Students who want personal assistance may visit the CSM Library at the three campuses. Circulating CSM Library materials can be sent to the Waldorf Center main office for pick-up by CSM students.
Southern Maryland Studies Center
Southern Maryland Studies in the Learning Resource Center (LR Building) was established at CSM in 1976 to provide a central location for research on this historically significant region. Students, historians, genealogists, and community members use the center resources to study the culture and development of Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties. The archival collections include rare books, unpublished documents, newspapers, photographs, slides, maps, and oral history tapes.
Learning Support Services
The College of Southern Maryland’s Learning Support Services provides comprehensive academic support services for students. Services include peer and online tutoring, skills improvement software and testing. For more information, visit Learning Support Services at the La Plata, Leonardtown, or Prince Frederick campuses.
Testing Center
Testing is available at all three campuses. Entry-level assessment of basic skills is provided through the college’s placement program (See also Placement Procedures). Students may earn credit through DSST (formerly DANTES), CLEP, and departmental examinations (See also Credit for Prior Learning). The La Plata Campus Testing Center offers ACT and SAT. All three testing centers offer Pearson Vue testing, which includes GED testing.
Tutoring
Peer tutoring is available on all campuses. Tutor schedules are posted on the college’s website by campus. Online tutoring is also available for a large number of (core) courses including, but not limited to: math, English, accounting, economics, chemistry, and statistics. Tutoring services are free of charge to enrolled CSM students.
Support Services for Pre-Clinical Nursing Students
The Nursing Programs’ Outreach Advisor assists preclinical nursing students in identifying and accessing services necessary to support student success.
Services for Students with Disabilities
The College of Southern Maryland recognizes that qualified individuals with disabilities may need accommodations to have equally effective opportunities to participate in and benefit from the college’s programs, services, and activities.
Each campus has a Disabilities Support Services office that is responsible for verifying disabilities, evaluating documentation, and recommending reasonable accommodations and services for students with a disability.
The student is responsible for making timely requests for accommodations to meet his or her particular need. Requests for accommodations/services must be made at least six (6) weeks before the date that the services/accommodations will be needed. Requests made less than six (6) weeks before will be addressed in the order in which they were received. Students can access services by filling out the appropriate form and contacting the Disabilities Support Services Office at the nearest campus. Request for services/accommodations is voluntary and must be made each semester the student is enrolled and seeking services.
Maryland Relay: 1-800-735-2258 or 711
Veteran and Military Support Services
At the College of Southern Maryland, we take pride in partnering with veterans and military-dependent students to make sure you get the most of the veterans benefits available to you. The commitment is so important to us that we have been identified as a veteran- and military-friendly institution. We have Veterans Affairs Coordinators on all three campuses and a Student Veterans Lounge on the La Plata Campus.
If you’re a veteran and are curious about what benefits are available to you or how to apply for them, visit csmd.edu/veterans.
College Preparatory
Some students who come to college have been out of school for a few years, are changing life or career goals, have not taken college preparatory courses, have not performed as well in high school as they would have liked, or for personal reasons wish to improve basic skills. Recognizing this, the college offers these students College preparatory courses in English, mathematics, reading and study skills so that they may improve skills without having to delay attending college.
Placement tests are available to assist students in determining skill strengths and weaknesses. Advisors, faculty, and Learning Support Services staff are available to help students determine the specific skill-building courses they need. In some cases, students are limited in the number of courses they may attempt and need to complete the appropriate skill-building courses before being admitted to a degree or certificate program. In others, students may take some college-level courses concurrently with skill-building courses. College preparatory courses do not carry credit and may not be counted toward any degree or certificate program. However, since they have credit equivalency, College preparatory courses do count toward eligibility for student financial assistance and intercollegiate athletics.
CSM Alumni Association
The CSM Alumni Association promotes the welfare of CSM through the support of its alumni members. The association enables alumni to network, keep in touch with friends, attend special alumni and college events, and stay informed with the recent accomplishments of CSM’s students and programs. The goal of the Alumni Association is to provide a wide range of educational, social, and volunteer programs at CSM. Opportunities are designed to promote lifelong learning and networking for alumni. Membership in the Alumni Association is open to all students with 25 or more credits from CSM, or to those who have received a degree or certificate from CSM.
To find out more about the CSM Alumni Association or to join, call 301-934-7647, or check out the college’s website at foundation.csmd.edu/alumni.
St. Charles Children’s Learning Center
The St. Charles Children’s Learning Center at the College of Southern Maryland is a state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot child care facility on the La Plata Campus and is accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education.
The center provides high-quality care to children eight weeks old through 12 years old, and serves students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The center’s programs emphasize positive growth and development of the whole child through a child-centered developmentally appropriate curriculum. Programs include an Infants and Toddlers program, serving children eight weeks to 24 months old, a Two-Year-Old program, and a Preschool program, serving children ages three to five years old. The center also offers a Before- and After-School Care program for children ages five through 12, as well as a Summer Day Camp program.
Eligibility priorities: The first 25 percent of available spaces are reserved for CSM students. (Students must be enrolled in no less than six credit hours.) The remaining 75 percent are available for CSM faculty, staff, and community members.
For more information, call 301-934-7871 or visit the website at clc.csmd.edu.
College Stores
CSM boasts a College Store on each of the three campuses with locations on the La Plata Campus in the BK Building, the Prince Frederick Campus in the John E. Harms Academic Center (Building A), and the Leonardtown Campus in Building B. Whether students are looking for CSM apparel, textbooks, or school supplies, the CSM College Store has it all! Textbook selections include new, used, rental, and digital textbooks, as well as office supplies, computers, CSM spirit wear, and a variety of other merchandise to meet the needs of the campus community. Stop in and visit one of the three College Store locations where dedicated staff are always ready to be of assistance. For additional convenience, students can make purchases online at www.CSMCollegeStore.com and get pertinent information on store hours, refund policy, book buyback, and much more.
Food Services
Located on the La Plata Campus in the BK Building next to the CSM College Store, Clarity Coffee House at the College of Southern Maryland features an array of coffee drinks and house specialty beverages, including in-house specials such as the Clarity Latin Latte, Cinnamon Roll Lattes, Café Mochas, and hot chocolate. It serves espresso beverages with cappuccinos, shot-in-the-darks and macchiatos, as well as, a rich assortment of teas, iced coffees, chai lattes, iced teas, and refresher drinks that are all made fresh in-house. Seasonal drinks include lemonade and hot apple cider. Pour-overs, cold brews, smoothies, and frappes are also on the menu.
Snacks and cold beverages are sold in vending machines throughout most buildings, as well as, the CSM College Stores at the La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick campuses. Questions about vending should be directed to the College Store on the campus.
Housing Assistance
Housing opportunities can be found using the CSM Mobile App. There is a sub-category inside the App named, “Housing” and it lists all active rental properties. Students may also post on the App if they are looking for housing opportunities.
Counseling Services
College can be a time of stress and difficulty. Trying to deal with school, work, social, and family responsibilities all at the same time can be overwhelming. CSM offers counseling services to all currently enrolled students at all three of our campus locations. CSM has three licensed mental health clinicians who serve our student population. Counseling Services is part of the Office of Student Affairs. On the La Plata Campus the counseling office is located in the Administration (AD) Building, Room 205F. On the Prince Frederick Campus, it is located in the John E. Harms Academic Center (Building A), Room 101H, and on the Leonardtown campus in Building C, Room 207D. The counseling approach is from a wellness/wholeness perspective and is short-term (up to eight sessions per semester). For further questions or to make an appointment, contact CSM Counseling Services at the following campuses: La Plata, 301-934-7577; Leonardtown, 240-725-5328; and Prince Frederick, 443-550-6169, or visit the Counseling website at www.csmd.edu/counseling.
Transportation Assistance
There are three options available to students who do not have a car and need transportation to a college campus:
- For those interested in a ride-share service, students can use the CSM Mobile App. There is a sub-category named, “Ride Sharing” where students are able to connect with each other regarding finding ride to/from each campus.
- The local governments offer transportation to the La Plata, Prince Frederick, and Leonardtown campuses for students in need of transportation assistance. There is a small fare for the service.
- The Regional Ride share of Southern Maryland assists tri-county area residents and commuters in organizing carpools. The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland provides a free computerized matchlist to applicants as well as transportation information, schedules, rates, and services for Southern Maryland.
Fitness and Aquatic Centers
CSM encourages both its students and employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Wellness and fitness activities are available at the La Plata and Leonardtown campuses to assist individuals in making decisions relative to reaching and maintaining optimal levels of health and well-being. CSM offers fitness exercise classes, pool memberships, private swim lessons, personal training sessions, GroupEx Passport classes, and punch passes. Learning seminars, health screenings, fitness assessments, and a variety of health-related events are also offered.
The fitness centers consist of circuit training equipment, free weights, exercise bikes, treadmills, and a variety of strength training equipment.
The aquatic centers on the La Plata and Leonardtown campuses provide group aquatic classes, American Red Cross swim classes for youth of all ages and adults, aquatic reconditioning and strengthening classes, aquatic certifications, open swim hours, and a variety of swimming options. Both campuses offer a 25-yard lap pool, and the Leonardtown campus has a warmer therapy pool.
Credit students enrolled with a minimum of three (3) credit hours or continuing education students enrolled in a minimum of 45 hours of instruction, are welcome to take advantage of open hours in CSM’s fitness and aquatic centers. Students not meeting the course-hour requirements can get fit by purchasing our GroupEx Passport, a 5 or 10 visit punch pass or a daily pass.
For more information, visit www.csmd.edu/go/fit.
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