Annual Update Guide

1. Access the TerpEngage system using the link provided: (https://umd.lightning.force.com/)
2. Log in with CAS to access the system using your University of Maryland directory ID and password.
3. When you have accessed the system, the first screen to appear is the TerpEngage home page. Click on the 9 dot app launcher then search for and add the “Annual Updates” app.

Pro Tip: Since most users will have the need to update multiple programs use the down arrow on the Annual Update tab to pin the tab to your navigation bar.

1. Select the program from the dropdown list you want to update.
2. Click the “Next” button.

You will be guided through a series of screens for each of the Program/Degree combinations listed. We expect that you will be able to complete the process for each degree in about 10 minutes or less.

Please complete all screens up to and including the Finish button to make sure all of your choices for this program have been saved. If you are responsible for any other program codes, you may configure each program in a separate sitting.

You may also re-visit a program code and adjust your selections as many times as you like until the annual updates collection period has closed.

3. Click the “Next” button.

The following questions are required so we can display accurate contact information in the application portal.  The Contact Name, Email, Phone, and Program URL fields appear on the applicant’s home page after they have selected your program. See the example below.

TerpEngage has the ability for programs to present from 0 to 3 instances of the Area of Interest (AOI) question. Not all programs will require AOIs. Indicate below which of the questions you would like displayed and/or required. You will be asked on a separate page for the choices that will appear for each of the questions.

These are the default application pages that will be displayed for every applicant.

The optional pages and sections are documented here: https://sites.google.com/umd.edu/additionalportalpages/home Please indicate which optional pages and sections should be displayed for your program.

Additional Pages you would like displayed to applicants.

Important! – If you select a page to display to the applicants that have a dependent section(s) you MUST also select at least one section under that page to display as well.

Programs should set application submission deadlines that are competitive with their peers. It is the goal of the Graduate School to consolidate its numerous deadlines to provide more effective service to programs.

Graduate School guidelines:

Deadlines cannot fall on a weekend or Monday. Deadlines may also not fall on holidays or the first day back from a holiday. Please adjust deadlines accordingly. (Applicants need help in the days leading up to submission, and we need to make sure offices are open during these times.)

International deadlines are fixed and final, as set by ISSS. International deadlines for in-person programs cannot go beyond the following dates: September 29, 2023 (Spring 2024) and March 15, 2024 (Fall 2024).

• • A program may choose deadline dates to display to applicants that are earlier than the TerpEngage will enforce.
  • A Program may also publish a deadline for ‘best consideration’ while enforcing a later deadline.

We have built-in validation rules to enforce the date restriction above. Here are all of the checks that it does:

• Cannot leave all dates on a line blank
• If a Domestic deadline date is provided then both domestic dates must be provided (likewise for International)
• Display Domestic Deadline cannot be later than Domestic Deadline (likewise for International)
• The international Deadline for Spring 24 terms can not be later than the ISSS global date of 9/27/2024
• The international Deadline for Fall 24 terms can not be later than the ISSS global date of 3/14/2025
• Deadline dates can not be more than a year before the term start date
• Deadline dates can not be later than the latest allowable date from the spreadsheet above
• If a non-allowable date is chosen, the error message will show the reason that the date is not allowed.

1. Select items in the left-hand window and use the right arrow to move them into the right-hand window.
2. Click “Next” when done.

1. Please edit the dates in the table below by hovering over the table and clicking on the pencil icons. When selecting deadline dates, please keep the following in mind.

• Graduate School policy specifies that application deadline dates may not fall on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, a University Holiday, or the day following a University Holiday.
• International applicants who are in the United States and already hold a valid visa for continuing their studies will be allowed to use the Domestic deadline dates. The International dates are only enforced for those who need to obtain a visa once they are admitted (ISSS).
• The “Display” deadline is used to inform applicants of the date by which they need to submit their applications. The system will allow them to submit their application later than the “Display” deadline as long as it is before the actual deadline.

2. Either type in the deadline date (mm/dd/yyyy) or click the calendar icon to select a date from the calendar.

If you provide a message below, it will be displayed to each applicant as soon as they select this program and term on the Educational Intent page (just above where it displays the deadline date). There is no reason to repeat the deadline date in the message, but you might use this to let them know of an alternate date for preferred consideration (for example). The system automatically displays deadline dates in long-form (e.g. April 17, 2022) to avoid month/day confusion for international applicants; you may wish to do the same with any dates in your message.

On this screen, you will select which items are required to be submitted. On the next screen, you will indicate the optional items. The applicant will see the required items in their checklist and they must upload an attachment for each required item. These items count against the Percent Complete shown at the top of the Quick Access Panel.

Verify your program’s admissions requirements below. Requirements need to reflect what you wish to have in TerpEngage as well as the Admissions Requirements site (blog.umd.edu/admissionsrequirements). Graduate School requirements (such as TOEFL/IELTS/PTE) are not listed here.

1. Select items in the left-hand window and use the right arrow to move them into the right-hand window.
2. Click “Next” when done.

On this screen, you will select which items are optional. The applicant will see these items in their checklist with the “(Optional)” tag on the item label. They may choose whether to upload an attachment or not. These items do not count against the Percent Complete shown at the top of the Quick Access Panel.

1. Select items in the left-hand window and use the right arrow to move them into the right-hand window.
2. Click “Next” when done.

Important: Supplemental Applications

To send us a new or updated Supplemental Application Form (“fillable” PDF or Instructions).

1. Highlight the changes you are making to your supplemental form before uploading.

2. Save your document (PDF or MS Word document) using the following naming convention: program code_2021_supplemental application.pdf or .docx

3. Use the following link to email your PDF or MS Word document directly to the supplemental application folder on BOX: upload.Supplem.t7e2jfplyh@u.box.com

All Supplemental Application Forms will be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School before they are put into production.

If you would like to add new Area of Interest choices for the upcoming year, enter them one per line in the box below. (Hint: if you will be using these same new values for AOI 2 and/or AOI 3, copy/paste them to a text editor outside TerpEngage, so you can copy/paste the same values on future screens; this helps avoid misspellings.)

1. Select items in the left-hand window and use the right arrow to move them into the right-hand window.
2. New Choices This Year should be added to the bottom window. Enter one new choice per line.
3. Click “Next” when done.

Congratulations, you have completed the selections for this Program/Degree. If there are any other degrees offered under this program code, you will automatically be taken to the first screen for the next degree.

1. Click “Next” to continue.

Thank you for completing the annual updates process for program code XXXX. If you are responsible for additional program codes, you will need to repeat these steps for each of the other codes.

If you would like to test your new settings in the application portal by pretending to be an applicant, you may use the link below to get to the portal registration page. Follow these steps:

1. Register as a new applicant using whatever name you wish.
2. When asked for an email address, use your umd.edu email address, but insert “+2025” before the “@” symbol in your address. For example, staff@umd.edu would become staff+2025@umd.edu.
3. The email confirming this new account will come to your normal UMD email address and will allow you to set a password and create an application. However, the portal will display the options and settings for the 2025 application cycle instead of the current, active cycle.

https://terpengage.force.com/community/CustomLoginPage?GradApp=true

1. Click “Finish” to submit your updates.