Table of contents
- What is Open Learning
- Faculty and staff FAQs
- Get assistance with billing and revenue
- Get assistance with ELMS-Canvas and Open Learning
- Get general support
- How can I get technical help with setting up my course in Open Learning; creating promotion codes; getting HTML code for a certificate of completion; setting the start and end dates; creating sections; and adding requirements to modules to generate automatic certificates of completion by email?
- How can I get help with: teaching and learning course design and content?
- Questions for UMD participants
- Manage your Open Learning account
- Get support with transactions
- Questions for non-UMD participants
- Access Open Learning
- Get support with transactions
- Get support
What is Open Learning
Open Learning is a catalog of non-credit continuing education opportunities offered to the University of Maryland (UMD) community and beyond. Using Canvas' Open Catalog platform, the Open Learning catalog allows one to browse, find, and enroll in non-credit and certificate-based free or fee-based offerings. Many offerings are self-paced, while others involve online or in-person sessions.
Open Learning support contacts
Faculty/staff*
Administrative/course approval support: Contact Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu.
Technical/troubleshooting support: Contact itsupport@umd.edu.
UMD students*
Administrative/course support: Contact the course owner or instructor listed on the course card or within the ELMS-Canvas course.
Technical/troubleshooting support: Contact itsupport@umd.edu.
Non-UMD students*
Administrative/course/technical/troubleshooting support: Contact the course owner or instructor listed on the course card or within the ELMS-Canvas course if you have any questions about the course or its requirements. In addition, you can contact Canvas Support by calling (877) 399-4090 or by visiting the live chat.
*Note: EXST administered courses: Contact Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu.(EXST administered courses are identified in the footnote of the Open Learning course listing. The footnote reads: "This is an Extended Studies administered course. Contact EXST if you experience any issues enrolling: openlearning@umd.edu.")
Faculty and staff FAQs
Get started with Open Learning
I am interested in hosting a non-credit course or workshop in Open Learning. Who should I contact?
Faculty/Staff should submit the non-credit course proposal form and/or your questions to Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu.
Where can I obtain access to the most current Open Learning Non-Credit Course Proposal Form?
To request the latest non-credit course proposal form, faculty/staff should contact Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu.
Do I have to use Open Learning to offer my non-credit course or workshop? What are my options?
Faculty/staff should contact Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu to find out more about Open Learning as a possible solution, or other options. Be sure to include: basic course or workshop description and needs, audience (UMD faculty/staff/students or non-UMD/public), course cost, dates, and/or if you need a registration or payment gateway?
How can I obtain access to the Open Learning Administrator Training course?
Faculty/Staff may register for the Open Learning Administrator Training course using your UMD credentials. Once you have completed the course, you will be emailed a Certificate of Completion. As a part of the completion of the Open Learning Non-Credit Course Proposal Form, please email your certificate to Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu.
How can I request a technology fee waiver?
Faculty/Staff may submit an email request to itsupport@umd.edu indicating that you would like to obtain a technology fee waiver. Include the name(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) that you plan to offer through Open Learning. Qualifications: the enrollee demographic for your Open Learning course(s) may only include UMD faculty, staff, and/or students (this EXST not include alumni). Retain the approval email with the approval information from IT Support and the information with your Open Learning Non-Credit Proposal Form to Extended Studies (EXST) at openlearning@umd.edu. Note: Fee waivers expire when the approved course proposal expires (one year from when enrollment opens). A new request for a fee waiver must be submitted for each subsequent proposal renewal.
How can I obtain Open Learning administrator access?
Faculty/Staff may obtain Open Learning Administrator access once your course proposal has been approved by Extended Studies (EXST) as a self-administered course. At that point, you'll need to complete the Open Learning Administrator access online form and make sure to only select the 'UMD Open Catalog (Learning)' option on the form for you to receive both ELMS-Canvas and Open Learning administrator access. Once the form is approved by the approver of your request, IT will receive the form and complete your request.
How can I get a subaccount and sub catalog created in Open Learning?
If your course proposal has been approved by Extended Studies (EXST) as a self-administered course, submit an email request to itsupport@umd.edu indicating the name(s) that you would like to call the subaccount in ELMS-Canvas and sub catalog in Open Learning (for example, the names can be titles of a department, program, or school). Once these accounts have been created, you can create your course(s) in ELMS-Canvas to be used in Open Learning and create your registration listing(s) in Open Learning.
I already have a non-term-based course in ELMS-Canvas, how can I get the course moved into my Open Learning subaccount in ELMS-Canvas?
Faculty/staff may send an email request to itsupport@umd.edu indicating the URL(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) that you would like to be moved into your Open Learning ELMS-Canvas subaccount.
How can I create a course to be used in Open Learning if I don't already have one created?
Faculty/staff will need to create an organization space in the ELMS Management tool (EMT) at emt.umd.edu and have this course moved over to your Open Learning subaccount in ELMS-Canvas to be used for Open Learning by IT once the course design has been completed.
How can I create a course to be used in Open Learning once I have an Open Learning subaccount?
Faculty/staff can create a course within their Open Learning subaccount by following the instructions on the How do I add a course as an admin? article. Note: Please make sure to select your Open Learning subaccount as the 'Subaccount' and Catalog for the 'Enrollment Term'.
How do I copy course content in ELMS-Canvas so the course can be used for Open Learning?
- Option 1: How do I copy, import, or export course content?
Faculty/staff who have created a course previously and would like to reuse their content in a new course can learn how to Import Content from One ELMS-Canvas Course Space to Another to complete this task. For more information about exporting course content, please visit How do I export a Canvas course?. - Option 2: What is Blueprint and how do I use it?
Blueprint is a tool/option within ELMS-Canvas that makes it easier to deploy, update, and maintain course design templates or components across any number of courses. Blueprint courses allow Blueprint Administrators to create content and learning objects, lock specific settings or content items, and push updates to all associated courses through course syncing.
To have access to this tool, you must first request to be a Blueprint Administrator in ELMS-Canvas. A Blueprint Administrator can be a UMD staff or faculty member. To learn more about Blueprint, please refer to the ELMS-Canvas Blueprint Administrator Workflow article.
Get assistance with billing and revenue
How can I make sure the fee-based course transactions are going into my department's revenue account?
If your course is administered by Extended Studies (EXST) , simply email openlearning@umd.edu for verification. If you are self-administering your course and it is not administered by Extended Studies (EXST) , submit an email request to itsupport@umd.edu indicating the Kuali Financial Services (KFS) number and Object code that you would like to use for your fee-based courses, as well as the name of your subcatalog in Open Learning. DIT will input this information into the ELMS Management Tool (EMT) which routes Open Learning transactions into the right departmental revenue account.
Are there any fees associated with using Open Learning?
DIT technology fee
For all Open Learning courses (self-administered or EXST administered) there is a DIT Technology Fee of $10.00 per enrollment (UMD and Non-UMD participants). There is an annual cap of $15,000.00 per fiscal year that applies to any academic or administrative unit for which enrollment surpasses 1,500 individuals. Shared and cross-listed courses offered by two or more school colleges are not included. For further details, please reference the DIT Knowledge Article or the DIT Technology Fee and Waiver Request. If you have any questions regarding the technology fee, please send an email to itsupport@umd.edu.
How can I obtain access to the payment gateway to provide refunds?
If your course is administered by Extended Studies (EXST) , simply email openlearning@umd.edu to request any refund processing. If you are self-administering your course, send an email to openlearning@umd.edu requesting to be a transaction administrator in Authorize.net in order to provide refunds to Open Learning participants.
Get assistance with ELMS-Canvas and Open Learning
How can I get help designing my course?
Faculty/staff can visit the ELMS-Canvas Course Design service catalog and select the three dots on the upper-right hand side, then select 'Get Support' and then select 'Incident' in a new pop-up window to submit a ticket. Please complete the fill in the blanks provided on the form and select the submit button. Note: In the form, under the title 'Please describe your issue below' indicate the name(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) and Open Learning registration listing(s), provide the URL(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) and Open Learning registration listing(s), and indicate your exact design needs.
How can I request customization work for my course?
Faculty/staff should contact itsupport@umd.edu to discuss their customization needs.
Get general support
How can I get technical help with setting up my course in Open Learning; creating promotion codes; getting HTML code for a certificate of completion; setting the start and end dates; creating sections; and adding requirements to modules to generate automatic certificates of completion by email?
For ELMS-Canvas technical design and development course help, DIT's LTS group can provide support in building your course. Faculty/staff may send an email request to itsupport@umd.edu indicating the name(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) and Open Learning registration listing(s), provide the URL(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) and Open Learning registration listing(s), and indicate your exact design needs.
Alternatively, Open Learning has some free courses provided by the LTS group in the Division of Information Technology to help with this process, as well as utilizing the resources found on the Keep Teaching website, set up to help with the university's move to an online environment.
There's also an abundance of resource guides from Canvas themselves, as well as the ELMS-Canvas Faculty Tutorial.
How can I get help with: teaching and learning course design and content?
For consultations or teaching and learning help, the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC) is a great resource. This is their specialty! Find useful learning tools, information about available learning spaces, and other great services offered by UMD TLTC to better help prepare yourself and/or your students. A few learning tools include syllabus guidelines, attendance policies, grading policies, Canvas tips, Enterprise Learning Management System (ELMS-Canvas), teaching with technology, and Canvas course design process. Contact: tltc@umd.edu or 301-405-9356.
Questions for UMD participants
Getting started with Open Learning
How can I register for a course?
- Open an Internet browser and copy and paste the Open Learning URL: https://umd.edu/openlearning
- Select the course on the Open Learning storefront you would like to enroll in (or use the URL link that you were sent for the course that you would like to enroll in.
- Then, select the "Enroll" button. Next, select the "Sign in Here" link. Once selected, select the "Enroll in Course" button to enroll in a "Free" course. To enroll in a "fee-based" course, select the "Proceed to Payment" button to complete your enrollment.
Accessing Open Learning
How do I access my Student Dashboard that shows my courses, certificates of completion, and unofficial transcript?
- Once you have an Open Learning account created, open an Internet browser, and copy and paste the Open Learning URL: https://umd.edu/openlearning
- Select the Login link in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage.
- Once you are logged in to Open Learning, select your name (where it used to say "login"). A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Student Dashboard."
- The "In Progress" tab provides access to courses/programs in progress or courses/programs that you have not yet started. You can also review a list of courses that you "Completed" by selecting the "Completed" tab. If a course is available, you can select the "Begin Course" button or the "Resume Course" button to start or resume a course. (Visit How do I log in to my catalog account? or How do I use the Catalog dashboard? for further detailed instructions.)
Manage your Open Learning account
How do I check my wait list status?
If you are waitlisted for a course or program, the Open Learning Student Dashboard will display tabs titled "In Progress" and "Completed" courses, and will provide a tab titled Wait List courses. The display provides a "Not yet enrolled" status, as well as an icon to "Remove" (X) one's name from the wait list. (Visit How do I use the Catalog dashboard? for further detailed instructions.)
How can I view my certificate of completion?
Visit How do I view the certificate of completion for a Catalog course or program? for more information on how to preview your certificate of completion.
Get support with transactions
How do I find out why I did not receive a transaction receipt?
Send an email to openlearning@umd.edu for assistance.
How do I request a refund?
Send an email to your course instructor to inquire about the course refund policy, your eligibility for a refund, and/or to request a refund. Be sure to include in the email to your instructor, your first and last name, and the Transaction ID (located on your Authorize.net receipt) of the Open Learning course that you would like refunded.
Questions for non-UMD participants
Getting started with Associate Accounts
How can I create an Associate Account so I can register for an Open Learning course?
- Open an Internet browser and copy and paste the Open Learning URL: https://umd.edu/openlearning
- Select the course on the Open Learning storefront or the URL link you were sent for the course that you would like to enroll in.
- Then, select the "Enroll" button. Next, select the "Create an Associate Account" link to create an account. Once selected, you will be directed to the Associate Account Registration page. Please fill out the desired information on the registration page and then select the "Submit" button.
- Once selected, you will receive an email stating that you have created an Associate Account. In the email, select the link to create an Associate Account password. Note: The link expires after 10 minutes and accounts that are not confirmed will be deleted after 180 days.
- Once you have completed this step, return to the Open Learning storefront: https://umd.edu/openlearning or the URL link you were sent for the course that you would like to enroll in.
- Select the course card or select the URL link, you received for the course you would like to enroll in. Lastly, select the "Enroll" button. Next, select the "Sign in Here" link. Once selected, select the "Enroll in Course" button to enroll in a "Free" course. To enroll in a "fee-based" course, select the "Proceed to Payment" button to complete your enrollment.
How can I reset my Associate Account password?
All Associate Accounts users should refer to the Reset Your Associate Account Password instructions to reset their Associate Account password. Note: You will receive an email from the Associate Account service reminding you to reset your password.
How can I get assistance with my Associate Account?
For any issues with Associate Accounts, please send an email to itsupport@umd.edu.
Access Open Learning
How do I access my Student Dashboard to access courses, certificate of completion, and unofficial transcript?
- Once you have an Open Learning account created, open an Internet browser, and copy and paste the Open Learning URL: https://umd.edu/openlearning
- Select the "Login" link in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage.
- Once you are logged in to Open Learning, select your name (where it used to say "login"). A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Student Dashboard."
- The "In Progress" tab provides access to courses/programs in progress or courses/programs that you have not yet started. You can also review a list of courses that you "Completed" by selecting the "Completed" tab. If a course is available, you can select the "Begin Course" button or the "Resume Course" button to start or resume a course. If you've earned a certificate of completion, it would be accessible under the "Completed" tab. Click on the "PDF Transcript" button to view your unofficial transcript. (Visit How do I log in to my catalog account? or How do I use the Catalog dashboard for further detailed instructions.)
How can I view my certificate of completion?
Visit How do I view the certificate of completion for a Catalog course or program? for more information on how to preview your certificate of completion.
How can I check my wait list status?
If you are waitlisted for a course or program, the Open Learning Student Dashboard will display tabs titled "In Progress" and "Completed" courses, and will provide a tab titled Wait List courses. The display provides a "Not yet enrolled" status, as well as an icon to "Remove" (X) one's name from the wait list. (Visit How do I use the Catalog dashboard? and How do I know when I'll get added to a course or program from the Catalog wait list? for further detailed instructions.)
Get support with transactions
What is the refund policy and how can I request a refund?
Send an email to openlearning@umd.edu for assistance.
What is the refund policy and how can I request a refund?
Send an email to your course instructor to inquire about the course refund policy, your eligibility for a refund, and/or to request a refund. Be sure to include in the email to your instructor, your first and last name, and the Transaction ID (located on your Authorize.net receipt) of the Open Learning course that you would like refunded.
Get support
How can I get help?
A non-UMD participant can contact the course owner or instructor listed on the course card or within the ELMS-Canvas course if you have any questions about the course or its requirements. In addition, you can contact Canvas Support by calling (877) 399-4090 or by visiting the live chat.