Unveiling the St. Mary's College of Maryland Student Portal: Features and Benefits

St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) provides its students with a comprehensive online portal designed to streamline their academic and administrative tasks. This article delves into the features and benefits of the SMCM Student Portal, highlighting how it serves as a central hub for students to manage their college experience.

Accessing the SMCM Student Portal

New students gain access to the SMCM Student Portal after being accepted. It is important to set up the SMCM Student Portal as soon as possible to ensure uninterrupted access. The ability to unlock your SMCM account and reset your password is available to you using the SMCM Password Manager service. If by chance you have never used Password Manager or have forgotten your security questions please call the OIT Helpdesk at (240) 895-4357 for assistance.

Key Features and Functionality

The SMCM Student Portal offers a wide array of features designed to simplify various aspects of student life:

Academic Resources

Course Registration: Students can register for classes through the portal, view course schedules, and add or drop courses as needed. If registration is open on the portal you can follow this guide to register for classes using the new system. If registration on the portal is closed, you will need to submit a signed drop/add slip to the Registrar’s Office in Glendening Hall.
Grades and Transcripts: The portal allows students to check their grades, view unofficial transcripts, and track their academic progress. From the Student Portal side menu, select Academics > My Grades. From the My Grades page, select the enrollment (Bachelors) in the top drop down and the term from the Filter Grades by Term dropdown menus. Results will show under the Grades tab. To view a current copy of your unofficial transcript, go to your Student Portal side menu, select Academics > Unofficial Transcript. Once the new page loads, you will select the link for Unofficial Transcript. A PDF copy of your transcript will pop-up or download. Open your transcript and scroll to the most recent term to view your cumulative earned credits.

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Degree Progression: Students can monitor their progress toward degree completion, including inquiry and LEAD requirements.
Placement Tests: The portal provides access to placement test information. If you need to know the results of your placement test, please contact Dr.
Virtual Computer Lab: The SMCM Virtual Computer lab gives users access to a virtual computer from most internet connected devices. Users can connect using Windows, Mac or Linux PC’s. Users can also connect using Chromebooks, Android based tablets and iPads. Users can also use their smartphones to access the virtual computers, however, viewing and using all of the features may be difficult since these are desktop applications intended to be used on a normal sized screen. The first time you start an Office product you will be asked to sign in.

Financial Management

Billing and Payments: Students can access their billing statements, make payments, and view payment plans through the portal. Login to the Student Portal. Once logged in, select "Make a Payment" and the associated hyperlink. You may need to disable the popup blocker on your computer. Once the pop-up blocker is disabled, the TransAct/Cashnet window will open and you can proceed to pay your bill from there. Cashnet has not changed in this integration.
Financial Aid: The portal allows students to finalize financial aid, track loan information, and manage federal work-study. In order for their account to reflect their financial aid, students must take action on their loans and federal work-study via the My Financial Aid tab on the SMCM Student Portal and provide information through studentaid.gov as applicable to receive funds from the loans. If a student believes they are missing any financial aid they are entitled to, they should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at 240-895-3000. The status of “pending” means the aid has been awarded to the student, but not yet disbursed to the student account.

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Campus Life and Resources

Housing: The portal provides access to the housing application, allowing students to complete housing contracts and view housing assignments. Access will also be available in your SMCM Applicant Gateway enrollment checklist. You should log into our Residence system using your SMCM credentials and complete the housing contract. Housing assignment and roommate lists are listed on the home screen; meal plans are viewable under the "my account" tab.
Meal Plans: Students can choose their meal plans through the portal. Meal plans are viewable under the "my account" tab.
One Card Management: The portal allows students to add funds to their One Card for printing and other expenses. You are responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged Student ID cards (OneCard). You can find this information at IT Support Center Location and Hours. You will need to fill out the new ID request form and turn in the old ID (if you still have it) along with your request.
Residence Life Portal: The Residence Portal is attached to your other SMCM accounts. Access the Residence Portal.
Announcements and Events: The portal provides access to campus announcements and events.

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Technology Support

Password Management: The portal provides access to the SMCM Password Manager service, allowing students to unlock their accounts and reset their passwords.
Virtual Computer Lab: The SMCM Virtual Computer lab gives users access to a virtual computer from most internet connected devices. Users can connect using Windows, Mac or Linux PC’s. Users can also connect using Chromebooks, Android based tablets and iPads. Users can also use their smartphones to access the virtual computers, however, viewing and using all of the features may be difficult since these are desktop applications intended to be used on a normal sized screen. The first time you start an Office product you will be asked to sign in.
Blackboard Access: You can access Blackboard and other tools you may need to stay connected using most web-enabled devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Other Important Information

Updating Major/Minor: From the Student Portal menu, select Academics > Declaring a Major. Then select “Undergraduate Declaration of Major and Minor”; a new window will appear with a form to complete. You must click the link again on the new page. Finally a new tab will open with the form.

Health and Accessibility

Health Records: Medicat is the College's health record system for students. The patient portal does not allow for the visualization of health records (such as provider notes, prescriptions, laboratory results, etc.) as some bigger hospital record systems would. However, you should be able to see any forms that you uploaded into the patient portal.

Benefits of Using the SMCM Student Portal

The SMCM Student Portal offers numerous benefits to students, including:

Convenience: The portal provides a single point of access for all essential student services and information, eliminating the need to visit multiple offices or websites.
Efficiency: The portal streamlines administrative tasks, such as course registration, bill payment, and financial aid management, saving students time and effort.
Accessibility: The portal is accessible 24/7 from any device with an internet connection, allowing students to manage their college experience from anywhere.
Communication: The portal facilitates communication between students, faculty, and staff, ensuring that students stay informed about important announcements, events, and deadlines.
Personalization: The portal allows students to customize their experience by selecting their preferred meal plan, housing options, and communication preferences.

Navigating Campus Resources: A Holistic Approach

Beyond the digital realm of the Student Portal, St. Mary's College of Maryland provides a wealth of physical resources designed to enhance the overall student experience. The campus itself is thoughtfully designed, with a master plan emphasizing courtyards, walkways, and gardens that complement the natural beauty of the Tidewater region.

Academic Hubs and Facilities

Academic buildings across campus are equipped with computerized classrooms, modern laboratories, and specialized instructional spaces.

Goodpaster Hall: Opened in January 2008, this LEED-certified building houses chemistry, psychology, and educational studies, featuring extensive laboratory spaces and energy-conserving features.
Kent Hall: Overlooking the St. Mary’s River, Kent Hall houses most of the departments associated with history and the social sciences, with fully computerized classrooms and a state-of-the-art anthropology laboratory.
Montgomery Hall: This is the focal point for art, theater, and music, featuring the Bruce Davis Theater, a dance studio, an auditorium, soundproof music practice rooms, and the Boyden Art Gallery.
Schaefer Hall: Includes general classrooms and teaching laboratories in biology, biochemistry, computer science, geology, and physics, with sophisticated laboratory instrumentation.
The Dallas P. Dean Learning Commons: Has many rooms for self or group-study available for students of all majors. In addition, it houses the Educational Studies Department and the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
The Library: Overlooking St. John’s Pond, houses state-of-the-art media and computer centers, a digital sound/video production and editing studio, multimedia laboratory, and classrooms equipped for media presentations.

Waterfront and Recreation

The Teddy Turner Waterfront and the James P. Muldoon River Center: Home to the national championship sailing team and recreational water sports, offering opportunities for sailing, kayaking, paddling, and rowing.
Athletic Complex: Renovated and expanded in 2005, the athletic complex includes arenas for basketball and volleyball, a 50-meter pool in addition to the 25-yard pool, improved locker rooms, a rock-climbing wall, a larger weight room, a movement room, new tennis courts, and a new baseball park.

Student Life and Support

Campus Center: The Campus Center offers a wide range of activities and services, including dining, meeting rooms, lounges, a café, the campus store, student activity offices, and a movie theater. The main dining room area, also known as the Great Room, boasts a high-vaulted ceiling, fireplace and servery, and offers complete food services to 400 people. A snack bar and café, also provide customers indoor and outdoor seating.
Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE): Enriches campus and community life by fostering collaboration between SMCM students and the community beyond our campus borders.
Student Affairs: Provides students with the environment and opportunities that facilitate belonging and engagement at St.

Housing and Residence Life

Residence Halls, Suites, Apartments, and Townhouses: Four residence halls, a suite-style complex, an apartment/suite complex and two townhouse complexes house more than 85 percent of undergraduate students at the College.

Additional Resources

The Current: The Current is our new student communication platform. Designed as a social media feed, students can customize the feed to display only the topics they're interested in; along with specific items deemed important (mostly deadlines and academic calendar items, but also important official policies and announcements).

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