Graduate School, USDA
Attn: Customer Support Center
600 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20024-2520
Phone: (888) 744-GRAD/(888) 744-4723
Or (202) 314-3300
Fax: (866) FAX-GRAD/(866) 329-4723
E-mail: customersupport@grad.usda.gov
Registration Methods and Related Information
The Graduate School strives to make its registration policies and procedures as simple as possible so that you can quickly and easily register for open enrollment courses. Following these procedures maximizes your chance of enrolling in the class you want, when you want it. Register early; class sizes are limited and classes often fill quickly! If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our Customer Support Center.
1. Register Online with a Credit Card - The fastest way to register, and obtain the most current information about a class
Visit our online course catalog and select the class you want to take. When you click on the register button, our Web site will lead you through a secure online registration process. To complete the online registration you will need the participant’s contact information, including current e-mail address, and the credit card payment information to complete the online registration. Payment by credit card is required for online registration. Online registrations are processed immediately; reserve your place in class using this convenient and secure registration method. Here’s how to get started.
2. Register By Telephone with a Credit Card – Anotherfastway to register and get the most current information about a class
Call our Customer Support Center to register to reserve your place in the class. Payment by credit card is required for telephone registrations. Phone registrations are processed immediately and provide a quick and convenient way to ensure that you secure a place in class.
3. Other Registration Methods (Fax, Mail, In Person) – Allow at least 3 workdays for processing
If you already know your class title, date and location, and prefer not to register online or by phone, you can register by fax or mail. Since class sizes for most of our open enrollment courses are limited and classes often fill up quickly, please note that it could take up to three workdays to process your registration application after we receive it.
Fax
Fax a completed and signed company purchase order to our Customer Support Center at (866) FAX-GRAD /(866) 329-4723. A government training authorization form (e.g., SF-182 or DD-1556) can be submitted in lieu of a purchase order. If payment will be made via credit card, be sure to include all of the credit card information on the government form or company purchase order: type of card, cardholder’s name and telephone number, card number and expiration date.
Mail
Mail your completed and signed company purchase order, government training authorization form (e.g., SF-182 or DD-1556), or
Graduate School, USDA Registration Formto:
Graduate School, USDA
Attn: Registration Processing - CSC
600 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20024-2520
In Person
If you prefer, you can visit one of our locations, and we will be happy to register you!
4. Standby Lists
As a courtesy to our participants, we maintain a standby list once the maximum class size has been met. Popular classes, especially in Washington, D.C., fill early, so the earlier you register, the less likely it is this will affect you. If the class you are interested in is full, select the “Standby” button on our Web site next to the course offering and complete the “Standby List Data Entry Form.” This ensures that we will notify you if an additional class is scheduled.
5. Substitutes
You may substitute another participant at any time before the class begins. Please contact our Customer Support Center to make the substitution and provide the contact information for the substitute. You may have to submit amended paperwork if the payment method for the original enrollment is a purchase order or government training authorization form.
6. Cancellations
By the Graduate School, USDA
The Graduate School reserves the right to cancel a class session. If circumstances cause us to cancel a class, we will inform the participant if we need to cancel, but will retain the prepaid tuition or registration forms until the participant or employer informs us to either: (1) refund the money or return the registration forms; (2) transfer the prepaid tuition amount or registration forms toward tuition for another scheduled course for the same person; or (3) transfer the prepaid tuition amount or registration forms toward tuition for another scheduled course for another person.
By the Participant
All enrollment cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by e-mail or fax to our Customer Support Center. If you do not cancel your registration in a timely manner, you will be responsible for the full tuition. To judge whether or not a request is timely, the Graduate School will use the minimum advance notice requirements listed in our refunds policy
7. Transfers
If you are interested in transferring your registration to another class, please fax or e-mail your request to our Customer Support Center. You may transfer your registration to another class that begins within six months from the start date of the original registration. A transfer will be processed only if requested in writing, submitted in a timely manner, payment is made for any additional fees, and space is available in the requested class. Only one transfer request will be honored. The transferred registration can be used by anyone in your organization if the tuition was paid by your employer, and is nonrefundable even if applied to a class of lesser value than the original class.
The Graduate School reserves the right to judge the timeliness of a transfer request. To judge whether or not a request is timely, the Graduate School will use the minimum advance notice requirements listed in our refunds policy. If the transfer cannot be accommodated, the respective refunds policy for the course will apply
8. Multiple Registrations
Training officials often need to register multiple participants for a single class session or for multiple classes. Simply complete and fax a Graduate School, USDA Registration Form to (866) FAX-GRAD/(888) 329-4723.
Payment Methods and Registration Information
1. Payment Methods
We must receive your payment at the time of registration. We accept:
Credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA)
Government purchase cards
Electronic fund transfers (EFT)*
Cash, Money Orders, or Cashiers Checks
Checks
Government training
authorization forms (e.g., SF182 or DD-1556)**
Purchase orders**
To ensure your place in the class, submit your government training authorization forms and purchase orders at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to the start of the class.
The tuition for our open enrollment daytime classroom courses includes all required materials unless otherwise noted in the course description. Books and/or other course materials may have to be purchased separately for our Evening and Weekend course and our distance education courses. If course materials or textbooks are not included as part of the tuition, the confirmation notice will provide information concerning any textbooks or course materials that need to be purchased.
* Electronic fund transfers payments can be made with Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments processed through the Vendor Express Program. To initiate the electronic funds transfer, the Federal agency should complete the "Agency Information Section" of SF 3881 (ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form) and fax it to 202-479-4895. If you have questions or need additional information, please call the Graduate School, USDA Accounting and Finance Office at 202-314-3773.
** Advance Payment of Training-Related Expenses: Federal departments and agencies have the authority to authorize advance payment of training-related expenses such as tuition, per diem, travel, and other expenses essential to training. Additional information and guidance is found at 31 U.S.C. §3324 (1997), 5 U.S.C. §4109(a)(2) (1997), and 41 Comp. Gen. 626 (1962).
2. Required Registration Information Tuition fees and course schedules are subject to change without notice. Please refer to the course catalog on our Web site for the most current information. Submitting the following information will facilitate processing of your registration:
For all registration methods, please be sure to include the following:
Participant e-mail address
Participant name, preferred mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and position title
Course title, 9-character course code and, if applicable, the date(s) and location of the course
If payment will be made via credit card, be sure to include the following credit card information: type of card, cardholder’s name and telephone number, card number and expiration date
If your employer is paying the course tuition, please ensure the following are included on the company purchase order or government training authorization form:
Authorized signature of the official responsible for approving the training
Approving official’s name, preferred mailing address, telephone number, fax number and position title
Billing address and billing telephone number
Purchase order number or billing reference number
3. Discounts
If you are interested in achieving cost savings for large groups, please check the information concerning our on-site contract courses and customized solutions to meet specific organizational needs. The Graduate School, USDA is a GSA Contract Holder.
4. Returned Checks
There is a $25 processing fee for returned checks.
6. Prepayment Account
The Graduate School can establish a prepayment account for an organization that wants to purchase training units. Once purchased, training units can be used to pay for open enrollment registrations and/or on-site contract classes. To establish an account or for more information, please contact our Customer Support Center.
Registration Notifications
1. Registration Acknowledgment
Processed registrations will be acknowledged via e-mail or postal mail. If the class is closed or has been cancelled previous to receipt of your registration, you will be notified by a customer service representative within five business days of receipt. The Graduate School reserves the right to cancel a class session. Please do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements until you receive the registration confirmation notice described below.
2. Registration Confirmation
Your registration will be confirmed by e-mail or postal mail as noted below. If the class is full, or has been rescheduled, you will be notified by a customer service representative. Please do not make nonrefundable travel reservations before you receive the registration confirmation. If course materials or textbooks are not included as part of the tuition, the confirmation notice will provide information concerning any textbooks or course materials that need to be purchased. Unless otherwise noted in the confirmation notice, we do not include lodging and meals in the tuition fee. If you have not received a confirmation in a timely manner, please contact our Customer Support Center to verify that we have received your registration. Please see our accessibility policy if you need special accommodations or assistance.
We will confirm your registration no later than 7 calendar days prior to the class start date.
Registration Requirements
1. Who Can Enroll
The Graduate School, USDA has an open enrollment admissions policy and does not require an admission application or fee. Classes are open to anyone at least 18 years of age, regardless of educational background or place of employment. Please note that our leadership development programs require special application packages. International students are welcome to enroll in any Graduate School, USDA course by following the same registration procedures as all participants; however, the Graduate School does not issue student visas (i.e., I-20 forms) to international students. The Graduate School, USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. We make every practical effort to ensure that our programs are accessible to physically challenged participants and participants with special needs. We must receive your payment or payment information before we can process a registration application.
2. Prerequisites
Some courses have prerequisites included with the course description. For these courses, participants are responsible for meeting the required prerequisites or having the appropriate prior experience.
3. Course Levels
The first numeric character in the course code number designates the course level as defined in the course level numbering system used by the Graduate School. See the Guide to Level of Language Courses for additional information concerning the level of our foreign language courses. If you have any questions or are in doubt about a course prerequisite or level, please contact please contact our Customer Support Center before registering.
Privacy Policy (Participant Information)
We recognize that your privacy is important and have adopted a privacy policy that demonstrates our firm commitment to your privacy and the protection of your information.