Department of Mathematics

WebAssign is an on-line homework system used in Math 112, 113, 115, 115B, 140, 140, 140H, 141, 141H, 220 and 221.

Please read through the directions below before logging into WebAssign.

Web Assign information
Mathematics Department, University of Maryland, College Park
(updated Fall 2020)

Greetings!

Please read this entire message carefully. For a downloadable copy, follow this link.

Please read this entire email message carefully.

The following is some important information about your Math class this semester.

There are two kinds of homework: textbook Practice and WebAssign.
[IMPORTANT: If you transfer from one section to another within the same course, you must follow the instructions below. Scroll down to them.]

Practice Homework is listed on the course schedule and is from the textbook. Some of these exercises are included in WebAssign, and will be counted as part of your grade. The others are not going to be computed in your grade. However, this does not mean they are not important! These exercises are the practice that will help you to learn the material. Do the practice homework after the Lecture on that section and before tackling WebAssign. You need to be able to correctly answer all of the assigned problems. You’ll also have the opportunity to focus on these textbook practice questions in your discussion section. [During Stat 400 discussions, TAs will not cover questions included in WebAssign. During Math 140 and Math 141 discussions, TAs will be able to answer questions about WebAssign that are past the due date and time. For Math 115, your instructor will provide details about how WebAssign will be used.] Also, you should feel free to use office hours, or tutoring. The Math Dept. tutoring room should start its complete schedule by the second week of classes. Math Success should be starting up about the same time. Schedules for both can be found by following the links from undefined Undergraduate > Resources and Tutoring.

WebAssign will be activated by the day before classes start.

If you are in Math 140 or Math 141, or you are in Math115/Stat400/Stat401 and this is your first time using WebAssign, by the end of the second week of classes you will need to purchase an access code. (See IMPORTANT NOTES below!) The cheapest and easiest way is to purchase the access code online—follow the prompts. For the first two weeks of the semester you can click on the “Continue without entering an access code” link toward the bottom. You will need to purchase an access code before the free-use time runs out—either in the bookstore or online by clicking the “Purchase an access code online” link. (Hint: The cost is cheaper purchasing an access code online as opposed to buying it from the campus bookstore.) Please wait to enter your access code until you are sure you are in the section where you will remain all semester—transferring access codes can get complicated.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
For Math 140 and Math 141, you will not need an “enhanced version” access code for WebAssign. You do have options for purchasing a WebAssign access code

Purchase Cengage Unlimited which gives you access not only to Ellis/Gulick in electronic form, but also all titles in Cengage's library. The cost varies according to time period – there are one-semester, one-year, and two year plans. (Math140 students who plan to do the full 140-141-241 sequence would need the two-year plan; Math 140 students who plan on only 140-141 courses could get by with the one-year plan assuming they pass Math 140.
Purchase a one-semester access code which only gives you access to the Homework Assignments. An e-book is not included. You would need to purchase a new access code for each semester, whether your re-take Math 140 or move on to Math 141. This might be less expensive than Cengage Unlimited, depending on your cost for a used copy or rental copy of the text.

For Math 115, Stat 400 and Stat 401, you’ll need the “enhanced version” access code for WebAssign. For these classes, online homework also includes access to the text in e-book format, as well as other resources, from within WebAssign. If you are content with using the e-book, you will not need to have a paper copy of the text. (A paper copy is usually available from the reserve desk in McKeldin Library. During Fall 2020 selected sections will be scanned.) You will only need to purchase the enhanced version WebAssign access code once – as long as you are using the same text, your access code will be recognized, whether your re-take Math 115 or Stat 400, or move on to Stat 401 from Stat 400.

For all classes using WebAssign, you will access WebAssign from within ELMS/Canvas. [See instructions below for transferring from one section to another within the same course.]

Go to the ELMS/Canvas page for your class, then click on the “Assignments” link in the navigation menu on the left-hand side.
On the page that opens up, scroll down to find, and then click on the name of the WebAssign you want to work on.
You should see “This tool needs to be loaded in a new browser window”; click on the “Load WebAssign in a new window” link.
If you already have a WebAssign account, enter your Username and Password in the appropriate dialog boxes. (Institution should already have “umd” in place.) Then click on the “Link Account” button.
- If you don’t already have a WebAssign account, click on the “I don’t have a WebAssign account” link.
  You’ll be given three choices: “purchase access online”, “enter an access code” and “continue my trial period”. (Purchasing access online is usually less expensive than purchasing from a third-party vendor.)

After this process has been done the first time, steps 1) through 3) will take you to your WebAssign assignment page.

If you transfer from one section to another within the same course, send an email to your new instructor requesting that your previous WebAssign work and access code be transferred to the new section. Include your full name, email, and the numbers of the sections you are transferring from and to. Your instructor will forward your request to the WebAssign coordinator. Do not access WebAssign from your new section’s ELMS page until you have received a “go-ahead” from the WebAssign coordinator. If you fail to follow these instructions, your prior work and access may not be transferred. (Please put your course number [Math 115, Math 140, Math 141, Stat 400, Stat 401] in the Subject line of any WebAssign emails.)

For the first two weeks of the semester you can click on the “continue my trial period” link toward the bottom. You will need to have an access code before the free-use time runs out—either in the bookstore or online by clicking the “purchase access online” link. (Hint: The cost is usually cheaper purchasing an access code online as opposed to buying it from the campus bookstore.) Please wait to enter your access code until you are sure you are in the section where you will remain all semester—transferring access codes can get complicated.

If you recently took the Math Dept. Placement test online, you may see it still listed on WebAssign. You can ignore it—it will go away shortly.

Please check the syllabus for your class for when your WebAssign homeworks are due. For Math 140 and Math 141, in general (but not every time), WebAssign will be due on a discussion day at 7:30 am.

For all students, due dates given within WebAssign are definitive – it is your responsibility to keep track of due dates and times. The ELMS/Canvas calendar and course schedule may not match, especially when adjustments to due dates are made.

WebAssign will be activated by the day before classes start. The first few graded assignments will already be listed. These are due shortly after the beginning of the semester. Future assignments will show up about a week before they are due.

If you have any problem logging in or have any other questions, email your instructor, who will forward it to the WebAssign coordinator.
(Please put your course number [Math 115, Math 140, Math 141, Stat 400, Stat 401] in the Subject line of any WebAssign emails.)