Believe it or not, students have been back in school for a little over a month now! Since it’s almost time for students to start registering for classes for the fall semester, now is a perfect time to check in! Ultimately, you know your student best and can gauge how things are going in and outside of class. Below is some helpful information from the Shepard Academic Resource Center about class registration that can help frame your check-in conversations.

Registration Basics

Some rising seniors will begin registering as early as March 25, and other students will be registering through early April. The full registration schedule is available here.

Registration can be stressful, especially if students have trouble getting into the courses or the class times they want. There are a few reasons why they may not get their ideal schedule:

• Certain majors are very popular and therefore certain classes are competitive to get into. In addition, upper division classes can be more competitive to get a spot in.
• Every year, the University needs to plan for the incoming freshmen class, and one of the requirements is that there are spaces saved for new students arriving in the Fall. Last year, there were over 4000 spaces reserved in several subjects for the class of 2022. After registration for the incoming first year students is complete, those freshmen restrictions are “removed” – usually on August 1. On this date, there are usually no spaces open, but as students decide to cancel their fall registration, spots will open up in these classes.
• For students who want a class that is currently unavailable, it is recommended that they store their PIN for registration somewhere that is easily accessible. That way if a spot opens up in August, students don’t have to track down their advisor to get their PIN in order to access the registration portal and make changes to their schedule.

Still on Track

It’s very normal for students to not get into all of the courses they want each semester, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re not on track to graduate in four years. Encourage your student to make a ‘Plan A’ for registration (the courses they really want to register for), and then make a list of alternative courses that could be used for backup. If it comes time to register and they find that one of their preferred courses is closed or full, they can try registering for a course on their backup list.

If your student runs into one of these common challenges, you can remind them that things will work out. They can always try to add the class during the add/drop period in the Fall or try again during the Spring semester. Add/drop occurs during the first week of each semester. Schedules may change and classes may open up.

Getting Help

If your student is anxious about registration or they cannot get into a course that they believe is required for their major and must be taken during a specific semester, please advise them to reach out to their Program Counselor or academic advisor for assistance. A student’s schedule may not be exactly what they want, but we can work with them to get them what they need. We want to do everything possible to help students graduate on their timeline!

Please remember registration is a student driven process. Please encourage your student to seek resources on campus and practice problem solving skills when challenges arise. We can work with students who seek assistance, but they have to be the ones to take the first step. UP is full of faculty and staff ready to help if asked!

Course Load

When checking in with your student, take some time to check if their class load is manageable. If they are a semester or two into college, are there signs that they want and can take on more classes? Perhaps as they get the hang of the schedule and demands of college, they may want to consider adding a minor.

In general, if students have questions regarding classes, it is best that they go through their school or college. If a student has bigger questions or doesn’t know where to go, they can always start with the Shepard Academic Resource Center.