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Registration

by Angela W Coley — last modified 2009-10-23 15:44

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Check "Registration Information" on Student Central for your registration time and other registration information.

Senior, Juniors, and Rising Juniors: Your registration procedure is set by your professional school or department.

Some departments require you to go to the department for registration advice and to get an advisor approval flag lifted.
Some departments require you to report to the department to get your PIN.
Other departments allow you to use your PIN on Student Central to register without having to report to the department.

To see which option applies to you check the Registration Information Chart

[NOTE: This potentially changes each fall/spring]

First-year Students and First semester Sophomores: Please check the Registration Information Chart to see if you need to see an advisor in the Steele Building before you will be able to register.

Important Links

o COURSE SEARCH ENGINE http://regweb.unc.edu/coursesearch/

o REGISTRATION CALENDAR http://regweb.oit.unc.edu/calendars/index.php

o SUMMER SCHOOL http://summer.unc.edu/

o MAYMESTER http://summer.unc.edu/maymester

o DIRECTORY OF CLASSES http://www.unc.edu/clsched/

o WEB REGISTRATION TUTORIAL http://regweb.oit.unc.edu/students/web_tutorial.php

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REGISTRATION FAQS

Q: Do I have to see an advisor in order to register?

A: It may not be necessary, but it is frequently a good idea. Many students are not required to meet with an advisor and may use their most recently completed worksheet and the Undergraduate Bulletin to select their courses. There are some students however who must meet with an advisor.

All students will access the registration system on their own at their scheduled time. Advisors are unable to register students for courses.

• Sophomores with a GPA <2.0: Meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Program

• Rising juniors and juniors with an Undeclared major: Meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Program

• Rising juniors, juniors, and seniors with declared majors in the College of Arts and Sciences should clarify advising requirements with their major department.

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Q: I am unable to schedule an appointment with an advisor in Steele Building.

A: Advising appointments fill up very quickly, especially at registration time. Read on ‐ these FAQ’s have details on some tools that you can use to help you register if you are not able to see an advisor. Then schedule an appointment with an advisor after registration to review your course choices and progress towards your degree.

Note: To schedule an appointment with a departmental advisor, go to the main office for your major department.

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Q: I can’t log in to the registration portal.

A: Remember that although the registration portal is open 7 days a week, it only opens from 7am to 7pm.

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Q: I cannot see my PIN on Student Central.

A: Some departments require their majors who are rising juniors, juniors, and seniors to meet with a departmental advisor in order to get their PIN. You must contact your major department.

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Q: I can see my PIN on Student Central, but cannot register. The system says I need “advisor approval” or that I have a stop.

A: Is your GPA below a 2.0?

If this is the case, you need to see an advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences to discuss your academic situation and a plan to get your academics on track, to explore resources that may be helpful in this process, and to have your advising approval flag removed.

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A: Are you an Undecided rising junior?

If so, the system will not allow you to register until you declare a major. See an advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences to do so and to have your advising approval flag lifted.

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A: Are you a rising junior, junior, or senior in a major that requires you meet with a departmental advisor in order to have your advisor approval flag removed?

If so, you must contact your major department.

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A: Check Student Central to see if you have any financial or miscellaneous stops.

You will have to clear them before you can register.

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Q: What if I have class during my registration time?

A: You may register at your first available opportunity after class. Your registration time is simply the earliest time at which you have access for registration. You will continue to have access from that time until 7 p.m. on your registration date, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. thereafter, through the last day to drop a class on Student Central, which can be found at: regweb.oit.unc.edu/calendars.

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Q: How many hours should I register for?

A: Advisors recommend that students register for 15‐17 hours. In order to meet the minimum degree requirement of 120 academic hours in the eight semesters allowed, most students need to average 15 hours (although AP/IB credit, transfer credits, and summer course work can allow more flexibility in your semester load). Also, by registering for at least 15 hours, you have the flexibility of dropping a course later on in the semester if necessary.

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Q: What do I do if I want to register for more than 17 hours?

A: Remember that the system automatically will raise your credit hours to 18 shortly before the beginning of each term. You then can register for a sixth course. If you wish to take more than 18 hours, you will need to have an approved overload by a Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. In order to be approved for an overload you must have the following:

3.00 GPA in the prior semester

2.50 cumulative GPA
Or plan to graduate in the current semester

If you meet the basic requirements and wish to enroll in 19 or 20 hours, you may come to Steele Building and speak with one of the front desk staff to submit a written request that will be reviewed by one of the deans just before the beginning of each semester. If you wish to enroll in more hours and/or do not meet the criteria noted above, you must come to Steele Building during the first week of classes and speak with a dean.

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Q: I try to register for classes and the system gives me a message of “controlled enrollment,” “class restriction,” “majors only,” etc.

A: These restrictions are set by the academic department that offers the course. To identify what the restriction is and to see if you can be allowed to register for the course, you should contact the academic department.

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Q: I try to use GRADS on Student Central, but either the information seems inaccurate or my major appears “under construction.”

A: GRADS can be a useful tool, but unfortunately it is not always accurate. Use it to help you in planning but ultimately it is not a substitute for meeting with an advisor. If you are unsure about the accuracy of GRADS, always check with an advisor.

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Q: What if I can’t get the class I want right away?

A: Remember that registration is an ongoing process! Once it opens to you, it will remain open up through the first week of classes for adding and through the first two weeks of classes for dropping. This means that you will have multiple opportunities to go back to the registration portal to make necessary changes. Also, the first week of classes in the new semester is an optimum time to check for classes since there are a lot of students who drop and add classes once they have attended. You may also go to classes and speak with instructors about adding a class.

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Q: What can I do if I get a class lecture, but cannot register for the recitation?

A: Some (but not all!) lecture and recitation sections are linked. For example, if you are in section 7 of a class, you may need a 700 recitation. If all recitation sections are closed, stay enrolled in the lecture even if you cannot get the recitation right away. Then be sure to speak with the lecture instructor about the recitation when the class first meets at the beginning of the semester.

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Q: Where can I find information about requirements or prerequisites for majors?

A: The definitive resource is the Undergraduate Bulletin

(http://www.unc.edu/ugradbulletin/), and you should develop the habit of always checking the Bulletin before registering for any class. All major departments are listed in alphabetical order under “Academic Departments.” Also, you will find the academic worksheets available for all majors helpful. Click on the “Academic Worksheets” link at the top of the Academic Advising web page and choose your intended major for a worksheet that will detail the courses you have to take.

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Q: If the computer lets me register for a class, does that mean I have met the course prerequisites or co-requisites?

A: No! The computer does not evaluate the appropriateness of classes. The only way to know if you have met the course prerequisites or if there is a co‐requisite is to consult the course information in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

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Q: How can I pick classes that will meet the General Education requirements I have left to fulfill?

A: You can use the “advanced search” function of the course search engine

(http://regweb.unc.edu/coursesearch/) and choose from the appropriate drop‐down menu the requirement you wish to fulfill. For a complete listing of all courses that meet General Education requirements and to check if a particular course fulfills multiple requirements you will have to check in the Undergraduate Bulletin under “General Education Requirements” (http://www.unc.edu/ugradbulletin/).

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Q: I am interested in taking an online course. Where can I find a list of courses offered and what to do in order to take an online course?

A: See the Friday Center’s website: http://www.fridaycenter.unc.edu/cp/cco/. Remember that full‐time students may only register for one CCO per semester. Also, there are some restrictions about online credits for students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2008 and later. Be sure to read about these in the Undergraduate Bulletin, Eligibility and Probation section of this website or speak with your advisor. (link to Distance-Learning Courses via the Friday Center for Continuing Education section

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Q: I am a student currently studying abroad. How do I handle registration?

A: If you have access to a computer and the internet you can register from abroad! Note that if you are a rising Junior, Junior or Senior and your major department requires a registration meeting you should either arrange a meeting prior to departure or contact your departmental advisor well in advance of your registration date.

For advice on General Education requirements, our recommendation is that you schedule an appointment with an advisor ahead of time to allow the advisor to update your worksheet(s). Hopefully you have taken a copy of your most recently updated worksheet with you. You can indicate on the appointment that you are studying abroad and would like the advisor to send you a copy of the worksheet via email. Please allow between 24‐48 hours for the worksheet(s) to appear in your inbox. If you wish to speak to the advisor during the appointment, you can indicate that you will have a “phone appointment.”In this case, if possible, please have a computer with internet access available to make sure you maximize your appointment. If you are not able to schedule an appointment, below are some helpful websites that will help you prepare for registration.

Then schedule an appointment with your advisor upon your return to Carolina.

http://studentcentral.unc.edu/ (you can find your transcript as well as your time of registration here)
http://www.unc.edu/depts/ (for a list of departments where you can find answers to questions about your major)
http://www.unc.edu/ugradbulletin/archive/ (for major pre‐reqs and requirements for the year you began college)
http://regweb.oit.unc.edu/ (to find out information about next semester’s offerings and calendars with important dates)
http://regweb.oit.unc.edu/coursesearch/ (use the drop‐down menus to find courses that fulfill specific requirements)
http://www.fridaycenter.unc.edu/cp/cco/ (if you are interested in taking an online course)

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Q: May I take a graduate level class (700 or above)?

A: Only with written permission of the professor and department chair, and with permission of a dean in Academic Advising. The professor must be reminded to give you an undergraduate grade. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the course numbering system to help ensure you are taking appropriate level courses.

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Q: May I sign up for Chem 101 and the lab in the fall if I am planning to take the SAT II math subject test this summer?

A: Yes, but your SAT II math score must be received by Admissions and the credit posted before classes start in the fall. If scores and credit are not posted by the week before classes begin, the Chemistry department will drop you from the class and/or lab.

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Q: My major requires a C in a class that I think I will get a C‐ or D in. May I sign up for it again?

A: See your advisor.

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Q: I took a class previously but although I passed the class I did not make the grade I wanted. Can I take this class again?

A: See your advisor.

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Q: How do I sign up for music lessons?

A: Go to the Music Department office in Hill Hall

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CANCELLATION

If you registered for a future term and have decided not to attend, contact the Office of the University Registrar to request that your registration be officially canceled. Check with other University offices (Housing and Residential Education, Scholarships and Aid, etc.) for related concerns.

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WITHDRAWAL

If you, for any reason, choose not to complete the term in which you are currently enrolled, you must officially withdraw from the University before the last day of classes. You cannot simply drop all of your classes, and you should not just stop going to classes. An official withdrawal is necessary and may facilitate your readmission by preventing negative academic and/or financial consequences. There are four types of withdrawals—Academic, Medical, Military, and Retroactive. Talk with your advisor for additional information about these options.

Academic Withdrawal

If your decision to withdraw is for reasons other than illness, or if a medical withdrawal cannot be authorized, make an appointment with a full-time advisor or assistant dean in the Academic Advising Programs to initiate an "Application for Withdrawal" form.

The Application for Withdrawal requires clearance signatures from certain University offices. If withdrawing from a fall or spring term after the eighth (8th) week of classes, you will also need to obtain signatures from each of your instructors. If you are earning six or more hours of F grades for that semester’s work, the grades are recorded on your academic transcript and a semester-in-residence is awarded. Your semester count determines the requirements for grade point average and hours earned that you must reach to maintain your academic eligibility.

Medical Withdrawal

If your decision to withdraw is for medical reasons of physical illness or psychological difficulties, contact Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services, respectively. A medical withdrawal carries no academic penalties and is processed through Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services. Clearance by the same office may be required before you may be readmitted, if you plan to return in a later semester.

Withdrawal for Military Reservists called to Active Duty

The Office of the President of the University System has issued guidelines that allow campuses to give a full refund of tuition and required fees to any student withdrawing from school when called to active military duty. The guidelines also apply to students withdrawing of their own accord in order to volunteer for military service. The readmission fee also may be waived upon return. See the explanation and procedure on the University Registrar’s Website.

Retroactive Withdrawal

If you failed to withdraw from a fall or spring semester or summer session, you may petition the Administrative Board of Appeals to withdraw retroactively from that term and have that semester or session retroactively removed from your transcript by submitting a typed letter of appeal. Submitting such a petition in no way implies that your request will be approved. If your appeal cites reasons of a medical or psychological nature, make an appointment with a full-time advisor or assistant dean in the Academic Advising Program to obtain the necessary release forms for Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services. If you are not a US citizen, you must provide a letter from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services supporting your request for withdrawal. You may discuss your situation with a full-time advisor or assistant dean in the Academic Advising Program for further information about this process. Requests for retroactive withdrawal are for extraordinary and extenuating circumstances. The decision of the Administrative Board is final.

Taking a Semester Off

You may want or need to take off one or more semesters for a variety of reasons. The circumstances under which you leave UNC-Chapel Hill will determine what you need to do. Please read the following information, and then refer to Cancellation and Withdrawal for procedural instructions. Check with other university offices (Housing and Residential Education, Scholarships and Financial Aid, etc.) for related concerns. If you are not enrolled for a fall or spring semester or you withdraw during a fall or spring semester, you must apply for readmission in order to return. You will find complete information and necessary forms at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions web site at http://www.admissions.unc.edu/pdf/readmissionapp.pdf

If you want or need to leave before the beginning of a new academic semester—that is, before the first day of classes:

If you are not registered for classes and are in good academic standing, then you do not need to do anything. There is no form or paperwork of any kind that must be completed. Simply do not register for courses during the term(s) in which you intend to be away from school.
If you are currently registered for classes and are in good academic standing, then all you have to do is have your registration cancelled before the first day of classes.
If you are currently registered for classes but are academically ineligible, your registration will be cancelled before the first day of classes. The Registrar’s Office will cancel your registration if you have not done so.

If you want or need to leave during the current academic semester—that is, after the start of the first day of classes:

If you are currently registered for classes, then you must withdraw from the University.

If you want or need to take time off during a future academic semester

If you are in good academic standing, then you do not need to do anything. There is no form or paperwork of any kind that must be completed before you leave. Simply do not register for courses during the term(s) in which you intend to be away from school.
If you are academically ineligible, see an advisor before you leave to discuss eligibility requirements and what you must do to restore your academic eligibility.

Again, in all of the above situations, remember that you must apply for readmission in order to return to Carolina.

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TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL

If you want to leave UNC and transfer to another institution but you have already registered for a future term at UNC, you must cancel your registration for that term. It is your responsibility as a student to initiate a registration cancellation because that is the only way UNC will know officially that you will not attend. Check with other university offices (Housing and Residential Education, Scholarships and Financial Aid, etc.) for related concerns.

If you have not registered for a future term, no cancellation is necessary. In some cases, when you have made the decision to transfer, you also may wish to withdraw from the current semester.

Take care of all outstanding stops on your UNC accounts. Fines from parking tickets, overdue books, and stops such as academic eligibility holds or Student Affairs holds will be listed on Student Central under “Stops.” These stops will prevent you from registering for a future term at UNC and from obtaining transcripts from the Registrar’s Office.

As long as you left UNC in good standing, and have maintained a 2.0 or better GPA and good academic standing at the other institution, you are eligible to transfer back to UNC by applying for readmission.

Transfer to Part-Time Classroom Studies

For some students, full-time study may become unmanageable or undesirable. In such cases, transferring to “Part-Time Classroom Studies” (formerly known as “Continuing Studies”) may be a solution.

Students enrolled via Part-Time Classroom Studies are limited to a maximum of eight credit hours per semester; therefore, if you are registered for more than eight hours and want to transfer during the current semester, you will be required to drop to eight hours or fewer. You will not be allowed to return from Part-Time Classroom Studies to full-time study in the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences until two semesters (fall or spring) have elapsed since the beginning of the term in which your transfer to PTCS was effective. (An exception is made if you apply to graduate in that second semester.) Courses passed while in Part-Time Classroom Studies count towards graduation.

To help determine whether you are eligible to transfer to Part-Time Classroom Studies, consider the following:

Are you currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or the General College on a waiver of eligibility standards? If so, you are not eligible to transfer.
Are you planning to graduate this semester? If so, you must remain in the College of Arts and Sciences (even if you are authorized during the first six weeks of the semester to carry an approved underload of fewer-than-12 credit hours).

Are you academically ineligible to remain in the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences? If so, you are not eligible to transfer.

The deadline to transfer to Part-Time Classroom Studies is November 1 for the fall semester and April 1 for the spring semester.

In order to transfer into and maintain academic eligibility in Part-Time Classroom Studies, you must meet the specific eligibility requirements of that Division, which may differ somewhat from those in General College and the College of Arts and Sciences. The minimum grade-point average required for continued enrollment in Part-Time Classroom Studies may be higher or lower than the average that would be required of you as a full-time student. All UNC-Chapel Hill courses attempted while in Part-Time Classroom Studies or prior to that are taken into consideration in determining whether you meet the minimum grade-point averages for Part-Time Classroom Studies.

Undergraduates admitted before fall 2007 must maintain the following GPA standards to transfer into and to remain eligible to be enrolled in Part-time Classroom.

after 6 credit hours: 1.00
after 12 credit hours: 1.50
after 24 credit hours: 1.75
after 36 credit hours: 1.90

Students entering the University as first-year students on or after May 14, 2007, sophomore transfer students entering the University in or after the 2008 summer sessions, and junior transfer students entering the University in or after the 2009 summer session and thereafter must maintain a 2.0 GPA every semester once nine credit hours have been attempted.

To transfer back to full-time status, you must meet the eligibility standards for the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences. Be mindful of your cumulative hours: while each term of enrollment as a part-time student will not automatically increase the number of semesters-in-residence that you have exhausted, hours earned through Part-time Classroom Studies will count towards semesters in residence. If you entered UNC-Chapel Hill prior to the fall 2007 semester, you will be considered to have exhausted one semester-in-residence (of the maximum of nine semesters you are allowed in completing your undergraduate degree) upon passing twelve hours in Part-Time Classroom Studies, two semesters in twenty-four hours, and so on. Your tally of semesters-in-residence determines the number of earned credit hours and grade-point averages required to transfer back to the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences. Students entering in the fall 2007 or after as first-year students, sophomore transfer students entering in the fall 2008 semester, and junior transfer students entering in the fall 2009 semester are allowed 8 semesters in which to complete all degree requirements, and are considered to have accumulated one semester in residence upon completion of 15 credit hours through Part-time Classroom Studies.

If you transfer to Part-Time Classroom Studies before the last date to drop courses for financial credit (the end of the second week of the semester), you will be refunded student fees for the term and therefore will NOT have access to the Campus Health Services or certain athletic events (nor will you have access to these benefits for the following semester, because you will not be charged for these benefits in the first place). If you transfer after the term’s last date to drop courses for financial credit, you will not receive a refund of fees or tuition, and therefore, for the remainder of that semester only, you still will have access to the services covered by the fees.

If you live in University housing, check with the Office of Housing and Residential Education before you initiate the transfer. You may be required to find alternate housing for the rest of the semester if you drop to part-time status after the semester has begun.

If you feel that part-time study may be appropriate for you, speak with your advisor about this option.

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READMISSION

Any student who withdraws or is not enrolled in the preceding term must apply for readmission through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at least one month before taking classes again (see the Undergraduate Admissions website for an online application and specific deadlines and fees). If you first entered the University after May 15, 1982, and intend to enroll in a fall or spring semester, you must meet academic eligibility standards for readmission. You may be readmitted to Summer Sessions without meeting these standards; however, to continue coursework in the fall, you must restore your eligibility (see Academic Eligibility here at the Advising website for detailed requirements). If you leave the University for medical or disciplinary reasons, you may need to be cleared by the appropriate office before being readmitted.

We encourage you to apply for readmission at least a month before the early registration period begins in the semester preceding your return. You must apply for readmission at least a month before the term in which you want to re-enroll.

If you enroll in coursework at another college or university during your absence from UNC-Chapel Hill, you must submit transcripts of this coursework. To be eligible for readmission, you must have maintained a C average for all such coursework attempted. Note that by taking courses at other institutions during your time away you may increase the UNC-Chapel Hill grade point average needed to return to full-time study here. Additionally, these hours transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill from another institution may affect your completed semester in residence and therefore the remaining semesters available to complete your degree requirements.

Non-Traditional Readmission

As a general rule, the University's policy for traditional readmission to the College of Arts & Sciences or the General College requires that students meet readmission standards, including a specified cumulative grade-point average and number of academic hours passed based on their total number of semesters-in-residence. Some former students will not meet these minimal requirements; however, University administrators recognize that individuals can gain personal and intellectual maturity during a leave of absence. In such cases, the Associate Dean of Academic Advising Programs may choose to evaluate applicants for readmission on the basis of their current academic promise rather than prior academic performance.

If you are academically ineligible and have not been enrolled full-time in a formal education program for at least five years, you may be considered for readmission under this policy. To discuss your situation and to determine if nontraditional readmission is an option for you, schedule an appointment with an academic dean. If you meet the requirements for nontraditional readmission, you should write a letter to the Associate Dean requesting consideration as a nontraditional applicant. The Administrative Board will review your academic record to approve or deny your readmission under this policy. Readmission to a professional school requires the approval of the respective professional school.

If you are admitted under this policy, your academic advisor will help facilitate your transition back to college, provide academic guidance, and confirm that you are fulfilling the requirements for continued enrollment. If you fail to meet these requirements and lose your academic eligibility, you must then meet traditional readmission requirements before being permitted to continue enrollment at the University. A nontraditional readmission to the University is granted only once.

Notification of Temporary Absence Due To Emergency

For Parents:

If you must contact your student in the event of an emergency, please call the office of the Dean of Students (919-966-4042). This office is responsible for the university’s Emergency Notification Policy.

For Students:

If you must miss one or more class meetings due to a personal or family emergency, it is important that you contact your instructors to notify them of your absence. You may need to contact them via email and phone to ensure that they receive your notification promptly. If you have difficulties contacting an instructor, call the instructor’s department or program office and ask to speak with the Undergraduate Student Services Manager.

If you must be out of classes for two or more consecutive class meetings, contact the Academic Advising office to request that an absence notification letter be sent to each of your instructors. This letter does not excuse you from classes but serves as a formal notification from the dean’s office. It is your responsibility to discuss with your instructors the possibility of making-up missed work or negotiating a change of assignment deadlines if you must be absent from class.

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