Registration

According to the Registrar’s Office Registration opens on four different dates for each semester, and your students date is determined by the number of credits they have earned. Students can view the specific dates on the registration calendar. Those with the most credits earned, typically graduate students and seniors, have the earliest registration date. Those with the least credits earned, typically freshmen, have the latest registration date. The courses your students need are more likely to be available if they register soon after registration opens.

Course Caps

In-person sections of both 1010 and 2010 are capped at 23 students. Neither GIs nor members of the CAT have the ability to admit more students into a section than the cap allows.

If students contact you to request admission to your course section, please firmly but respectfully tell them that the course is capped at 23 and that you cannot admit them. Let them know they can try to enroll in another section if it is available. If there is no availability this semester, they can enroll for the following semester, especially if they register early. If you are unsure the best way to frame your communication please consult the course cap email template found in the Appendix A of this handbook.

Please only direct students to the DOC if they truly have extenuating circumstances that they wish to discuss with someone (or if you need help saying no). The DOC is happy to talk with students, but has no power to add them to any class during the first week.

Waitlists

The official USU waitlist system handles all course adds for the first week of classes. Whether they are on a waitlist or not, students should not sit in on your course the first week unless they are officially registered. You should instead encourage students to enroll in another section, plan to take the course next semester, or follow the composition program’s guidelines for late add requests (outlined in the following section and on the program’s FAQ page).

Late Add Requests

Students may request a late add of an in-person or an online section through Friday of Week 2, and only an online course through the Tuesday of Week 3. The program will not consider late requests after the Tuesday of Week 3 because approximately 1/5 of the semester has passed and students have made significant progress in the course.

To request a late add for a composition course, students should follow the steps below:

1. Go to USU’s Registrar’s Office page
2. Select “Forms” from the top menu
3. Scroll down the list and select the “Registration Options” form
4. Complete the form
   1. Include your personal information (name, A#, email, etc.)
   2. Under “What are you trying to do?” select Registration Error Override
   3. Enter the CRN of the course and section you wish to add (the remaining information regarding the course will then autofill)
   4. Under “What Error are you receiving?” select Instructor Permission
   5. Under “Instructor Approval” include a brief note explaining why you need to be in the class (because many students need to register for English 1010, 2010, and 2020, please know that the English Department prioritizes students who are below 12 credits)
5. Submit the form (click on the blue button on right side of screen)
6. Your request will be reviewed by the English Department based on availability, what week in the semester we receive the request, and student credit load.
7. If your request is approved, you will receive an email from the English Department; the Department will provide instructions on how to enroll.

Drops and Withdrawals

Students may drop or withdraw from classes in accordance to the Registration Calendar. Dropping or withdrawing from classes can be completed online in the Banner registration system or through College Scheduler. For more information refer to the Registrar’s FAQ page or USU student handbook.

As a GI, you will want to know the difference between a drop and a withdrawal as that information impacts your students’ ability to make informed decisions regarding their academic performance.

Drop vs. Withdrawal

According to the registrar’s office, if a student decides to drop a course without paying for it or receiving a notation on their transcript, they must do so by a specific date.

A withdrawal happens when a student decides to drop the course after the drop deadline. In these instances, students are still required to pay for the course and will receive a W (withdrawal) on their transcript.

Drop and Withdrawal Dates

The drop deadline is typically during the third or fourth week of the semester, but students can view each semester’s official “Last Day to Drop” deadline by accessing the catalog’s registration calendar page and selecting the current semester’s registration calendar.

The withdrawal deadline is typically during the tenth or eleventh week of the semester, but students can view each semester’s official “Last Day to Withdrawal” deadline by accessing the catalog’s registration calendar page and selecting the current semester’s registration calendar.

As an instructor, pay attention to the drop deadline each semester. Prior to this deadline, examine your grade book to identify any student that have failed to submit a significant portion of the coursework up the that point. You can help these students by reaching out (refer to Appendix A for a template email) and initiating a conversation regarding their progress. If a student desires to continue in your course, help them make a plan to get back on track. If a student is unsure about whether they can meet course expectations, refer them to their academic advisor who can discuss drop options. Never encourage a student to drop or withdrawal from your course yourself, leave that to the academic advisor. Having these conversations early can help the student preserve their academic reputation and save time and money.