Web Registration -- Step-by-Step Instructions

(this will open a new window which will allow you to more easily access step-by-step registration instructions while you register for classes)

Refer to the links below for Registration Information.

** PLEASE NOTE:  The use of online Web Registration is required for both UG & GR students.  If you have trouble during registration or schedule adjustment, UG students should contact their Advising Center & GR students should contact the Graduate College. **

Registration for internships, directed & independent studies, continuous enrollment,
& thesis preparation is handled by the Registrar's Office staff after the proper paperwork has been completed by your Advising Center and Instructor.

Phased Registration: A Quick Overview 

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All students should first make sure that they have discussed their schedules with their advisors and have removed all registration blocks.  Students can check class availability by accessing the Student Information System.

The web registration utility within the Student Information System requires the use of a PIN number.  PINs for undergraduate students will be distributed through their advisors.  Graduate students should contact the Graduate Admissions Office (540 831-5431) for their PINs.   

Registration for both fall and spring semesters occurs in phases with students registering for classes in seniority order during allocated time frames.  Undergraduate students will be assigned a registration “window” during which they should complete all registration activity they need to finish during that phase.  The first two phases of registration proceed in seniority order, but the last phase of registration is an open session.  A more detailed explanation of the phases are listed below:  

PHASE I
Phase I of registration is typically two weeks in length and each student is allocated a 48 hour of opportunity to register for classes. 

* Graduate students and seniors who have submitted applications to either graduation or participate in the next available commencement ceremonies or who will have earned 100+ hours at the conclusion of the current term are assigned PINs allowing them to be in the first group to register. 

* Graduate students will be able to register throughout the registration period

* Pending graduates will be able to register for a maximum of 18 hours, the most those students can take in a semester without paying for an overload.  Seniors needing more than 18 hours will be permitted to add more hours later in Phase III of the registration process (see below).

* Students with senior status who will not be graduating during the next available semester will register next.  They will be joined by “special populations” (e.g., students registered with the Disabilities Resources Office) whose unique scheduling needs have historically required that they register early in the process.  Students in all of these groups will be able to register for a maximum of 14 hours during Phase I.

* Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will register in seniority order.  Students in these classifications will also be able to register for a maximum of 14 hours during Phase I.
* New Freshman (1st semester students) do not yet have earned hours, consequently, their appointments are assigned at random.

INTERMISSION
All full-time undergraduate students who are not graduating in the next available semester should enter Phase II with at least four courses comprising 12, 13, or 14 hours.  Students who had difficulty registering for this many courses or hours during Phase I should visit their advising centers for assistance and to plan registration strategies for Phase II registration.

PHASE II

PHASE III

Students needing overloads may add them as course availability permits at this time.  Overloads (i.e., schedules carrying more than 18 hours) will not be approved or processed until all students have had the opportunity to move through the first two phases of registration. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

 However, it is more important than ever that students select courses during the phased registration process that they want and need.  They should not refrain from registering from such courses in anticipation of better times becoming available later, either in the spring or during subsequent semesters.  In other words, students should not count on changing their schedules during schedule adjustment

Revised 10/7/03 (/ht)

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Academic Advising Center Links

College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business and Economics
College of Education and Human Development
College of Information Science and Technology
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Waldron College of Health and Human Services
Pre-Major Advising Center
Graduate College

Web Registration Advising -- Be a Good Consumer!

I.  Be prepared for your advising session with your advisor:

·    Understand your general education requirements, especially ones required in your major (http://www.radford.edu/~gened/ ).

·    Understand your curriculum requirements if you have a declared major (http://www.radford.edu/~academic/departments/).

·    Mark the courses on your curriculum sheet that you have already taken, that you will complete this semester, and courses in which you have received advanced placement or transfer credit.

·    Make a list of any questions you may have about University policies pertaining to your major, i.e., prerequisites to take required courses, last day to withdrawal from a course.

·    Make a list of the required, general education and elective courses you would like to take next semester.

·    On the student information system, available through your email portal (https://www.portal.radford.edu/) you will be able to: check to make sure you do not have any registration blocks; look at open classes through course availability; register for classes and print your schedule. 

Use your University Catalog and the Radford Homepage as a resource to discover:

·    Course descriptions of classes you are thinking about taking (http://www.radford.edu/~registra/syllabi/ )

·    Course prerequisite information, i.e. you must have 26 hours completed to take junior level courses (University catalog  http://www.radford.edu/~academic/catalog.html)

·    Curriculum information about your major (http://www.radford.edu/~academic/departments/)

·    Courses you may be interested in taking as “electives”, “minors” or “concentrations”

·    Introductory courses to explore a major

II.  It is ultimately your responsibility to make the right academic choices

·    Be proactive not reactive · If in doubt - Ask questions!

·    Use your campus resources Verify important information

III.  Keep good records.  Keep all important documents together such as your curriculum information, grades, etc.

IV.  In addition to your advisor, there are other resources you may wish to use such as professors, college advising centers, department chairpersons, and the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Development.

V.  Advisor Locations

·    College of Arts and Sciences (http://www.radford.edu/~artsci/). Majors are advised by department faculty advisors, with the exception of Criminal Justice (up to 60 hours), and Media Studies (up to 56 hours).  CRJU and MSTD majors are advised by the Arts and Sciences Advising Center, 111 YG Hall, 831-6366.  All other majors should call their department office to find out their advisor’s name and location.

·    College of Business and Economics  (http://www.radford.edu/~busadviz/ ).  All new students are advised by the COBE Advising Center until the completion of their pre-business requirements, 114 Whitt Hall, 831-5074.  Majors will then be advised by faculty.

·    College of Education and Human Development.  Majors are advised by the Center for Academic Advising and Student Support, Peters A104, 831-5424, with the exception of Exercise Sport and Health Education (ESHE) majors.  ESHE majors are advised by department faculty advisors.  If you are an ESHE major call the advising center or check on the bulletin board outside of the advising center to find out your advisor’s name.

·    Waldron College of Health and Human Services (http://www.radford.edu/~wchs-adv/). Majors are advised by the WCHHS Advising Center, 351 Waldron College Hall, 831-7699, with the exception of Foods and Nutrition (FDSN) and Recreation, Parks and Tourism (RCPT).  FDSN and RCPT majors are advised by department faculty advisors.  If you are a RCPT or FDSN major, call the department to find out your advisor’s name and location.

·    Information Science and Technology (http://www.radford.edu/~cist/AcadAdvise/acadadvise.htm ).  New students are advised at the Information Science and Technology Advising Center, Davis 105, 831-5601.

·    Pre-major Advising Center (http://www.radford.edu/~premajor/ ). Students undecided on a major are advised by the PMAJ Advising Center, Draper Hall, 831-5220.

·    College of Visual and Performing Arts.  Majors are advised by department faculty advisors, with the exception of Art.  Freshmen Art majors are advised by the CVPA Academic Advising and Development Center in Trinkle Hall, 831-6469.  All other majors should contact their department or the advising coordinator, 241 Porterfield, 831-6903 to find out their advisor’s name and location.

 PMAJ  Fall  2003 

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Registration Checklist

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Registration Worksheet

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Registering for Classes

In order to access the RU Student Information System (SIS), which includes the web registration utility, students must have already activated their RU e-mail account.  All newly admitted and deposited students as well as continuing RU students have been issued an RU e-mail account.  To activate your RU e-mail account, logon to the RU main web page at www.radford.edu.  Click on the RU Web E-mail icon at the bottom of the page, click on the Account Activation link under the User Account Tools header and then follow the prompts.  Once a students RU e-mail account has been activated and confirmed, they can access the RU Student Information System and register for courses.

 How to Register:

1. Logon to the RU Web site at www.radford.edu and click on the Student Information System icon

 -or- go directly to the Highlander Connection logon at www.portal.radford.edu.  

2. Enter your ID and Password.
3. Select the Student Information System link from the top menu bar.
4. Select “Registration” from your menu

5. Select “Load Registration” from your menu

6. Enter your 4 digit PIN (registration access code) and click continue.

7. Use the Add button to begin building your schedule or the Drop/Swap buttons to alter your schedule.  All function keys in this menu will prompt you for the course index number which you should have identified from the on-line course availability link.

8. When you’re satisfied with the schedule you’ve selected, you MUST click the SAVE button at the top of your screen.  If you choose UNDO rather than SAVE, then the system will exit without saving your course selections or revisions.  In addition, if you mistakenly close your browser without saving your work, you will not only lose your work, but you can lock your record making it unavailable until the next day or until you contact the Registrar’s Office so they can manually unlock your record.

OPEN CLASSES COMPLETE SCHEDULE  Spring 2005  Spring 2005  Maymester 2005  Maymester 2005  Summer I 2005  Summer I 2005  Summer II 2005  Summer II 2005  Summer III 2005  Summer III 2005  Fall 2005  Fall 2005

You must Log Out and Close the browser to safeguard your information

**Special Note: Inappropriate use or navigation of the on-line registration system will often result in unsucessful registration or course adjustment attempts, and is solely the responsibility of the student. User error does not obligate the university to make any exceptions to policy or established deadlines. Consequently, it is highly recommended that all continuing UG students make ajustments to their schedules before the close of business on Friday, January 13.

Note:  The Find Class button, which appears during the Add/Drop/Swap mode, will link students to the “Class Availability” function (in a separate window).  This allows students to view class offerings and identify course index numbers for the purpose of building your course schedule and registering for classes.  If you neglect to close this window after you save your work in the registration process, this too may lock your record.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get my registration data form?  Undergraduate students generally receive their registration data form directly from their advisor/advising coordinator after they’ve had their registration advising appointment.  However, this process can vary from department to department and it’s not unusual for students to be told that there is a specific time frame after the advising sessions where students can pick up their data sheets from either their advisor or, with proper identification, from the department secretaries.  Graduate students are not required, but rather encouraged, to meet with their advisors for registration purposes and, consequently, their registration PIN numbers are assigned by the Graduate Affairs Office. Non-Degree Seeking students aren’t eligible to register until the first day of class and can secure their registration data sheet from the Pre-Major Advising Center.  

Who’s my advisor?  If a student hasn’t requested a specific faculty member as an advisor, then they are assigned to either the advising coordinator of their college or the department chair of their major.   Undergraduates should contact their college advising centers for further information and Graduate students should contact the Graduate Affairs Office. 

What happens if I lose my registration data form?  Students should contact their advising coordinator or stop by the Registrar’s Office for assistance.  However, the Registrar’s Office can only provide duplicate registration data form information to those students who can prove that they have already met with their advisor, generally a proposed schedule or note that’s been signed by their advisor. 

What is a traditional course load?  Undergraduate students in good academic standing typically register for 15-16 credit hours each semester, while graduate student typically register for 9-14 credit hours. 

How do I register for an independent study course?  To participate in an Independent Study course, students must have their proposal approved by the appropriate department and the Curriculum Committee and then submit the approved proposal to the Registrars Office prior to the deadline for adding courses.  The deadline for undergraduates registering for an independent study course is the Friday of the first week of class and the Graduate deadline in the census date.   

I’m a graduate student, how do I register for a Directed Study or Thesis?  A graduate student wishing to register for a directed study or thesis must submit a written proposal for approval by the supervising professor, adviser, chair of the department, and Graduate Dean.  This proposal should be submitted at least two weeks prior to registration.  The Registrar’s Office must receive a copy of the approved proposal no later than the census date to ensure registration. 

Can I audit a course? If a student wishes to audit a course they must have the written permission of the class instructor and the instructor’s chairperson.  The deadline for auditing a course is the semester census date and approvals will only be granted on a space available basis.  Tuition and fees for auditing a course are the same as a regular credit course.      

What do I do if it says my registration is blocked?  If you have any unfulfilled obligations to the university (such as unpaid fees or fines, an overdue library book, missing transcripts, etc) you will not be allowed to register for classes.  This is called a block.  You will be denied the opportunity to register for courses if your record has been blocked by any administrative office or unit.  To clear the block, you must personally contact the office that issued the block.  When you have resolved the issue, the originating office will release your block and you will be cleared for registration.  Blocks can substantially delay your ability to register and obtain needed or desired courses, so we encourage students to get these taken care of before their allocated registration times. Blocks are not only identified on students registration data form, but can also be reviewed on the RU Student Information System. 

Is my registration guaranteed?  Students who registered and saved their course schedule correctly can feel confident that their registration is secure.  However, if a student doesn’t complete the registration process correctly or neglects to pay their tuition on time, then their registration will most certainly be in jeopardy.  Tuition, fees, room and board must be paid by the advertised deadline for each semester or the student’s registration will be cancelled.  In addition, if a student managed to register for a course for which they don’t meet the prerequisite for or is otherwise ineligible to participate in (ie., academic deficiencies or suspension), their registration can be altered or even cancelled.   

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Frequently Asked Questions about Phased Registration 
 

1.  Why do we use a phased registration system?

We found it to be an efficient way to insure that all students registering for fall or spring courses were able to build full-time schedules that met their curricular needs.  It is not necessary to use the phased registration system during the summer because overall enrollments and average individual class sizes tend to be considerably smaller than those during the fall and spring semesters.
 

2.  How does the phased registration system work?

For detailed information about the phased registration process, click here.
 

3.  Why is there a difference in the way that graduate and undergraduate students are registering—i.e., why aren’t graduate students using phased registration?

Graduate students rarely register for undergraduate courses.  Moreover, they seldom take more than 12 hours.  Since they are not competing for courses with undergraduates, there is no need to use phased registration for graduate students.
 

4.  What is a good registration strategy to make sure that I get the courses I need?

Plan ahead.  Before you register, sort your choices into those you must have next semester (those where you have few if any alternatives), those you would like to take to meet a requirement that might also be met with alternative courses, and those where you have great flexibility (e.g., general education courses). Your advisor will help you do this; make sure to meet with him/her to discuss your course selections.  Of course, you will need to see your advisor anyway to pick up the form with your registration PIN. 

If there are any courses in your major that you must take next semester to keep you on track toward graduation, register for them during Phase I (unless you are in a department with a relatively small number of majors, where the demand for those courses is low).  Then, during Phase II, complete your schedule with courses in areas where you have more flexibility: general education courses (where virtually every area offers numerous options for most majors) and elective courses.

5.  What else can I do to make the system work more effectively?

There are a number of things you can do to help us make this system work.  

First and foremost, register when you are supposed to register.  Much of the success of a phased registration system is dependent upon students completing their registration activity during the times they are assigned.  If you miss your registration window in either Phase I or Phase II, you will lose your registration seniority, and you will not be permitted to register until the end of that phase.  Registration for summer classes is not phased.  However, it is important that you register for summer classes as soon as you have the opportunity to do so, since summer enrollments are carefully monitored, and under-enrolled classes may be cancelled.

Second, make sure that you have removed all registration blocks before you attempt to register.

Third, check the Student Information System for course availability before you enter the registration system.

Fourth, be considerate of your colleagues by not signing up for more hours or courses than you plan to keep.  Each seat that you leave vacant with a drop (or a withdrawal) costs the University money and denies that seat to a fellow student who needed it.

Fifth, BE FLEXIBLE.  The more alternatives you have in both courses and times, the more likely you will be to satisfactorily complete the process.  You need to be willing to enroll in courses that you need even if the times may not be desirable.  (Those courses may not be offered at better times before you graduate!)

Finally, be patient and do not panic if you encounter registration difficulties.  For example, a message that students may receive during registration  is that they lack the prerequisite(s) to take a course, even though they are taking the prerequisite(s) now While we try to program the computer to account for this situation, it is almost inevitable that not all prerequisites will be “caught.”  The staffs in the Advising Centers, the Registrar’s Office, the Office of New Student Programs, and Information Technology are committed to working with you to successfully negotiate registration and deal with this type of problem.  If you face this or any other obstacle, bring it to our attention and we will do whatever we can to help you surmount it.

Graduate students having difficulty accessing the system should contact the Graduate College for assistance and directives.

6.  If I am unable to get the courses that I need, what should I do?

See your advisor, department chair, or someone in your Advising Center.  It could be that there are other options of which you are unaware.

7.  If I am a senior who is planning to graduate next semester,  is there the possibility that I will not be able to register for as many courses as I would like?

NO, provided you need no more than 18 hours and submitted your application for graduation before the deadline.  Graduating seniors will be able to register for up to 18 hours before any other undergraduates have access to registration. While it is hard to imagine a situation in which every single specific course a senior is taking is one he/she must have, the fact that graduating seniors have priority in registration should insure that you get what you need.

If you need more than 18 hours to graduate, you will need to wait until Phase III to request an overload.  The course you should add at that time should be an elective, where you have a great number of possible choices.

8.  Is there the possibility that I will end up with less than a full load (12 hours) of classes?

NO.   Anyone who completes Phase I with less than 12 hours should visit his/her Advising Center.  Our goal is to have everyone enter Phase II with at least 12 hours, which in most cases will mean four courses.  We also want to have everyone enrolled in all courses they need and the number of hours they want before they leave campus at the end of the semester.

Naturally, the more flexible you are in putting together a schedule, the more success you will have.  If you refuse to take anything other than your first choices of courses and are unwilling to take anything before 10:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m., you are going to have some problems creating a schedule, but that is as it has always been.

9.  I need to take more than 18 hours next fall.  What should I do?

Register for the 18 hours you are permitted during Phases I and II.  Overload requests will be accepted only after all students have been through two phases of the registration process.  It would not be fair to allow some students to register for more than 18 hours if others have not yet had the opportunity to register for up to 18.

10.  What benefits are there to this system?

Limiting all students except graduating seniors to 14 hours in Phase I helps distribute classes more equitably to all students.  Under a non-phased system, students with little seniority often found very few options when their time came to register.

11.  I always wait until the beginning of the semester to register.  What will happen if I do this?

This has always been a very risky strategy that results in frustration and disappointment.  While you can try to continue to use some combination of on-line schedule adjustment and the inefficient “run around and beg” approach at the beginning of the semester, class availability is likely to be extremely limited at that time.  So, no matter how plaintive your appeal (“I’m a graduating senior, and I MUST have this course at 11:00 . . .”) or how much your department chair likes you, your appeals are likely to be denied.  You will then be left with a partial schedule or no schedule, and we will not be able to help you.  Register when you are assigned to do so, and let us help you resolve problems before web registration concludes each semester.

12.  When should I pay tuition?

You must pay tuition, fees, room and board to the Student Accounts Office by the payment deadline.  To view the payment deadline dates go to http://www.radford.edu/%Estuacct/dates/pmt_deadl.html.

If your payment is late a $75 late fee may be assessed and classes may be cancelled.  If your registration takes place after the payment deadline you must pay the day you register for classes to avoid the $75 late fee and possible cancellation of classes.

13.  If I register on time but do not pay my bill by the established deadline and my classes are dropped, will I be able to recover them?

You almost certainly will not be able to recover your classes.  Once classes are dropped, they are fair game for other students to add them.

To avoid having your classes dropped, check your financial aid information and the balance on your student account on the Student Information System often and before the tuition payment deadline.  If you discover any problems, resolve them as soon as possible.

Obviously, if others (e.g., your parents) are making tuition and fee payments for you, remind them of all advertised deadlines.

14.  Will I be able to graduate in four years?

Radford University has offered the same response to this question for many years.  We have consistently told students and parents that, except for programs that by design are expected to take more than four years to complete, students can graduate in four years if they register for an average of 15 hours per semester; if they do not drop, withdraw from, or fail courses; or—if they do finish semesters with less than 15 hours—they attend summer school to make up their deficits.

15.  If I have questions about this system or about my own schedule, whom should I contact?

Contact someone in your Advising Center.  In most cases, it is easier to resolve problems in face-to-face encounters rather than over the phone or via email.  The centers are open 8-5 weekdays.

·        College of Arts and Sciences: Young 103

·        College of Business and Economics: Whitt 114

·        College of Education and Human Development: Peters A-104

·        College of Information Science and Technology: Stuart 163

·        College of Visual and Performing Arts: Porterfield 241

·        Waldron College of Health and Human Services: Waldron 351

·        Pre-Major Advising Center: First floor, Walker 103

·        College of Graduate and Extended Education: Preston Hall, Room 211 (for assistance in accessing the system or directives to academic advisors)

Revised  10/29/04

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Schedule Adjustment 
* Note:  University Offices close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 14 and do not reopen until 8:00 a.m. Monday, January 17.  All schedule adjustments done online during these hours are at the student's risk of possibly becoming locked out of the registration process entirely. 

**Note: Only returning students will be allowed to make changes to your schedule using the Web Registration System. New students will not have access to Web Registration.

Follow the same procedures for accessing the web Student Information System that was used for registration. You will need your registration data form from registration for summer, to access the schedule adjustment process. A "DROP ONLY" terminal will be available in the Registrar’s Office from 8 am – 4 pm.

Class schedules available via the web at https://hpwebsrv.radford.edu. You may also access your complete academic history from this site. (This site may require IE 4.0 or higher, and/or Netscape Navigator 4.6 or higher). Also students will receive their schedule via e-mail during registration and schedule adjustment periods. If you do not wish to receive future e-mailed schedule changes notices, send an e-mail message to clsssched@radford.edu with the word "unsubscribe" as the subject of your request. To begin receiving e-mailed messages again, please send e-mail message to the same address with "subscribe" as the subject.
       

Exam Schedules

Fall 2005