Class Waitlists

Was a course you were hoping to take full? Take a deep breath – we offer a waitlist option. While this doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to take the course you wanted, you can get in line.

Automated Waitlisting

Automated waitlisting lets you add yourself to a waitlist for a class that’s full (see the  Waitlisting for Students Help Sheet for instructions on how to do so through Ursa). Not all courses will have a waitlist option. If a spot opens up, we’ll send you an email in Bear Mail according to your position on the waitlist. Once you receive that email, you’ll have 24 hours to register for the class – if you do not take action with the 24 hour period, you’ll be dropped from the waitlist and the open seat will be available to the next person on the waitlist.

General Waitlist Guidelines

• Waitlist is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Waitlist holds a spot in line should a seat become available – it does not guarantee a seat in the class.
• You’ll receive an automatic notification via Bear Mail once a seat becomes available – so make sure to check your Bear Mail frequently!
• If notified, you’ll have a 24-hour time limit, starting when the email was sent, to register. You are not automatically enrolled in the course.
• If you do not register within 24 hours, you will be dropped from the waitlist and the next student will be notified.
• Waitlist is available up to the last day to add a class in Ursa; regular late-add procedures will apply after this point.
• Not all courses will make a waitlist available.
• Any registration restrictions such as holds, prerequisites, co-requisites, cohorts, time conflicts, etc. will still apply before being able to add yourself to a waitlist.
• You cannot waitlist for a different section of a course you are already registered for, nor can you waitlist for more than one section of the same course.

Waitlist FAQ

• Which courses are eligible for the registration waitlist?

  Not all classes will have a waitlist option – waitlist participation is up to the instructor or academic department. If you have any questions regarding a specific class, please contact that academic department.

• When a seat is available, is the next student on the list automatically registered for the class?

  No, you are not automatically registered for a class. We’ll send you a notification via your Bear Mail account that a seat is available in a specific section. The email will give you a deadline (24 hours) by which you must register for the section or be dropped from the waitlist. Please pay close attention to your registration date and time deadline – if you are notified on the last day to add courses through Ursa, you may have less than 24 hours to register.

• Can I see my position on the waitlist?

  Yes, you may see where you are on the Registration Waitlist for a specific section by clicking on “Detail Schedule” in Ursa.

• Can I sign up for a waitlist if I haven’t met the prerequisite or don’t meet the restrictions for the section?

  No, you must meet the prerequisite and section restrictions in order to waitlist. You may contact the instructor of the course to discuss the restrictions.

• May I be on waitlists for more than one course at a time?

  Yes, you may register for more than one Registration Waitlist. There is no limit. However, you cannot place yourself on multiple waitlist sections for the same course.

• May I still be on a waitlist if I failed the in-progress prerequisite the prior term?

  No, if you failed a pre-requisite are on the waitlist, you will be dropped from the waitlist. 

• I received an email informing me that a space was available in a section and I could register. However, I did not read it in time to register before the 24-hour deadline.

  You are responsible for routinely checking your Bear Mail account. If you miss the 24-hour deadline, you will lose your spot and must re‐register for the waitlist if you still wish to register for that class or section.

• How long does this notification process go on during the semester?

  The notification process proceeds through the add deadline of the course. Notifications that are sent out on the add deadline will expire at midnight that day, which may give you less than 24 hours to register. Ursa does not allow online registration after midnight of the add deadline.

  If you receive permission from the department to register for a section after the add deadline, you need to submit the Petition to Late Add form to the Office of the Registrar for consideration.

• When does the waitlist expire?
  All waitlist positions will expire at midnight on the last day to add that class.
• How does the waitlist affect my financial aid?

  Waitlisted courses do not count towards your enrollment status (whether you’re full-time or part-time). Since enrollment status directly impacts your financial aid awards and offers, you must be registered, not waitlisted, for those credit hours to impact your enrollment status.