Waitlisting Information
Effective Fall 2017, the Office of the Registrar added the Electronic Waitlist System to the registration process. It will be at the discretion of the Academic Departments to determine if they would like to participate in this program. Waitlisting for courses will be activated the first day of registration, and will be deactivated on the following days for each semester:
- 3rd class day for full-semester courses in Fall & Spring
- The day before the first class day for Maymester
- 1st class day for Summer I & Summer II
How does Waitlisting work?
If a seat becomes available in a course section that has a waitlist implemented, the first student on the waitlist will receive notification via their mySFA email account. The student will have only 24 hours from the time the email is sent (not when it was opened) to register for the course using their mySFA account (Add/Drop Courses link).
Failure to register within the 24-hour window will result in the student being removed from the waitlist, meaning they have lost the opportunity to register for the open seat in the course. The opportunity to register for the open seat will pass on to the next student on the waitlist. Students who do not register during their permission period may elect to place themselves back on the waitlist (given there is space), but will go to the bottom of the list.
How to add yourself to a waitlist tutorial:
How to register once you receive a waitlist notification email tutorial:
How_to_register_when_receive_WL_notification.pdf
Possible registration error messages:
mySFA_Registration_Add_Errors.pdf
Helpful Tips about Waitlisting
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Waitlisting does not automatically enroll students for Waitlisted courses.
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Students are strongly encouraged to check their mySFA email frequently.
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Students can manage their waitlisted courses through their mySFA account - Add/Drop Courses link.
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Be advised that waitlisted courses do not count as registered courses - Obtaining a space on a waitlist should not be interpreted as a guaranteed seat in the course.
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If a course has implemented a waitlist, students will be able to view the Waitlist Capacity and the remaining waitlist seats on their mySFA account using the Look Up Classes link and performing a course search.
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Students must attempt to register for the course to be offered the waitlist option; it occurs in the form of a registration add error.
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Trying to register for the closed class does not place students on an open waitlist, they must select the waitlisted drop down option to place themselves on the waitlist.
Waitlist FAQs
- How are students notified when a seat becomes available on a waitlist class?
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The student will automatically receive an email notifying them the class has a seat available. The student will then have 24 hours from the time they received the email (not when the email was opened) to register for the course. If the student fails to register for the course by the deadline, they will be removed from the waitlist and the next student on the waitlist will be notified of the available seat.
- Which email address will the student receive the notification?
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Waitlist notifications will be sent to the student's mySFA email address. It is the student's responsibility to regularly check their mySFA email.
- Is the student guaranteed a seat if they get on a waitlist class?
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No, waitlisting does not guarantee a seat in the class. Students should check their waitlist position regularly on their mySFA account under Student Detail Schedule. If they are not moving up on the waitlist, they may want to consider alternate classes for registration.
- Will holds on student accounts prevent registration?
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Yes. Holds will prevent students from registering for courses, even if they have received a waitlist notification. Students will need to be sure they have cleared their holds prior to waitlisting.
- What happens if a student drops a class that has an active waitlist?
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If a student drops a class that has an active waitlist, they cannot re-register for that course. They must add themselves on the waitlist or register for a different section that does not have a waitlist.
- If I am dropped for non-payment, will it remove me from the waitlist?
- Yes, if you are dropped from your registered courses due to non-payment, you will also be removed from any and all waitlists.
- Will the waitlist continue during University Holidays (i.e. Christmas, July 4th, etc.)?
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Yes. Once the waitlist is active for a given term, it will remain available until the 3rd class day for Fall/Spring terms, the day prior to the first class day for Maymester, and the 1st class day for Summer I and Summer II terms. Students who are on a waitlist should check their mySFA email account throughout the holidays in case they receive a notification that a seat has become available. Once a notification is sent, the student has 24 hours to register for the course. The waitlist system does not pause for weekends or holidays and registration stays open during those time periods.
- Will time conflicts with other registered or waitlist classes be allowed?
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While time conflicts are not allowed on a student's schedule, the student can choose to be on a waitlist even if the waitlisted class has a time conflict with another class on the schedule. When the student is notified of an opening, the student will have to decide which class to take. If the waitlisted class is preferred, the student must drop the currently enrolled class before adding the waitlisted class.
- Do registration restrictions prevent a student from getting on the waitlist for waitlisted course?
- Yes, all registration restrictions (pre-requisites, special permission, major/minor, etc.) apply to waitlist.
- Are waitlisted classes counted toward the student's credit hours?
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No, waitlisted status classes do not count toward credit hours because the student is not registered for the waitlisted class.