Registration Help for Parents

Parents: Help your student prepare for registration

  • Ask your student, "Have you scheduled an appointment with your adviser and reviewed your 'My Progress' to check over degree requirements?"
  • "Have you cleared any holds on your record?" 
  • "Have you reviewed the instructions and timeline?"
  • "Have you chosen appropriate courses and back-up courses?"
  • "Have you explored the course offering list for topical or unusual course offerings to make sure you don't miss an opportunity?"
  • "Have you worked out the schedule to make sure the courses don't overlap?"
  • "Have you checked and met the prerequisites, course restrictions, or instructor consent required for each course?" (catalog, W&L course list, etc.)
  • "If you need instructor consent or a waiver of a prerequisite, have you requested consent through Workday?"
  • "Have you taken those steps for your back-up courses, too?"
  • "Does your set of planned courses include a variety of course choices?"

Other than during First-Year Orientation, the initial registration window opens at 7:30am and closes at 4:00pm for the entire group of students in a particular class year. Remind your student to set his or her alarm and don't sleep through the window. Don't stop until s/he has at least 12 credits and typically 13-15. Attempting to register for a course that is closed will result in being added to the waitlist. Write to those professors explaining an interest. Keep a sharp eye on her/his W&L email, so a chance to claim an open seat is not missed. Keep the adviser in the loop.

Parents: Help your student cope during registration

  • Talk to your student and find out the specific problem. They were reminded to clear holds, meet with advisers, and seek various permissions in advance.
  • If the problem is technical or computer-related, the Leyburn Information Desk (540-458-HELP - 4357) may be helpful.
  • If the course is closed, the student is placed on the waitlist (however; prerequisites or instructor consent may be required.)
  • Suggest that your student bring the faculty adviser(s) into the loop.
    1. Adviser should suggest a course of action
    2. If necessary, talk to instructor(s) in person, by phone, or by email regarding instructor consent or for questions about waiting lists.
    3. Talk to a department head about instructor consent or troubleshooting.
    4. Talk to the university registrar, associate dean, or class dean if you simply need to understand where to turn or what to try next.
  • Remember that W&L is a small college and not everyone can take all courses. Faculty work very hard to accommodate majors. W&L students do tend to graduate on time.
  • Registration is a multi-week process, though 70-80% register in the first few minutes. Not all registration problems can be solved right away, so students should be patient and flexible. Some require using waitlists, getting instructor consent, and seeking assistance from faculty and staff listed above. Some problems are addressed in subsequent terms.