Submitted by Sue Skora, Registrar, Registrar’s Office
Ever stood in a virtual line? Many of our students do so each semester in hopes of getting into a full class. Now that students are able to put themselves on a waitlist in Banner in hopes that a seat will become available in the class, faculty may want to reconsider the way they respond to override requests from students. Knowing the details of how the waitlist process works may help inform the decision-making process when faculty are approached with a request both while registration is still open and once classes begin.
Waitlist FAQs
How does a student get on the waitlist?
- A student has the option to put themselves on the waitlist using the MyHarper Portal if they attempt to register for a class that is full.
How are students notified when a seat opens and they are next on the waitlist?
- A script has been created that will continually look for available seats. If a section has an open seat and there are student(s) on the waitlist, an email is sent to the next student on the waitlist, informing the student that they have 24 hours to register for the class before their seat is offered to the next student.
What happens if a student receives the notification and does not register by the 24 hour deadline?
- When a student places themselves on a waitlist, the student is given the exact date/time that the waitlist option expires.
- When a student on the waitlist is notified of an open seat and does not register for the section, the student is dropped from the waitlist and an email is sent to the next student on the waitlist.
Are students on a waitlist notified if no seats open up prior to the class starting?
- Yes, students are auto-notified via email that the waitlist has closed and advised to see an advisor about other offerings or late start classes.
- Faculty can also email the students on the waitlist to advise that no other students will be allowed in the class. If a seat opens after the class begins, faculty can email the student next on the waitlist and the Registrar’s Office (regoff@harpercollege.edu) with approval to register. An automated email is only sent when a seat opens up in a section during the open registration period.
How do I view who is currently on the waitlist for my course(s)?
- In self-service, there is a link to “Summary Waitlist”. This page lists all the waitlisted students, along with their placement on the waitlist.
What happens to students once classes start?
- Two days before a class starts, email notifications are discontinued. This allows students 24 hours to register for the class before registration closes. Students are auto-notified via email that the waitlist has closed and advised to see an advisor about other offerings or late start classes.
- Faculty can view the waitlist from the MyHarper Portal and can email the entire group of students on the waitlist to let students know that they are no longer allowing additional students into their class, or they can email the next student or students on the waitlist if they feel that additional students can be accepted into the class. Include the Registrar’s Office in the email (regoff@harpercollege.edu).
Can I override a student who is not on the waitlist into my class?
- No, the waitlist is set up so that the system looks at the next person on the list once a seat opens. That student is automatically notified that a seat has opened and that they have 24 hours to register for the class.
Questions? Please contact the Registrar’s Office at regoff@harpercollege.edu.