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Office of the Registrar

Waitlist FAQs

Students who meet all course prerequisites or restrictions may add themselves to the waitlist by going to MyRollins. Add and Drop classes and choosing Waitlist from the ‘Action’ menu. If you do not meet the prereq requirements, you will not be able to register for the course unless the instructor has given permission via the instructor consent form.

Students who attempt to register for a full/closed section may add their names to the waitlist for that section. If a seat in the section becomes available, notice will be sent to the Rollins email address of the student at the top of the waitlist, who will have 24 hours to log in to their MyRollins and add the class. 

The open seat will be reserved solely for the student at the top of the waitlist: no other student may register for the seat during the 24-hour time period**. If the student at the top of the waitlist does not add the class within the 24-hour period, he or she will be removed from the waitlist and the next student on the list will be notified. The time period to add is typically lengthened to 48 hours during the summer and between fall and spring semester.  **The time period to add during the first week of class each semester is shortened to 12 hours.**

 

The waitlist process is open when registration begins and notifications will be sent during the registration time period except during published dates when the notifications will be turned off.

No, there is no guarantee that even one seat in a class will become available for students on a waitlist. For this reason, students should register for a full schedule so you do not appear to be under-enrolled for financial aid purposes, and so you aren’t desperately searching for a replacement course at the beginning of the semester. If you do receive the waitlist notification, you can then drop another course to take the new one. 

Chances of getting a seat in a closed class vary but are better for students who are in position one or two on the waitlist. However, even students in position one on the waitlist may not be offered a seat. Students on a waitlist should not assume that a seat in the class will become available and should register for a full schedule.

Waitlists for most classes are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis. That is, the first student signing up for the waitlist will be offered the first available seat in the section.

The following exceptions may apply:

  • Upper-level courses may be prioritized by class standing (seniors to first-years), major or minor, and date and time of waitlisting.
  • When seating is reserved for first-year students, upper-class students on the waitlist will only get an opportunity to register for the class after first-year students have registered and if a seat becomes available. 
  • Graduate programs reserve the right to bypass the waitlist to ensure that students in lock-step, cohort-based curriculums have access to required courses

Instructors are advised to bypass the waitlist only in exceptional circumstances such as when the student may not graduate without the course in that specific semester.

Students who are approaching graduation and have a pressing need to register for a required course should register for that course during their first registration window. Seniors and juniors are seldom closed out of required courses if they prioritize such courses over electives. Students who find a required class closed should add their names to the waitlist and register for an alternative course.

No, it would not be fair to students on the waitlist if other students could bypass the list altogether.

Waitlisting means that students no longer need to request that their names be added to a waitlist. It also means that faculty members no longer need to field such requests, maintain waitlists, and sign additional forms when seats become available.   Instructors may still sign add forms for students who do not meet course prerequisites, corequisites, restrictions, or have insignificant time conflicts.

A seat in a closed section becomes available when a registered student drops the class or when the enrollment limit is increased.

Students may view their waitlisted classes by viewing their class schedule in their MyRollins. A student in position 1 (one) on a waitlist is next in line if a seat becomes available. A student in position 1 (one) will move into position 0 (zero) if a seat becomes available. He or she will receive notification that a seat has become available and will have 24 hours from the time the notification was sent (not received) to log in and register. 

The time period to add is typically lengthened to 48 hours during the summer and between fall and spring semester.  The time period to add during the first week of class each semester is shortened to 12 hours.

You can see what number on the waitlist you are by going into MyRollins/registration/schedule details/ (click on arrow next to class)/waitlist position:# 

 

A student who is offered an available seat and does not register within the 24-hour window (or specified time in their email notification) will be dropped from the waitlist and the seat will be offered to the next student on the list. (The time period to add is typically lengthened to 48 hours during the summer and between fall and spring semester.  The time period to add during the first week of class each semester is shortened to 12 hours.)
For this reason, students should check their Rollins email accounts several times per day, especially if they are close to the top of a waitlist.

At this time, there is no limit; however, students who have the need to waitlist for three or more courses should contact the Registrar's Office for assistance.

As a courtesy to other students, it is expected that students will drop themselves from the waitlists of any sections they no longer plan to take.

Yes.  A student can also register for one section of a course and waitlist for alternate sections of the same course offered at different times or with different instructors.  If the student is notified that a seat is available in a waitlisted section, he or she must first drop the registered section before adding the waitlisted section.

Yes. Although they may not register for sections with time conflicts, students may add themselves to waitlists that have time conflicts with other registered or waitlisted sections. If the student is notified that a seat is available in the waitlisted section, he or she must drop the conflicting course before adding the waitlisted section.

Waitlist maximums may vary by course and by discipline, but remember that only a few waitlisted students are likely to be offered seats in any given class section. Students should not assume that a seat in a waitlisted class will become available especially if you are not toward the top of the list.

Students who have an outstanding balance after any semester payment deadline may be dropped from registered and waitlisted classes. A student’s position on a waitlist may improve after a payment deadline if other students in higher positions were dropped for non-payment.

No, registration holds must be cleared prior to any registration activity, including waitlist activity.  Registration holds typically include an outstanding account balance (student account services), missing transcripts (registrar) or judicial/deans hold. You will want to resolve your holds BEFORE you get any notification.

Students will be able to add their names to a waitlist through the first four days of the semester.  Automatic notification of available seats will also continue through the fourth day of classes.  After the fifth day of class, course sections may only be added with instructor permission.

As long as the student is within the 24-hour window (or hours window specified in their email), he or she may add the class by going to the “Add or Drop Classes” link on FoxLink.