How to Register for Classes Online
See how to register for classes online in Student Scheduling Assistant – from creating a course request to building and submitting a schedule that works for you!
Please note: This system is not applicable to students in the Online RN-BSN or MSN Online Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive programs.
Please reach out to either your Academic Advisor or Registration Coordinator for assistance with registering for classes.
Academic Advisors
Patricia Mellon – for last names beginning A through K: mellon@pnw.edu
Nicole Hartford-Rago – for last names beginning L through Z: nhartfor@pnw.edu
Registration Coordinators
Susan Standley – for last names beginning A through K: sstandley@pnw.edu
Jade Lopez – for last names beginning L through Z: lopez544@pnw.edu
Please reach out to your Academic Advisor or Registration Coordinator for assistance with registering for classes.
Academic & Student Success Advisor
Dell Dumas: dumasd@pnw.edu
Registration Coordinators
Susan Standley – for last names beginning A through K: sstandley@pnw.edu
Jade Lopez – for last names beginning L through Z: lopez544@pnw.edu
Step by Step Instructions
- Video Tutorial – Preparing for Registration (How to Find your Time Ticket)
- Video Tutorial – How to Request Approvals
- Video Tutorial – How to Drop / Add Classes (Non-Linked Courses)
- Video Tutorial – How to Drop and Add Linked Class Sections in Student Scheduling Assistant
- Video Tutorial – How to Wait-List for a Full Class
- Video Tutorial – How to Add Free Time to Your Course Request in Student Scheduling Assistant
See more instructions in Additional Information following the step-by-step registration directions below.
Step 1 – Login to the myPNW Portal
Log into the myPNW portal using your username and password along with authenticating through the Duo Mobile app or hardware token.
- Type in your career account username (Purdue Login)
- Type in your password
- Approve using the Duo Mobile app
The recommended browsers for web registration are Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Internet Explorer is not recommended.
Step 2 – Create Your Course Request
Be sure to clear up any registration holds before creating your Course Request.
- Click on the link in the Student Scheduling Assistant widget
- Select the appropriate semester that you wish to register for.
- If prompted, enter the PIN provided by your academic advisor.
- Create your Course Request by any of these methods:
- Option 1: Accept the courses pre-populated by your academic advisor by clicking on the Build Schedule button.
- Option 2: For Undergraduate Students Only: If no courses are listed, click on Degree Plan to import your recommended courses from myPNWplan. Placeholders in your plan (i.e., Free Electives or General Education Electives) will not populate course suggestions but will be listed on the Degree Plan screen as a reminder to choose an appropriate class. You can select courses for these placeholders on your Course Request using the instructions from Option 3 below.
- Option 3: Search for courses in a priority line by typing in the subject code (i.e., ENGL or MA) to bring up a list of courses. You may also click on the magnifying glass to see more search options like searching by a course attribute code (i.e., GETS for General Education Technology). Click on the course you want.
General Education Course Attribute Table
Course Attribute Code | Description |
---|---|
GEWR | General Education Writing |
GESL | General Education Speech Communication |
GEQR | General Education Quantitative Reasoning |
GESE | General Education Natural Science |
GETS | General Education Technology |
GEHA | General Education Humanities |
GESB | General Education Social Sciences |
GEUR | General Education First Year Experience |
GEND | Any General Education Approved course |
Note: Courses will display with the campus designation first: HMD – Hammond, OLC – Online, or WVL – Westville so you can easily see the location of the courses you select.
While creating your Course Request you can add alternatives to each priority, adjust the order of priorities using the blue up and down arrows, select a specific section under the List of Classes tab, and block out times you cannot attend using the Free Time tab (see How to Add Free Time in the Additional Information below). To remove a priority entirely, click on the red trash can.
Creating a Course Request does not register you in courses or hold a seat.
Step 3 – Build Your Schedule
- When finished making your Course Request, click Build Schedule to view a recommended schedule of classes with days and times.
- Click on the Time Grid to see a weekly view.
- To adjust your recommended schedule even further, click on a course to see other days and times it may be offered. To mark a course section as preferred so it does not change when viewing alternate schedules, click on the yellow lock icon next to the course code.
- If a course you want is full, you can elect to add your name to a wait-list, if one is available, by checking the wait-list box. (See Wait-Listing for a Full Class in the Additional Information below.)
Building your schedule does not register you. There is one more step!
Step 4 – Submit Your Schedule
- When you are finished making all your selections, click on Submit Schedule to register.
- If there are no registration issues, you will be enrolled for the classes and there will be a green checkmark next to each one.
You are done!
As room numbers may change, check your schedule again just prior to the beginning of the semester to ensure you know where you need to be on the first day of class.
Registration Issues
- If there are registration issues (i.e., prerequisites, closed class – for courses with no wait-lists, or other restrictions), a dialog box will appear and you may request an approval (override) to get into the class. You will not need to fill out a drop/add card and collect signatures. Scheduling Assistant will route your requests to the appropriate faculty or staff member who can approve them. If you are wait-listing a course that also has registration restrictions, you must still request approval so that if a seat becomes available for you, it will automatically be registered. You will be notified of a decision by email.
- Click on Request Approvals.
- Provide an explanation for your request to get into the class. Do not leave this section blank! By including justification for why you need to take the course you are increasing your chances of getting an approval.
- If there is more than one course that needs an approval, provide an explanation on each tab. Various subject codes may have different approvers.
- You can select a comment from the dropdown list or enter in your own custom comment.
- Check the Disclaimer box and then click on Request Approvals again.
The course(s) needing an override will appear on your schedule with a plus sign as it is waiting for Department approval. You are not registered in it yet nor is a seat reserved while in this pending status.
List of Department Designee Approvers
Once your request is approved, you will automatically be enrolled in the course if there is a seat available. The course will display on your class schedule with a green checkmark and you will receive email confirmation that you are registered.
Additional Information
To drop or add courses following the first week of class, a Drop/Add Card is no longer necessary. You will make schedule adjustments in the Student Scheduling Assistant.
Note: This system is not applicable to students in the Online RN-BSN or MSN Online Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive programs. Contact your Registration Coordinator.
For all other students:
Adding a Class
You may add courses by updating your course registration in the Student Scheduling Assistant widget in My PNW. Add the course to your Course Request, click Build Schedule so that you can select the exact class section you want, and then click Submit Schedule to record the addition.
Please note that if you are adding a course after the first week of classes, you will need to request approval. Your request will be routed in the Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW faculty and or staff member and you will be notified of a decision by email. If approved, your schedule will be updated and you will receive a confirmation email.
Dropping a Class
Prior to withdrawing from a class, be sure to discuss this with your academic advisor and financial aid counselor. Check the Academic Calendar for withdrawal and refund deadlines.
You may withdraw from courses by updating your course registration in the Student Scheduling Assistant widget in My PNW. When you are on the Class Schedule screen, click on the course you wish to drop. In the dialog box, click on the “Drop (course name)” button in the upper right. Then click Submit Schedule to record the drop.
Please note that if you are dropping courses after a certain point in the semester, you will need to request approval. Your request will be routed in the Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW faculty and or staff member and you will be notified of the withdrawal by email.
Student-Athletes:
You must maintain a full-time status (at least 12 undergraduate credit hours or at least 8 graduate credit hours) or risk ineligibility. Make sure to contact your coach as well as the Athletics Department at jarrettn@pnw.edu or stop in FRC Room 129 on the Hammond campus.
Your Class Schedule is updated!
If you have registered for a course that has both a lecture and a lab component and later find that you want to switch sections, follow these directions.
Note: This system is not applicable to students in the Online RN-BSN or MSN Online Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive programs. Contact your Registration Coordinator.
Log back in to myPNW and click on the link in the Student Scheduling Assistant widget and select the semester.
When you are on the Class Schedule screen, click on the lab section you want to drop. This will bring up a dialog box with a list of alternative sections.
WARNING: Do not click on the Drop-Course button in the upper right. This will remove both the lecture and the lab.
Instead, click on the section you want to take while in the dialog box. When it returns to the Class Schedule screen, you will see the lab section you want to take is listed with a green plus sign and the one you want to drop is displayed with a red x.
You must click Submit Schedule to complete your registration. The lecture component will remain unchanged, but the lab sections will be switched (if there are seats available) and the course sections will display with a green checkmark.
Your Class Schedule is updated!
If you wish to withdraw from all your courses once the term has started, you will not be able to drop your only class or your last remaining class in Student Scheduling Assistant. Instead, follow this guidance for Full Withdrawals.
However, if your course registration is for a future term that has not yet begun, you can drop all your classes using the Student Scheduling Assistant.
Students with Financial Aid and/or loans: Please be aware that making a change in enrollment may impact your financial aid award. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at (219) 989-2301 in Hammond or at (219) 785-5460 in Westville or at finaid@pnw.edu.
Online Nursing Students: Contact your registration coordinator or refer to your online nursing handbook for guidance.
If you find a class that you want to take is full, you may elect to add your name to a wait-list, if one is available. Not all courses utilize wait-listing. For fall and spring semesters the wait-list option is available until the Thursday before the start of classes.
Course Request
Enter your courses on the Course Request and click Build Schedule.
If you find that the course you want is listed as “Not available (course is full)” on the Class Schedule screen, check the Wait-List box. The Not Available message will be replaced with “Click this line to configure additional wait-list preferences”.
If you do not have a preference, you do not have to click on this message. Just continue on to Submit Schedule and you will be registered based on your position on the wait-list in the first section in which a seat becomes available if there are no conflicts or other restrictions.
Selecting your Wait-List Preferences
Click the line if you wish to wait-list for one or more specific sections of the course. This will bring up a Wait-List Preferences dialog box with all the sections of the course that can be wait-listed. Check your preferred sections.
There may be a situation where you want to wait-list for a preferred course and are currently registered in a second-choice course. You can elect to “Swap” the currently registered course with the course you want to wait-list. In the “Swap with course” area at the bottom of the Wait-List Preferences screen you will see a dropdown list of your current course requests. Select the course that you want to drop when you get registered in the wait-listed course.
After making all your selections on the Wait-List Preferences screen, click Update Preferences.
Submit Your Schedule
Finally, click Submit Schedule to add your name to the wait-list. You will see a message on the bottom of the Class Schedule screen that you are on the wait-list for the requested course.
Note: If you have any registration restrictions (like prerequisites), be sure to request departmental approval as you would for an available course.
When a seat opens up for you in the wait-listed section, you will be automatically registered as long as there are no conflicts or restrictions. The course will then be listed on your Class Schedule with a green checkmark and you will receive a confirmation email that you are registered.
Your Class Schedule is updated!
Removing Your Name from a Wait-List
If you are still on a wait-list for a full course and are no longer interested in taking it, return to the Course Request screen and delete the priority line for the wait-listed course. Click Build Schedule and then click Submit Schedule to record the removal of your name.
A helpful feature in Student Scheduling Assistant is the ability to block out times that you are unable to attend classes. While on the Course Request screen, click on the magnifying glass search icon on a blank priority line and select the Free Time tab.
On the Free Time tab, click on the days and times you are unable to attended classes. When you return to the Course Request screen after blocking off the time, reorder the priority lines, if needed, so that the free time is near or at the top depending on how flexible you want your schedule to be. Then click on Build Schedule.
When the Scheduling Assistant solves for a recommended schedule, it will not assign any courses into that time slot. Click Submit Schedule to register.
If you wish to change a regularly graded course to Pass / No Pass, first discuss this with your academic advisor. Typically, grade mode changes to Pass / No Pass cannot be processed after the 4th week of a semester.
Once you elect to take a class as Pass / No Pass, you cannot switch it back to a regularly graded course. When final grades are entered, you will either receive a P for Pass or an N for No Pass.
After you have successfully registered for a course, go back in to Student Scheduling Assistant widget in myPNW. On the Class Schedule screen, click on the Grade Mode and Credits button. In the dialog box for the course you want to change, select Pass / No Pass from the dropdown list under the Grade Mode column. Click Submit Schedule to request the change.
Your request will be routed within the Student Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW staff member and you will be notified of a decision by email. If approved, you will see the Grade Mode changed from G to P for that course on your class schedule.
If any of the following issues occur, the registration system will display an error message and may prevent you from registering in a course.
- Registration Time Ticket: If you are trying to register for a Fall or Spring semester during Priority Registration before your assigned time, you will receive this error. Check your Registration Status in myPNW on the Registering for Classes page under the Registration and Records area in the left pane navigation. Then select Prepare for Registration to find the earliest date and time you may begin registering.
- Holds: Holds on your account may prevent registration, and you will need to take care of any financial obligations or other circumstances (like Respect Boundaries) resulting in a hold before registering for classes. Student athletes have registration holds that need to be temporarily removed for course registration or to withdraw from a course. Student athletes must maintain a full-time status (at least 12 undergraduate credit hours or at least 8 graduate credit hours) or risk ineligibility. For questions about Athletic Eligibility contact the Athletics Department at jarrettn@pnw.edu or stop in FRC Room 129 on the Hammond campus.
- Closed Classes: If you find a class section that you want is full, you may add your name to a wait-list, if one is available for the course. Since there is no guarantee that a space will open up, be sure to register for an alternative as a back-up and consider using the “swap” feature in Wait-List Preferences. When a spot opens up for you in the wait-listed section, you will automatically be registered and will receive a confirmation email. For courses without wait-lists, you may request approval to be added to the class through the Scheduling Assistant program. Your request will be routed in the Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW faculty and or staff member. You will be notified of a decision by email. If approved, you will automatically be enrolled in the course.
- Restrictions: Certain course restrictions, such as pre / co-requisites or major / level restrictions, may also prevent registration and require approval by the academic Department. You may request approval to be added to the class through the Scheduling Assistant program. Your request will be routed in the Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW faculty and or staff member. You will be notified of a decision by email. If approved, you will automatically be enrolled in the course if there are seats available.
- Time Conflicts: When registering for courses, the system will not let you enroll in courses that meet in whole or in part during the same time frame. Review the course schedule and select a different section to continue registering.
- Repeating a Course After 3 Attempts: Students are permitted to enroll in a non-repeatable course up to 3 times (Withdrawals – W’s – count as an attempt). Additional enrollment in the same course requires approval from the Academic Department. You will not be able to register for the course without permission. When you submit your schedule in the Student Scheduling Assistant in My PNW, you will be prompted to request departmental approval. Your request will be routed in the Scheduling Assistant system to the appropriate PNW faculty and or staff member.