Registration Information

Data Verification process

Off campus students and commuters are required to verify their biographical information during the first week of classes for the fall, winter, and spring terms in order for our office to determine that you have returned. Prescheduling for courses does not preclude you from completing this process each term nor does the failure to finalize their course schedule. A $100 late fee will be charged to any student who fails to complete this process on time.  All other students who reside in College owned housing will be verified by the Residence Life Office.

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Web Registration Procedure

Students select courses in consultation with an academic advisor and signing up for them on the web during a pre-appointed time at Hale House Dining Room. Current students are sent a notice prior to web registration advising them of the upcoming dates. This process normally takes place during the ninth week of the term. Students with holds on their accounts will be notified prior to web registration of their need to take care of their outstanding obligations. Students who have an outstanding balance on their account will not be allowed to register on the web and will have to wait until the first day of the term to sign up for courses.

Appointments are assigned according to class standing beginning with the senior class. Students may not sign up any earlier than their appointed time; however, they may come anytime after. No one will be allowed to register without the signature of their advisor. If the advisor is not available, students may obtain the signature of the department chair of their major.

Registration for a fourth course is not allowed during web registration unless specifically required by a student's program of study.  Petition courses, which are designated on the course schedule with a "Y," require a validated petition from the offering department. Students wishing to be considered for a petition course must login to the Webadvising system on designated days and enter their information.  Departments will review their petition courses and mark students who are approved to take the course.  Students return to WebAdvising and "accept" the petition courses they want. After Webregistration concludes, written permission from the instructor is required to enter a petition, regardless of whether the course is open or not.

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Pass-Fail Option

Students may take up to one free elective in each academic year to be recorded as "pass" or "fail." The choice of the course is not restricted except that no course registered as "pass/fail" may be used in fulfilling a requirement for the major, the minor, for General Education or Writing Across the Curriculum, or for a term abroad. The "pass/fail" option is not open to students in their first two terms. The deadline for signing up for a course "pass/fail" is the end of the third week of classes.

A grade of "pass" will be equivalent to the lowest passing grade or better. A grade of "pass" will not be calculated in the term or cumulative index; a grade of "fail," however, will count as any other failing grade.

A course is registered as "pass/fail" by means of a form available at the Registrar's Office. The option must be exercised (or revoked) no later than the end of the second week of the term. The instructor (who will be informed of this choice only at the request of the student) will submit regular letter grades, which will be appropriately converted to "pass" or "fail." Later conversion to a letter grade will be done only if absolutely required by a student's official change of major and only upon the specific written request of the student.

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Add/Drop/Withdrawal Policies and Deadlines

Students may change their schedules during the first two weeks of the academic term. Students wishing to enter a "petition" or closed course during the first week of the term or any course during the second week of the term (provided it is listed on the undergraduate revised course schedule published by the Registrar's Office), must first obtain the written permission of the instructor.

Students may drop a course during the first eight weeks of the term with their adviser's approval. After the second week of classes through the end of the eighth week, a grade of "W" will be recorded on the students' transcript for any course dropped. Dropping a course after the end of the eighth week of classes will result in a grade of "F" unless there are extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the student that prevented the student from completing the course. Both the academic adviser and the associate dean for undergraduate education must approve the withdrawal. In such a case, the grade shall be "WP" or "WF" depending upon whether the student was passing or failing at the time the course was dropped. A "Failure" will be recorded on a student's transcript when proper notice of withdrawal from a course is not given to the registrar.

If a student chooses to drop or withdraw from a course and as a result take less than a full course load for the term in question, tuition will not be prorated. Students receiving financial aid who elect or are permitted to drop a course may be ineligible for such aid in subsequent terms. Students who have any questions about their eligibility for financial aid should consult with that office.

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Repeat Course Policy

Students who wish to repeat a course for credit will be permitted to do so provided they have not previously earned academic credit for the course. Both grades will remain on the transcript and will be factored into the cumulative grade point average.

Students who have previously earned academic credit for a course but who wish to repeat it may do so; however, the second attempt will not earn academic credit nor will it be factored into the cumulative grade point average. Both the original grade and the repeat grade will be reflected on the transcript.

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Cross-Registration

This process allows matriculated full-time students to take advantage of a wide range of courses offered at participating colleges and universities in the area. Cross-registration will be approved only for courses not offered at the home institution and will be limited to a maximum of half the normal course load. Cross-registration will be permitted only for courses that Union normally would consider for transfer credit. Forms are available from the Registrar's Office. A complete list of participating institutions is available at the Registrar's Office.

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Summer School Study and Study Abroad

Union College students wishing to receive credit for academic work at other accredited colleges or universities during the summer session must first obtain the necessary written approval prior to enrolling in any courses. Forms with detailed instructions are available from the Registrar's Office.

Union students wishing to study at another institution during the academic year, whether abroad or in the United States, must first make formal application to the director of Union International Programs, in room 211 of the Humanities Building. For more detailed information, please contact the International Programs Office.

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