Registration Information

Eligibility

You will have access to register during Self Service Registration if you meet the following conditions:

1. You are admitted to or are eligible to continue in an approved program of study at CSULB.

2. You register within the correct dates and deadlines. See Registration Access Dates for additional information.

3. You have no hold placed on your registration access. See Registration Holds.

To be eligible to continue in an approved program, you have to maintain continuous enrollment. This means you must attend at least one class for at least one Fall or Spring semester every calendar year after you are admitted to CSULB, unless you are on an approved leave (medical, military, educational). See Educational Leave.

Registration Access Dates

Continuing Students - Round 1 (Undergraduates may register for up to 16 units)

Continuing student registration usually begins in early April for Fall, in mid-October for Winter, early-November for Spring, and in mid-March for Summer. New Graduate or New Returning students begin registering after all continuing students have had access to register. New Undergraduate Students must attend SOAR in order to register for classes.

For Fall and Spring terms, registration access is assigned by graduation status, class level and units earned.

For Winter and Summer terms, registration access is assigned by class level and units earned.

To find out when your registration access begins, please go to your Student Center in MyCSULB, and check the Enrollment Dates box on the right side of the page. Your enrollment appointment access date is displayed. Click on the details link for your access time and other important information.

Fall 2017 Appointment Categories - Round 2	Register for (18 units) Rolling Appointments Begin
Priority Registration	July 24
Post-bac Graduating student (filed prior to deadline)**	July 24
Undergrad Graduating students (filed prior to deadline)**	July 24
Other Masters/Doctorate	July 25
Other Post-bac – CRED/CERT/ABD, etc.	July 25
Other Seniors	July 26
Juniors	July 27
Sophomores	July 28
Freshmen	July 28

**Has filed to graduate for Fall 2017 or Winter 2018 before the filing deadline. See the Bachelor Degree Requirements and Graduation Filing Process page or the Post-baccalaureate and Graduate Programs page for details and deadlines.

Unit Limits by Round:

• Round 1: Unit limit is 16 units
• Round 2: Unit limit is 18 units
• Round 3: Exception to Maximum Load begins August 7, requires appeal to Associate Dean

SOAR

• New Freshmen – 16 unit limit.
• New Transfers – 16 unit limit.

When Can I Waitlist?

You can add yourself to the waitlist for a class from the time the class is full until:

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Waitlists become null and void after this date.

How Waitlisting Works

• All scheduled class sections have waitlists, which are based on the size of the class.

• You can waitlist for a maximum of 10 units, provided that each course’s waitlist is not already full. (Note: waitlisted units are included toward your enrollment unit limit.)

• You must meet any requisites for the class before you can be placed on the waitlist, e.g., course pre-requisites, section co-requisites, major and class level restrictions. See Search for Classes/Browse Catalog at MyCSULB.

• If a seat becomes available, the student highest on the waitlist will get the seat (subject to the restrictions below).

• Students will be moved from the waitlist into the class if other students drop or are dropped due to non-payment of fees.

• If students drop, seats will not be available to students who happen to log in if there is someone on the waitlist.

• If you are moved from the waitlist into the class, you will only receive email notification if you have specified a preferred email address in your Student Center/Personal Information at MyCSULB.

• You will not be billed for waitlisted classes but will be billed if moved from a waitlist into a class and the additional units result in higher registration fees. It is important to check your class schedule and account summary regularly at MyCSULB to avoid possible cancellation of newly added classes.

• If you are moved from the waitlist into a class, it is your responsibility to drop the class (as with any other class) if you decide not to attend. Failure to do so will result in a 'WU' grade on your record which will lower your grade point average.

• There is no guarantee you will be moved off a waitlist and enrolled in a class. Approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the beginning of classes, the process to move students from the waitlist runs for the final time. Students unable to be moved into classes at the conclusion of this process are removed from the waitlists, then all waitlists are purged. Instructors are not required to add students who were previously on a waitlist.

Waitlist Restrictions

Students will be moved from the waitlist into the class if space becomes available, and in the order placed, unless:

1. There is a time conflict with another registered class. Since potential time conflicts are not checked when you place yourself on a waitlist, you should ensure that waitlisted classes do not conflict with your enrolled schedule.

2. You are already enrolled in another section of the same course. Do not use waitlisting to try to get into another section of a course in which you are already enrolled, as you will not be moved from the waitlist if space becomes available. You will need to choose whether to take a chance and place yourself on the waitlist of the full section in the hope space becomes available or remain enrolled in the section you have already scheduled.

If you cannot be moved from the waitlist, for either of the reasons given above, you will be skipped and the next student considered. You will not be reconsidered until the next time space becomes available in the class.

Check your schedule regularly at MyCSULB to monitor your position on a waitlist. If you decide you no longer wish to wait for space to become available, you may drop yourself from a waitlist.

Dropping and Withdrawing

Students not attending a class in which they are enrolled must drop or withdraw from the class; failure to do so will result in a failing grade on the student’s record (F or WU).  Students should not assume the University will remove them from a class for non-payment of fees or that the instructor will remove them for non-attendance.

The difference between dropping a class and withdrawing from a class is based on the timing of the student’s decision to stop participating in a class and when they take action on that decision. Dropping occurs when a student takes appropriate action to remove the class(es) from their academic record BEFORE the end of the second week of instruction. Students may drop classes online throughout the self-service registration period without departmental approval. The classes will not be included on their transcript and the units will not count toward the Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit. Dropping may affect the tuition calculation and Financial Aid.

Withdrawing occurs when the student takes action AFTER the second week of instruction. Before withdrawing, students should consider the consequences of such an action and consult with their academic advisor since it will generally impact progress towards degree, future course enrollment and financial aid eligibility. Neither poor academic performance nor poor time management are justification for withdrawing from classes.

Withdrawal after the first two weeks and prior to the final three weeks of instruction

When a student decides to stop participating in a class and takes action to withdraw after the second week, and prior to the final three weeks of instruction, the class will be included on the transcript with a W symbol. The W indicates that the student attempted the class but eventually withdrew prior to completing it for a letter grade. Withdrawn classes are included in the tuition calculation.

• Withdrawals during this time period are subject to CSULB's Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit and are permissible only for a serious and compelling reason, per CSULB policy. Withdrawing requires approval from the instructor and chairperson of the department offering the class on the Petition to Withdraw From a Class(es) After the First Two Weeks and Prior to the Final Three Weeks of Instruction. If the petition is approved, a W will be assigned and will appear on the student’s transcript. Neither poor academic performance nor poor time management are justification for withdrawing from classes.

  CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit policy allows students to withdraw from a maximum of 18 units over the course of their entire CSULB undergraduate career including special sessions, CCPE enrollment and re-enrolling after separation from the University. Once the limit is reached, students can no longer withdraw and must remain enrolled. Faculty member(s) will assign appropriate grade(s). Students may review their courses and number of units applied to their Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit by accessing their Student Center in MyCSULB and selecting Withdrawal/Repeats from the pull-down menu in the Academics section.

  Exceptions to CSULB's Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit include:

  • Dropped courses (see Dropping and Withdrawing above)
  • Courses withdrawn prior to Fall 2009
  • Courses in which the student received a symbol of WE
  • Courses withdrawn at other institutions

  If the student has reached the 18-unit withdrawal limit and presents a Petition to Withdraw, the Office of Enrollment Services will inform the student and the faculty member that the Petition cannot be processed. The student must complete the class, or initiate the Incomplete process, when appropriate. Students who simply cease attending class may be assigned a WU or F for the class (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation). Exceptions to the withdrawal limit will be considered only in rare cases of extraordinary need and documented circumstances, and must be requested in a Petition for Exception to Academic Policy.

• Withdrawal due to circumstances beyond the student’s control in which a serious personal life situation, illness or accident prevents the student from continuing in their classes and Incompletes or other arrangements with instructors are not possible, may qualify as a Catastrophic Withdrawal-Beyond Student’s Control or Catastrophic Withdrawal-Medical. Such requests normally involve withdrawal of all classes in the term, require thorough and credible documentation, and are not intended to be made more than once during a student’s academic career. In addition to the Catastrophic Withdrawal, the Petition to Withdraw From a Class(es) After the First Two Weeks and Prior to the Final Three Weeks of Instruction with required signatures must also be submitted. When approved, a Catastrophic Withdrawal results in a symbol of WE for every course in the withdrawal term on the student’s transcript; the withdrawn units do not apply to the student’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.

  If the request to withdraw is approved but does not meet the definition of a Catastrophic Withdrawal, symbols of W will be assigned and the units will count towards the Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit. If the request to withdraw is not approved, the student must initiate the Incomplete process, if applicable, or complete the class(es). Students who cease attending class may be assigned a WU or F (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation).

Catastrophic Withdrawal during the final three weeks of classes

Withdrawal during the final three weeks of instruction is not permitted unless there are circumstances beyond the student’s control in which a serious personal life situation, illness or accident prevents the student from continuing in their classes and Incompletes or other arrangements with instructors are not possible. Categorized as a Catastrophic Withdrawal, such requests require thorough and credible documentation, normally involve withdrawal of all courses in the term, and are not intended to be made more than once during a student’s academic career. In order to be considered, requests for Catastrophic Withdrawals require support from the instructor, chairperson of the department offering the class, and the Dean of the college in which the class is taught. Final approval can be granted only by the Office of the Provost.

If seeking a Catastrophic Withdrawal, the student should submit the Petition to Withdraw from Classes in Final Three Weeks of Instruction and the applicable Catastrophic Withdrawal Request - Medical OR Catastrophic Withdrawal Request - Beyond Student’s Control no later than the last day of instruction in the requested withdrawal term.

• If approved, a symbol of WE will be assigned for every class in the term; the withdrawn units will not apply toward CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.
• The student’s refund will be calculated according to the California Code of Regulations.
• Financial Aid recipients may have to repay all or part of their award and should consult with the Financial Aid Office (BH-101).
• The student may be required to obtain clearance from an appropriate medical professional prior to subsequent enrollment.
• Approval may affect an international student’s visa status. International students should contact International Student Services (CIE-Student@csulb.edu).
• If it is necessary for the student to be out more than one semester, the student may be eligible for an Educational Leave.
• Falsification of information may lead to disciplinary action by the University.

If the request to withdraw is approved but does not meet the definition of a Catastrophic Withdrawal, a symbol of W will be assigned for every class and the units will count towards CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.

If the request to withdraw is not approved, the student must initiate the Incomplete process, if applicable, or complete the class(es). Students who cease attending class may be assigned a WU or F (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation).

For additional information, see the Academic Senate Policy Statement pertaining to Final Course Grades, Grading Procedures, and Final Assessment.

How Withdrawals affect Refunds and Financial Aid

Students who do not plan to attend CSULB for the semester should drop all classes before the first day of instruction. Withdrawing from all classes after instruction begins will result in owing pro-rated fees based on the date of the action. Students’ failure to monitor their enrollment and resolve account balances may result in charges and holds preventing access to critical University services.

Prior to withdrawing from classes, students receiving financial aid should visit the Financial Aid Office (BH-101) or review the Financial Aid website.

Why Take an Educational Leave

Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment at CSULB. In order to maintain continuous enrollment, the student must attend and complete at least one class every Fall and Spring semester after he/she is admitted unless the student has applied for an educational leave. Any student who does not attend a Fall and Spring semester and does not obtain an approved educational leave will not be able to register for the next semester. The student will have to re-apply to CSULB and will be subject to the requirements of the Catalog dated the year they re-apply.

Please note: while on educational leave, you may not attend another CSU campus. CSULB students who want to attend classes at another CSU institution must meet the eligibility criteria and submit the Concurrent and Visitor Enrollment Form to the Office of Enrollment Services. For information on enrolling at another CSU campus through the Concurrent/Visitor program, go to Enrolling at Other Institutions.

Eligibility

Students may take a leave of absence from CSULB for one or two consecutive semesters without having to re-apply to the University. Students are eligible to apply for an educational leave if they:

• Are registered at CSULB
• Are in good academic standing with the University
• Have completed at least one semester (Fall or Spring) and have earned units at CSULB as an admitted student and not had a break in enrollment
• Have not filed to graduate in the semester of requested educational leave

How to Request an Educational Leave

1. If enrolled, the student should drop all classes using MyCSULB for the term in which the leave will be taken.

2. Students should complete the Application for Educational Leave form obtaining the required signatures.

3. Students should submit the completed, signed application form to Enrollment Services (BH-101) by the last day of the previous semester.

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   • Deadline to file Request for Educational Leave without $10 missed deadline fee
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   • Deadline to file Request for Educational Leave without $10 missed deadline fee

4. Students who miss this deadline must pay a $10 missed deadline fee. Late applications will be accepted only until the last day of the semester in which the educational leave will be taken.

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• Last day of semester
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• Last day of semester

If a student is subsequently placed on academic disqualification, the University will revoke the approved educational leave. For more information, refer to the University Catalog.