GC Office of the Registrar Registration Help

How to Register FAQ

What is a CRN?
How do I Register on Record?
How do I know when I am eligible to register?
Do I still need my Executive Officer's approval to register?
How can I register for "Dissertation Supervision"?
If I register for "Dissertation Supervision" do I also need to register for Weighted Instructional Units?
How does a matriculating student register to audit a class?
How do I change the credit value of a variable credit course?
How do I add or drop a course?
How does a matriculating student register for a class "on permit" at another CUNY school?
How does a matriculating doctoral student register for a class through the inter-university consortium?
Are there restrictions on course enrollment? If so, what can I do?

Registration and Weighted Instructional Units (WIU) FAQ

What are Weighted Instructional Units?
How do I know if I can register for WIUs?
How does enrollment into WIUs affect my status for financial aid?
Do I pay extra tuition for WIUs?
Is there a minimum or maximum number of WIUs I can enroll in?
How do I add WIUs to my registration?
My advisor told me to Register on Record. Do I still need to add Weighted Instructional Units?

Billing FAQ

How do I apply for three part tuition payment plan?
When are the payments due if I participate in the three payment plan?
What happens if I don't pay my bill?


What is a CRN?
The CRN (course reference number) is the unique numeric code that is assigned to each course that appears in our class schedule. If you do not have a class schedule or if you are unsure of the CRN code, click on the Class Search button at the bottom of the screen to review the class schedule and to search for courses.

How do I Register on Record?
If you are advised to Register on Record (ROR), you must also register for Weighted Instructional Units (WIUs). To do this, is to enter the CRN for ROR and the CRN for the desired number of WIUs on the registration screen (see the registration instructions for details) and process the registration for both at the same time.
The CRN for Register on Record for the Fall 2009 semester is as follows:
ROR - 96500 (Remember that you must also be registered for WIUs in order for the transaction to be processed.)

The CRNs for Weighted Instructional Units are as follows (be sure to also look at the attached information about Weighted Instructional Units):

7 Billable WIUs - 96507 (Use this CRN if you Register on Record and need to be certified as a full-time student)
6 Billable WIUs - 96506 (Use this CRN if you Register on Record and need to be certified as a half-time student)
5 Billable WIUs - 96505
4 Billable WIUs - 96504
3 Billable WIUs - 96503
2 Billable WIUs - 96502
1 Billable WIU - 96501

How do I know when I am eligible to register?
As a continuing student, you are eligible to register if you are a matriculant and were either enrolled during the previous semester or you are returning from an approved leave of absence and you have no holds in place. If you meet this eligibility criteria, you may register for Fall 2009 courses beginning May 7, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

Do I still need my Executive Officer's approval to register?
Yes. All students are required to consult with their Executive Officer or advisor prior to registering. Students may be required to enter an advisement PIN (a second PIN which you will be prompted to enter only when you attempt to register). Students whose programs require advisement PINs must contact their program to make an appointment for advisement and to obtain the PIN.

How can I register for "Dissertation Supervision"?
Only level 3 students may register for "Dissertation Supervision". There will be a restriction in place for any one else attempting to register for it. Each section of dissertation supervision will be assigned a CRN (a different CRN will be assigned for each instructor).

If I register for "Dissertation Supervision" do I also need to register for Weighted Instructional Units?
No, you will be certified as a full-time student by simply registering for "Dissertation Supervision."

How does a matriculating student register to audit a class?
Look for a drop down box in the Action column of the registration screen which will allow you to choose the option to audit.

How do I change the credit value of a variable credit course?
If you registered for a variable credit course, the Web for Student registration system will process the registration for the lowest possible credit value. You may change the credit value by clicking on the hypertext link in the Credits column of the registration screen. This action will open the Change Options screen where you may insert the desired credit value. After inserting the appropriate number of credits, click on the Submit Changes button and then click on the Add and drop courses link at the bottom of the page to refresh the registration screen.

How do I add or drop a course?
You may add a course online only through the end of the first week of the semester. The process to add courses is the same as it is to register, refer to the enclosed registration instructions for details. Beginning the second week of classes, you may only add courses in Web for Student with approval from the academic program offering the course.

You may drop a course online through the third week of the semester. Refer to the enclosed registration instructions for details.

How does a matriculating student register for a class "on permit" at another CUNY school?
First, you must complete the Request for Permit Out Form which is available from the Assistant Program Officer of your academic program or from the Office of the Registrar. Once the form is completed and approved by the academic program, you must submit the form to the Office of the Registrar in room 7201 for processing. Every attempt will be made to make arrangements with the other CUNY registrars for registration of courses offered at the campuses that are relevant and necessary for the pursuit of a Graduate Center degree.

How does a matriculating doctoral student register for a class through the inter-university consortium?
You must complete the inter-university consortium form as well as the Request for Permit Out Form, both of which are available in the Office of the Registrar. You must submit the Request for Permit Out Form to the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible so that registration processing for the course can begin. Once all of the signatures are obtained by you on the inter-university consortium form, it should also be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in room 7201 and by no later than the end of the third week of the semester.

Are there restrictions on course enrollment? If so, what can I do? Yes, there are enrollment limits on all courses and other restrictions on selected courses. These restrictions are published in the Announcement of Courses and in the Dynamic Class Schedule in Web for Student. You must consult with your Executive Officer/Advisor if you feel that there are mitigating circumstances that warrant an exception in your case.

Weighted Instructional Units (WIU) FAQ

What are Weighted Instructional Units?
Weighted Instructional Units (WIUs) are used to document that graduate study extends beyond traditional classroom learning. They do not have credit value but are a mechanism to recognize non-classroom academic work involved in earning a graduate degree. As such, they are used in calculations to determine if a student may be certified as having full-time status at The Graduate Center.

How do I know if I can register for WIUs?
You should always consult your advisor in your academic program before registering or adding and dropping courses. You may be eligible to enroll in WIUs if you are engaged in one or more of the activities listed below: How does enrollment into WIUs affect my status for financial aid?
WIUs are used in conjunction with credit hours to determine if you may be certified as a full-time student. In certain cases, it may be necessary to register WIUs in order to receive your financial aid.

Do I pay extra tuition for WIUs?
Doctoral Level 2 and Level 3 students pay tuition at a flat rate regardless of the number of credits or billable credits in which they are enrolled and therefore do not pay additional tuition for WIUs.
Level 1 students paying out-of-state tuition rates pay at the per credit rate for each billable hour in which they are enrolled and should therefore not enroll in WIUs if they are already enrolled in 7 or more billable hours.
Level 1 students paying in-state rates pay at the per credit rate for each billable hour until they are registered for 7 or more billable hours at which time they pay a flat rate. In other words, if you are a level 1 student paying in-state rates and you are registered for 3 credits, you will need to add 4 weighted instructional units to be certified as a full-time student and you will be charged at the full-time flat rate. If you are a level 1 student paying in-state rates and you are registered for 3 credits and you register for 3 weighted instructional units, then you would be certified as a half-time student and pay at the per credit rate for 6 billable hours.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of WIUs I can enroll in?
You may register for anywhere from 1 to 7 Weighted Instructional Units. Remember to consult with your academic advisor and to understand the potential billing and financial aid ramification before adding or dropping Weighted Instructional Units.

How do I add WIUs to my registration?
You should always consult with your academic advisor before registering or adjusting an existing registration. The CRN can be found by performing a class schedule search and selecting "Weighted Instructional Unit" as the department (the department abbreviation is WIU). Once you have the appropriate CRN, add the WIUs as you would any other course.

My advisor told me to Register on Record. Do I still need to add Weighted Instructional Units?
Yes, it is impossible to Register on Record without Weighted Instructional Units. You will receive an error message if you do not add the Weighted Instructional Units at the same time you attempt to Register on Record.

Billing FAQ

How do I apply for three part tuition payment plan?
All matriculated students are eligible for the three part tuition payment plan. Filing an application form is not necessary to participate in this plan. Please note that non-matriculated students must pay all tuition and fees at the time of registration and are therefore not eligible for this plan.

When are the payments due if I participate in the three payment plan?
Your first payment is due one week from the date your bill was produced.
Your second payment is due 30 days after the first day of classes.
Your third payment is due 60 days after the first day of classes
Note: You may make your payments online using a credit card.

What happens if I don't pay my bill?
Failure to meet The Graduate Center tuition/fee liabilities can result in debarment of future registration and other services at The Graduate Center.