Danielle Alexander talks registration resources and where to turn for help.
Transcript:
0:07: Welcome back to Chronversations.
0:09: I’m your host, Levi Libson.
0:14: Registration.
0:15: It’s that ever confusing, yet, ever fun time of the school year again where we all scramble to figure out what on earth we want to do this upcoming semester.
0:23: With our new registration system in place, it seems like things have been going a lot smoother.
0:28: Nevertheless, occasionally, we all run into minor little issues.
0:31: So, be not afraid, for in today’s episode I’m speaking with a registration pro, Danielle Alexander.
0:38: So, I am Danielle Alexander.
0:41: I am the current Assistant Director of Student Persistence here at Columbia, and I wear many hats.
0:48: Essentially, our office is all about supporting students,
0:50: and right now we are actually hosting a registration lab this week to help students register,
0:56: so this topic was very much on brand for what we’re doing this week.
0:59: But, on a normal day to day, I help oversee our student success alert system —
1:04: so, if students have needs or things are happening in class and I get an alert, I’m outreaching to students.
1:10: I also work with our Scholars Project. It’s working with our CPS alumni students, our First-Gen, our students of color. The Scholars’ community also has students that don’t necessarily fit into those categories, but still want our support and still want to participate in Scholars —
1:26: we’re not gonna turn any student away. So, working with Scholars and then just working alongside
1:30: our advisors, and across our different support offices to make sure our students’ needs are met.
1:35: It’s essentially what I do.
1:36: For any newer students, could you give a brief summary of our registration system and some potential dates to look out for?
1:43: Yes. So with our registration system, dates you are gonna want to look out for is when your course card is gonna open, because it’s always great to plan ahead.
1:51: Being able to go in there and map out courses for however many more semesters, you are able to go in and can map things out for the fall semester, next spring, and get a head start.
2:03: I recommend students meet with their advisors to ensure that you’re picking the correct classes, that you’re getting closer to that graduation mark, that you’re taking the classes you need, but also that you’re interested in, and then just to understand how to pick your classes and get comfortable with that.
2:17: Other dates to look out for are when registration opens.
2:20: Also look out for
2:22: when classes are gonna start, so you know how long you have to register.
2:26: I always advise students, register now and you can go back in and drop classes, or add them as you need.
2:32: Make sure you’re looking at what the add deadline and the drop deadline is gonna be for fall, in case you need to make those adjustments to your schedule.
2:39: These dates are typically for a newer student, the main ones I would tell them to look out for.
2:43: They are super important to make sure your schedule is on point, as I like to say.
2:49: What are some of the most common issues that students run into during registration?
2:52: During registration, common issues we see are students that might not be able to get in and see their advisor exactly when they would like, because, as we know, registration is a very busy time.
3:03: Advisors are holding drop-ins instead of having their typical appointments,
3:07: so sometimes the wait times can be a little long. We do ask that students have patience with our colleagues in the Academic Advising office.
3:14: They’re doing their best, they’re working hard, they’re meeting with as many students as possible.
3:18: Sometimes classes are full, we know that’s been a common thing, and we know it is being worked on by
3:24: offering more classes and making sure we have enough seats, so students can get the classes that they need.
3:28: I think those are just the typical things, having to wait a little while to see your advisor, sometimes there’s a class that’s full that you really need, so you’re waiting to see if that waitlist is gonna open up, if another class is gonna be
3:40: offered, or if you’re gonna need a substitution, because a class you need may not be offered this semester.
3:46: Just have patience and understand that we understand all the challenges that come along with registration, and we’re doing our best to work them out. We’re doing our best to support students while they navigate registering.
3:58: You touched briefly on this, but obviously occasionally you’re waitlisted with a class and whatnot — are there any ways that students can improve their chances of getting into the classes that they want?
4:06: Yes. I always tell students, be proactive.
4:10: Make sure you’re getting in with your advisor well before registration opens to map out those classes.
4:16: It’s never too early to schedule an appointment and meet with your advisor and say, “Hey, I want to get a head start on registering for the upcoming semester, so can we map out some classes that I need to take?”
4:26: Also, have the classes that you want to take, but potentially have a list of backup classes in case those classes are full.
4:33: I would also say, make sure that you’re looking at your registration time in advance.
4:37: When those emails come out and you know what your day and time for registration is, putting it in your calendar and doing your best to register within that day, if not that same week, can improve your chances of getting the classes that you need and want.
4:50: Just have an organized strategy, and don’t wait until the day of to see what your registration date is and see that either it’s today or it has passed, and you’re a few days late.
5:01: Mhm, mhm.
5:02: What are some resources available to students who are struggling with registration?
5:06: A resource that’s available will be the registration lab that we’re offering.
5:09: We have typically offered these for the last few semesters.
5:12: We’ll be here on the first floor of the Student Center, Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also stop in to see your academic advisor, and take advantage of those drop-in hours that they’re having.
5:25: Also, make sure you’re utilizing other resources such as meeting with your advisor when they have regular appointments available during the academic year, before registration opens.
5:34: If you are a Scholars Project student, meet with our amazing coordinator Chloé Nailor. She typically helps the Scholars Project students get registered and figure out what classes they may need, and helps
5:45: get appointments with their advisors.
5:47: And I also think just make sure, as a student, that you are working with your advisor and you’re sitting down to make sure you understand how the registration system works, the degree audit process, and then how you can go in and put your classes in your course card.
6:01: Is there anything else that you wanna tell people? Any message you wanna put out?
6:06: We want to just consistently encourage students to register and know that you do not have to figure registration out on your own.
6:13: There are so many resources to help, from those of us volunteering and working with the registration lab, to the academic advisors, and also anyone else that’s in a student’s circle of support.
6:23: So anyone else that is here supporting a student, helping to get them to that graduation finish line and have a successful post-grad experience. We just want tp encourage students to reach out and come see us if they need help.
6:37: Make sure to stay up to date with Campus and Metro news at columbiachronicle.com.
6:42: I’m Levi Libson.
6:43: Thanks for listening.
Copy edited by Venus Tapang
