Wait Lists for Students
Is your class full? Join the wait list.
A wait list allows you to reserve a place in line for a class that has reached its enrollment capacity. If a seat becomes available, eligible students on the wait list may be automatically enrolled based on their position in the queue and any applicable course requirements.
Before joining a wait list:
- Ensure you meet all course prerequisites and enrollment requirements.
- Review your schedule for potential time conflicts and enrollment restrictions.
- Have a backup plan in case a seat does not become available.
Important:
- Being on a wait list does not guarantee enrollment. Students are encouraged to enroll in alternative courses to stay on track with their academic goals.
- If you are enrolled in one section of a course but prefer a different section that is full, use the SWAP feature to join the wait list while keeping your current enrollment.
- Students must remain eligible for the course while on the wait list. Registration holds, unmet prerequisites, schedule conflicts, or other registration restrictions may prevent enrollment if a seat becomes available.
- Students are responsible for resolving any issues that could affect their eligibility before a seat becomes available.
- Monitor your university email and UAccess Student regularly for wait list updates and enrollment notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions - Wait Lists for Students
You can remove yourself from a wait list in UAccess > Enrollment > Add/Swap/Drop by selecting ‘Drop’ for the class you are waitlisted for.
If you would like to check your current wait list position, please contact the department offering the course.
Once a class section reaches its enrollment capacity, its status changes from Active to Closed. If the section has a wait list, the Closed status remains in place, and the system will begin enrolling students from the wait list as seats become available. Enrollment proceeds in wait list order, starting with position #1, and continues down the list if no errors or conflicts occur.
The number of credits you can wait list depends on the semester, your academic career, and your academic program. Generally, you may wait list up to 8 credits in the Fall and Spring, between 8 and 22 credits in the Summer, and up to 4 credits in the Winter.
You will receive an email notification when you are successfully enrolled in a class from the wait list.
You can also verify your enrollment status at any time by logging into UAccess and navigating to: Enrollment > Schedule > Select a term or Enrollment > Add/Drop/Swap Classes > Select a term. From there, you can view which classes you are enrolled in and which remain waitlisted.
Waitlisted classes are indicated by a yellow tag labeled “Waitlisted” or a yellow hourglass icon.
Enrolled classes are indicated by a green tag labeled “Enrolled” or a green calendar icon with a check mark.
Please note: If you are enrolled in a class that you waitlisted using the SWAP feature, you will be automatically dropped from the original enrolled section.
Please note: If you are waitlisted for multiple sections of the same class during the same session, UAccess will automatically remove you from the remaining wait lists once you are enrolled in one section.
If you previously completed the course (a repeat):
if you are eligible to repeat the course and enroll from the wait list, you will be added to the class when a seat becomes available. Be aware that the Repeating a Course & Grading for Repeated Course policy may limit enrollment.
If you are already enrolled in the same course during the current term:
You cannot be enrolled in two sections of the same course in the same session. If you are already enrolled in one section and are also on the wait list for another section, you will not be automatically enrolled from the wait list. If you prefer to enroll in a different section of a class, you should join the wait list using the SWAP feature.
When you swap from one lab section to another lab section that is in combination to the same lecture you are currently enrolled in, the swap is processed immediately.
As a result, you are:
- Dropped from your current enrollment, and
- Either:
- Enrolled in the new lab section (if space is available), or
- Added to the wait list for the new lab section (if it is full).
Important: If you are placed on the wait list, you will no longer be enrolled in the course because your original enrollment has already been dropped.
When a seat opens for a class that you are waitlisted for, UAccess checks for the following things before enrolling you:
Time conflicts: You cannot be enrolled from a wait list if the meeting times of the new class conflict with another class on your schedule. If you would like to enroll in the waitlisted class instead, you must use the SWAP feature. UAccess will automatically enroll you in the new class and unenroll you from the conflicting class when a seat becomes available.
Same-course enrollment (current term): In cases where multiple enrollment in the same term is not allowed, you cannot be enrolled in two sections of the same course. If you are already enrolled in one section, you will be skipped for another unless you use SWAP to join the wait list.
Repeated class: If you are attempting to repeat a course, you may be skipped if you are not eligible or need additional approval. The Repeating a Course & Grading for Repeated Courses policy may limit enrollment.
Maximum units: You cannot be enrolled from a wait list if enrolling in the new class would cause you to exceed your maximum allowed number of units.
Holds: You cannot be enrolled from a wait list if you have a hold that prevents enrollment, even if the hold is placed after you join the wait list.
There are a few common reasons you might be dropped from a class wait list:
The last day to enroll from a wait list varies by session and is listed in the Dates and Deadlines. After this date, the Office of the Registrar removes all students from all wait lists.
If you are waitlisted for a section and then enroll in another open section of the same course, UAccess will remove you from the wait list to prevent duplicate enrollment. You should enroll in the open section first and then use the SWAP feature to join the wait list for your preferred section. For more information on this process, see Steps 9–11 in the student resource guide.
If you are waitlisted for multiple sections of the same course in the same session and enroll from one waitlist, you will be removed from the remaining waitlist(s) to avoid duplicate enrollment.