How to Register for Classes at Ivy Tech Community College

So you have waited until the week before the semester begins to get registered for classes. Now there are long lines, classes are full, and you are getting more annoyed by the minute. There are a few things you could have done to keep yourself from this mess. It just takes some time, planning and a Campus Connect account.

First keep an eye out for flyers, e-mails, or even advertising for upcoming registration dates. Take note of those dates and be ready to jump into action well before the deadline.

Next determine if you need to take the Assessment Test. The Assessment Test will determine what level your skills are at, and what classes you should be starting with. The test is over reading, writing and math. If you are an active returning student (you have taken classes in the past two years), in most cases you do not need to take the test. If you are new student, a transfer student or an inactive returning student, you will probably have to test. Students with an Associate's Degree or higher from a Regionally Accredited institution do not have to take the test. Also, any student who has earned a C or better in certain General Education courses or Academic Skill Advancement classes at a Regionally Accredited institution in the past ten years can also have the test waived. If a student has taken the ACT or SAT in the past four years, they may also be exempt from the test. As of 08/2008, if a student earns a 460 or higher on the SAT in each area or a 19 or higher on the ACT in the Reading, Writing and Math sections, they do not have to take the test.

Your next order of business will be to meet with an advisor. If you are taking classes that are specific to your program, you will have a Program Advisor for your specific department. If you are taking college level general education courses, and you know your major, you may also be seeing a program advisor. Some competitive programs will do not want you to meet with a Program Advisor until you have officially been accepted into the clinical program. If you are in one of those programs the general academic advisors can help you. Some advisors have walk in hours. Others have a strict by appointment only policy. This varies by Region and by department. Please call ahead to verify if you need to make an appointment or to determine what are their business hours.

Once an advisor had helped you pick your classes for the semester, it is time to get enrolled. If you do not have any holds (you are in good academic standing, you do not owe the college money, your admissions testing shows you meet an ability to benefit from the classes, you meet the prerequisites etc) and any transfer credit you have is loaded on your record you should be able to register using Campus Connect. This is the online registration system. You can access Campus Connect on any computer. If your campus has a scheduling center, make sure you take advantage of that. Scheduling centers usually have staff available to help if you find yourself stuck on something. If they do not, you can use any open lab, or you can even register from home.

If you are a first time user, make sure you click on the first time user link. This will take you through a series of steps to set up your account. If you already have an account, all you need to do is login. Once the portal loads up click on the Student Services tab and then click the register for classes link.

Now it is time to find your classes. Do a course search to find the days and time the class is offered. You will also be able to see if a class has availability. Always double check to make sure that this is really the class you want. If the class meets face to face, make sure that it is in your region and at the campus location you want. If you are looking for distance education class or a flex term class (classes that do not run the full 16 week term), make sure that it is marked that way. Once you have found the class, select it and add it to your schedule. Do this for each of your classes and be sure to print a schedule for your records.

If you cannot use Campus Connect, you will need to complete a paper registration form. In most cases, you will also need to see an advisor for a signature. Do not just call the Registrar's Office and ask them to put you in the classes. They are not supposed to register people for classes without a signature, and in many cases they are not the people who have the authority to lift your block. If it is a transfer credit issue, someone will have to verify you meet the prerequisites. If it is an academic hold, you will need to see your program chair. If it is a financial hold, you will need to speak to the Bursar's Office.