Help: Backpack & Registration FAQ

Overview

This page includes information on backpacking and registration activities.

Backpack Classes

• What is a Backpack?

  The Backpack is a feature available in Wolverine Access that works much like the "shopping carts" you may have seen on many retail web sites. With the Backpack you can prepare for your upcoming registration appointment by filling it with classes you want to take. When it is time to register, you will select one or more classes from your backpack to register for. NOTE: Placing a class in your Backpack does not enroll you in that class. You must register for a class to become enrolled in it.

• What is My Planner?

  My Planner is an organizational tool which allows you to plan potential courses you may be interested in taking during future terms. You can search for courses using the course catalog and add them to your Planner. They can then be moved into a specific term to provide a guide of how to best schedule your classes to meet your academic goals. Planner can also help simplify the process of searching for and adding classes to your Backpack. When selecting classes to add in Backpack/Registration, there is a link to My Planner so you can access the list of courses you have sorted under the given term or left unassigned. Use of My Planner is optional.

• What is Schedule Builder?

  Schedule Builder is a system which generates every possible class schedule for you based on the courses you have selected and any days/times you have blocked as unavailable. You can add/remove courses, change your break times, and lock classes in place as many times as you need until you have your ideal schedule. Once you have decided on a schedule, you can send the class information to your Backpack. Use of Schedule Builder is optional.

• What is Backpack Validation?

  Backpack Validation is an optional process which checks the courses in your Backpack for some potential enrollment errors. This allows you to potentially resolve conflicts or select alternate classes before you register. This feature is only available within Backpack until your enrollment appointment begins.

  Backpack Validation checks for enforced prerequisites, time conflicts, consent, and repetition rules. It does not check for reserve caps, class status or advisory requisites.

• When can I start using my Backpack?

  For a given term, you can begin using your Backpack when you receive notice of your enrollment appointment and you can continue using it until the term's drop/add deadline.

• Am I required to use the Backpack in order to register for classes?

  Yes. You can only register for classes that are in your backpack.

• Am I automatically enrolled in a class if it is in my Backpack, on My Planner, or in Schedule Builder?

  No. Placing a class in your Backpack, adding it to My Planner, or including it on a schedule built in Schedule Builder does not register you for the class. Nor does it put you on a waitlist or guarantee you a space in the class. Placing a class in your Backpack does give you a head start on actually enrolling (registering) into the class when your appointment starts, because you have already located and saved the necessary class information in your Backpack. If you use My Planner and Schedule Builder, your classes still need to be added to your Backback and registration completed.

• Will the system allow me to add closed classes to my Backpack?

  Yes, and it's a good idea to keep this in mind when you use your Backpack. You may opt to add a class with a Class Status of "Closed" to your Backpack in hope that it could change to "Open" later. Alternatively, a class with an open status may changed to closed before you register. Make a practice of checking the Class Status column in your Backpack before you attempt to register for a specific class after your registration appointment arrives.

• If a class is closed, how can I get on the waitlist?

  If the class has a waitlist, turn on the "add to waitlist" checkbox on the Enrollment Preferences page. If the class is already in your backpack, click the section link to open the Enrollment Preferences page. If you are adding the class to your backpack, the Enrollment Preferences page will display.

• If I don't meet the registration requirements, will the system allow me to add it to my Backpack?

  Yes, Class restrictions and requisites (including reserved seats) are not checked by the system when you add a class to your Backpack. However, the system does check for these restrictions when you attempt to register for each class. Before adding a class to your backpack, review the Class Details page to determine if you meet the class restriction requirements.

  You can use the Validate Backpack Classes function to check classes in your Backpack for some enrollment restrictions. Backpack Validation checks for enforced prerequisites, time conflicts, consent and repetition rules. It does not check for reserve caps, class status or advisory requisites. This option is only valid until your enrollment appointment begins.

• To avoid registration errors, what class details should I be aware of?

  The most frequent registration errors are preventable:

  1. Class is closed. Check the class status before selecting to register for it or change the enrollment preferences to be placed on the waitlist (if available).

  2. Time scheduling conflict. Map out your proposed schedule of classes to see if there are time conflicts. If a time conflict is ok, change the enrollment preferences to allow it.

  3. Available seats are reserved. Check the class details page to see if the seats are reserved for a particular student group.

  4. Consent is required. If a class requires permission, obtain it before you register. You can check your available class permissions in the Student Center.

  5. Maximum term unit load exceeded. Most students are restricted to 18 units in a full term and 9 units in a half term. See your school/college for approval to exceed these limits.

  6. Requisites not met for class. Check the class details page to see if there are requisites or enrollment restrictions that would prevent you from taking the class.

Register for Classes

• What do I need before I begin to register?

  1. Classes in your backpack. In addition to your first choice classes, you may want to include some alternative classes as well. To prepare, you can search for classes directly from your Backpack or refer to the UM Schedule of Classes on the Registrar's Office website.

  2. A registration appointment start date and time. You can view your enrollment appointment in the Wolverine Access Student Center.

  3. Class Permissions for any class in which instructor or department permission is required to enroll. You can view your class permissions in the Wolverine Access Student Center.

• Can I register at any time?

  You may register within Wolverine Access business hours anytime after your official enrollment appointment start time. The system will not allow you to register prior to your enrollment appointment. Note: After the first day of classes, you do not need an appointment to register.

• What is the difference between a class number and a course number?

  A class number is a unique identifying number that is assigned to each class section. Class numbers are specific to each term. Class numbers appear in the UM Schedule of Classes and are the numbers that you use to register for classes. A class number is typically five digits in length. For example, 19433.

  A course number is the number that identifies a course within a subject. For example, in the case of "Math 115," the course number is "115". You do not use the course number when actually registering for classes. However, you may use the course number in conjunction with a subject code to search for information on a class.

• How do I find out if a class has a prerequisite?

  View the information in Wolverine Access (class details page), your school bulletin, or contact your advisor, department, or school or college.

• How do I find out if a class is open or closed?

  You have the option to view a list of all open classes or you can find out if a specific class is open or closed.

  1. To determine if a specific class is open or closed, go the Wolverine Access Student Center, Backpack/Registration tab. If the class is already in your Backpack, the Class Status column indicates whether the class is Open or Closed. If the class is not in your Backpack, locate it by entering the class number or performing a class search. The system displays the class status (Open or Closed) in the Status fields on the Class Search Results.

  2. To view a list of open classes for a specific course, perform a class search in the Wolverine Access Student Center. Verify the Show Open Classes Only checkbox is turned on before executing the search.

  3. To view a list of all open classes, go to the Open Classes Report (http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/schedule/). Notes: The document (PDF) version of the report lists all open classes by School/College.The Excel (CSV) version includes all open classes and can be sorted and searched (after you have saved it). The report data is refreshed every 30 minutes (both PDF & CSV versions).

• How can I view classes for my School/College?

  1. Perform a search for classes by school/college in the Wolverine Access Student Center.

  2. Use the Schedule of Classes (http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/schedule/). For your School/College, the Online Schedule of Classes allows you to view a consolidated list of all classes by subject or browse course offerings by open sections and all section. The full report of All Classes is available as a printable PDF file and CSV file (must be saved and opened in Excel) that can be sorted and searched. These files are updated nightly.

• How do I find out if a class has seats reserved for a specific group of students?

  Information about seats reserved for a specific group of students, including the number of reserved seats appears in a field called Open Seats Reserved For on the Class Enrollment Preferences page.

• How do I waitlist a class?

  If a class is closed and has a waitlist available, the 'Add me to waitlist' checkbox appears on the Class Enrollment Preferences page. You can turn this option on when adding the class to your backpack or by editing the Enrollment Preferences of a class in your backpack (click on class section link to open).

• Can I register for two classes offered at the same time?

  Yes. You may register for two classes offered at the same time by checking the 'Time Conflict is okay' checkbox on the Class Enrollment Preferences page.

• How do I take a class as pass/fail?

  If a class has an optional grading basis (e.g., optional pass/fail), select your desired Grading Basis from the drop-down list on the Class Enrollment Preferences page.

• How do I specify that I want to take a class to satisfy the Upper-Level Writing Requirement (ULWR)?

  The ULWR requirement is applied to specific class sections. Students who need to fulfill their ULWR requirement need to enroll in one of those specific sections.

• How do I register for a class that requires permission?

  If a class requires consent, you need to go to the department or instructor to request permission. The department enters an electronic permission into the system that allows you to enroll in the class. Once the permission has been entered, you must register for the class just as you would any other class.

• I have permission to register for the waitlisted class in my schedule. How do I enter the permission?

  If the class displays as a waitlisted class in your Class Schedule and you have been issued a class permission, add the class to your backpack and follow the normal registration process. After you re-register, the waitlisted entry on your Class Schedule will be replaced with a registered entry. See the View My Class Permissions help page for more information.

• How do I register for classes that require more than one component, such as a lecture and discussion that must be taken together?

  If a class has multiple required components such as a lecture and discussion, the components will be linked in the system. When you add one component, the system will prompt you to select the other required component before it will add the class to your Backpack. It does not allow you to enroll in one component without enrolling in the other component.
  
  Some class components have automatic enrollment. A message displays on the Class Enrollment Preferences page if a primary component has related auto-enrollment components. The auto-enrolled components will be automatically added to your backpack with the primary component.

• How will I know that I'm actually enrolled in the classes I select?

  Registration is a three step process.

  1. After selecting classes from your backpack, click Proceed to Step 2 of 3. The Step 2: Confirm Classes page displays.

  2. After confirming the classes, click Finish Registering. The Step 3: View Results page displays.

  3. This page lists the registration results for each class with a Success or Error icon. The classes that you have successfully registered for will display in a list at the bottom of the Step 3: View Results page. However, this view does not display all class schedule details. Go to the My Schedule page to view all classes that are currently in your schedule, including those that you have waitlisted.

Contact Information

Questions? Contact the Registrar's Office at ro.registration.questions@umich.edu or phone (734) 647-3507.