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Office of the Registrar

Course Registration Waitlist

We are happy to announce the continuation of Course Registration Waitlists for Fall 2025 Registration to support a smoother and more informed registration process for our students.

Students should note that waitlisting is only available for courses in departments that have opted to use this functionality. Students must still satisfy any/all applicable course restrictions, including requisites, to be able to join a course waitlist. Being on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in any course.

Waitlist Resource for Pace Students

  • View the Registration Instruction Manual (PDF) for a step-by-step guide on Waitlisted courses.
  • Please note: If you are not fully registered for at least 12 credits, your financial aid that requires full-time enrollment will not disburse/be reflected against your semester tuition bill until you are registered for a minimum of 12 credits. The course(s) you are waitlisted for does not count towards your enrolled credit total.

Waitlist Resource for Pace Faculty

Waitlist Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I know if a course is closed?
When searching for courses in Pace Portal. Student Registration Module, please look at the "Status" column. Courses with no remaining open seats will have a "FULL!" indicator. For courses that are closed but have the waitlist option, the “Status” column will also display the number of currently available waitlist seats. Please note, Schedule Explorer does not display course waitlist information. The best and most comprehensive tool to search for classes and confirm waitlist information is through Pace Portal, using the “Browse Classes” menu or the “Find Classes” option in the “Register for Classes” menu.

Are waitlists an option every semester?
The course waitlist option is available for Fall and Spring classes that meet for the full semester; the waitlist option is not available for January or Summer courses or "Late Start" courses.

How do I get on a waitlist for a closed course?
Waitlists are only available for courses in departments that have chosen to use this functionality. If a course has a waitlist option, this information is displayed in the “Status” column in Pace Portal (see above). Students must satisfy any course restrictions, including prerequisites, and have no active holds on their accounts to add themselves to a course waitlist. Being on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in any course.

How does the course waitlist work once I am on it?
The waitlist is an automated process based on a student’s class standing/earned credits. Seniors have higher priority than juniors and so on. You will be notified through your Pace email account if you are offered a seat through the waitlist process. You can add the course if it will not conflict with another course for which you are currently registered and if adding the course will not exceed your maximum credit load for the semester. The waitlist period ends on the last day of the first week of classes (final Add without permission deadline).

  • Please Note: Students' positions on the waitlist are dynamic and NOT first come, first serve. Students' positions on the waitlist are determined by their individual academic class standing and positions are subject to change based on the class standing of students who continue to join the waitlist, even if at a later date/time.

If I am selected from the waitlist how much time do I have to register?
An email notification will be sent to your Pace email account. Once notified, you will have a 24-hour window to register for the seat in the course. It is important that you check your Pace email frequently if you are on a waitlist for a class. If you do not register for the course during the 24-hour window, the seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist. If you lose the seat, you must add yourself to the waitlist for the course again.

When does the waitlist process end?
The waitlist ends on the last day of the first week of classes (final Add without permission deadline).

How do course restrictions work for waitlisting?
Course restrictions work the same as regular registration. Students must meet any/all course requirements, requisites, and restrictions to sign-up for a course waitlist.

Can students get on the waitlist for more than one section of the same course?
No. Students can only waitlist themselves for one section of the specific course. Students who are already registered for a course cannot join a waitlist for a different section of the same course since they have already secured a seat in the course.

Is there a way for students to see their position on the waitlist?
Yes, a student's position on the waitlist is displayed on the Schedule Details tab of their Registration page in Pace Portal.

  • Please Note: Students' positions on the waitlist are dynamic and NOT first come, first serve. Students' positions on the waitlist are determined by their individual academic class standing/earned credits and positions are subject to change based on the class standing of students who continue to join the waitlist, even if at a later date/time.
  • If two waitlisted students in the same academic standing group (ex. two sophomores) are looking to add the same class, the student who joined the waitlist first will receive the first attempt at the seat.

Can students get on a waitlist for a class that has a time conflict with another course?
Yes. Students can waitlist for a course(s) whose meeting days/times conflict with a course for which they are currently registered. However, if a student is offered a seat through the waitlist, they must drop any course(s) that has a day/time conflict before adding the waitlisted course and be sure that adding the waitlisted course will not exceed their maximum credit load for the semester.

If a student has a hold on their account, can they join a waitlist?
No. The same restrictions apply to the waitlist that apply to registering for a course. Any holds must be cleared to join a course waitlist and must also be cleared to register for the waitlist course if a seat becomes available.

How do I register for sections that are linked, such as courses that have separate CRNs for Lecture and another CRN for Lab (ex. science courses)?
You can only waitlist for the Lecture component. If a spot becomes available in the Lecture section and you choose to register for it, you will be prompted to select one of the linked Lab sections. You will not be able to register without specifying both Lecture and linked Lab CRNs.

I am an instructor/faculty. How can I view the students on a waitlist in my course?
Instructors can view the students waitlisted in their courses when they view the class roster via the Pace Portal. A faculty-specific guide for waitlist information (PDF) is available for review.