Waitlists

Waitlisting is available on all Fall and Spring semester undergraduate courses and select graduate-level courses (College of Business and Public Management graduate courses only)  except for all internships, field experiences, co-ops, practicums, clinicals, independent studies, travel learns, research, and thesis/dissertation courses. Waitlisting is not currently available for Summer and Winter semester registration.

A waitlist provides a systematic way for a student to be considered to enroll in a course section that is currently filled to its capacity. A student must meet all registration eligibility requirements and have completed all pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements. If a seat becomes available, the first student on the waitlist, will receive an email invitation to their Kean email account informing them that a space is available and instructions on how to register for the course.  Upon receipt of this email only the student that received it can claim the open seat by login to their KeanWISE account to register before the expiration time (by 11:59 p.m. on the following day). In the event that the student neglects to register by the deadline, the invitation to register will expire and an invitation will be sent to the next student on the waitlist. The process will continue until all open course section seats are filled or the waitlist is depleted.

A student that no longer wishes to be considered part of the waitlist, can login to their KeanWISE account and drop themselves from the waitlist.

WAITLISTING INTO A COURSE SECTION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENROLLMENT INTO THAT COURSE SECTION.  

Waitlisting is NOT course registration. Students can only be billed and receive aid for those courses for which they are registered.

Why does Kean provide waitlists for courses?

Waitlists provide a systematic way for students to enroll in course sections that have filled to capacity. If a seat in a full course section becomes available, the students that are active on the waitlist have the first opportunity to register for the course section and fill the open seat. Additionally, Kean uses course fill rates and waitlist data to inform decision-making within each respective department and college to open additional course sections. If course demand is strong and additional circumstances allow for it, additional course sections may be opened and students on an active waitlist will be notified by email when, and if, additional course sections are opened.

How do I know if a course section has a waitlist?

If a course section has open seats, students will see the course section status as "Open." When select courses with waitlists available activate their waitlist due to full capacity, the course section status will update to "Waitlisted." In the event that a waitlisted course section has a full waitlist, the course section status will be "Closed." If a student views the details of a course section in KeanWISE, the course section status will be displayed as "This section has a waitlist." if the course section has an active waitlist with space available. 

How do I know that I should waitlist for a course?

The decision to waitlist into a course is a personal choice dependent on many variables. In general, when a student is considering adding themselves to a waitlist for course section they should review the full course section list to determine if there are alternative course sections they can register for. It may be possible that additional course sections are available during the same time frame. It may also be possible that additional course sections are available at different times. Students should carefully review all course offerings and availability before waitlisting. Additionally, students should select courses in consultation with their academic advisor or program coordinator. If your advisor or program coordinator advised you to register for a specific course, you may consider informing them that the course has no currently available seats and seek guidance on course alternatives that will also contribute to your academic plan. 

Am I eligible to waitlist for a course section?

Waitlisting is available to all students, however only students who may register for the course section if seats were available may waitlist for the course section. This means that if a student could not register for an open seat in GE*1000*01, then the student may not waitlist into the GE*1000*01 section. Before being eligible for course section waitlisting, students must have met all registration requirements, co-requisite requirements and pre-requisite requirements. If petitions or waivers are needed for registration, those same petitions and waivers are needed to be added to the waitlist. Similarly, all registration holds must be resolved before a student may waitlist into a course section. 

If I waitlist for a course section, will I be guaranteed a seat into the course section?

No. Registration into a course section from a waitlist is not guaranteed. Students are advised to register for alternative course sections if a desired course section is full. While it may be possible that a seat will open on a full course with a waitlist, there is no guarantee that this will happen. 

Do I get billed for a course section if I waitlist into it?

No. Students are only billed for course sections that they are fully registered for. Being on the waitlist for a course section is NOT being registered for a course section. 

Does being on a waitlist for a course section contribute to my enrolled credits to make me a full-time student?

No. Being waitlisted on a course section does not enable you to be enrolled in that course section and therefore the credits associated with the waitlisted course section do not contribute to the total of your enrolled credits for the semester. 

How do I know when a space is available for me to register if I waitlisted into a course section?

In the event that a space does open up, the first person on the waitlist will be notified by email through their Kean University student email account advising them that their window to register is open. Typically, students must login to KeanWISE and register for the course (only they will be able to register once invited) by 11:59 p.m. EST the following day. Automated email invitations to register will be sent from StudentPlanning@kean.edu. 

What happens if I do not register for the course section by the deadline in my waitlist registration invitation email?

If students fail to register for the course in the allotted time, the waitlist invitation will expire and the student will lose the ability to register for the course section. The waitlist will then automatically invite the next person on the waitlist to register with a new deadline. If a waitlist registration invitation expires, the student is removed from the waitlist and must add themselves to the end of the remaining waitlist if they wish to be on the waitlist for that course section. 

How many students can be on a waitlist?

Waitlists are typically set to 100% of the capacity of the full course enrollment. For example, if a course section allows for 30 students to register, then typically 30 students may be able to waitlist into the course section.

How long can I remain on a waitlist?

Waitlists are closed one week prior to the start of the semester. When waitlists are closed, all students that are active on a waitlist are removed (expired) and registration into an open seat for a full course section becomes available first-come, first-served. At this time students are advised to review course section availability regularly to view and register for open seats. 

I just received my invitation to register for an open seat in a course section I was waitlisted to, but I have a hold on my account preventing me from registering. What do I do?

Students must meet all of the registration requirements prior to waitlisting for a course. In the event that a student has a registration hold placed on their account after being able to waitlist for the course, the student must resolve the hold prior to being able to register for the course. If the student is unable to resolve the hold prior to the registration expiration deadline, then the student will not be able to register and will consequently be removed from the waitlist. Once the registration restriction and hold is resolved, the student is able to return to the waitlist or register for the course if a seat is available after the waitlist is depleted. Students are strongly encouraged to review their account and resolve any pending registration holds prior to registration. For assistance with resolving registration holds, please view the Registration Holds and Restrictions page.

If all of the course sections of a course are full and the waitlists are full, will Kean open additional course sections?

The decision to open additional course sections depends on many variables. Department chairs, college deans and many other administrators at Kean review course registration and section availability data to inform decision-making. Where possible, additional course sections may become available, but students are strongly advised not to rely on additional course sections becoming available before registering. Students are strongly encouraged to register for open seats in open course sections. If students need assistance with identifying alternative courses, they should meet with their academic advisor or program coordinator. 

What happens if space doesn't become available for me in a course section that I am waitlisted for and I am absolutely sure I need the course during the upcoming semester to graduate timely?

Kean University is committed to helping all students graduate timely and encourages early registration, when possible. If a student must register for a course section that is full to maintain their academic plan to graduate timely, the student is encouraged to meet with their undergraduate academic advisor or graduate program coordinator to discuss their academic plan to determine options. Each student's academic circumstances are different and the appropriate path to timely graduation can be determined with advisement and consultation of their academic advisor, program coordinator and/or department chair. Please view the academic advising requirements section of the Registrar's website to locate your advisor's information. 

Who do I contact if I have questions about waitlisting that are not addressed on this site?

Please email your questions to waitlistme@kean.edu. Additionally, students may always contact the Cougar Help Center with questions at (908)  737-0400.