Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General Registration

What is a student identification number (SID)?
What is the Personal identification number (PIN)?
What is an Alternate PIN number?
What happens if I have a hold on my record?
Do I have to do anything when I am given a "permit or authorization"?
When can I make a program adjustment?
How do I make payment for registered courses?
Is there a help line if I experience any difficulties with registration?
I would like to be a visiting student at William Paterson University. What are the procedures that I must follow?

Web Registration Can I register for classes from anywhere?
How much time do I have to register on the WEB?
What happens if my session ends before I finish registration?
What happens if a course I have selected on web registration is closed?
What is a conditional drop/add?
Can I get a copy of my schedule on the web?
How can I change my PIN?
What do I do if I lose or forget my PIN?

What is a student identification number(SID)?
A student identification number is the students nine digit number which is used for identification purpose within the institution.

What is the Personal identification number (PIN)?
A personal identification number is a six digit number based upon the student's birth date(month,day and year). Students must always use the correct SID and PIN numbers. This PIN number provides access to all William Paterson University information systems.

What is an Alternate Pin Number ?
An alternate PIN number is a registration access number which is required for registration. Students will not be able to register without their Alternate PIN number. Students will receive their RAN from their adivsor when their advisement appointment takes place for each semester. This number will be changed every semester, thereby enforcing the advisement process. You must have your RAN in order to register. PLEASE NOTE: graduate student's RAN is their PIN(birth date e.g.010582).

What happens if I have a hold on my record?
Students who attempt to register but have a hold on their records will be prevented from registering. The registration system will identify the hold, the office that has placed the hold and a contact phone number. Holds must be resolved in order to be eligible to register.

Do I have to do anything when I am given a "permit or authorization" ?
YES, Authorization or permits issued by the department chairpersons to waive prerequisites or for entry into a closed course must be claimed by the student. Students must register for the course using WEB registration within the registration window in which the permit was issued. PLEASE NOTE:The authorizations or permits that are not claimed during the window in which they are issued will be voided at the conclusion of that window.

When can I make a program adjustment?
Any time the registration system is available to you, an adjustment can be made to your schedule. Please check the appropriate semester Calendar for the days in which program adjustment is available.

How do I make payment for registered courses?
All students are required to make financial arrangements for payment. Adherence to payment deadlines is required. If you do not receive an e-bill all students should contact the Bursar's Office at (973)720-2234. Failure to make arrangements for payment will result in your registration being voided.

Is there a help line if I experience any difficulties with registration?
Yes, If you do experience difficulties registering, you may call the William Paterson University registration Help Line at (973) 720-2204. The help line is available during regular business hours, 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday and Monday through Thursday from 8:00-5:15 during the summer(excluding holidays and weekends). If you would like to e-mail any questions you may contact Registrar.

I would like to be a visiting student at William Paterson University. What are the procedures that I must follow?
A letter of good academic standing from your home institution must be submitted to the Admissions Office (undergraduates) or the Office of Graduate Studies, along with the completed application and fee to William Paterson University. This letter will provide eligibility for you to register for course work. You must ensure that all prerequisites have been completed for the course you wish to enroll.

Can I register for classes from anywhere?
All registration is accessed through the internet, therefore a student can register from any computer with Internet access.

How much time do I have to register on the web?
There is a time limit for your session on the web. After this, your session will be terminated and you will have to log on again. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from viewing your schedule if you forget to log off.

What happens If my session ends before I finish registering?
As long as you have submitted some of your scheduled courses you will retain that schedule. If you have to reconnect to web registration you can continue with registration where you left off.

What happens if a course I have selected on the Web is closed?
When registering via the web, you can look at all the sections of a course and view which are opened or closed. Web registration will not allow you to register for a closed course. If all the sections of the course are closed, contact your advisor for assistance.

What is a conditional drop/add?
A conditional drop/add is when a class is dropped on the condition that another course will be added in its place. The drop will not be processed unless the add is successful.

Can I get a copy of my schedule on the web?
There are two formats of your schedule on the web. The first schedule, STUDENT SCHEDULE, displays a graphic schedule in time blocks so that you can view your courses at a time distribution. The second schedule, DETAILED SCHEDULE, lists your course information with additional information that you may need.

How can I change my PIN?
Your PIN is initially set to your Date of Birth. To insure that your records are secure, we do encourage each student to change their PIN. Students can go to www.wpunj.edu/studentservices and click on PIN,RAN,FAQ to change their PIN.

What do I do if I lose or Forget my PIN?
Students who lose or forget their PIN can go to http://ww2.wpunj.edu/enrolled/index_enrolled.html. You will need to submit your information and your PIN will be sent to your student e-mail account.