Office of the Registrar
FAQs Registration Procedures
Page Content
- New students can be advised and pre-register for their courses at “PREVIEW” orientation sessions held at various times of the year. Details and deadlines for specific orientations for upcoming semesters can be found at http://www.usm.edu/orientation
- New students who miss the “Last Call” (final orientation) must go through late registration the first week of the term and are charged a $50 late fee for registration
- Students may register for orientation via http://www.usm.edu/orientation or contact the Office of Admissions in Kennard-Washington Hall
- Students can add a class before the deadline via their SOAR self-service page or by getting assistance in the Registrar’s Office in Kennard-Washington Hall, room 110.
- Online tutorials and printed instructions are available at https://online-learning.usm.edu/training/soardocs/90/Publishing%20Content/PlayerPackage/toc.html Note: Depending on the session of the class, the deadline will vary. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Students must use the Special Permissions button on their SOAR account in order to add a class after the add deadline has passed. Note: Depending on the session of the class, the deadline will vary. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Students who audit a class must request the audit in the Registrar’s Office no later than the last day to add a class.
- Audit classes will appear on the transcript as Audit and do not impact the grade point average.
- Audit classes do not count toward degree requirements.
- Audit classes do count toward full-time enrollment.
- Tuition for an audited class is the same as a graded class.
- Students who wish to drop an individual course may do so via the SOAR self service page until the drop date for the course has passed. Prior to this date, no grade will appear on the transcript. However, after the financial drop date has passed, students will still be responsible for the tuition assessed for the course. Note: Depending on the session of the class, the deadline will vary. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Students who wish to drop an individual course after the drop date for the course has passed must use the Special Permissions button on their SOAR account. Note: Depending on the session of the class, the deadline will vary. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Students dropping a course after the deadline will receive a grade of W.
- Online tutorial and printed documentation can be found at https://online-learning.usm.edu/training/soardocs/90/Publishing%20Content/PlayerPackage/toc.html
- PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS –Students may drop all of their courses for the next semester by submitting a request via their SOAR student center account under ‘Drop ALL Classes.” This process is called a UNIVERSITY CANCELLATION and requests must be submitted on SOAR prior to the first day of the regular term. Students who process a cancellation will not receive any grades for the term and will not be charged any tuition. Students will be contacted by various USM faculty and/or staff members to discuss issues surrounding the cancellation and any other alternatives. Once final grade rosters have been generated for a class, students are not able to withdraw from the University.
- AFTER CLASSES HAVE BEGUN –Students may drop all of their courses after the semester has started by requesting a UNIVERSITY WITHDRAWAL via their SOAR student center account under ‘Drop ALL Classes.” Students will be contacted by various USM faculty and/or staff members to discuss issues surrounding the withdrawal and any other alternatives. Depending on the timing of the withdrawal, students will be responsible for all tuition charges and may be required to return any refunds previously issued. Students who withdraw after the drop date will receive a grade of W. Once final grade rosters have been generated for a class, students are not able to withdraw from the University.
- AFTER THE SEMESTER HAS ENDED –Students who wish to drop all of their courses after a semester has ended may petition for an Administrative Withdrawal through their college dean. Administrative Withdrawals are given in extreme circumstances and have strict guidelines for filing for a petition. See the University Bulletin for complete details of the process
- Students may swap a class (drop one and add another) in the registration process as long as both of the classes are still available for adding and dropping and all prerequisites are fulfilled.
- Some courses meet for shorter periods than a full-term class. Depending on the course, the class may meet two periods back-to-back or every day for half of the semester. Review the Schedule of Classes via SOAR Class Search for complete details of when the class meets.
- Courses meeting 8w1, 8w2, 5w1, 5w2, etc. have different academic deadlines. Depending on the session of the class, the deadline will vary. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Mini session classes meet between the regular semester classes. Some mini session classes will meet for one week while other mini session classes will meet for two weeks. Review the Schedule of Classes via SOAR Class Search for complete details of when the class meets.
- Students can register for a mini session class via their SOAR self service page.
- Additional tuition will be applied to mini session classes.
- Deadlines for adding and dropping mini session classes are different from regular semester classes. For deadlines, review the Academic Calendar at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars
- Grades for mini session classes do not post to the student’s transcript until the end of the regular semester session.
- A complete listing of mini session classes can be found at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/intersession/
- Class Search instructions via SOAR are available at
- A complete listing of online courses and programs can be found at https://online.usm.edu/programs/
- On class search, use the additional search criteria and select Mode of Instruction/Online, Internet, Web. Also select campus and career.
- Some courses and/or degree programs are offered online. Students may register for an online course via their SOAR self service page.
- A complete list of online course and/or degree programs offered can be found at https://online.usm.edu/programs/
- Additional tuition charges will apply for online courses.
- Prerequisites are listed on the class detail panel within SOAR. After searching for a specific class, select the section link to view any specific enrollment requirements (prerequisites), class notes, restrictions, etc.
- When registering for courses, students that do not have the required prerequisites will receive an error message that says ‘Requisites have not been met.”