How to Request a Seat from the Waitlist
Each school and department may offer a slightly different process to assist you in registering for a course from the waitlist. Please see below for more information.
| School/Department | Process | Timing for Review of Requests | Notes |
| Anthropology | For Anthropology courses, besides putting yourself on the waitlist if you fail to get a seat during open registration, students whose degree progress is seriously impeded by the failure to add a course should email the instructor of that course with a detailed explanation of their need. | ||
| Biology | All students requesting a seat in a particular BIOL class must add themselves to the waitlist for that course prior to submitting . | The department will check the waitlists twice weekly until the last day of classes, and then every other Monday through the summer. | We will consider all requests, but must prioritize requests from: (1) students in their final semester, (2) students who are not already registered for a course, and (3) students with schedule conflicts with another required course. For labs, the maximum size is determined by safety considerations and generally cannot increase. |
| Chemistry and Biochemistry | If you are seeking to register for a CHEM lecture or lab that is currently full, add yourself to the waitlist and complete the . | Seats will be released as they become available throughout the end of add-drop. | |
| Communication | Communication majors or minors who are unable to secure a seat in COMN 100 during their registration period must add their name to the waitlist to secure a seat in the course. Students hoping to take COMN 100 as a social science or elective may also add their name to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available, the person listed first on the waitlist will be notified through their student email. All students may add their names to the waitlist for other Communication courses. Likewise, if a seat becomes available, the person listed first on the waitlist will be notified through their student email. | ||
| English | For English and Creative Writing courses, students whose degree progress is seriously impeded by the failure to add a course should email the instructor of that course with a detailed explanation of their need. | ||
| Geography and Sustainability Studies | For Geography and Sustainability Studies courses (GEOG and SUST prefixes), please put yourself on the waitlist if you fail to get a seat during open registration. Students whose degree progress is seriously impeded by the failure to add a course should email the instructor of that course with a detailed explanation of their need. | Open registration continues through Add/Drop, so continue to check for available seats. | |
| Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences | All students who place themselves on the waitlist for a GSCI course must complete this . | The Department Chair will review waitlist requests every other Monday, in consultation with the individual instructor for the specific section of the course. | Requests will be prioritized by student graduation date, course plans that have been impacted by study abroad, and/or the availability of courses offered by other departments. |
| Global Languages and Cultures | Students unable to secure a seat during open registration should add themselves to the waitlist for the course. | ||
| History | For History courses, students whose degree progress is seriously impeded by the failure to add a course should add themselves to the waitlist and email the instructor of that course with a detailed explanation of their need. | ||
| Mathematics | Students who want to enroll in a closed course should join the waitlist for that course, and also notify the Math department by filling out this . | ||
| Performing Arts | Performing Arts majors unable to enroll in a course required for their degree because the section is full should contact the instructor for permission to register. | ||
| Philosophy | All students who place themselves on the waitlist for a PHIL course must complete this . | The Department Chair will review waitlist requests every other Monday, in consultation with the individual instructor for the specific section of the course. | Philosophy faculty teach courses under other prefixes (e.g., WGST, WRTG). For questions about the management of waitlists for those courses, students should contact the coordinators of the programs associated with those courses. |
| Physics and Astronomy | All students who place themselves on the waitlist for a PHYS/ASTR course must complete this . | The Department Chair will review waitlist requests every other Monday, in consultation with the individual instructor for the specific section of the course. | Requests will be prioritized by student graduation date, course plans that have been impacted by study abroad, and/or the availability of courses offered by other departments. |
| Political Science and International Relations | All students who place themselves on the waitlist for a PLSC course must complete this . | The Department Chair will review waitlist requests every other Monday, in consultation with the individual instructor for the specific section of the course. | Requests will be prioritized by student graduation date, course plans that have been impacted by study abroad, and/or the availability of courses offered by other departments. |
| Psychology and Neuroscience | Students unable to secure a seat during open registration should add themselves to the waitlist for the course. | ||
| School of Business | All students who place themselves on the waitlist for a School of Business course must complete this . | School of Business administration will review the waitlist requests every Thursday. | Please email sbusadvising@geneseo.edu if you have any questions. |
| School of Education | All students who need a seat in a particular class must add themselves to the waitlist for that course and should fill out this . | The Ella Cline Shear School of Education manages the waitlist process centrally. Individual professors do not add students to their courses since we manage multiple sections of courses and consider the needs of students collectively. Historically, we have promised students that if they need an education course within their planned sequence, we have guaranteed them a seat. | If other sections of the same course are still open, your request may not be considered. If classes are currently at their capacity and a student is deemed to have time to take a course in a future semester, their request will most likely be denied. |
| Sociology | Students unable to secure a seat during open registration should add themselves to the waitlist for the course. |