WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRIORITY REGISTRATION?
Priority registration enables students to register earlier than their usual registration time
in order to provide equal access to educational programs.
Some students may be eligible to register before other students at their class level (Head of Class);
after the seniors (Head of Junior Class); or on the first day of registration (Ahead of Everyone).
Priority registration through McBurney generally applies only to undergraduates.
(See footnote #1.)
Graduate and professional students need to work individually with their departments. First semester
freshmen and incoming transfer students are not eligible because (a) currently enrolled students register
in the spring before freshman/transfer admissions processes are completed, and (b) incoming students must
receive advising via the Summer Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) program prior to registering.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR PRIORITY REGISTRATION?
Priority registration is available to students who:
- Need to schedule classes at specific times or locations to achieve equal access to educational opportunities. (See footnote #2.)
- Use document conversion (audio or Braille), captioning or interpreting services.
Eligibility is based on appropriate documentation of disability and is determined on a case by case basis. Students may discuss their eligibility with their accommodations specialist.
WHAT TYPES OF PRIORITY REGISTRATION ARE THERE?
There are 3 kinds of priority registration: Head of Class, Head of Junior Class, and Ahead of Everyone.
A.
Head of Class: This is the most common type of priority registration and it allows students to register at the beginning of their class level (Freshman, Soph., etc.). Eligibility is generally due to a reduced course load, students taking the minimum full load (12 credits) and thus are always last in their class to register, scheduling needs (i.e. to avoid clustering classes together), and other unique needs deemed appropriate by the Accommodation Specialist.
B.
Head of Junior Class: Eligibility is generally limited to students using specific accommodations requiring significant preparation time, such as document conversion, interpreting and captioning. Students register after seniors and before all other undergraduates.
C. Ahead of Everyone: Eligibility is intended for students needing to schedule classes in a restricted time frame due to significant mobility impairments such as quadriplegia, paraplegia, cerebral palsy or other conditions affecting mobility; or due to severe health impairments requiring a regimented treatment schedule (e.g., dialysis, chemotherapy). Registering ahead of all other undergraduates is reserved for the most compelling circumstances demonstrating a relationship between the need for a specific treatment schedule and the likelihood for being denied equal access to educational activities without such priority.
ONCE I AM FOUND ELIGIBLE FOR PRIORITY REGISTRATION, DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO ENSURE THAT I RECEIVE PRIORITY REGISTRATION EACH SEMESTER?
Eligible students will automatically have their names and specific registration status forwarded to the
Registrar for the duration of their accommodation plan (VISA). If the registration time on the "invitation to register" does not reflect
the appropriate priority registration time, students should contact their McBurney accommodations specialist immediately.
COULD I LOSE THE PRIORITY REGISTRATION SERVICE?
Yes. Students who do not submit timely requests for document conversion, captioning or interpreting
services may lose the priority registration service. Priority registration is authorized for students
who use these services because significant advance preparation on our part is required to provide the
services.
WILL PRIORITY REGISTRATION EXEMPT ME FROM OTHER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS?
No. Priority registration does not exempt students from meeting general registration or other requirements for their school or college
(e.g., prerequisites, academic holds, etc.). Academic holds and permission to register actions
must be taken care of prior to registration. Please review your registration instructions carefully.
| 
|