REGISTRATION

Registration Process | Payment of Fees | DE Registration | Dropping a Class
Withdrawal for the University | Change in Registration Status

Before You Register:

1. Go to the registrar's web site to see the total list of classes being offered.
2. GET ADVISED.  Discuss your plans with the SLIS faculty advisor to whom you have been assigned.
3. Clear any holds on your registration.  Your registration may be blocked until you have satisfied academic, financial, and disciplinary obligations to the University.  Contact the appropriate office to remove a block.  By calling 803-777-5555 you can identify any hold on your file.
4. Know your PIN number.  Each student has a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which is required to access the online Visual Information Processing system (VIP).  If you forget your PIN, call the Office of the Registrar at (803) 777-5555.  You may also request your PIN in person with photo identification on the third floor of Petigru.  For your security, your PIN will not be disclosed over the telephone.  If you are registering for classes for the first time using VIP, you will use the month/date of your birthday (for instance, 0214 for February 14) for your PIN.  However, if your PIN is your birthday, you will be prompted by VIP to change it.
5. Know the six-digit schedule code for each course for which you plan to register.  These numbers are printed in the Master Schedule for each semester and are also available on the Registrar's office web site.  If your courses are offered by Distance Education, you will find the schedule codes for these classes on their web site by going to http://www.sc.edu/deis/ss/college/deis-current-courses.htm This page also leads to inforamtion about each of the distance courses for a particular semester. If you view at a USC system campus, be sure to use the schedule code for that particular viewing site.

Registration Process:

Students at the University of South Carolina can register for classes online using

VIP (online Visual Information Processing system).

Using VIP you can also

•  Change your schedule
• Get your blackboard id and password
•  Check your fees
•  Apply financial aid and scholarships to your bill
•  Pay your fees via Visa, MasterCard, Discover or Electronic Check
•  Confirm your schedule
•  Access your grades at the end of the semester
• Request transcripts .

To Register Using VIP:

  VIP is available online 24 hours a day.  Simply go to the web page for VIP to begin.

1. On the main page, choose Login by clicking with your cursor.
2. Enter your Student ID number (your social security number) and your PIN, then click ìLogin. For information on your PIN, see above section, Before You Register.
3. From the main menu, choose registration activity by selecting the Academics tab.
4. To add a course (register), drop a course, or otherwise change your course schedule, click on Show Me next to Course Registration.  Be sure the proper semester is selected.
5. To register, choose Add from the drop-down box and type in the schedule code for the class you wish to add, then click on Go!
6. When you are finished adding your classes, click on Go to Main Menu.
7. After you are finished with VIP, be sure to log out of the system.

   Students are strongly advised to register as early as possible since some courses are limited in enrollment and early registration is the only way to ensure that you will be able to take these courses during the semester most convenient for you.  Registration for courses in the School is on a first come, first served basis.

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Fee Payment

Remember that you have not completed your registration until you have paid your fees.  Do not wait until you receive a bill to pay your fees.  Check your fees by using VIP, then continue through the registration process.  Your class schedule will be cancelled if fees are not paid by a specified date prior to each semester.  Check the Master Schedule for cancellation dates.  Once your registration has been cancelled it may not be easy to reinstate your schedule.  You may pay by Visa, MasterCard Discover Card, or electronic check via VIP.  If you pay by credit card, a non-refundable convenience fee will be added to your bill to cover the cost being charged to the University.  You may pay in person in Petigru (room 206) with check or cash.  If you pay via VIP, wait for a transaction code to confirm successful completion of payment.

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Distance Education Registration

Students should register for Distance Education courses by VIP as

Schedule codes for USC system campuses are not printed in the Master Schedule.  Information about courses offered through distance education is available on the DEIS Student Services web site.  If you view at a USC system campus, use the schedule code indicated for that site.  If you are planning to view at a site not shown in the list of schedule codes, contact a student services coordinator for more information.

Textbooks, other course materials, videocassettes, and syllabi are available through Distance Education.  Once you have pre-registered through VIP, you will receive a packet with your syllabus, coversheets, materials list, materials order form, and possibly DVDs if your course is offered on the web.  You may return your order form using the postage-paid envelope enclosed in the packet.  If you return your order by mail, you may pay by check, money order, Visa/MasterCard, or Discover.  You may also order your materials over the phone by charging your order to Visa/MasterCard or Discover.  The DEIS staff are happy to talk with you about the materials required for your course(s). Please contact Distance Education by phone, mail, FAX, or e-mail if you are in need of assistance:
 Toll free:  800-922-2577, option 1
 FAX:  803-777-6264
 e-mail:  question@gwm.sc.edu
 Distance Education
 915 Gregg Street
 Columbia, SC  29208

Regardless of which method of registration you decide to use, ALWAYS DISCUSS YOUR PLANS WITH YOUR ADVISOR PRIOR TO REGISTERING EACH SEMESTER.

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DROPPING A CLASS

Dropping refers to a student terminating registration in a particular section of a course while retaining enrollment in the University for the term.  A graduate student may drop a course via VIP.  For example, Columbia campus courses (usually session C002) dropping during the second through the sixth week of a fall or spring semester will be recorded with a non-penalty grade of W.  After six weeks most courses dropped will appear on the permanent record with a WF grade.  A WF is treated as an F in the evaluation of the studentís eligibility to continue and in computing grade point averages.  In summer sessions and other shortened terms, the period for withdrawal with a grade of W happens almost immediately.It is the studentís responsibility to CONSULT THE SESSION CALENDAR FOR EACH COURSE TO KNOW APPLICABLE DATES.  Session deadlines may also be found on the Web by going to the Registrar's web site and clicking on Refund and Withdrwal Calendar.

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WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY

Withdrawal refers to a studentís decision to terminate registration in all courses and to officially withdraw from enrollment in the University for the remainder of the academic term.  To officially withdraw from the University, students should drop all courses via VIP and then select the Withdrawal option when prompted.  Graduate students wishing to withdraw from all courses should be aware of the ramifications of that action with respect to grades assigned, status in their programs, liability for repayment for student loans, and any financial obligations to the University.  The date of withdrawal affects the grades assigned (W or WF), as do valid claims of extenuating circumstances, which should be presented to the Student Services Manager and the studentís instructors prior to withdrawal.  Grades assigned upon withdrawal are determined as described above for dropping courses.  For assistance with withdrawing, consult the Student Services Manager.

REGISTRATION STATUS CHANGES

Students who have previously taken courses in the department but have not taken a course in one calendar year are automatically dropped from the active student data system.  In order to reactivate the file, a student must complete a new application form and submit it to the Graduate School.