Kaitlyn Richards ’29
News Editor
Students all across campus are stressfully logging onto their registration portals this week, as course enrollment for the spring semester officially commences. With new classes being offered, changes in schedules, and the typical race to claim the ideal time slots, registration season has sparked both excitement and stress for students.
Before students can begin the process of registering for courses, they are placed on an “advising hold”. In a message sent to the entire student body, the Office of the Registrar explains to students that “to have the hold removed, you must meet with your advisor(s),” which ensures that all students receive academic guidance to remain on track for majors, minors, and core requirements. These meetings often help students feasibly plan balanced schedules and explore courses that align with their future academic pursuits. Once students meet with their advisor, the hold is lifted, and they can begin searching for courses in the Student Academic Record System (STAR). Additionally, students must enter into the system to “accept the Financial Responsibility Agreement in STAR prior to enrollment” to ensure ease on enrollment day.
At Holy Cross, the Office of the Registrar has designed a staggered registration schedule to ensure a fair and orderly process for all class years. On registration day, students will log in to STAR, the system used for enrollment, on their assigned days, which vary by expected graduation year. Seniors will kick off registration season, enrolling in their final courses on the hill beginning Monday, Nov. 10 in order to ensure all major requirements are met before applying for graduation, followed by the juniors on Thursday, Nov. 13, the sophomores on Monday Nov. 17, and finally the freshmen on Thursday, Nov. 20. For these dates, it is recommended that students find a location that has a stable internet connection. To aid in this process, Dinad Library has expanded its hours, with doors opening at 6:45 a.m. to provide a good location for 7:00 a.m. registration.
During the first stage of enrollment, students have the opportunity to register for two of their courses for the following semester. Following the first stage, students will then register for their final two courses to complete academic requirements. First-year students will only enroll in one course during the second stage of enrollment as they will automatically be enrolled in the second session of their Montserrat course by the Registrar. After the initial stages of registration close, students will have an opportunity to access stage three of course enrollment from Dec. 2 through Jan. 16, which allows time for schedule changes prior to the start of spring courses.
In light of the stress of registering for courses, many students have expressed excitement about planning their schedules for the spring semester. “I am looking forward to looking through all of the courses that I have the opportunity to take next semester,” said student Ciara Long ’29. “The process reminds me of all of the academic opportunities I have access to at Holy Cross, and as a freshman, it is an exciting time to start exploring majors or even new academic interests. I am also looking forward to completing core requirements as they bring connections to academic departments that I am less familiar with.” Other students shared a similar sentiment and are looking forward to completing core requirements in areas of study that differ from their major.
Additionally, several new courses have been added to the spring semester schedule, which provide new opportunities for students to branch out from their original interests. The Psychology Department is adding the course “Cultural Psychology” as well as “Leadership and the Common Good,” and the Environmental Studies Department is introducing “Worcester Eats.” Many other departments are creating new courses to develop new interests, and students can remain informed about all of the spring additions on the Office of the Registrar’s Ignite Page.
As registration season continues, the excitement of the spring semester is buzzing around campus. Students remain busy planning courses to take with their friends or looking forward to making connections with new classmates as they begin courses in the spring. Registration is always a great opportunity for students to come together as one campus community and show support for other students by creating new meaningful relationships.
Featured image courtesy of the College of the Holy Cross
Copy edited by Lily Wasmund ’28
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