Providence College

Frequently Asked Questions

This page will be updated throughout registration.

Last updated 3/10/2008

Check back here for additional updates.

The current registration process will once again provide all students with the opportunity to register for their courses in a fair and equitable manner. However, as some students learned in the past, this new web-based process also requires students to be well prepared and to understand the potential roadblocks that could make registration challenging or prevent registration altogether. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions as you prepare for registration:

What if I Disable My CyberFriar PIN?
How Do I Obtain My Registration Alternate PIN?
Should I use CyberFriar or the Course Registration Booklet to Select My Courses?
When Can I Register?
Where Do I Register?
What if My First Choice Courses Are Not Available?
What if I Have a Registration Hold?
Are Course Prerequisites Enforced in CyberFriar?
What if I Have Completed a Transfer or Substituted Course to Fulfill a Prerequisite Requirement?
Do I Need to Register for Corequisites Courses (e.g., Labs) at the Same Time?
Are Any Courses Restricted to Specific Majors or Class Years?
What if I Receive a Course Permission Error?
How Can I Register for Summer Courses?
Will Staff Be Available to Assist With Questions at Registration?

What if I Disable My CyberFriar PIN?Back to Top
A significant number of students have disabled their CyberFriar accounts at some point. A key reason may be that the CAPS lock key on the computer has been inappropriately enabled (NOTE: The PIN is case-sensitive). Be sure to check the CAPS lock on your keyboard before you try to login. If your PIN becomes disabled, contact the Records Office (x1033 or records@providence.edu) to have it reset.

How Do I Obtain My Registration Alternate PIN?Back to Top
During registration, you will login to CyberFriar as usual with your Banner ID and PIN. When you attempt to add/drop courses for your fall schedule, you will be prompted for an additional alternate pin .

Your ALTPIN label should have been provided to you by your faculty advisor when you met to discuss your course schedule. Registration will not be permitted without this number. Make sure you have contacted your advisor prior to your registration date/time if you have not obtained your ALTPIN.

Should I use CyberFriar or the Course Registration Booklet to Select My Courses?Back to Top
While your printed course registration booklet may prove useful as you and your advisor consider course options, please be aware that CyberFriar will have the most current course offerings information.

When Can I Register? Back to Top
Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. on the designated dates for each class year unless noted otherwise:

Class of December 2008: Friday - April 11 4PM
Class of May 2009: Monday & Tuesday - April 14 & 15 (Group I & Group II)
Class of December 2009: Tuesday - April 15 4PM
Class of May 2010: Thursday & Friday - April 17 & 18 (Group I & Group II)
Class of December 2010: Friday - April 18 4PM
Class of May 2011: Monday & Tuesday - April 21 & 22 (Group I & Group II)
Class of December 2011: Tuesday - April 22 4PM 

Where Do I Register? Back to Top
Once again, students may choose to register for courses from any computer with an internet connection, on or off-campus.  The public computers and wireless access in the library as well as the computer labs in Accinno, Albertus-Magnus and Koffler Halls will be open by 6:45AM on each registration day as a convenience to those students who do not have easy access to a computer elsewhere. You are not required to register in the labs.

What if My First Choice Courses Are Not Available? Back to Top
It is most important that you have a complement of alternate course selections available in case your first choice selections are closed. Be sure to discuss alternate choices with your faculty advisor prior to registration.

What if I Have a Registration Hold? Back to Top
Registration "holds" will prevent students from registering for courses. Many students have recently been placed on financial or other holds, so it is critical that you review your "Registration Profile" page in CyberFriar to determine whether any holds exist. These holds must be cleared in advance of your scheduled registration period. Please allow 3 days for a hold to clear from your account.

Are Course Prerequisites Enforced in CyberFriar? Back to Top
Assigned course prerequisites are enforced in CyberFriar/Banner. All students are expected to review the prerequisites for their intended course selections through CyberFriar's online Course Catalog. In addition, students who may have fulfilled prerequisites through transfer or other substitute courses must contact the Dean's Office at dean@providence.edu in advance of their registration to obtain permission to override the stated prerequisite.

What if I Have Completed a Transfer or Substituted Course to Fulfill a Prerequisite Requirement? Back to Top
Students who need to register for a fall course which has a prerequisite for which they've completed with a generic transfer course code on their transcript, i.e. MKT 002A or JYA A1, may require an override to enroll in the desired course. Registration acts independently of the degree audit. Merely, making an adjustment to a degree audit will not allow a student to register for the course. This is also true for Providence College courses that are approved substitutions for requirements. If you believe you have approved transfer courses/substitutions that should be considered as prerequisites for courses you wish to enroll, please contact the Dean's Office at dean@providence.edu. Once prerequisites have been verified you will be given a "prerequisite override." Overrides allow students to bypass prerequisite requirements to enroll in courses as long as they are still available.

Do I Need to Register for Co-requisites Courses (e.g., Labs) at the Same Time? Back to Top
Some courses have labs or other "co-requisite" courses that must be taken during the same semester. Students are not able to register for one part of a co-requisite without registering for the other at the same time. CyberFriar's online catalog identifies all courses with co-requisite requirements.

Are Any Courses Restricted to Specific Majors or Class Years? Back to Top
Some course sections are identified in CyberFriar's online catalog as "restricted" to specific majors or graduation class years. Be sure to check CyberFriar for restrictions on specific courses. In some cases, a small number of departments have "reserved" seats for groups of students in specific course sections. These students will still need to register for the course via CyberFriar. If you receive a RESERVED CLOSED error when attempting to register for a specific course section, this indicates that the course does not have available seats for students outside the reserved group. You may choose to contact the appropriate department chair or program director for more information about whether you may be granted permission to register.

Some departments/programs have also registered students for one or more of their major courses. Check your schedule through CyberFriar prior to registration.

What if I Receive a Course Permission Error?   Back to Top
Some courses require special permission for students to register. The course booklet indicates courses that require instructor, department chair or program director approval. Students will not be able to register for these courses through CyberFriar.

How Can I Register for Summer Courses? Back to Top
Students may choose to register for summer courses through the School of Continuing Education (SCE). Check CyberFriar for specific information on course offerings and the Dean's Office web site for policies and procedures for day students enrolling in summer courses. Prior approval from the Dean's Office is required.  Please contact the SCE Office for registration dates. 

Will Staff Be Available to Assist With Questions at Registration? Back to Top
Individuals will be available in the Accinno labs as well as a few key offices to assist students with registration issues. There may be situations where you need to contact the Dean's Office (degree audits), Records Office (resetting PIN), or other offices. All contacts, whether in person, by phone or email, should include your name and Banner ID number! It will speed up our ability to serve all students in a timely way. The two primary offices are:

Academic Records PIN resets	x1033	Harkins 207
Academic Scheduling/Registration registration/course errors/issues	x1033	Harkins 412