For many Western Washington University students, registration week brings more anxiety than excitement. Between full classes, waitlists and tight work schedules, the process has become one of the most stressful parts of the academic quarter.
Emma Medard, a first-year at Western, said finding open classes that meet both her requirements and schedule has been a challenge.
“Honestly, the most stressful part has been trying to find open classes that fit both my schedule and the requirements I need,” Medard said. “It’s super irritating when the classes I want aren’t even offered for the quarter, or the professor I want doesn’t have any seats left.”
Learning to use new tools like Degree Works and Plan Ahead has also been an adjustment for Medard.
“It took a bit to get used to,” she said. “Degree Works is helpful once you understand it, and Plan Ahead made things easier once I figured out how to link it to registration. But the learning curve is there for sure.”
Balancing course registration with work, clubs and campus life adds another layer of complexity. Medard explained that her schedule isn’t just about classes — it’s about fitting in shifts at work, club meetings and even meal times.
“Sometimes that means choosing a less ideal class time just to make everything else manageable,” she said.
First-year students aren’t the only ones struggling. Casper Suter, a fourth-year biology major with a cell and molecular emphasis, said his registration difficulties stem from staffing shortages in the department.
“As a senior, registration has been difficult because a lot of the classes I’ve needed haven’t been offered due to a lack of staffing in the biology department,” Suter said. “My options are very limited, so trying to make a schedule where everything fits together is hard.”
Suter added that as an upperclassman, he has fewer class options, so he has to plan much more carefully.
Before its shutdown, many students relied on ClassFinder, Western’s former course search tool, to streamline scheduling. The website allowed users to view course offerings, build a schedule and manually transfer information to the registration system.
“I used ClassFinder every quarter,” Suter said. “I liked being able to see how everything fit into a schedule, and it even showed if classes overlapped.”
According to university Information Technology Services, ClassFinder was retired due to outdated technology that could no longer be supported. In its place, Western introduced Browse Classes, a more integrated search tool that connects directly with the registration module. Browse Classes debuted on April 11, 2023, and now serves as the official platform for viewing courses and building schedules.
Serafinn Lavender, assistant registrar for registration services, oversees the team that manages all aspects of registration. Lavender’s office works closely with academic departments to develop course schedules each term and partners with the Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center to ensure students have the tools they need.
“Some courses have restrictions or prerequisites that can impact a student’s registration plans,” Lavender said. “Planning a schedule early helps students navigate those challenges and gives them time to explore alternatives.”
Lavender recommends students take advantage of advising and online resources well before their registration date. “It’s best to start building schedules as soon as classes are visible in Browse Classes and Plan Ahead opens,” Lavender said. “Advisors get busy as Phase I approaches, so the earlier in the quarter students reach out, the better.”
Western offers several key tools to support registration:
— Degree Works: A degree audit tool that helps students and advisors track graduation requirements.
— Plan Ahead: A course-planning feature that lets students create and save schedules before their registration window opens.
— Browse Classes: The current course search tool that integrates directly with registration for easier access.
As students continue adjusting to new systems, many hope for improvements that simplify an already stressful process.
“Registration always feels like a race,” Suter said. “The tools help, but there’s still room to make it less chaotic.”
Mishele Ross (she/her) is Junior at Western, majoring in News/Editorial Journalism. When she is not hunting down a source or hiding out in the library writing a story for The Front, you can find her listening to music, bowling, or playing a round of golf. You can reach her at misheleross.thefront@gmail.com.
