Registrars Office | Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
With two new initiatives on the horizon, Wright State University students will soon be able to schedule classes a term early and view midterm grades.
Multi-term registration
Multi-term registration will soon be an option for those interested students. According to the Multi-Term Registration Guide for Faculty, multi-term registration will allow students to schedule classes one year in advance.
According to University Registrar Dr. Lisa Runyan, this initiative is set to become available for students during weeks 9-11 of the Spring 2023 term, meaning that students will be able to register for courses of the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters.
Allowing students to stay planned out for as long as possible gives students confidence to plan other tasks around a school schedule, according to Associate Vice Provost of Student Success Tim Littell.
Littell also explained that multi-term registration will help foster a sense of belonging for students.
“You’re not just a student here in the fall, you’re a student here for as long as you want to be,” Littell said.
For Dr. Amy Thompson, provost of WSU, doing things better means putting in place practices that are student-centered and garnered toward student success. According to Littell, Thompson has personal experience implementing this style of registration.
Thompson spoke about how multi-term registration will facilitate a closeness between student and university.
“It helps them see themselves here for the entire year, not just by semester. So, you know, they see themselves as a Raider, committed here,” Thompson said.
According to Littell, students will have one month rather than two weeks to view courses before enrollment eligibility.
With students being offered more time to plan, the university has started preparing as well; dates on the campus academic calendar have shifted slightly to aid in this initiative.
Littell noted that changes will be an adjustment for schedule planners and the institution at first but will be worth the shifts.
“That’s the growing pains of doing something better, right,” Littell said.
According to Runyan, the decision to implement this initiative was made after collaboration with the University of Toledo and Cleveland State University, the latter of which has incorporated multi-term registration for years.
According to Littell and Thompson, Cleveland State saw an increase in retention after the integration of multi-term registration; the pair hope for the same success at WSU. As discussed by Provost Thompson in the Aug. 24, Student Government Association meeting, WSU’s retention numbers rest at 63%.
Runyan noted that students will need to stay up-to-date on enrollment registration date availability. While those dates are not outlined yet, Runyan recommends that students keep an eye on the registration date form once the dates are scheduled.
Mid-term grades
In addition to multi-term registration, WSU professors will soon have the opportunity to partake in the mid-term grade initiative, an initiative formed between SGA President Blake Bailey and Thompson.
Bailey researched ways to improve the student experience on campus while Thompson considered ways to increase retention for the university. Meetings that took place over the summer months concluded with the passing of Resolution 23-2 resolution on Aug. 30, 2022.
While this initiative is recommended for faculty during the current term, mid-term grades will most likely be required next semester, according to Bailey.
This is another idea that Thompson hopes will contribute to student advancement.
“It’s a best practice. Students want to know how they’re doing at the middle of the semester so they can make sure that if they have to correct course in their classes, you know, they need to seek out additional help or tutoring or if they would have to drop a course,” Thompson said.
According to Runyan, more information will be sent out to students as the semester continues.
If faculty plan to share midterm grades this semester, the release date of those grades is Oct. 12, 2022.
