U-Start Handbook - Students - University of Saskatchewan

your guide to
registration

Contents
Your application
for admission 1
Reading your application
summary 2
Learning Communities 3
St. Thomas More College 4
Self-declare your
Aboriginal ancestry 4
PAWS 5
Registration 8
STEP 1 Know your registration
status and access date 8
STEP 2 Know your registration
deadlines 9
STEP 3 Know and plan for your
program’s course requirements 10
Academic advising 11
STEP 4 Search for classes and
build your class schedule 12
STEP 5 Register 16
Look for this symbol throughout the guide.
It indicates important information or a useful tip.
Welcome to U-Start
Registering for classes is one of the most important things you will do as a
University of Saskatchewan (U of S) student. In fact, only after you have registered
for classes are you considered a current student of the university. In this
workshop, you will learn how to choose your classes and build your schedule in
order to be prepared when your registration access date arrives.
Some of the online resources you will learn how to navigate and use in this
workshop include:
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PAWS | paws.usask.ca
Course and Program Catalogue | usask.ca/programs
Class Search
students.usask.ca
If you have any questions, we would be happy to help. Get in touch with us using
the contact information below.
Welcome to the University of Saskatchewan and congratulations on taking this
important step in becoming a member of our community!
Recruitment, Admissions
and Transfer Credit
306-966-5788
admissions@usask.ca
Student Central
306-966-1212 (ext 4)
1-877-650-1212 (toll free in Canada)
askus@usask.ca
Information presented in this guide is subject to revision or change by the University of Saskatchewan.

Your application
for admission
If you have received a conditional offer of admission or are still waiting to hear about
your application, you should check your application status to ensure it is on track.
1. Go to explore.usask.ca
2. Click Complete or check on your application
3. Log in using the log-in ID and PIN you created
when you applied
4. Open the application you submitted under
Processed Applications
If you have a question about your application or
would like to request a change to your program or
admission term, you can contact the Recruitment,
Admissions and Transfer Credit Office at
admissions@usask.ca or at 306-966-5788.
TIP: If you have forgotten
your Login ID and/or PIN,
email admissions@usask.ca
with your request, your first
and last name, and your date
of birth or call 306-966-5788.
IMPORTANT: Unless you
have indicated otherwise
within your Application
for Admission, only you
(the applicant) can request
information about your
application.
If you would like to grant
us permission to discuss
your application with a
family member or other
representative, please email
admissions@usask.ca and
we will provide a form you
can fill out to grant this
permission.
University of Saskatchewan 1

Reading your application
summary
Application status
DECISION MADE – A decision regarding your application has been made and a
letter has been sent to you by the Recruitment, Admissions and Transfer Credit
Office.
INCOMPLETE ITEMS OUTSTANDING – Something needed to consider you for
admission may not have been submitted or our staff has not yet had time to evaluate
your application. Check the Requirements section of your application summary.
Requirements
APPLICATION FEE – A non-refundable $90 CDN application fee is required before
your application will be processed. If you did not submit your application fee
online when you applied, you can visit explore.usask.ca/admissions to learn
how this fee can be paid.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT (OF MARKS) – If you are currently enrolled in classes,
a preliminary statement of marks may be used to consider you for early
(conditional) admission. You can submit a preliminary statement of marks,
which consists of a report card or transcript showing grades for classes you have
completed to date, as well as midterm grades for any non-semestered classes
you are completing, and a list or timetable of your current classes, in one of the
following ways:
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email to admissions@usask.ca (preferred)
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fax to 306-966-2115
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in person at Student Central, located in the Administration Building
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postal mail
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT – High school transcript means your final, official
transcript indicating that you have graduated from high school. You must arrange
for your official transcript to be sent directly to the University of Saskatchewan by
the approved authority in your province/region when you have completed Grade
12. To learn how, visit explore.usask.ca/admissions.
IMPORTANT: The deadline for final, official high school transcripts and IB or
AP transcripts to be received is August 1. Carefully read through your offer of
admission package to ensure you meet any conditions disclosed in your offer.
2 University of Saskatchewan

POST-SECONDARY TRANSCRIPT – Students who have completed classes at another
post-secondary institution must request an official transcript to be sent directly
to the U of S by the issuing authority once classes are completed. When it has
arrived, your classes will be evaluated for advanced credit or transfer credit.
Learning Communities
Learning Communities connect you to a group of other first-year students to
share experiences, develop academic and professional skills, and advance a
deeper understanding of people, issues and ideas.
Students in course-based Learning Communities share a set of common classes
that satisfy requirements for your degree. You will also meet in a weekly LC
Hour that is guided by two successful upper-year university students, your Peer
Mentors, to share knowledge and ideas and build connections between what you
are learning and the wider community.
If you live in residence, you may have the opportunity to take part in a Living
Learning Community, which allows you to build a connection with your
neighbors. You will meet in a weekly LC Hour with the students who live in your
hall and, with the guidance of Peer Mentors, share ideas and experiences and
engage with each other, as well as community organizations.
Signing up
The sign-up period for Learning Communities opens each year in mid-May, about
a month before course registration opens for the Fall and Winter terms. By signing
up for a course-based Learning Community, part of your schedule for the year will
already be set so keep this in mind when choosing your other classes. Learning
Communities fill quickly so make sure to sign up as early as you can.
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Arts and Science Learning Communities
artsandscience.usask.ca/students/learningcommunities
Aboriginal Student Achievement Program (ASAP) Learning Communities
artsandscience.usask.ca/students/aboriginal
Agriculture and Bioresources Learning Communities
Engineering Learning Communities
Kinesiology Learning Communities
St. Thomas More College Learning Communities
usask.ca/lc
Living Learning Communities
usask.ca/lc/llc
University of Saskatchewan 3

St. Thomas More College
stmcollege.ca
STM is a Catholic liberal arts college federated with the U of S and located on
the main U of S campus. STM students belong to a smaller college community
and can access additional scholarships and bursaries, services, facilities and
individual academic advising.
If you are an Arts and Science student and you wish to identify as a St. Thomas
More College student, you can do so through PAWS.
1. Open the Arts and Science Channel under Arts and Science in your
PAWS menu.
2. Under STM Student, select Self-Declare as a St. Thomas More
College Student.
3. Select I want to self-declare as a St. Thomas More College student
and click Update My Information.
Self-declare your
Aboriginal ancestry
students.usask.ca/declare
If you are an Aboriginal student, we encourage you to self-declare your ancestry.
You can learn how to do this and why it is important by adding the Aboriginal
Student Self-Declaration channel to your PAWS menu or by visiting
students.usask.ca/declare.
4 University of Saskatchewan

PAWS
What is PAWS
PAWS, your Personalized Access to Web Services at the U of S, is a customizable
web environment for students, faculty, staff, alumni and other members of our
community. PAWS is personalized to you and customizable—when you log in,
you will find information and services specific to your role at the university.
How do I access PAWS
You can access PAWS from most other University of Saskatchewan websites or you
can go directly to paws.usask.ca.
Logging in
To log in for the first time, use your Network Services ID, or NSID, and the
temporary password you received in your letter from the Admissions Office. You
will be prompted to set up a confidential password for your account, as well as
password recovery options.
You will use your NSID and password throughout your studies at the U of S and
when you become a U of S alum; make sure to protect this information in order to
keep your account secure.
TIP: If you forget your NSID or password, contact the ICT Help Desk at
help.desk@usask.ca or call 306-966-4817 for assistance.
University of Saskatchewan 5

PAWS Features
Message Feed
Your message feed displays important announcements from the university, as
well as bulletins and news from around campus. Click the gear icon to customize
the bulletins and news you would like to see.
Dates and Events
This calendar and events list includes important dates such as registration and
tuition payment deadlines, as well as events that are happening across campus.
Menu
The menu gives you access to all of the information and tools available to you
in PAWS. Some content appears automatically based on your student role at
the U of S. If you would like to find content that does not already appear in your
menu, select Browse channels. From within Browse channels, you’ll have the
option to click Add to My Channels if you would like to add a channel to your
menu.
6 University of Saskatchewan

Email and Calendar
When you become a U of S student, you are assigned an email account that
corresponds to your NSID (ex. abc123@mail.usask.ca).
My U of S email address: ________________@mail.usask.ca
(NSID)
IMPORTANT: Future email correspondence from the U of S will be sent to this
account; make sure to check it regularly.
You can use your calendar to keep track of classes, labs, assignment deadlines
and exams, as well as social events and study sessions.
TIP: Sync your email and calendar to your phone to ensure you don’t miss any
important messages, dates or events. Learn how at:
usask.ca/its/services/email/mobile_devices/index.php
Updating your contact information
Use PAWS to update your contact information, including your mailing address,
telephone number(s) and emergency contacts. This will ensure that important
documents or information can be delivered to you quickly and safely and ensures
that the university knows who to contact in the event of an emergency.
Changing your password
For security reasons, it is essential that you change the password for your account
from time to time. Choosing a good password, ensuring that no one else has
access to your account, and changing your password periodically can all help to
keep your account secure.
TIP: Your PAWS account contains valuable personal information. Always
remember to sign out at the end of your session, especially when using public
computers or unsecured wireless networks.
University of Saskatchewan 7

Registration students.usask.ca/registration
STEP 1 Know your registration
status and access date
Before you register for classes, you need to make sure you are eligible to register
and you need to determine your registration access date (the earliest day you will
be able to register for classes).
In the PAWS menu, open the Registration channel under Academics.
Your
registration
access date
will appear
here.
TIP: You may need a Confirmation of Enrolment if you are requesting a student
line of credit from a financial institution or in order to receive an external
scholarship or bursary. After you have registered for classes, return to the
Registration channel to submit your Confirmation of Enrolment Request.
8 University of Saskatchewan

Your registration access date
You can find your registration access date in the Registration channel.
My registration access date is: _____________________________________
Your registration status
To check your registration status:
1. Select Registration.
2. Select Check your registration status.
3. Select a term. ex.) 2014-2015 Term 1
The following must be checked off before you will be able to register:
You have no Holds which prevent registration
Your Academic Standing permits registration
Your Student Status permits registration
Your Year in Program is a college decision and is determined by the number of
credit units you have completed. Your Year in Program will determine which day
registration opens for you.
TIP: Registration for Fall Term 1 (September to December), Winter Term 2
(January to April) and multi-term classes (September to April) opens at the same
time. You can only register in classes for one term at a time but we recommend
that you register for both terms as early as possible.
STEP 2 Know your registration
deadlines
Make sure you know the deadlines for making registration changes to avoid
financial or academic penalty. Deadlines are posted at
students.usask.ca/registration and in the Academic Calendar at
usask.ca/calendar.
University of Saskatchewan 9

STEP 3 Know and plan for
your program’s course
requirements
Course and Program Catalogue
usask.ca/programs
The Course and Program Catalogue contains information about degree and
certificate programs, the required courses and number of credit units needed to
obtain your degree or certificate, and the descriptions of classes offered at the
U of S.
To find the required courses for your program:
1. Select your college.
2. Select the program or major you are interested in.
3. Select the degree or certificate you plan to pursue.
For some programs, you will be required to complete a specific set of courses
in your first year. Other programs may offer a suggested sequence of courses.
Following these guidelines will help to ensure you will meet prerequisite
requirements for future classes.
10 University of Saskatchewan

Course Descriptions
You can learn more about the courses you need to take by reading the course
descriptions. You can search for course descriptions from the Course and Program
Catalogue homepage or you can click each course listed in your program
requirements to view a description.
Reading a course description
The course description tells you some general information about the course,
including the subject area (ex. BIOL=Biology), the course number, the number of
credit units earned for completing the course and more.
Academic advising
students.usask.ca/advising
Connecting with an academic advisor early in your university experience can be
a contributing factor to your educational success; and staying in contact can help
you avoid academic difficulties later.
It is strongly recommended that you obtain academic advising from your
department or college as early as possible to verify your program requirements.
Get in touch with your college to set up an appointment and make sure to be
prepared by having an idea of which program and courses you would like to take.
University of Saskatchewan 11

STEP 4 Search for classes and
build your class schedule
It is essential to build your class schedule before your registration access date. To
build your class schedule, you will use the Class Search tool to find out when and
where the classes you want to take are offered, how many spaces are available in
each class, find the CRN number you will need to register for that class, and more.
Class Search
1. Access the Class Search tool at students.usask.ca/registration or within
the Registration channel in PAWS.
2. Select a term.
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2014 Spring & Summer Term 1
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2014 Spring & Summer Term 2
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2014-2015 Term 1 (September-December)
2014-2015 Term 2 (January-April)
3. Select a subject and, if you know the course number for a particular class
you want to take, enter the course number. ex) Biology 121
TIP: In June, this page
will be split into Basic
Search, where you can
search by course name
and number only, and
Advanced Search, which
will give you the
option to search using
other criteria.
TIP: You can narrow
your search results by
selecting options from
among the other search
criteria. If you would like
to see as many options
as possible, limit the
changes you make to
these other search fields.
12 University of Saskatchewan

Class Search results
The class search results that are displayed contain some key information you
should notice.
CRN – The CRN (or course reference number) is a number unique to one section or
offering of a particular class in a particular term. This is the number you will need
to know to register for a particular class; when building your class schedule, make
sure to write this number down.
TIP: Click the COURSE REFERENCE NUMBER (CRN) to view more detailed
information about the class, including the course description, prerequisite
requirements, scheduled meeting times, and more.
Subject (Subj) – This is the subject name, such as ENG for English or BIOL for
Biology.
Course Number (Crse) – The course number denotes the level of a particular class.
100-level courses are junior-level, while senior-level classes will be 200+.
Section (Sec) – The section is one offering of a particular course in a term. Multiple
sections of popular classes may be offered and you can choose one to suit your
schedule.
University of Saskatchewan 13

Campus (Cmp) – Make sure to pay attention to the campus if you only want to
take classes at the main Saskatoon campus (SK) or if you plan to study at one of
the U of S’ satellite campuses or regional partners.
Credit units (Cred) – This number denotes the number of credit units you will earn
for completing the class.
Title – The title or name of the class briefly describes what the class is about.
Type – Class types may include LEC for lecture, TUT for tutorial, LAB for laboratory,
WEB for web-based, TEL for televised, IND for independent study, or SEM for
seminar.
Days – The days that the class takes place are listed here. (M=Monday, T=Tuesday,
W=Wednesday, R=Thursday, F=Friday)
Time – The scheduled start and end time for the class is displayed. Classes on
MWF tend to be 50 minutes in length. TR classes are generally 1 hour and 20
minutes. Night classes and labs are usually 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Capacity (Cap) – The capacity is the number of seats available in the class.
Available (Avail) – This number is the number of spaces still available.
Instructor – The name(s) of the instructor(s) are given.
Date (DD-MMM) – The beginning and end dates of the class are listed. These dates
do not include the final exam period.
Location – The building and room location of classes on the main Saskatoon
campus (i.e. ARTS 104) or the campus code where off-campus courses are offered
(i.e. MUEN for Muenster) will be listed.
Attribute – Attributes include information about who the class is open to (or if
there are restrictions), the types of fees and tuition associated with the class, and
more.
Note: Classes that take place over more than one term will have the attribute
“1st Half of a Multi-term Class”. By registering for the first half of a multi-term
class, you will automatically be registered for the second half in the following
term.
TIP: If you are planning to study at one of our regional partner sites throughout
Saskatchewan, use the Campus or Attribute search field to narrow your search
results to classes offered at your location.
14 University of Saskatchewan

Building your schedule
Class Schedule Worksheets are available at students.usask.ca/registration to
help you build your class schedule. When building your schedule, be sure to write
down the CRN (course reference number), the course name and number, and
the section number and for each class and lab you have selected.
When you are building your schedule to prepare for registration, remember the
following tips:
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Most MWF (Monday/Wednesday/
Friday) classes are 50 minutes
long (allowing 10 minutes to
get to your next class). (ex.
8:30‐9:20 am, 10:30-11:20 am,
etc.)
Most TR (Tuesday/Thursday)
classes are 1 hour and 20
minutes long. (ex. 8:30-9:50 am)
Evening classes or classes
offered only one day a week are
2 hours and 50 minutes long.
(ex. 7-9:50 pm)
You can schedule classes backto-back
but remember you only
have about 10 minutes to travel
to the next one. Check the class
locations to make sure you’ll
have enough time.
Don’t forget to schedule labs
and tutorials, where required, to
receive credit for the class.
Some classes extend over both terms. Remember that when you register for
the first half of a multi-term class, you will automatically be registered in the
second half in Term 2.
TIP: We strongly advise you to create a back-up schedule or consider alternate
class options when building your schedule. Some classes you want to take may
already be full by the time you are able to register.
University of Saskatchewan 15

STEP 5 Register
Registration opens on your registration access date. This is the earliest you will be
able to register for Fall Term 1 (September to December), Winter Term 2 (January
to April) and multi-term classes. You may add, drop, or change your classes any
after your registration access date until the deadline for registration changes.
To register:
1. Make sure you have your class schedule ready, including the CRNs
for each class.
2. Log into PAWS and open the Registration channel under Academics.
3. Select Registration.
16 University of Saskatchewan

4. Select Add/Drop classes.
5. Select the correct term.
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2014-2015 Term 1 = Fall Term 1 (September to December)
2014-2015 Term 2 = Winter Term 2 (January to April)
6. Enter the CRNs for the classes you want to add and click Submit Changes.
7. Check the classes for which you have successfully registered and check
for registration error messages. If you cannot register for one or more
of your first-choice classes, use your back-up schedule to try other class
options.
8. At the bottom of the page, select Select Another Term to register for
Term 2 classes.
IMPORTANT: If you have been offered a U of S scholarship or bursary, you
must enroll in a minimum of 18 credit units (at least six half-year classes) in
the Fall and Winter terms (Sept-Apr) to receive payment of your award.
9. If you want to drop a class, select Drop from class in the action menu
next to the class and click Submit Changes.
University of Saskatchewan 17

Common registration error messages
C - THIS CLASS IS FILLED. This means that that all of the seats in this class are
taken. Register instead for one of your back-up options or check the availability
of the class using the Class Search tool to see if any spaces open up between now
and the Deadline for Registration Changes.
COREQUISITE [SUBJ CNUM] REQUIRED: Corequisites are two courses that must
be taken in the same term. This error message means that you have not selected
all necessary corequisite courses. indicates the subject and
indicates the course number of the missing course. To apply for a corequisite
waiver, click the Prereq/Coreq waiver form link and follow the instructions.
Example of a corequisite: If MATH 102 has MATH 103 as a corequisite, and you
attempted to register in MATH 102 without also registering in MATH 103 (at the same
time) you would receive the following registration information message: Corequisite
MATH 103 required.
DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL REQUIRED: If a class requires departmental
approval, it will be listed in italics under the class title on the “course offerings”
page. Please consult with the department offering the course regarding getting
permission. You can check to see if you have departmental approval for a class by
using the “Check your registration status” link. Departmental approvals include:
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Instructors Signature Required
Departmental Approval Required
Dean’s Office Approval Required
U of S Int’l Approval Required
DUPLICATE COURSE WITH [CRN]: This means you have already registered for
a different section of this course in that term. Check your “Detailed Student
Schedule” or the Add/Drop page to see if this is the case.
YOU MUST ALSO REGISTER IN A [SECTION] AT THE SAME TIME: Some classes
require that you register for both a lecture section and a lab, tutorial, seminar or
practicum section at the same time. If you register in the lecture without the lab,
seminar, etc. or in the lab, seminar, etc. without the lecture, you will receive the
above error including the specific type of section you must register in.
The lab, seminar, tutorial or practicum sections that are associated with any
lecture are listed below the lecture section in the class search results.
18 University of Saskatchewan

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■■
NR - NO REGISTRATION: Students may see this error if:
the last day to add classes for that term has passed,
if the term is not yet open for registration
If you get this error message when registration for a term is ongoing, you may
have selected the wrong term.
PREREQUISITE ERROR-CLICK CRN FOR DETAILS: This indicates that you do
not have the necessary prerequisite(s) for the course. Click the CRN to view the
prerequisite requirements. To apply for a prerequisite waiver, click on the Prereq/
Coreq Waiver form link and follow the instructions.
THIS CLASS IS NOT OPEN TO STUDENTS IN YOUR [ ]: A message like this will
appear if the class has been restricted to students in certain colleges, degrees,
departments, fields of study (majors, minors, or concentrations), levels, programs
and/or year in program.
If you do not meet the restriction but wish to request approval to take the class,
contact the department offering the class or, for non-departmentalized colleges,
contact the dean’s office of the college offering the class. If you have requested
approval to take the class, you can check to see if you have been granted an
override by using the “Check Your Registration Status” link in PAWS.
YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE OR ITS EQUIVALENT:
You may have already taken this course or an equivalent course for credit or you
may have received transfer credit for the course. Students who wish to repeat a
class for which they already received credit should contact their college.
■■
■■
SR - STUDENT RESTRICTIONS: You may see this error if:
your access time has not yet arrived
you have a hold on your account
To check for possible holds, click “Check Your Registration Status” within the
Registration channel and select the term you are trying to register for.
■■
■■
your student status is inactive for the term
your academic standing prevents registration (i.e. faculty action or disciplinary
action)
THIS COURSE IS AN EQUIVALENT TO [CRN]: You may see this error if you have
already registered for a class that is equivalent to this one or if you try to register
for equivalent classes at the same time. You cannot take two classes that are
equivalent to each other.
University of Saskatchewan 19

MAXIMUM HOURS EXCEEDED: This indicates that you have registered for the
maximum number of credits that you are allowed to take in this term. Contact
your college if you want to request approval to take more credits in this term.
YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS CLASS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED CREDIT
FOR [SUBJ CNUM]: This indicates that you may have already taken or received
transfer credit for a course that is very similar to this one. Contact your college to
request approval to take this course.
TIME CONFLICT WITH [CRN]: The meeting times for this class overlaps with a
class you are already registered in. You will not be able to take this class.
THIS CLASS IS FILLED FOR STUDENTS IN YOUR PROGRAM: Some spots in this
class are reserved for students in your college, program, etc. but those spots are
filled. Contact the department to request approval to take the class.
Help! PAWS still won’t let me register!
If you’re still having problems registering, you can contact Student Central for
help. The registration access dates are the busiest days of the year at Student
Central, however, so be prepared for longer-than-average wait times.
Student Central
Administration Building
105 Administration Place
306-966-1212 (ext. 4)
Toll free (in Canada): 1-877-650-1212 (ext. 4)
Non-urgent inquiries:
askus@usask.ca
facebook.com/askusask
After registration
Once you have registered for classes, you will be able to access your tuition and
fees account balance and textbook lists through PAWS.
You will also be able to access your class schedule and course tools.
Congratulations on becoming a successful registrant!
We’ll see you in September!
20 University of Saskatchewan

Looking
for more
info
students.usask.ca
Your guide to being a U of S student
paws.usask.ca
Your personalized access to web services
iUsask app for iOS and Android
The University of Saskatchewan in your pocket

Orientation
September 2, 2014
Register online this summer at
students.usask.ca/orientation
Orientation gives new students a firm foothold on the path to
success. Find out what you need to know to make the most of
your first year on campus!
An upper-year student from your college will
show you around campus and share personal
university experiences with you.
Fantastic all-ages events have been planned!
College representatives will welcome you and
present academic information and student
activities specific to your college.
■■
meet new people
■■
tour the U of S
campus
■■
connect with
your college
■■
get involved!
To find out more about Orientation, visit
students.usask.ca/orientation
or contact us at orientation@usask.ca or 306-966-5788