Having a solid enrollment plan is the key to success. While this is general information for you to help guide your Duke, there may be more specifics within colleges/programs.
Help your Student Prepare for 2026 Winter & Spring Course Registration
Starting Wednesday, October 15th by 10:00 AM, current undergraduate students can view their exact enrollment appointment time in MyMadison.
In preparation for registration:
How Your Student Can Begin Academic Advising Planning
- Review Class Enrollment Information: Your student should check their class enrollment details, the Course Catalog, their JMU transcript, and the Academic Requirements report in MyMadison.
- Review General Education Planner: This helps them see which General Education (GenEd) requirements are completed and which remain.
- Use the Academic Requirements Report: This report has real-time academic requirements for the student's specific plan(s) and includes which requirements are satisfied and not satisfied. This is the tool that should be used by students to assist with planning because each requirement has to be satisfied for a student to graduate. It even includes the requirements for the degree (120 credits, 50% from a 4 year institution, 25% from JMU). Students will need to use this in conjunction with the general education planner and catalog, if the required courses are not listed in the academic requirements report.
- Stay on Track: They should identify which courses are needed to avoid delays in progress or graduation.
- Use Advising Resources & Enrollment Tools: These are provided to guide students through the process.
- Check Enrollment FAQs: Common questions are answered to help them feel prepared.
- Meet with Madison Advising Peers (MAPs): Current students can book a session with MAPs for help building a schedule.
- Explore the MAPs YouTube Playlist: Short videos walk students through advising and enrollment tips.
How Your Student Connects with Their Academic Advisor
- Check MyMadison: Your student can log in to see who their assigned Academic Advisor is. They also need to understand the advisor’s role and their own responsibilities in the advising process.
- Schedule an Appointment Early: Students should use MyMadison Connect to schedule a meeting with their advisor. Because calendars fill quickly as the semester moves forward, it’s best to schedule sooner rather than later. Students can also email their advisor if they have issues scheduling an appointment.
- Multiple Advisors May Be Needed: If your student has more than one major or a minor, they may need to meet with multiple advisors to cover all requirements.
What Your Student Should Do on Enrollment Day
- Register Promptly: When their enrollment window opens, your student should log in right away to secure their preferred classes.
- Credit Brackets Matter: Students in the same credit bracket register at the same time.
- Registration appointments are scheduled before classes begin to ensure fairness.
- Prioritize Required Courses: Encourage your student to register for essential classes first to stay on track for graduation.
- Have Backup Options: If a desired class is full, alternative choices should be ready.
- Use the Shopping Cart Feature Wisely: Adding a class to the cart doesn’t guarantee enrollment. Students should load their cart a few hours before their appointment for the best chance at securing classes.
- Know the Processes: Your student should understand how waitlist and overrides and class swap work so they can adjust quickly if needed.
See Also:
Glossary of Terms for Parents & Families
Office of the Registrar
University Advising
For Families of New Incoming Students See:
Supporting Your Student's Advising Journey
Supporting Your Student's Enrollment Journey
