As we transition from SIMS to CUNYfirst, while undergoing our early advisement and priority registration periods, several of our normal operating procedures will have to be revised for this spring semester. Please be aware of the following:
 
-March’s Early Advisement Period has begun.

-Spring 2013 Advisement Stops for summer and fall 2013 registration have been placed on our continuing students’ records.

-Student spring 2013 Advisement stops can be removed in SIMS from Friday, Mar. 8 through Friday, Mar. 22, 2013.

-Degree Works is not impacted by either of these processes and can therefore continue to be used as normal.

-Faculty mentors and professional advisors will need to maintain a log of their students who seek advisement services between Saturday, Mar. 23 and Sunday, Apr. 7, 2013.

-CUNYfirst’s “Lights On” date is estimated to be Monday, Apr. 8, 2013.

-On that date and thereafter, negative service indicators (formerly known as advisement stops in SIMS) can be released for all students. Therefore, faculty mentors and professional advisors can now update the records of those students who sought advisement services with them after Friday. Mar. 22, 2013, appropriately.

-Students can claim their CUNYfirst accounts starting Monday, Apr. 8, 2013.

-Summer and fall 2013 course offerings can now be viewed by students through their CUNYfirst Student Center to search for classes (formerly known as Schedule of Classes in SIMS). 

-Students can begin registering for summer 2013 courses on Monday, Apr. 22, 2013.

-Students can begin registering for fall 2013 courses on Monday, May 20, 2013.

-As always, student priority registration appointment dates will be distributed and based on class standing. 

It is imperative that students are reminded that they must “checkout” in order to be enrolled in the courses that they have placed in their shopping carts to actually complete the registration process. Otherwise, without clicking the “enroll” tab, courses sitting in the shopping cart simply remain in their “basket” and are available to be utilized by other students. Additionally, CUNYfirst registers courses sequentially; therefore, the first course that is placed in a student’s cart is the first course in which CUNYfirst seeks to register that student.

The above information provides a “proposed timeline” with tentative dates that may change according to CUNY guidelines. As we embark upon this journey together, please remember that as the President has indicated, “as with any major transition in technology, there will be bumps along the implementation road. For that we ask your patience, cooperation, and understanding.”  

As always, my staff and I are here to assist as we can. As further pertinent updates become available, I will keep you informed.