Registration: First-Year Scheduling

Quick Access:

  • Navigate, Student Success Portal: Access the First-Year Placement Journey.
  • RamPortal, Student Information System: View your class schedule, tuition bill, housing application and more.
  • Admissions Portal: View your student info including major and RamNet ID info, register for orientation, acceptance letter, and request to change your major.

Important Resources:

First Year Student Class Scheduling

Class Scheduling for Incoming First Year Students

Incoming first year students: Your classes will be scheduled for you by WCU faculty and staff for your first semester. To help us build the best schedule for you, you'll complete the First-Year Journey.

What is the First-Year Placement Journey?

The First-Year Journey is a set of placement exams, surveys, and modules that help your academic department create a schedule aligned with your academic interests and program.

Completing your First-Year Journey

  • The sooner you complete the First-Year Journey, the sooner you’ll receive your class schedule. Having your class schedule before New Student Orientation is ideal so you can explore class locations and meet classmates.
  • A RamNet ID account is required to access and complete your First-Year Journey. Learn how to set up your @wcupa.edu account
  • Completing the First-Year Journey is required for all first-year students.
  • Surveys and questions are unique to each student, so students will get different components depending on their declared major.
  • Please plan to complete the Journey in one sitting.  The Journey takes 30 minutes - 2 hours to complete.  
  • You will need to complete the First-Year Journey on a computer or laptop computer with access to a camera.

How to Access your First-Year Journey

  • Log into Navigate on a laptop or desktop computer using your RamNet ID login.
  • Locate the "Journeys" button on the left-hand side of your screen.

See step-by-step instructions in this Guide to Completing & Viewing First-Year Journey

What's included in the First-Year Journey?

The questionnaires and surveys in the First-Year Journey are unique to each student and their selected major.  Your First-Year Journey may include some or all the following:

Financial Terms and Conditions Agreement

In order to be registered for courses, all students attending West Chester University are required to complete the West Chester University of PA Financial Terms and Conditions Agreement prior to registering each semester.  Read the information carefully and please be sure to print the agreement if you would like to retain a copy.

Exploratory Studies Survey

The Exploratory Studies Department created a survey for students who are admitted as Exploratory Studies (Undeclared) to help them understand the future major and career interests of each of their advisees. Input on this survey assists to create a schedule that is best suited to help their students gain admission to their major of choice.

This portion of the First-Year Placement Assessment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Once this task is completed, the student will not be able to modify their answers.

Previous Level Course Work

This section is a series of questions meant to help WCU staff and faculty understand what Advanced Placement (AP) and college-level course credits a student might be transferring into WCU. This information may be used to assist in developing the student’s first year schedule, if the student would like us to take it into consideration. The information provided in this First-Year Placement Assessment does not serve as an official evaluation of potential credits a student may receive as transfer credits.

This portion of the First-Year Placement Assessment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Once this task is completed, the student will not be able to modify their answers.

Student Support Question

The Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) is an on-campus resource designed to help students with various learning, physical, and/or emotional disabilities. OEA assist students in making a successful transition to college life and encourages students to understand their needs and strengths to best advocate for themselves.  Students will need to register with OEA to take advantage of services, such as academic coaching, mindfulness coaching, adaptive technology, and/or ADA accommodations.  This section allows students who have a disability or a history of accommodation (IEP, 504, SOP, etc.), to request an appointment to discuss what supports are available at WCU. 

This portion of the First-Year Placement Assessment will take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Student Questionnaire

This section contains a series of questions meant to help WCU staff and faculty create a schedule specifically based on individual student needs and includes questions regarding extracurricular activities and interests.  It also asks students about their availability to technology and general education interests.

This portion of the First-Year Placement Assessment will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  Once this task is completed, the student will not be able to modify their answers.

Writing Self Placement (WRITE Survey)

More information can be found by visiting the WRITE Survey FAQ Page.

If you experience any problems while completing this survey, please

contact the English Department.


This portion of the First-Year Placement Assessment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Once this task is completed, the student will not be able to modify their answers.

Mathematics Placement Assessment (ALEKS PPL)

The ALEKS PPL Math Assessment is used to determine the most appropriate courses for a student based on their current knowledge.  Please note not all majors are required to complete the Math Placement Assessment.  Your required placement journeys will be listed for you in Navigate -> Journeys.

IF you are required to complete a Math Placement, Set-up the Honorlock Extension.

  • If you are required to complete the Math Placement Assessment, you will need to install the Honorlock Extension before beginning the placement.
  • The Math Placement Assessment requires test proctoring which requires the Honorlock Extension on a Google Chrome Browser.   

The Math Placement Assessment includes about 30 free-response questions. The assessment often takes less than 90 minutes to complete. Once you begin, you’ll have up to 3 hours to finish.  

Learn more about the Math Placement Assessment

For questions or test accommodations regarding the Math Placement Assessment, contact the Math Department at mathexam@wcupa.edu.

Second Language Placement

If you experience any problems while completing this survey, please

contact Languages and Cultures Department.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or who enter WCU as an Exploratory Studies (Undeclared) student are required to take the Second Language Placement Examination. The score received on this examination will be used by the Department of Languages and Cultures as one of several variables to determine a language placement. Based on other factors (years of language study in high school, at-home use of the language, time since the language was last taken, etc.), final placement may be different from the equivalence indicated by the online test score.

This portion of the First-Year Journey will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Once the First-Year Journey is submitted, the student will not be able to modify their answers, however if the student is interested in re-taking the examination, they can contact the Languages and Cultures Department.

Learn more about the Language Placement Test

Questions?

What's Next?

Class Schedules

For Fall admitted students, class schedules will begin to be released in June and continue to be released throughout the summer.  The sooner you successfully complete of the First-Year Placement Assessment/Journey, the sooner you will receive your class schedule. Be sure to complete your First-Year Placement Assessment in advance of your summer orientation date.

Once your class schedule is created, it will be visible the Navigate Student App.  To view your schedule, log in to Navigate using your RamNet ID.  You can access the app on mobile devices or access via computer at https://wcupa.navigate.eab.com. 

Your schedule was prepared by a program representative for your major to create a balance of courses based on your declared plan or major of interest, the general education curriculum, and your unique Placement results. Changes to your schedule are not recommended without first consulting with a representative from your department.  Class schedules may be discussed with advisors at New Student Orientation.  

Changing your Major

Before the first day of the semester, you may change your major in your Admissions Portal. The new major will be reflected in RamPortal within 3-5 days.  After the new major is reflected in RamPortal, you will be provided an update to your schedule within 7-10 days.

After the first day of the semester, all change of major requests can be made through RamPortal on the student forms card.

Adjusting your Class Schedule

Prior to requesting a schedule change, students should discuss their schedule concerns during the academic advising session at New Student Orientation (NSO).
If you have an immediate schedule concern, please email us at fyscheduling@wcupa.edu. 

Scheduling changes may be considered due to conflicts with work schedules, conflicts with WCU activities (such as clubs, sports, or other activities), commuting concerns, medical issues, or if you believe you have already completed the course (i.e. Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, Transfer Credit). 

Selecting a Minor

New first year students may select a minor(s) after the first day classes. Many minors have requirements including a minimum GPA.  Learn more about minors offered and their requirements.  All minor add requests can be made through RamPortal on the student forms card.