Registration FAQs

UHM uses STAR for course registration. 

1. Log in using your UH username and password. 

2. Click on the GPS Registration tab. 

3. Click on Register - Add/Drop Classes. 

4. Complete the pre-registration checklist and agree to the terms and conditions of use. 

5. You may then click on Add Personal Choice and select classes. You may only add one course at a time. 

6. Please review the Preparing to Register Webinar and the How to Register Webinar.

STAR will not allow you to register for courses that are offered at the same time. If you have a time conflict where one of your classes ends at the same time another begins, students must get permission from both instructors to register for the class receiving the time conflict error.   

Email exchange@hawaii.edu to request a Time Conflict Override form.

Most classes default to an A-F grading option. Students may change the Grade Mode on their own to Credit/No Credit during the registration period only.  Please be aware that not all courses offer a variety of grade modes.

1. Log in to STAR.

2. Click on the GPS Registration tab.

3. Click on Register - Add/Drop Classes.

4. Register for the course.

5. After you register, go back into the term and select add/drop courses.

6. Select ^ in the top right corner of that course to expand/view the options of the course you wish to change.

7. Select the "Change" link next to the Grade Mode in the course options and follow the steps to change from Grade to CR/NC.

8. If there is no "Change" link next to the course during the registration period, then that course does not allow a change in grading mode.

After the registration deadline, students must get approval to change the grading mode.  Email exchange@hawaii.edu to request a Change of Registration form.  

Once registered, students may continue to make changes to their courses by adding and dropping using STAR. Please be aware of the published deadlines to add and drop courses. As a reminder, as a NSE student you need to be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 UHM credits).

Once the deadline to drop courses has passed, you will be able to withdraw from a course (there will be a W on your record) using STAR. Please check the deadline to withdraw from courses for the semester you are here. 

If you wish to add a course after the designated registration period to add classes, you will need to complete the UHM Add/Audit Course Form and have the instructor's signature to approve the late add. Please email exchange@hawaii.edu to request the form.

Once the withdrawal deadline has passed, you will not be able to withdraw from a UHM course using STAR. Withdrawing from courses after the published deadline can only be approved if the student can demonstrate extenuating circumstances beyond their control. This type of situation would require the student to submit the online Appeal for Registration Policy/Procedural Exception Form and provide documentation, because the student is requesting an exception to the University's withdrawal policy.  Read the requirements for filing an appeal below.

Appeal for Registration Policy/Procedural Exception 

In addition to the Appeal for Registration Policy/Procedural Exception Form, students must also include documentation of their extenuating circumstances. This documentation MUST include: 1) a personal statement providing an explanation for your appeal, and 2) a letter on letterhead addressing a documented medical issue, personal issue or Institutional error. Petitions without documentation as stated below will be denied. 

1. PERSONAL STATEMENT 

Required for all petitions. Along with the documentation below, provide a letter describing the justification for your request. 

• Be specific. 

• Describe extenuating circumstances, including dates congruent with circumstances and timeline in your petition. 

• Steps you took to address the issue/problem at the time it occurred and name of person(s) contacted. 

2. MEDICAL OR PERSONAL ISSUE 

Medical issues that merit a petition: 

• Physical or psychological medical difficulty 

• Family medical difficulty 

• A signed letter on official letterhead from your (or your family member’s) attending health care provider, physician, counselor, or licensed practitioner, which specifies the following: 

• The date of onset of illness or accident 

• The dates you (or your family member) were under professional care 

• The general nature of the medical condition 

• How your acute medical condition interfered with your ability to adhere to the normal University policy and procedure deadlines and how it prevented you from completing your course work.
  
  

NOTE: A formal signed letter on official letterhead with all details mentioned above is required. Dates in official letter from medical practitioner must be congruent with circumstances and timelines reported in your petition. File notes, medical receipts, or copies of prescriptions are not considered sufficient documentation. 

Personal issues that merit a petition: 

• Death of a family member 

• Legal issue (this does not include illegal activity that you were involved in) 

• Accident 

• Loss of employment due to forced layoff ormilitary deployment 

• Required documentation for death of family member: 

• A copy of death certificate, obituary, or memorial service program verifying date of death within the requested term 

• A signed letter on official letterhead from an appropriate official such as, attorney, law enforcement agent, court official, or other appropriate source, which specifies the following: 

• The date of incident 

• The dates you (or your family member) were affected by the incident 

• The general nature of the incident 

• How it prevented you fromcompleting your coursework and following normal university policies and procedures
  
  

NOTE: A formal signed letter on official letterhead with all details mentioned above is required. Dates in official letter fromappropriate official must be congruent with circumstances and timelines reported in your petition. 

3. INSTITUTIONAL ERROR 

Letter from appropriate University department citing the error. 

Note: A withdrawal after the course withdrawal deadline does not support selective course withdrawal within a term. An extenuating circumstance distressful enough to impact academic performance would affect all classes equally. 

Situations That DO NOT Merit Exception to University Policy

This Institution expects students to accept responsibility for their academic performance unless there have been severe extenuating circumstances. The following circumstances will not be considered for petitions: 

• Academic difficulty (failing grades and/or desire to clean-up academic record) 

• Change in major and/or change in career goals 

• Lack of adherence to/awareness of University policies or deadlines 

• Overcommitted or time management related situation (i.e. course load, student activities, employment) without additional circumstances beyond student’s control 

• Financial issue (students are responsible for securing payments and following up on their financial aid to ensure it will disburse on time) 

If you believe you have an extenuating circumstance that may grant you an exception to University withdrawal policies, please email exchange@hawaii.edu to request the Appeal for Registration Policy/Procedural Exception Form.