VIP Registration  I  Early Registration Appointments
Plan Your Schedule  I  Know Your PIN  I  Section Restrictions
Registration Exceptions  I  Dropping & Withdrawing
Academic Credit Limits  I  Important Deadlines
Step-by-Step Registration Instructions

Registration for courses will be conducted via VIP, USC’s Visual Information Processing Internet site.

Using any web browser on a computer with access to the Internet, you may access VIP to register, change your schedule, check your fees, view and print out your class schedule, apply financial aid and scholarships to your bill, pay your fees via MasterCard/Discover Card/American Express or Electronic Check Transfer (ECT), or check the status of your financial aid application.

To access VIP, go to http://vip.sc.edu on the Internet. VIP registration is usually available around the clock, seven days a week. However, service interruptions may occur.

Students may access VIP from computer labs across the USC campus, including Bates House, Columbia Hall, Computer Services, Law School, Liberal Arts, Patterson Hall, Thomas Cooper Library and the Towers. Note that many departments and colleges also have computer labs available specifically for their students, faculty and staff. For a complete listing of Columbia campus computer labs, contact Computer Services at 777-1800 or view them on the Internet here.

Hearing-impaired students may have someone assist them with registration or contact Disability Services at 777-6744 (TDD).

If you experience registration problems while using VIP, call the Office of the University Registrar at 777-5555 during business hours (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), or send an e-mail to the Office of the University Registrar by going here. If you experience problems related to fees and/or fee payment, call the Bursar’s Office at 777-4233, during business hours (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).

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Students enrolled in a particular major semester (Spring or Fall) will be assigned Early Registration Appointments for the immediately following semester(s). Access VIP (see “Personal” options) to determine your appointment time. Note: It is not necessary to register at the exact appointment time. An appointment time merely means that a student may register any time after his/her appointment time. In addition, you will be unable to register on or after your appointment time if you have not been advised.

Contact the Office of the University Registrar at 777-5555 if your appointment time is not available. The Office of the University Registrar will not change appointment times.

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Note which courses offer the fewest number of sections and enter these into your schedule first. Also, prepare a list of alternate sections and/or courses in case your first choice is not available. Note any course restrictions or special permission indicators.

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Each student has a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). A PIN is required to access VIP.

Initially, your PIN should be the numeric representation of your month and day of birth. For example, if you were born on April 27, your PIN would be 0427.

Only students who attended USC from 1977 to the present can access academic information online using VIP.

For your security, when using VIP for the first time, you will be required to immediately change your PIN. Be prepared to choose another four-digit PIN that you will be able to recall.

If you do not know your PIN, you may come by the Office of the University Registrar, Third Floor, Petigru College, or your campus records office in person (with a photo ID). You may also download and complete the Request to Reset VIP PIN form (you must include a copy of a photo ID) and fax it to (803)777-6349 or mail it to USC, Office of the University Registrar, Third Floor, Petigru College, Columbia, SC 29208. You will be notified via email once your VIP PIN has been reset.

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Some courses or course sections require pre-authorization for enrollment. Restricted courses, special permission courses, or closed sections require the permission from the department offering the course before you attempt to register. If the department grants approval and the authorization is processed in the computer by the department, you may then complete your registration via VIP.

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A registration exception is any request by a student to change his or her course schedule or registration status after the deadline published in the Master Schedule of Classes.

To obtain a registration exception, students should request a “Request for Current Term Registration Exception” form (AS-199) from their academic dean’s office, the office of student services in their college or the Office of the University Registrar. All requests must include the action requested and the effective date for the request.

Undergraduates should submit the AS-199 to the Office of the University Registrar with the following signatures to signify approval of the request: the instructor teaching the course in question and the academic dean (or the dean’s authorized representative).

Graduate students should submit the AS-199 with the following signatures: the instructor teaching the course in question, the student’s graduate director and the Dean of the Graduate School (or an authorized representative).

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“Dropping” refers to a student terminating registration in a particular section of a course while retaining enrollment in the University for the term.

“Withdrawal” refers to a student terminating registration in all courses and officially “withdrawing” from enrollment in the University for the remainder of the academic term.

To officially withdraw from the University, a student should drop all courses via VIP and then select the withdrawal option when prompted.

Students should be aware of the academic and financial consequences incurred by dropping a course. Before dropping a course, consult the course’s individual listing in the Master Schedule of Classes, click the link titled Important Deadlines You Need to Know to determine whether a drop will generate a grade (such as a “W” or “WF”) and to determine if any tuition will be refunded.

Students may appeal for a waiver of the academic deadlines based upon extenuating circumstances. An extenuating circumstances appeal form is available from the student’s dean’s office.

Financial aid and scholarship recipients should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 777-8134 before withdrawing. University Housing residents should call Housing and Residential Services at 777-4283 before withdrawing.

For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 777-5555.

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Undergraduates may request special overload permission from their dean. Graduate students need overload permission from the Graduate School.

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Where do I find deadline dates for the courses in which I am enrolled?
Each USC class is attached to a session (part of the academic term calendar) that determines important dates, such as deadlines for changing sections, the last day to drop or withdraw without receiving a grade of "WF," or the last day to receive a full or partial refund. The session (deadline) dates can be found by going to the individual course listing on the Master Schedule of Classes and clicking on "Important Deadlines You Need to Know".

Where can I find other deadline dates?
Deadlines affecting your academic career and other important dates are listed here.

Where can I find step-by-step registration instructions?
Detailed registration instructions can be found here.

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