On This Page:
Frequently Asked Questions for PWR Registration
- What's a PWR "section"? Do you have lectures too?
- In what section of PWR am I enrolled?
- How do I contact my PWR instructor?
- My PWR class is not showing up or is incorrect in Axess. What should I do?
- Why don’t I have a PWR section assignment?
- I missed the first (or second or third) class meeting and now the PWR website shows I don’t have a section assignment. Why did this happen and what should I do now?
- I have just been assigned to a section that has already met. What should I do?
- I’ve submitted a petition to get into a different section. Can I sit in on the class until I’m admitted?
- I’ve been assigned to the instructor I want, but now I want to switch to the instructor’s other section. How do I do this?
- Will it help if I talk to the instructor about getting into his/her section?
- I want to take PWR in a different quarter. How can I change it?
- I need to take PWR this quarter instead of next quarter, but I’m not assigned to this quarter and classes have already started. What should I do?
- I am assigned to take PWR this quarter and classes have already started, but I need to take PWR next quarter. What should I do?
- I'm assigned to take PWR 2 this coming quarter, and I plan to apply for an Intro Sem that satisfies the WR 2 requirement. Do I still need to submit section preferences?
- What happens if I'm accepted into a Write-2 Intro Sem the same quarter as I'm assigned to take PWR 2?
- I still have questions. How do I get answers?
1. What's a PWR "section"? Do you have lectures too?
PWR courses are called sections. For example, in a typical quarter PWR offers 35-40 different sections of PWR 1. Unlike IHUM, which has both lectures and sections, PWR has only sections. PWR sections meet two or three times a week in a seminar format with a maximum of 15 students.
2. In what section of PWR am I enrolled?
To
find your PWR section assignment, “Click to View Your Assigned PWR
1 (or PWR 2) Section” on the PWR Courses and Registration page. Even before your correct assignment appears in Axess, this information is always the most up-to-date.
3. How do I contact my PWR instructor?
Visit the PWR Faculty Profiles menu page, and click on the link for your instructor to retrieve contact information. You can also access PWR Faculty Profiles via a link on each instructor's section description.
4. My PWR class is not showing up or is incorrect in Axess. What should
I do?
The PWR Office handles PWR enrollment in Axess and updates Axess regularly. Please come to the PWR office if the section listed in your
Axess record is not correct within a day or two.
5. Why don’t I have a PWR section assignment?
This can happen for a number of reasons:
- You have not submitted section preferences.
- You did not attend one of the first three class sessions and have been dropped from your section.
- In the most recent round of section assignments for which you submitted preferences, none of the sections you requested had open space.
6. I missed the first (or second or third) class meeting, and
now the PWR website shows that I don’t have a section assignment.
Why did this happen and what should I do now?
If you miss any of the first three days of
class, you are automatically dropped from the section. To avoid being
dropped, send an email message to the instructor and pwrcourses@stanford.edu BEFORE class begins to explain why you will be absent. If you
have been dropped, you must petition to enroll in the section. You can
only be added to the class roster if space is available.
7. I have just been assigned to a section that has already met. What
should I do?
Contact your instructor immediately. Leave an email message and phone message, letting the instructor know
you are assigned to the section and will be attending the next session.
8. I’ve submitted a petition to get into a different section. Can I sit in on the class until I’m admitted?
No. Students are not allowed to sit in on classes in which they are not already enrolled; the instructor will send students to the PWR Office. Once you come to the PWR office, we will work with you to find a section that meets your needs. PWR instructors cannot add students to the class or make any promises to do so.
9. I’ve been assigned to the instructor I want,
but now I want to switch to the instructor’s other section. How
do I do this?
You need to submit a petition to change your
section assignment (as above) and you will be dropped from your current
assignment when you do. PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee that you’ll
get into the other section OR be reassigned to your current section. Please
reconsider the possible consequences carefully before submitting a petition
to change sections.
10. Will it help if I talk to the instructor about getting into his /
her section?
Because the PWR main office handles enrollment,
instructors are unable to add students to their sections.
11. I want to take PWR in a different quarter. How can I change it?
Go to our courses website to the line, "Click here to manage your section and quarter assignments." Once you log in, you can petition to change your quarter. Petitions are processed on a rolling basis up until the first day of the requested quarter.
12. I need to take PWR this quarter instead of next quarter, but I’m not assigned to this quarter and classes have already started. What should I do?
Come to the PWR office right away and speak with the Course and Enrollment Coordinator during the first week of the quarter. Depending upon the space available, we may be able to move you to the current quarter and start working with you on your section assignment. After that, it is unlikely that we will be able to place you in a PWR class.
13. I am assigned to take PWR this quarter and classes have already
started, but I need to take PWR next quarter. What should I do?
PWR assumes that if you need to change quarters
due to a required-course overload, you will be aware of this before the
quarter begins. Consequently, PWR assumes you will petition to change quarters as soon as
possible. Petitions to change quarters are most likely to be granted before
preference submission ends the previous quarter.
Petitions may also be granted before the first day of classes. However, after classes begin petitions will be evaluated only in cases of medical or academic emergency. In most other cases, you will need to take your PWR class as assigned.
14. I'm assigned to take PWR 2 this coming quarter, and I plan to apply for an Intro Sem that satisfies the WR 2 requirement. Do I still need to submit section preferences?
Since Intro Sems are by application only and there is no guarantee that you will be accepted, you do need to submit your PWR 2 section preferences to us even if you are applying to an Intro Sem that fulfills the WR requirement. This will ensure that you are assigned to a PWR 2 section. If you are accepted into the Intro Sem, we will remove you from your assigned PWR 2 section and enroll you in the Intro Sem; if you are not, you will still have your spot in PWR 2.
15. I'm not assigned to take PWR 2 this coming quarter, but I want to take an Intro Sem this coming quarter that satisfies the WR 2 requirement instead. Do I need to change my assigned PWR 2 quarter?
No! If you take an Intro Sem that satisfies WR 2 before your assigned PWR 2 quarter, we will be informed that you have already fulfilled this requirement with the Intro Sem, and we will then cancel your PWR 2 assignment.
16. What happens if I'm accepted into a Write-2 Intro Sem the same quarter as I'm assigned to take PWR 2?
When you apply for a Write-2 Intro Sem and are accepted, that becomes your de facto first choice. You will be removed from your assigned PWR 2 section and enrolled in the Intro Sem.
17. I still have questions. How do I get answers?
- Visit. Come by the PWR office in the third floor of Sweet Hall Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Email. Send an email message to pwrcourses@stanford.edu at any time and we will answer your questions during normal office hours.
- Phone. During regular business hours, call the main office line at (650) 723-2631 or the PWR Enrollment and Course Coordinator, Joan Passarelli, at (650) 736-7119. Both numbers will reach PWR office staff who are able to answer your questions.