New SIS Information
On Monday, March 16 the University launched the new SIS (Student Information System) for fall 2009 advising and course enrollment. This launch affects students, Faculty and staff; it a huge transition with many changes. This page is designed to provide you with resources and referrals to assist you with this change.
Please also see How To Get Help From Within Arts & Sciences.
Helpful Hints
1. SIS does not currently work with Safari. Use IE or Firefox and DO NOT use the browser back button within SIS.
2. Clear browser cache in IE:
- Click the Tools menu and select Internet Options
- Select the General Tab if it is not already selected
- Click Delete under Browsing History
- Click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section
3. ALLOW pop-ups from SIS site in IE:
- Open the “Tools” tab along the top of the browser and hold your mouse over "Pop-Up Blocker.”
- Click “Pop-up blocker settings”
- Under the field “Address or website to allow” add “*.admin.virginia.edu <http://admin.virginia.edu/>” without the quotation marks and click “Add.”
- If you are visiting a U.Va. page and the message “Pop-up blocked. To see this pop-up or additional options click here…” appears along the top of your web browsers window, please click the bar and choose the second option “Always allow pop-ups from this site…”
4. If you have any third-party pop-up blocker (i.e., one that came with a tool bar you installed) be sure that one also allows pop-ups from the SIS site.
Top Ten Facts for Faculty
1. You will use the new SIS beginning on March 16 to:
- View a list of the classes you are teaching for the current and upcoming semester and obtain class rosters
- Use the Permissions function to control enrollments in your classes
- Offer space to students on an ad hoc basis (this functions like an electronic course action form)
- View a list of your advisees
- View information on your advisees (e.g., contact data, VISTAA form, unofficial transcript, class schedules, etc.)
- Browse the Course Catalog and/or the Schedule of Classes (SOC)
2. Some new terminology:
- The old COD has been replace by what is now called the Schedule of Classes (SOC)
- All course numbers now have 4-digits instead of 3-digits. To find a new course number based on an old one use the “crosswalk” (http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/search.php)
- Students will be able to withdraw from a class in self service (they will no longer need your signature on a form). In the new SIS this is called a “Late Drop with W.” You will know a student has withdrawn from your class by checking your class roster. All schools (except Engineering) have the same drop, add and withdrawal deadlines. Students are bound to the deadlines of the school in which the class is being taught (not to their school of enrollment).
- A block is now called a hold. Students can view detailed information on their holds; you can see whether or not a student has a hold and from which office the hold originates.
3. To login to the new SIS go to https://sisuva.admin.virginia.edu/epprd/signon.html
4. To control class section enrollments Faculty may select to use EITHER the wait list OR the permission list. (For more information go to http://www.sis.virginia.edu/fcusers/demo2/demo2.htm) To change your authorized enrollment write to ; to have a permission list turned on write to
The Wait List: The wait list works automatically. If space becomes available in a class and IF (1) a student has no holds, and (2) adding the student to the class will not result in a time conflict or in over-enrolling the student in the number of credits allowed by their school, the students is added to the class and notified via e-mail. Students may be on up to 17 credits worth of wait listed classes and they can see their place on a wait list.
The Permission List: Permissions are controlled by instructors who choose how to add students to their class. Instructors must monitor their permission lists regularly – daily once classes begin. They can check the actual enrollment figures to determine if additional students can be offered a space. Once permission is granted, the student will be notified via e-mail and have a designated amount of time to add the class.
5. There are links in the Student Center to view a course syllabus (once created and if it is public) as well as course evaluations. Please post your course syllabi to UVACollab as quickly as you can.
6. The new VISTAA form is an interactive and “searchable document.” The VISTAA form will “collapse” all school and major requirements and “expand” those that a student has not yet completed. It will also display a list of possible courses that fill a certain requirement. From there you can navigate to a course description and then see if the class has been scheduled for the upcoming semester. Students can add classes directly from a VISTAA form.
7. The College of Arts & Sciences has rebuilt its in-house advising system (the URL for the system is https://www.web.virginia.edu/Advise). This site is a “communication and calendaring” tool. Here you can obtain lists of all of your undergraduate advisees and e-mail them as a group, by year or by major. You may also set up an electronic calendar for the advising period and students can schedule their appointments online. You can also view the Student Information Form (completed by new students) and enter comments after your advising appointment.
8. All non-majors will have an “advisor hold” placed on their record which will be removed AFTER meeting with an advisor. While most major departments place advisor holds (thus requiring the student to meet with an advisor) some do not. Students without an advisor hold can view their appointment time through the Student Center and enroll in classes at their designated time.
9. ISIS will continue to be available through August to check spring grades and to register for Summer Session. However, for the fall 2009 term, the SIS will become the official system of record for University of Virginia students.
10. You may view the Faculty Center demo at http://www.sis.virginia.edu/fcdemo/index.html For additional demos (e.g., on VISTAA, the wait list/permission list) and more detailed information go to http://www.sis.virginia.edu/
Useful Demos
Faculty Center Demo
Faculty Guide (.pdf)
Permission List/Wait List Functionality
VISTAA Presentation