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Schedule Builder

Schedule Builder is a tool that allows you to create potential class schedule options as you prepare to register for the coming term. Schedule Builder is found in the Student Center and works with Degree Planner to create a seamless user experience.

Schedule Builder is only available to students who are term activated in the given term. Students who are not active can still view Cal Poly's Class Schedule by visiting Class Search.


Frequently Asked Questions

 

ALERTS

Schedule Builder Error: Building a class schedule with a course that allows you to enroll multiple times in the same term

Schedule Builder automatically validates your schedule when you select "build schedule." If your schedule contains a course that allows for multiple enrollments in the same term, you will receive the following error:

Schedule Builder error
 

If you are building a schedule that contains a course that allows for multiple enrollments in the same term, add that course directly through your Student Center. Do not validate your schedule prior to registering.

The Course Catalog will inform you if a course allows for multiple enrollments in the same term.

Example: Total credit limited to 4 units; repeatable in same term.

Description in Cal Poly Catalog

Schedule Builder Error: Variable unit course not showing full range of units possible

When enrolling in a variable unit course via Schedule Builder, the "max" unit value is not displayed correctly.

For example, if the section is offered for 1-4 units, Schedule Builder will only allow you to enroll in 1-3 units. If the section is offered for 1-2 units, Schedule Builder will only allow you to enroll in 1 unit.

A fix has been identified and will be implemented as soon as possible.

How to proceed in the interim:

For variable unit courses, if Schedule Builder does not display the unit value in which you want to enroll, complete the enrollment transaction through the Add function in your Student Center.

 

Schedule Builder View

This class is a variable 1-4 unit section, but Schedule Builder only displays the option to enroll in 1-3 units:

Schedule Builder view of ES 200 - Special Problems

 

 

How to Use Schedule Builder

Step 1: Access Schedule Builder through your Student Center

"My Apps" in the Cal Poly Portal > Student Center > Enrollment > Schedule Builder

You will be greeted by a Welcome Message that displays pertinent information and timely messaging associated with the registration process.

Selecting "Skip this message in the future" will suppress the message for future visits. The message will refresh should the content change.

 

Screenshot of the Schedule Builder Welcome Page encouraging students to find their Cal Poly Catalog on the Academics Tab of their My Cal Poly Portal.

 

Step 2: Select the correct term

You can select the correct available term from the Term drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the screen. You should click on the term itself instead of using the carrot to access the drop-down menu.

          Term drop-down menu

If you are unable to see a future term, it could mean one of two things:

  1. The term is not yet available. Visit the Student Planning calendar to review dates.
  2. You are not term activated for the desired term. This means you are unable to register for classes.

Contact the Records Unit within the Office of the Registrar for additional information. This will typically occur if you had an expected graduation date that was not updated.

You may elect to pull in coursework from Degree Planner, the Shopping Cart, Enrolled Classes, or classes where you are Wait Listed by using the drop down. It is easy to identify where a course pulled from based on the icon in the Status column (see "11. What do the symbols on the main page in Schedule Builder mean?" in the FAQs).

          Import Courses option in the upper right-hand corner of the page (next to Expand Filters)

Step 3: Expand Filters, set filter options, and add additional courses

In order to search for courses, select Expand Filters in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

          The Expand Filters button in the upper right-hand corner of the page (next to the Import Courses option)

 

Unavailable Time Filter

Unavailable Time may be set and used as a Filter when searching for classes. This Filter may be turned off if results are too limited.

          Unavailable Time filter allows students to block periods of time.

 

Class Status

When searching for courses, to see all results, make sure to view open, wait listed, and closed sections.

To view all class offerings, including classes that are closed, full, or have formed a wait list, uncheck both Class Status filter options (uncheck both "Open" and "Wait List").

          Students should select Open and Wait List to view both open courses and courses that have formed a wait list.        

 

Modality of Instruction

There are six different modalities of instruction at Cal Poly: Synchronous (fully online with established meeting times), Asynchronous (fully online with no established meeting times), Sync/Async Hybrid, In Person, In Person/Sync Hybrid, and In Person/Async Hybrid.

Use the "Modality of Instruction" filter to search for courses that fit your needs.

Modality of Instruction filter highlighted by a red outline.

 

Section Filters

Section Filters may be used to search for courses in specific categories. Students may elect to search by GE (General Education) Area, US Cultural Pluralism (USCP) courses, or Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) courses.

Students have the ability to select multiple Section Filters, but Section Filters do not overlap. If a student selects the GWR filter and the USCP filter, Schedule Builder will include all GWR courses and all USCP courses in the search results.

*Note: If a quick view of all courses that fulfill a specific GE Area is required, Class Search is an easy tool to use to quickly generate this information.

GE Sub-Area navigation with Cal Poly Catalog included.

GE Sub-Area A1 with Cal Poly Catalog included.

When searching for General Education (GE) courses, students must know their Cal Poly catalog.

*To find your catalog, visit the My Academics tab of your student portal.

 

Subject and Catalog Number Filters

You may also search directly for a course by entering the Subject and Catalog Number in the drop down fields. When searching for a course, these two fields are required (note the red asterisk).

Subject and Catalog Number fields are required when searching for a specific course (note the red asterisk)

 

Add Course

Use the Add Course button to select the courses Schedule Builder will use to create Class Schedule options. By selecting the course in the sub-navigation, you may elect to further limit which sections are used to build schedules. If you do not select specific sections of the course, Schedule Builder will create Class Schedule options with all available sections.

Add Course button

How to add a class in schedule builder video

View Seat Availability

Once the course has been added, you can either click on the course or the "Select Sections" button to view additional class details and seat availability.

Students can select the course itself or the Select Sections button to view class details.

Unreserved and reserved seat counts are listed for each section of the class. If you have selected the "Open" Class Status filter, only open sections will appear.

If you selected the "Open" Class Status filter and the "Wait List" Class Status filter, all sections will appear. A yellow exclamation point in the "Wait List Open" column indicates that the section has students waiting. When you try to register, if you select the wait list option, you will be wait listed even if seats are open for enrollment. The wait list counts down to zero from the total positions available (for example 89/99 means that 10 students have wait listed). 

Unreserved seats, reserved seats, and wait list status can be viewed for each section of the class.

Step 4: Build schedule options

Up to ten (10) courses may be used when building a schedule. Select Build Schedule to see options.

Main Schedule Builder home page that displays selected courses.

*Results will return up to 100 schedules

Step 5: Evaluate schedule options

Set Favorites

You may elect to save up to five (5) Favorite schedules. Indicate that a schedule is a "Favorite" by clicking the heart icon.

          Add to favorites heart icon.

A pop up will allow you to name each Favorite schedule.

          The Adding to Favorite pop-up window allows the user to name the selected schedule.


 

Compare Schedule Options

You may compare multiple schedules using the Add to compare function.

Add to compare button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

Compare two schedules. Schedules overlap so the user can see key differences.


 

View Maps

From the schedule, you may view class locations on a map by clicking the three (3) dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen:

          View on Map function. Click on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

The map feature allows you to view distance between classes: 

Map feature displays distance between classes.

Step 6: Enroll in classes and review important messaging

Once the desired schedule has been identified, you may Validate the schedule, Add the classes to your Shopping Cart, or Enroll directly in the classes. Select the green "Enroll" button to view these options.

Green Enroll button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

Select Classes window with Validate, Add to Cart, and Enroll options.

Validate Schedule

This option is helpful prior to your enrollment appointment. The Validate function will check to see that your meet prerequisites for the selected courses. If a permission number will be needed during the registration process, you will know prior to your enrollment appointment.

 

Add to Shopping Cart

This option allows you to move classes directly to the Shopping Cart in your Student Center. From there, they may complete the registration process.

 

Enroll in Classes

You have the option to Enroll directly in classes from Schedule Builder.

If Enrolling directly in classes, you will select each class and fill in any necessary information related to the enrollment transaction.

Enrollment options window with Grading, Permission Number, Wait list option.

Option: Change Grading Basis

Change Grading Drop Down

Use the drop down to change grading option for the class.

Change Grading View

In this example, grading basis was changed from "Graded" to "Credit / No Credit"

Option: Add Permission number

A permission may be obtained from the department offering the course prior to the term or directly from the instructor.

How to add a permission number video

Option: Select Waitlist

By checking the Wait list if class is full option, you will be added to the wait list if course prerequisites are met. Each day the wait list process runs. If a seat becomes available, the wait list process will enroll you into the class.

How to waitlist a class video

Review Messaging

After options have been saved and the Enroll transaction has been processed, you will receive messages associated with each transaction. It is important to read all messages to ensure that the enrollment process was successful.

Green: Success

Red: Errors that need to be reviewed

Yellow: Success, but with messages. It is important to review each message (wait list placement, course repeat notification, etc.). It is possible to receive a message indicating the class has been added to your schedule, but when reviewing your schedule, you will find you were wait listed for the section if that was the option you selected.

 

Important messaging appears once the enrollment transaction has been processed.

PLEASE NOTE: The following message is a standard PeopleSoft message that may appear in your Schedule Builder "Enrollment results" or your Shopping Cart:

"Note that this is a GE and/or USCP course and may fulfill a Bachelor's degree requirement."

No further action is necessary. However, it is important to run your Degree Progress Report (DPR) after you have registered.

Search for a class

Students can add classes starting at their registration enrollment appointment time through the 4th day of the “add/drop period” on their Student Center or through Schedule Builder.

It is important for students to know their catalog year to ensure you are searching for correct classes

Search for a general education (GE) course 

Using the Section Filters, select "General Education Area" and "Subject-Area." You can then use the Course Selection Filters to search for courses that fulfill that specific GE Area.

Schedule Builder works like a funnel to narrow down results based on search criteria.

Note that when selecting multiple Course Attributes (i.e. General Education and USCP), results will include all courses that meet either attribute, not only courses that meet both attributes.

When searching for General Education options, you will need to know your Cal Poly Catalog to ensure that you make the correct choice.

Add Course button

Students can select the course itself or the Select Sections button to view class details.

GE Sub-Area with Cal Poly Catalog included.

  1. select correct term
  2. go to "section filters" (if not appear, hit expand filters on the right)
  3. click on GE Area
  4. click on "If GE, Select Area" box to the right
  5. select GE area based on applicable catalog
  6. Go to "Course Selection" box and choose subject
  7. Go to "catalog number" and select course
  8. click on "add course"
  9. courses appear at bottom of page - click on select section to view dates, times and course information

Video on how to search for a general education (GE) course

Video on how to add a general education (GE) course

Search for a specific course

You must enter a Subject and Catalog Number (as noted by the red asterisk) if you are searching for a specific course. Course description and prerequisite information will display when the Subject and Catalog Number fields have been filled. Select Add Course to include the specific course as an option when building your schedule.

Subject and Catalog Number fields are required when searching for a specific course. These fields include a red asterisk.

Students can select the course itself or the Select Sections button to view class details.

  1. select correct term
  2. go to course selection box" (if not appear, hit expand filters on the right)
  3. Select subject
  4. select catalog number
  5. go to "catalog number" and select course
  6. click on "add course"
  7. course appear at bottom of page - click on select section to view dates, times and course information

Video on searching for a specific course

How to add a specific course video

Search for GWR | USCP

Under the Section Filters heading, use the first field (Select GE; GWR; USCP) and select one of the following: Graduation Writing Requirement or United States Cultural Pluralism.

These types of courses do not have "sub-areas," so the "If GE, Select Area" field does not need to be populated.

Next, under the Course Selection heading, select a Subject from the drop-down menu. Once you select a Subject, the corresponding Catalog Numbers will display only the courses that are offered during that term. Be mindful of your filter selections as they will impact what courses appear in the drop-down menu.

The Section Filters allow you to find GWR, USCP, or Fully Online sections.

Search for open class

To view all class offerings, including classes that are closed, full, or have formed a wait list, uncheck both Class Status filter options.

First, select "Expand Filters":

Remember to Expand Filters to select both Open and Closed course options.

Next, under "Class Status," uncheck both the "Open" option and the "Wait List" option. Removing the Class Status filter entirely will ensure that your search results include all classes regardless of class status. 

The Class Status filter can be used to search for only Open classes or all class offerings (including closed classes, full classes, and classes that have formed a wait list).

Search for modality course

Cal Poly offers six different modalities of instruction:

Asynchronous classes are virtual classes taught in a self-guided format. There are no required weekly meeting days and times. The meeting pattern will be "TBA" in Schedule Builder.

Synchronous classes are virtual classes taught in a guided format. There are required weekly meeting days and times, and students are required to log in for class instruction of some sort. The class schedule will list required days and times.

Synchronous/Asynchronous Hybrid classes are fully online, but the meeting pattern is a combination of established days and times (for the synchronous online component) and student self-guided work (for the asynchronous online component).

In Person classes are offered at on-campus or off-campus physical locations with established meeting days and times. Location information (building number and room number) can be found in Schedule Builder for these sections.

In Person/Synchronous Hybrid classes include in-person and online course content. These classes have established meeting days and times which are listed in the class schedule.

In Person/Asynchronous Hybrid classes include in-person and online course content. The meeting pattern is a combination of established days and times (for the in-person component) and student self-guided work (for the asynchronous online component).

NOTE: When searching for in-person classes, results will also display Independent Study and/or Supervisory courses (such as Senior Project classes). In general, meeting patterns for these courses will be listed as "TBA" as students will be required to coordinate requirements with the instructor. Even though these courses will display as "in person" offerings, this does not necessarily mean course content will be delivered face-to-face. Reach out to the instructor or department offering the course for additional information.

To find classes that fit your needs, use the "Modality of Instruction" filter:

Modality of Instruction filter highlighted by a red outline.

Knowing who reserved seats are for (Reserve capacities)

Class seats can be reserved for a specific student population. Students who meet the criteria for the reserved seats can enroll in the class and others are added to the waitlist. Refer to class notes to know if you meet criteria. To know the exact number of seats reserved and which student populations, click on the section and look in bottom right corner

Seat availability information is listed at the bottom of each class section window.

Class notes

Class notes can be found in two locations:

1.) Class notes are seen as you select sections for a course. They are viewable prior to drilling down into the expanded course information.

Class notes appear when the section of the course is selected.

2.) After selecting "Build Schedule," class notes can be found in the calendar view of your schedule.

Select any class in the calendar view of your schedule to "View" more information about that class.

When you click on a course in the calendar view, a text box appears that allows you to either "View" or "Pin" the course.

The "View" option allows students to access class notes.

Select "View" to find course details, including class notes.

Class notes can be found at the bottom of the "View" window for the class.

Understanding Errors and Symbols

"Class Status" error

To view all class offerings, including classes that are closed, full, or have formed a wait list, uncheck both Class Status filter options.

First, select "Expand Filters":

Remember to Expand Filters to select both Open and Closed course options.

Next, under "Class Status," uncheck both the "Open" option and the "Wait List" option. Removing the Class Status filter entirely will ensure that your search results include all classes regardless of class status. 

The Class Status filter can be used to search for only Open classes or all class offerings (including closed classes, full classes, and classes that have formed a wait list).

Various symbols in the class section information

Planned - Courses are brought over from Degree Planner, planned coursework

          Planned coursework symbol is a purple box.

Enrolled - Sections in which the student is enrolled

          Enrolled symbol is a green figure with a check mark.

Wait List - Section in which the student is on the wait list

          Wait list symbol is a yellow list.

Shopping Cart - Section that has been added directly into the Shopping Cart

          Shopping Cart symbol is a dark green shopping cart.

Zero Cost Course materials or Open Education Resources

Zero cost course materials or Open Education Resources symbol is a book with a dollar sign crossed out.

Closed Leaf - Sustainability Focused

Sustainability Focused symbol is a green leaf.

Open Leaf - Sustainability Related

Sustainability Related symbol is a green outline of a leaf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cannot find a class

Sections that the department has set to "no print" will not publish in Schedule Builder. For a section where you have been given the class number and/or permission number to enroll, you must do so directly from the Enrollment > Add option via your Student Center.

Textbooks

Under the class section information, once confirmed by the instructor, there will be a link to "Course Materials." This link will take you directly to the University Bookstore website to view required course material information and purchase materials as needed.

A link to Course Materials can be found under class section information.

Variable Unit Course

Variable unit courses will have the option to set unit value before completing the registration process. Use the "Units*" field to select number of units in which you would like to enroll.

Variable unit option in the Enrollment options window.

View class schedule

First, check your class schedule for the term to review what classes you have been successfully enrolled in. If there are outstanding questions, contact the Records Unit within the Office of the Registrar or the Advising Center in your college. Refer to contact information under Troubleshooting Resources at the bottom of this page.

Topic for a course

Classes with topics are viewable when selecting sections in Schedule Builder. There is a drop down menu that can be used to search for specific topics associated with that course.

Specific topics associated with a given course.

 

Cal Poly Faculty and Staff FAQs

Faculty and Staff | How to request access to view Schedule Builder

To gain security access to Schedule Builder, you will need to submit a Technical Service Request. The Technical Service Request link can be found in the “My Apps” menu of your Cal Poly Portal.

Once you click on the "Technical Service Request" link, you will be directed to the Employee Technical Support page. From here, select the "New CMS Account Request" option:

          If you are a faculty/staff member hoping to gain security access to Schedule Builder, you must submit a New CMS Account Request.

When you submit your request, please include detailed information explaining why you need access to this student tool.

Please Note: In order to receive security access, you must have taken the FERPA training through the Cal Poly Learning Hub within the last year.

You can access the FERPA training course through the "Staff and Faculty Training" tab on your Cal Poly Portal. Once there, click on the "Go to the Cal Poly Learning Hub" green button and search for the “Data Security and FERPA” training.

Please allow about an hour and a half to complete the training.

Faculty and Staff  | Using schedule builder on behalf of student

Faculty and staff must act on behalf of students when using Schedule Builder. As there is no general view in Schedule Builder, the platform should not be used for enrollment monitoring purposes. To monitor enrollment, faculty and staff can use any of the following: Class Roster, Class Search, and/or Enrollment Management Dashboards.

To act on behalf of a student, you will Look Up the student using either name or EMPL ID.

 

Troubleshooting Resources and Video Tutorials

For Curriculum-Related Assistance:

College Advising Center

Mustang Success Center (First-year students)

For Technical Assistance:

Office of the Registrar, University Scheduling

classschedule@calpoly.edu

Office of the Registrar Tools Virtual Appointments

To Find Your Cal Poly Catalog (Undergraduate students):

  • Access your My Cal Poly Portal
  • Select your Academics tab
  • Your Cal Poly Catalog is listed under Degree Information

For Registration Issues:

Office of the Registrar, Records Unit

records@calpoly.edu

 

 

 

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