"Welcome to the Registration Office" or "What the hell do you want?!"

I say that the stigma of the rudeness of the Registrar's Office only adds character to the university.  One day you'll be looking back at your college years, reminiscing about old times, remembering the stench of the Fairhaven pond or the ghost of Edens South or the time you had to run past the Registrar's Office to avoid evil, menacing glares.  You'll look back at these characteristics of the university and chuckle.

I have been wondering this since I came to WWU three years ago, I thought it was just me but I'm glad to see this topic on here.  Just last quarter I went in to drop a PE class and I was told, "No, you only get 2 late-withdrawal privileges per year", This was news to me so I asked with a smile, "I didn't know it was a privilege to drop a class".  She did not think it was funny at all, instead just repeated herself, handed me the withdrawl form and said something like " you can't just drop all the classes you want".  I walked away thinking "what the hell was her problem", I felt like she was pissed I was dropping more than two classes this year and that I was a fool because I didn't know about the late withdrawl rules!  Sorry I've never dropped a class lady...

  I ended up asking for advice on this forum (http://forum.wwu.edu/node/1709) and got the answers I needed.  I would think the person at the desk would would have been able to offer at least some of that advice  

So, I stayed out of this and was pleased when I saw that someone said that they had gotten better, so I actually dared the other day to go in there, expecting a different atmosphere.

Boy was I wrong! I normally wouldn't name names, but that old wench with the glasses (the OLD one) said to me with scorn and a HUGE frown on her face (as soon as I walked in the door) "Can I help you?!" All I asked was something about graduation, and she acted like I was the dumbest mo-fo to ever had walked in there! I just couldn't remember what it said online and, since I was in the neighborhood, thought I'd just ask real quick. Not only did she fail to offer any help as to where the office I needed was located (without my having to specifically ask her), she was snotty and really made me feel like I was worthless.

I guess she's just sour because she's like 150 years old and still works in the same low-paying position she's probably had since she graduated H.S. , but really Western, you need to get someone better to represent your school! 

I just about turned back around to tell her that I thought they had changed their crabby attitude and that I guess I was wrong, but I decided not to. Now I wish I had.

To the people in the Registrar's office: I have NEVER had a pleasant experience with this older woman, you need to change something, or move her to a less prominent position in the office. This is the face of WWU that you are presenting, and it's a sour, crabby, disgruntled frown.

PS: It's not like I'm some dumb freshman who doesn't have a clue. I'm older, married, and smart. I just needed some information that I thought your office could provide. Next time I will just ask for a manager and take up their valuable time.

I'm glad that someone in the office saw this and resopnded. As there are 53 posts ahead of me, I'm sure I didn't catch everything, but it seems like the RO rep is going for the 'was probably having a bad day' defense. I would agree that we should generally give people the benefit of the doubt on things like this, except that every time I've gone in there they've been 'efficient'. I'm glad for that, but it would do so much good if they could just crack a smile at a joke or even look me in the eye. The RO ladies were like that and so was the one transcript evaluator lady I saw.

HOWEVER.

I had to go in last week, scared about my impending graduation, and PAULA SALISBURY was polar opposite all the rest.
PROPS TO PAULA-- I went in prepared to be frustrated and came out so relieved and pleased.

The staff in the Registrar’s Office want you know that we are listening, and we are making a great effort to improve the way we help you, the student, as well as the entire campus community.  We are doing our best to smile no matter what comes our way, and it will get better.  But we need your help to achieve our goal.  If you visit our office and feel that you have been treated rudely or that you have not received the service you expect, please ask to speak to me or another supervisor.

We plan to add more information about registration to this forum, so if you have a question just post it to the forum and we will be happy to answer it for everyone.

I wanted to let you all know about this important registration deadline:

Friday, April 10, at 5 pm.  Last day to drop a class without getting a "W" grade on your transcript.  Beginning Monday, April 13, you will receive a "W" on your official transcript.  Half refund of tuition only applies, if applicable. 

All add/drop must be done in person at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230.  We are open MWRF 8:30-5 and T 9-5.

I think my experience may differ a little from the norm, but I've had a great experience with 2 particular offices. Career Center and ESPECIALLY the Chemistry department. They're very helpful, and give you all the information you need. Some of the chem. professors can seem a little intimidating when you first meet them, but that's simply your initial judgement based off of the "front cover of the book" method, and not really knowing what to expect. From personal experience within the chemistry department, if you show enthusiasm for the topic, and show that you're putting in effort towards their class by going into office hours once a week or maybe a little more or less then they'll warm up to you. Anyone who knows of the big 4 current or former professors within the chemistry department will know what I mean (Gammon, Pavia, Lampman, Kriz). Not to say that the other professors aren't great either, but I've particularly memorable experiences with them.

As for the registration office, it definitely seems a little...bitter in there. You'd think they would open up a little by being greeted by a friendly face, but some people I suppose might prefer working elsewhere. I don't know. I'll let you guys know when I develop a "happy" pill, or we could always just pull out the already invented "laughing gas" and hook it up to the buildings ventilation system for a week as a trial period, and document the results.

Are you crazy? That's what I loved about the office! When I went to drop my course, the lady did not give me any kind of look, and I didn't her my life's story (1. It's none of her business and 2. She doesn't have to care), and she handed me my copy of the slip and said "Here you go." And I said, "Thank you."

What more could you want? A smile? What's there to smile about? You just quit a course! You're stressed and ashamed! I would find a smile insulting, like, "We'll, you obviously don't know your limits, but try to have a great day!" And they can't say normal service like, "Come again sometime!" They know you wish you didn't have to show up in that office.

Also, there only people that you need to justify dropping a class to are your parents, and that's only if they paid your tuition. The registrar's office isn't there to judge you, so why tell them anything.

Your expectations are somewhat absurd.

I've never had any problems with anyone's attitudes when I ask for help, they've always been friendly, but I've had trouble getting answers that weren't "here's our website," on multiple occasions. I was having trouble with scholarships and went to the scholarship center for help and the response to "I have no idea where to start" was "take this card, there are scholarships on the website." Poo.