BASC Office Temporarily Closed — All Advising Services Virtual

Due to a scheduled remodel, our physical location will be closed until winter quarter. Our team will continue to provide all services virtually to ensure uninterrupted support of our students. You can connect with us through virtual advising appointments, virtual express advising, and email at cbsundergrads@ucdavis.edu.

PTA Policies

This page outlines the College of Biological Sciences policy for PTA (Permission to Add) requests. Before submitting a request, read the policy carefully to understand when PTAs may or may not be approved and what to expect during the review and approval process.

Key Points

  • PTA requests may be denied if the course is at room capacity, even with documentation.
  • If a course is full, students should join the waitlist and register for backup; enrollment is only possible if space opens.
  • Should you have any holds on your account, it is your responsibility to contact the appropriate department and ensure they are resolved.
  • PTAs are granted only under extenuating circumstances and should not be relied upon as the only means of enrolling in a course. 

PTA Information For CBS Students

Before the 10th day of instruction, we will only issue PTAs to students in the following situations:

  • If there are seats available and you meet the following requirements:
    • You are a graduating senior
    • You meet all prerequisites
    • You must take this specific course this quarter—with no available alternatives—and a major advisor must verify this is necessary for you to graduate on time
  • You were dropped from the course due to non-payment caused by Financial Aid delay
  • You were dropped from the course due to an administrative (University) error
  • Your prerequisite petition was denied, but you have proof of meeting the prerequisites

After the 10th day of instruction, a PTA may also be issued in the following situations:

  • If all the following are true:
    • You meet all the prerequisites
    • There are seats in the course in Schedule Builder
    • Your instructor approves your PTA request
    • Department staff have verified all the above, and there are no additional constraints
    • You must also have a backup class so that you are registered for at least 12 units in case a PTA cannot be issued
  • If you are adding a variable unit or thesis course (e.g. 92, 99, 192, 193, 194/H, 197T, 198, 199, 289, 299)
  • If seats are available and you have a time conflict with another class, you must have approval from both instructors, and the course must have open seats in Schedule Builder.

At any point of the registration process, PTAs will NOT be issued in the following situations:

  • Classes dropped accidentally (unless it’s after the 10th day of instruction and there are seats available)
  • Circumventing course registrations
  • The class is listed on their academic plan for the current quarter
  • Missing Pass 1 or Pass 2 registration
  • Prerequisites haven’t been satisfied
  • To maintain full time status
  • To meet minimum progress requirement
  • For an undergraduate student to graduate early
  • The Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs (OSSJA) has advised against issuing a PTA

After you submit a PTA request

Step 1: Advisor, Instructor, and Department Staff will review your request and issue a tentative decision regarding your eligibility. You will be notified via email. PLEASE NOTE: Decisions may take some time to be issued as the department may be looking into alternative options for managing the waitlist (Increasing the size of the class to let all waitlisted students in, etc.)

Step 2: If the course can accommodate additional students, you will be emailed a PTA number after the 10th day of instruction. 

Step 3: You must use the PTA number within 72 hours of issuance (including weekends), or it will expire. *Note: The Registrar’s Office charges students a $3 fee to your account for using a PTA.

PTA Information for CBS Faculty

Faculty Role in PTA Requests:

  • Confirm a student meets for your class prerequisites and have the room capacity. 

Faculty Limitations in PTA Requests:

  • Cannot directly issue PTA numbers when a course has a waitlist.
  • Even with instructor approval, PTAs may be denied if room capacity or TA resources are limited.
  • Approve time conflict requests only when mutual instructor approval is obtained and the course is not waitlisted.

PTA Information for CBS Department Staff

Policy Enforcement and Verification:

  • Ensure PTAs are only issued for CBS courses and that student claims are verified by BASC and Instructor.
  • Even with instructor approval, PTAs may be denied if room capacity or TA resources are limited.

Processing

  • Review and approve/deny requests, then submit PTA numbers through CBSPTA.