Priority Registration

Priorities are based on the number of completed units at Napa Valley College, only. The information below will help you determine your registration priority. Continuing student priority requires continuous (uninterrupted) enrollment at Napa Valley College. Enrollment in summer session is not required to maintain continuous enrollment. The number of completed units used for determining priority must be completed before Priority 1 begins. If you have not attended Napa Valley College for one or more semesters, you are considered a returning student.

Enrollment Priorities

  • Priority 1: Veterans, EOPS, DSPS, CalWorks, Foster Youth, Former Foster Youth, Homeless Youth, Former Homeless Youth, Tribal TANF & Student Parents*
  • Priority A: Continuing Students (45-100 units), Intercollegiate Student Athletes (as verified by the Athletic Department)
  • Priority B: Continuing Students (30-44.9 units)
  • Priority C: Continuing Students (15-29.9 units)
  • Priority D: Continuing Students (0-14.9 units)
  • Priority E: New Students
  • Priority F: Returning Students
  • Priority G: Open Registration (all students)

Open registration is available to all students once Priority G begins and high school students must register online.

*Student parent means a student who has a child or children under 18 years of age who will receive more than half their support from that student.

In order to obtain enrollment priority

New students and returning students absent 3 years or more must successfully complete the orientation, placement tool, and an abbreviated education plan. Continuing students must not have lost priority, as defined below. Students who have accumulated over 100 units will have Priority G.  

Loss of Priority Enrollment

Enrollment priority specified above shall be lost at the first registration opportunity after a student:

  • Is placed on academic or progress probation or any combination thereof as defined in Board Policy and Administrative Procedure – Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission (4250) for two consecutive terms.
  • Has earned more than one hundred (100) degree-applicable semester units at the district.
  • Has a cumulative GPA under 2.0 for two consecutive semesters.
  • Has 50 percent or more of all the units attempted resulting in W, I, NP, or NC grades.
  • Loss of priority repercussions will not apply when prevented by law.

The District shall notify students who are placed on academic or progress probation of the potential for loss of enrollment priority. The District shall notify the student that a second consecutive term on academic or progress probation will result in the loss of priority enrollment as long as the student remains on probation. 

The District shall notify students who have earned 75 percent or more of the unit limit, that enrollment priority will be lost when the student reaches the unit limit of 100 degree-applicable units.

Appeal of Loss of Enrollment Priority

Students may appeal the loss of enrollment priority when the loss is due to an extenuating circumstance by completing the online Loss of Priority California College Grant Appeal Petition on the forms page of the Admissions and Records webpage.  

Extenuating Circumstances are

  • Verified cases of accidents
  • Illnesses
  • Other circumstances beyond the control of the student
  • Student with an accommodation for priority registration through DSPS submitted the request but did not receive the reasonable accommodation in a timely manner
  • When more than 100 degree applicable units have been reached if the student is actively enrolled in a high unit major or program. Students must provide evidence of a current educational plan in a high unit major to be approved for the appeal.
  • When academic progress and/or progress improvement is being made either at Napa Valley College or another academic institution.  Students must provide evidence of this on a transcript to be approved for appeal.
  • Students who have demonstrated significant academic improvement at either Napa Valley College or other academic institution(s). Significant academic improvement is defined as achieving no less than the 2.0 minimum grade point average and progress standard of less than 50% of grades attempted resulting in W, I, NP, or NC grades established in the Administrative Procedure on Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission (4250).

The Dean of Enrollment and Outreach Services will determine the outcome of the appeal using the criteria in administrative procedure, AP 5055.

For more information, view BP 5055 and AR 5055 on Enrollment Priorities