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Northern Illinois University

Registration And Records

How Do I Register?

How to Register Checklist:

  • Verify registration time assignment and register on or after the assigned time, see When Can I Register?.
  • Attend an orientation and advising session, a requirement of new freshman and transfer undergraduates.
  • Register online via WebConnect. Logon using your *Z-ID and password or your Student ID and TRACS PIN.; or
  • Register via Phone TRACS at (815) 753-8900. Logon using your Student ID and TRACS PIN.
  • TRACS PIN is initially set to the month and day of your birth.
  • Identify the 4-digit reference number of the course(s) for which you wish to register (courses identified with PERM require you to obtain permission and the reference number from the department offering the class).

*For more information, consult the Everything Technology Handbook or visit the Information Technology Services website at www.its.niu.edu and click on “Accounts and Passwords”. For further assistance with your Z-ID and e-mail, contact the ITS help desk at (815) 753-8100 or via e-mail at helpdesk@niu.edu.


How Do I Register?

If you are a new student at NIU, you will first need to attend an orientation and advising session. After you have done this, there are two ways you can register for classes.

  • You can log on to WebConnect
  • You can register via Phone TRACS by calling (815) 753-8900

In order to find out what classes are being offered at NIU for the upcoming semester and at what times these classes meet, you can go to the online course schedule at www.courselistings.niu.edu for the most up-to-date course offerings. Please keep in mind that the course listings website is only a guide to help you figure out your schedule. You will need to register for classes either through WebConnect or Phone TRACS.

You will use your Z-ID or your Student ID to register.

  1. Z-ID (assigned when you are accepted to the university) and your password (originally set to the full year (19XX), month and day of your birth - YYYYMMDD). Your password is used to safeguard your Z-ID.
  2. Student ID (your social security number without the dashes) and your TRACS Personal Identification Number (PIN) (originally set for the month and day of your birth). For example, if your birthday is February 1, your TRACS PIN is 0201.

The first time you log on to WebConnect you can use either form of identification. You will be asked to change your password if you are using you Z-ID, or your PIN if you are using your Student ID.

If you are using Phone TRACS, you must use your Student ID and PIN, you will be asked to change your four digit PIN.

Once your password or PIN has been changed, the new password or PIN will be what you use in all future registration transactions on WebConnect or Phone TRACS. The new PIN or password is a private number known only to you and provides security for your records.

If you forget your password you will need to contact the ITS helpdesk at (815) 753-8100. If you forget your PIN, contact the Office of Registration and Records at (815) 753-0681. You can change your PIN at any time using the "Change PIN" option on WebConnect.


When Can I Register?

Undergraduate students are scheduled for registration based on the total number of credit hours earned (does not include in-progress hours), including transfer, proficiency and NIU hours. The more hours a student has earned, the earlier they can start to register.

Graduate students and students-at-large are scheduled for registration based on the first letter of the last name within the classification.

The TRACS registration timetables are available through WebConnect or in PDF format.

If you have any questions about the registration process or would like more information please feel free to contact the NIU Office of Registration and Records at (815) 753-0681 or by e-mail at regrec@niu.edu.