Hold is a block placed on a student’s record that prevents one or more actions, such as registration, transcript release, or diploma issuance, until a specified condition is resolved.
How it works
An office places the hold in the student-information system with a code and message. The student sees the hold in the portal, along with instructions for resolution. Once the student satisfies the condition (pays the balance, submits the form, etc.), the office removes the hold. Registration or transcript release then becomes available. Some holds block only specific functions.
Example: a student has a bursar hold for an unpaid $300 balance. The student cannot register for the next term or obtain an official transcript. After payment is posted, the bursar removes the hold and registration opens.
How it differs
An academic suspension is a status that may include a hold but is broader. A prerequisite block prevents registration in one course. Satisfactory-academic-progress failure affects aid eligibility and may be accompanied by a hold, but the SAP status itself is not merely a hold.
Common errors
Attempting to register or order transcripts without first checking for holds. Assuming a hold placed by one office can be removed by another. Ignoring holds that block aid disbursement even when the student is otherwise eligible.
References
- 1. Institutional hold policiesTypes and effects
- 2. Common bursar and registrar holdsResolution steps
Hold is a block placed on a student’s record that prevents one or more actions, such as registration, transcript release, or diploma issuance, until a specified condition is resolved.