CPOS Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about a course and whether it is in your Program of Study of the degree you are pursuing, please contact your Advisor!  Financial Aid cannot answer questions about your academic program and what classes count toward your degree.

  1. What is Course Program of Study (CPOS)?
  2. What is a program of study (as defined for financial aid)?
  3. What types of aid are affected by CPOS?
  4. How do I know which courses are NOT counting toward financial aid?
  5. When does the CPOS report process run?
  6. What if I believe a course not currently eligible for financial aid SHOULD count toward my degree?
  7. It’s time to register. How many hours should I take?
  8. What if I change my major?
  9. How will required courses for my minor be treated?
  10. Can elective classes count for aid?
  11. Do remedial classes count for aid?
  12. Can prerequisites count for aid?
  13. Will a repeated class count for aid?
  14. What about graduating seniors in their last semester?
  15. I am enrolled in twelve (12) undergraduate hours but four (4) of those hours do not count toward my program of study. How does this affect my financial aid?
  16. How does this affect study abroad?
  17. What about courses that will be substituted and thus become part of a student’s program of study?
  18. Why would a course not count for aid when my advisor said it would apply to my program?
  19. Can I still take courses not required for my program of study?
  20. If I am a double major or dual degree student, will all the courses count?
  21. Do second degree courses qualify for financial aid?
  22. What if I change my schedule to add a required course?
  23. What if I make a change to my schedule after receiving a refund?
  24. I’ve looked at my plan, and don’t have full-time course eligibility for the Spring. Can I drop a class I’m taking now, that will count, and just retake it in the Spring to get to full time enrollment?
  25. I am taking classes at ECU and another regionally accredited institution. Am I eligible to receive aid for those hours taken elsewhere?
  1. What is Course Program of Study (CPOS)?
    Course Program of Study (CPOS) is a U.S. Department of Education requirement that only considers courses counting toward a student’s program of study for financial aid eligibility. This federal requirement is not new, but will be monitored for student compliance at ECU through a new reporting process beginning with Spring 2024 registration.
  1. What is a program of study (as defined for financial aid)?
    As defined for financial aid purposes, a program of study is the list of courses required to complete a specific degree as outlined in the University Catalog. A student’s specific catalog year is identified on the student’s Degree Works audit in PiratePort.
  1. What types of aid are affected by CPOS?
    Title IV federal aid is based on coursework that counts toward a student’s degree. Many state, institutional and private (scholarship) aid programs require the same enrollment criteria as federal programs. Check with the agency or the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to ensure you meet all requirements for funding.
  1. How do I know which courses are NOT counting toward financial aid?
    To qualify for full-time financial aid, first check your Degree Works audit to ensure your plan includes a minimum of twelve (12) undergraduate hours or nine (9) graduate hours from your program of study each spring and fall semester. You can check your financial aid self-service page in PiratePort to check for courses that do not count for aid. If you are enrolled in one or more courses impacted by CPOS that show up in the report, you will receive a message in your ECU email from the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). Email notifications are sent before the start of the upcoming semester.You can also check with your academic advisor or program director.
  1. When does the CPOS report run?
    The CPOS process runs before disbursement of financial aid (after registration begins) and continues until the end of the add/drop period. No further adjustments are allowed after the add/drop period.
  1. What if I believe a course not currently eligible for financial aid SHOULD count toward my degree?
    Do NOT modify your schedule without consulting with your academic advisor or program director! Students should always reference their official degree in the University Catalog, or their Degree Works audit. However, if a student believes a course should count toward the degree, but it is not covered by financial aid, contact your academic advisor or graduate program director. An advisor will be able to review your audit to determine whether the system is accurately assessing your enrollment. If not and your enrollment has been approved to count as part of your degree, a course substitution or exception request can be submitted by an advisor or program director to have the course(s) count toward your federal/state financial aid eligibility. Substitutions and exceptions must be submitted by the last day of the add/drop period of each term.
  1. It’s time to register. How many hours should I take?
    Your financial aid award is calculated on the registered hours that count toward your program of study. It is recommended you only take courses counting toward your degree. To receive a full-time financial aid award, coursework must include a minimum of twelve (12) undergraduate hours or nine (9) graduate hours from your program of study each spring and fall semester. If the credit hours do not meet this requirement, financial aid eligibility is reduced. Also note that dropped classes may reduce your financial aid, and the timing of a change of major is crucial.
  1. What if I change my major?
    If you are planning to change your program of study, contact your academic advisor immediately. It is essential your curriculum be listed on your student record. Your official curriculum is determined by your program of study requirements as listed in the University Catalog for the catalog year you follow. A student’s curriculum is displayed in the students Degree Works audit. A change of curriculum must be updated on your student record before the end of add/drop period for the current term. Curriculum changes after the add/drop period are effective the following term. Do not register for classes toward the new program of study until the update to your official degree on record is reflected in Degree Works.
  1. How will required courses for my minor be treated?
    If a minor is required for your degree program, the courses you take to meet that requirement are eligible for financial aid. If you are pursuing an optional minor, you will need to have free electives (if minor courses do not meet another requirement of your degree) to cover those courses to be eligible for financial aid or be enrolled in at least twelve (12) degree undergraduate or nine (9) graduate applicable credits. Please check the University Catalog to determine if a minor is required for your degree. List of programs that require or allow for a minor.
  1. Can elective classes count for aid?
    Electives count if they are required for the degree. Review the University Catalog to determine how many elective classes your degree allows.
  1. Do remedial classes count for aid?
    Remedial classes (MATH 0045 and MATH 0001) do count for aid purposes.
  1. Can prerequisites count for aid?
    If the prerequisite is a required course for your degree, the course is eligible for financial aid. If you are required to take a prerequisite course that is not included in the degree requirements prior to enrolling in a required course for the degree, the prerequisite course may count for aid. Your academic advisor should notify the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) regarding a required prerequisite.
  1. Will a repeated class count for aid?
    A repeat course may be eligible for federal financial aid depending on whether the course was previously passed or not. Students may only repeat previously passed courses one additional time. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) for specific questions regarding repeated courses.
  1. What about graduating seniors in their last semester?
    Only courses required for the program of study are eligible for financial aid. For example, if you only need three (3) hours to graduate but register for six (6) hours to qualify for a Federal Direct Loan, you will not be eligible for the Direct Loan.
    State, institutional, and private aid requirements may vary when it comes to Course Program of Study (CPOS) requirements. Please check with the agency or the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to determine funding requirements.
  1. I am enrolled in twelve (12) undergraduate hours but four (4) of those hours do not count toward my program of study. How does this affect my financial aid?
    Financial aid is disbursed based on the eight (8) credit hours that apply toward your program of study. The Federal Pell Grant award is reduced from a full-time enrollment award to a half-time enrollment award. You may be eligible to receive federal loans because you are enrolled at least half-time status in eligible coursework.
    State, institutional, and private aid requirements may vary when it comes to Course Program of Study (CPOS) requirements. Please check with the funding agency or the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to ensure you are meeting all requirements.
  1. How does CPOS affect study abroad?
    Study abroad courses may count for federal financial aid if they apply towards outstanding coursework in your officially declared program of study.
  1. What about substituted courses that become part of a student’s program of study?
    To be eligible for federal financial aid for the current term, a course petition must be submitted through Degree Works prior to the last day of the add/drop period. Petitions are submitted by advisors and program directors to the Office of the Registrar and, if approved, are processed by the registrar’s office. If you qualify for a substitution and believe you may be impacted by this deadline, please contact your academic advisor or program director. You can check that a petition has been submitted on your behalf within your Degree Works audit. See these instructions (PDF).
  1. Why would a course not count for aid when my advisor said it would apply to my program?
    Contact your academic advisor. He or she may need to submit a substitution form.
  1. Can I still take courses not required for my program of study?
    Yes, but the course will not count toward your financial aid enrollment status unless it is used as a free elective in your program of study. To receive a full-time financial aid award, your coursework must include a minimum of twelve (12) undergraduate hours or nine (9) graduate hours from your program of study each spring and fall semester.
  1. If I am a double major or dual degree student, will all the courses count?
    Degree Works should properly identify crossover courses including electives. Even with a double major, to be eligible for federal aid you must still be enrolled in required courses. If your degree program is not listed correctly in Degree Works, work with your academic advisor or program director to add the second program. Do not register for classes toward the new curriculum until the update to your record is reflected in Degree Works. The federal rules for dual majors or degrees are specific to the Pell and SEOG grant programs. For these programs, once the student completes all degree requirements for one major or degree, a student is no longer eligible for Pell or SEOG, whether the student has been conferred a bachelor’s degree or not. The student will remain eligible for other federal aid programs.
    TIP: Students can avoid losing grant aid eligibility by arranging courses to enter their final semester with degree requirements in both majors.
  1. Do second degree courses qualify for financial aid?
    Second degree courses are not eligible for grants but are eligible for loans, so long as the courses are counting toward requirements for the new degree plan. Students will need to work with their academic advisor to complete and submit a Second Degree Information Form to the Office of Student Financial Aid. This will be listed as an outstanding required document under the Financial Aid Self-Service portal, and the form will be available under the Financial Aid “Forms” page for the academic year the student will be starting their new program.
  1. What if I change my schedule to add a required course?
    If the change is made before the end of add/drop period (the first five days of the semester), your courses are automatically reevaluated that night. Check the home tab in Financial Aid Self Service to verify that the new course is considered for aid (this feature will be available during registration, starting with Spring 2024).
    If the change is made after the add/drop period, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) for additional questions regarding financial aid.
  1. What if I make a change to my schedule after receiving a refund?
    The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) may need to reevaluate your financial aid eligibility, depending on when the schedule change occurs. Contact the financial aid office prior to making any schedule changes after a semester begins. Schedule changes can affect the amount of aid awarded or disbursed, causing a student to owe a balance.
  1. I’ve looked at my plan, and don’t have full-time course eligibility for the Spring. Can I drop a class I’m taking now, that will count, and just retake it in the Spring to get to full time enrollment?If the only reason to drop the course is to maintain CPOS eligible hours, this is not something we can endorse. Dropping a course, in general, will have an impact on your Satisfactory Academic Progress metrics (specifically course completion), and could impact your eligibility for financial aid in future terms. If you feel there might be extenuating circumstances please discuss your situation with your Academic Advisor.
  1. I am taking classes at ECU and another regionally accredited institution. Am I eligible to receive aid for those hours taken elsewhere?
    If a student is obtaining their degree from ECU, and the courses they are taking at the other institution will count toward their degree requirements, yes. They will need to work with their Academic Advisor or Department Chair to complete a signed permission form indicating the other school’s name, intended course, and what it will satisfy at ECU for their degree plan. Once the permission form has been signed the student will need to submit a copy to the Office of Student Financial Aid. They will initiate a Consortium Agreement with the host school, and once confirmation of enrollment has been received, they would update the term’s enrollment accordingly.