Course Program of Study (CPOS) Frequently Asked Questions

What is CPOS?

Course Program of Study (CPOS) is a federal financial aid requirement that ensures students receive federal financial aid only for courses that count toward their officially declared degree, diploma, or certificate program.

Courses will be reviewed through the CPOS process to determine whether they apply to your current program of study.

Why Does CPOS Matter?

Federal financial aid can only be paid for coursework that applies toward your declared academic program.

This includes:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal Work-Study

If you enroll in courses that do not count toward your program requirements, your financial aid eligibility may be reduced.

How Does RPCC Determine Whether a Course Counts?

RPCC uses Degree Works and Banner to evaluate whether your enrolled courses apply to your declared program of study.

Courses are reviewed through the CPOS process before financial aid is authorized and disbursed.

If a course does not fit into your degree requirements, it may be identified as non-eligible for federal financial aid purposes.

What Happens if I Take a Course That Does Not Count Toward My Program?

You may still enroll in the course; however, the course may not count toward your financial aid enrollment status.

This could result in:

• Reduced Pell Grant eligibility
• Reduced loan eligibility
• Loss of eligibility for some financial aid programs
• A balance owed to RPCC

Example

A student is enrolled in:

• ENGL 1010 (Counts toward program)
• MATH 1100 (Counts toward program)
• HIST 2010 (Counts toward program)
• ARTS 1000 (Does not count toward program)

The student is registered for 12 credit hours, but only 9 credit hours are CPOS-eligible.

Financial aid may be adjusted based on the 9 eligible credit hours instead of the full 12 hours.

How Can I Check Whether My Courses Count?

Students should:

1. Review their Degree Works audit.
2. Meet with their Student Success Coach or Faculty Advisor.
3. Verify that their major is correctly declared.
4. Review their educational plan before registering.

If you are unsure whether a course applies to your program, ask before registering.

Will I Be Notified if I Am Enrolled in Non-Eligible Coursework?

Yes, RPCC uses EAB Navigate to communicate CPOS-related information.

Students may receive:

• Navigate alerts
• Navigate campaigns
• Email notifications
• Outreach from their Student Success Coach

These communications are designed to help students make schedule adjustments before aid is impacted.

What Should I Do If I Receive a CPOS Alert?

Contact your Student Success Coach immediately.

They can:

• Review your Degree Works audit
• Determine whether the course should count
• Discuss program changes if appropriate
• Assist with schedule adjustments

The sooner you address the alert, the more likely adjustments can be made before financial aid is affected.

What if I Changed My Major?

If you officially change your major, your courses will be reevaluated under the requirements of your new program. Please note that enrolling in courses that do not apply to your currently declared program may impact your financial aid eligibility until an approved Change of Major has been processed.

Students should submit all program changes as early as possible.

Financial aid eligibility can only be determined based on the program officially recorded with the college.

What if a Course Is Flagged but I Think It Should Count?

There are situations where:

• A course substitution has been approved
• An exception has been granted by the academic department
• Degree Works has not been updated

Contact your Student Success Coach for assistance.

The Registrar's Office and academic departments may review approved exceptions as part of the CPOS process.

Does CPOS Apply to Repeated Coursework?

Yes! Repeated coursework must still meet federal financial aid regulations and must apply toward your program requirements.

A course that is repeated but no longer counts toward degree completion may not be eligible for financial aid. A course that has been successfully completed can only be repeated once, after that, a student cannot receive federal aid for that repeated course.

Students should consult with Financial Aid and their Faculty Advisor before repeating coursework.

Does CPOS Affect TOPS?

CPOS is a federal financial aid requirement. However, enrollment in coursework that does not apply toward your degree may also affect eligibility for certain state and institutional aid programs.

Students should consult Financial Aid regarding their specific situation.

What Can I Do to Avoid CPOS Issues?

Before Registration:

• Review Degree Works
• Meet with your Student Success Coach
• Confirm your major is correct
• Register only for courses that apply to your program

After Registration:

• Review Navigate alerts
• Check your RPCC email regularly
• Respond promptly to outreach
• Address CPOS concerns before the census date

Need Help?

Contact the Financial Aid Office at [email protected]

Contact your assigned Student Success Coach here.

Meet with your faculty advisor prior to registration each semester for degree planning assistance.