When did CPoS become a requirement?
This federal requirement has been around for decades, but schools have only been able to monitor it for the last few years. UGA will go live with CPoS for Fall 2026.
When does CPoS at UGA go into effect?
CPoS goes live for ALL students Fall 2026
What types of aid are affected by CPoS?
Federal Aid – such as Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Student Loans such as Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Grad PLUS Loans.
How will a student know if they are registered for course(s) that do not apply to their degree?
Students will be notified by the Office of Student Financial Aid if their Federal Financial Aid is impacted due to enrollment in classes that do not apply to their degree program. They will be able to see the courses that are not applicable on the Financial Aid tab in Athena.
How will an advisor know what course(s) are not counting towards a student’s degree?
Advisors can view CPoS audits and track which courses are eligible using the What-If tool in DegreeWorks. For more information, please visit the Registrar’s website.
When will this process start?
We will start running the process after registration opens for each term.
How often will a student’s enrollment be reviewed?
A student’s course registration will begin being reviewed two weeks after registration opens. We will continue to review their courses if they add or drop any sessions. Once enrollment has been “frozen” at the end of drop/add, a student’s registration will be reviewed one final time.
When will students be notified of any course(s) that do not apply towards their degree?
Students will be notified by the Office of Student Financial Aid two weeks after registration opens for each term if their federal financial aid is impacted due to enrollment in classes that do not apply to their degree program. They will be able to see the courses that are not applicable on the Financial Aid tab on ATHENA.
What if a student needs to change their major for the course(s) to apply correctly to their degree program?
Undergraduate students can change or add majors, minors, and areas of emphasis using the “My Programs” option in Athena. If undergraduate students encounter an error when changing or adding a major, minor, or areas of emphasis, they can contact [email protected] for assistance. Academic advisors also have the option to change undergraduate students’ majors, minors, areas of emphasis, and bulletin terms by submitting the Curriculum Change Request Form and sending the completed form to [email protected].
How will CPoS impact elective course(s)?
Electives must satisfy the requirement of your declared major. If you have been notified that an elective is not counting toward your Federal Financial Aid eligibility, contact your academic advisor.
How will CPoS impact double majors, DoubleDawgs?
Double majors must be officially declared and reflected in the student’s DegreeWorks. Courses counting toward undeclared majors will not be included in the program of study.
Can a student take classes that are not required for their degree?
Students receiving federal financial aid are welcome to take classes which are not required for their Program of Study. However, they will need to pay for those classes out-of-pocket or with non-federal financial aid.
For undergraduate students enrolled during the Fall or Spring semesters, enrolling in courses that are not CPoS-eligible may not impact their federal aid if they are already enrolled in enough eligible coursework to be considered full-time for financial aid purposes. Since Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans are generally capped at full-time enrollment, students taking additional non-required coursework beyond full-time enrollment levels may not see a reduction in aid. However, students enrolled less than full-time in eligible coursework could have their aid adjusted or prorated.
Are scholarships impacted by CPoS?
No, scholarships (HOPE/Zell Miller, UGA or Private) are not federal aid and are not affected.
This is my last semester at UGA, how will I be affected by CPoS?
Only courses that are part of the program of study documented in DegreeWorks are eligible for federal aid. For example, if you only need 3 hours to graduate but you choose to register for 6 hours to qualify for a Federal Direct Loan, you will not be eligible for the Direct Loan. Though your federal aid does not include ineligible coursework, you may still qualify for state and institutional aid based on your total enrollment.
Will minor(s) or certificate(s) be eligible for Federal Financial Aid with CPoS?
Minors and certificate programs alone do not qualify as degree seeking programs, courses taken solely for a minor or certificate are not eligible for federal financial aid. However, many undergraduate degree programs include general elective hours that can also satisfy minor or certificate requirements. If a course required for a minor or certificate also applies toward a student’s declared major or degree requirements, it may still be covered by federal financial aid.
How will CPoS affect graduate students?
Graduate students will also be reviewed to determine whether their coursework applies toward their declared degree program. Since the primary federal aid available to graduate students is the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, students must be enrolled in at least 5 eligible CPoS hours during the semester to qualify. Graduate students should also make sure their Program of Study has been submitted and updated in DegreeWorks.
