Policies, Appeals, and Important Information

What types of financial aid does Course Program of Study (CPOS) impact?

CPOS applies to federal financial aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study.

It also impacts eligibility for state financial aid programs, such as the Cal Grant, Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG), Chafee Grant, and Middle-Class Scholarship.

CPOS does not impact the California College Promise Grant (CCPG).

How can I check if I am impacted by Course Program of Study (CPOS)?

When we go live, you can log in to MyGateway using your credentials and following the steps below:

• Log in to myGateway.
• Select Student Tools and then Financial Aid.
• Under the Home tab, review your CPOS information to see:
  • Which courses count toward your financial aid.
  • Which courses do not count.

You can also check your CPOS status in DegreeWorks:

• Log in to myGateway.
• Select Shortcuts, then DegreeWorks.
• Enter your student ID number and press Enter.
• Click on the What If audit.
• Review your audit to see which courses apply to your program of study.

Courses that fulfill your major, general education, or required electives typically count toward CPOS. If those requirements are already complete, additional courses may not be eligible for financial aid.

If you believe a course should count toward your program of study but does not, contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation. A Course Program of Study (CPOS) Petition may be needed to determine whether the course can be considered for financial aid eligibility.

When will I know if I am impacted by Course Program of Study (CPOS)?

After you register for classes, you will be notified that your Course Program of Study (CPOS) Audit is available on myGateway. Review your audit to see whether your enrolled courses count toward your program of study and make any necessary changes before the financial aid freeze date.

Your CPOS audit will run weekly until the freeze date. If you change your major, add or drop a class, or make other enrollment changes, your audit will run again, and your financial aid eligibility may change.

It is important to finalize your class schedule before the financial aid freeze date, as your enrollment on that date will determine your eligibility for the federal and state financial aid programs. Be sure to review the Financial Aid Disbursement Schedule for each term’s freeze date.

What should I do if I’ve been notified that one or more of my courses does not count toward my program of study (declared major?)

Review your DegreeWorks audit to see how your courses apply toward your program of study and identify any courses that may not count for financial aid eligibility.

We recommend meeting with an academic counselor to ensure your education plan and major are up to date and that you are enrolled in courses required for your program of study at Cypress College.

While you may take courses for transfer, career, or other goals, financial aid eligibility requires that courses apply to your declared program of study. A counselor can help you review your options and make any necessary schedule adjustments.

What if I remain enrolled in courses that are not in my program of study?

Your Federal and state financial aid will be adjusted based on courses that apply to your program of study. Courses that do not meet CPOS requirements may still be covered by the CCPG fee waiver if you are eligible.

What if I need to update my major?

Major changes are processed through Admissions & Records. Students are required to submit a “Personal Information/Major Change Request” form. It is also advisable for students to schedule an academic counseling appointment prior to requesting a major change.

What happens if I change my major after the freeze date?

Your enrollment at the financial aid freeze date will determine your aid eligibility. Major changes made after the freeze date will be considered for the next term.

After the freeze date, your aid eligibility can be adjusted for no-shows, official withdrawals, or unofficial withdrawals. Review our Policies, Appeals, and Important Information for details.

What if a class is going to be substituted into my program?

Your counselor must approve and submit the course substitution before the financial aid freeze date for the course to count toward aid eligibility. Before the freeze date, submit a CPOS Petition to the Financial Aid Office for review. Petitions must be submitted before the freeze date unless there is an administrative error.

Finalize your schedule by the freeze date and review the Financial Aid Disbursement Schedule each term.

Do English as a Second Language (ESL) classes count?

Yes. If you are enrolled in an eligible program, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses count toward federal financial aid eligibility.

How do electives count?

If your program lists specific electives, only those courses will count. If your program does not have a specific list, any degree-applicable course may count as an elective, if there is still room in your program for additional elective units.

A degree typically requires 60 units. If you have already fulfilled all major preparation and general education (GE) requirements, there may not be room for additional electives. However, if space is available, those courses will count toward your program and may be considered for your financial aid eligibility.

What if there aren’t enough classes in my program for me to be full-time this term?

Only courses in your program of study count for financial aid. However, even if you are not enrolled full-time, you may still be eligible for federal and state aid programs that generally require a minimum of six units, such as the Pell Grant, loans, Federal Work-Study, Cal Grant, and Chafee Grant.

For example, if you only have six units remaining to graduate, those six units will be the only ones to count towards most federal and state eligibility.

You may also receive the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver, if eligible, which will continue to waive your enrollment fees for any course.

What if I think a class should count, but DegreeWorks says it doesn’t?

First, confirm that your program of study and catalog year are correct in DegreeWorks. If the information is accurate and a course is still not counting, submit a CPOS Petition to the Financial Aid Office.

You must obtain counselor approval and have the course added to your Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP) before submitting the petition. The Financial Aid Office will review the request and determine if the course can count toward your financial aid eligibility.

If I take 17 units, but 3 of them don’t count, will I still get full financial aid?

If at least 12 units count toward your program of study, you are still considered full-time for financial aid purposes and can receive full eligibility for federal and state grants based on 12-unit enrollment.

However, for programs like the Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG), which awards the full $4,000 for 15 or more program of study units, you will not receive the full amount. In this example, only 12 eligible units count, so your SSCG award for the term would be $1,298, assuming you are Cal Grant eligible, meet all other grant requirements, and funding is still available.

The 3 units that do not apply toward your program of study may still have enrollment fees waived through the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), if you are eligible. However, those units will not be counted toward other financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or SSCG at the higher award level.

What should I do if some of my classes don’t count toward my program of study?

Before the semester starts: Speak with a counselor. You may want to drop the classes that don’t count and enroll in ones that do or discuss whether you are eligible to submit a CPOS petition.

After the semester starts and at the freeze date: Your financial aid will be adjusted for the classes that don’t count, and you will be locked in for the units that are eligible for your program of study. However, if you are eligible, the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) will still cover your fees for the other classes.

What if none of my classes count toward my program of study, but I still want to take them?

You will not be considered for other financial aid besides the California College Promise Grant (CCPG). If you don’t qualify, you can use a Payment Plan to make college more affordable.

If you want to receive financial aid in future terms, be sure to maintain your GPA and class completion rate, or you may lose eligibility. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will still evaluate all cumulative coursework, regardless of whether the units count toward your program of study or if financial aid was received.

Do prerequisites count toward my program of study?

Yes, if they are required for your program of study. A prerequisite can fulfill a general education area, major preparation, or elective requirement.

Prerequisites can also be considered remedial courses for financial aid purposes. If a class does not fulfill one of the areas above, you can receive financial aid for only up to 30 units of these types of courses (including any remedial or preparatory courses from all colleges you’ve attended).

If you have not reached the regulatory limit for payment of remedial courses for 30 semester units, they may be included.

In some cases, a prerequisite may be classified as remedial if it could not otherwise fit into your program of study. Depending on how your degree audit reflects the course, you may need to submit a CPOS petition.

Do internships, athletics requirements, or transfer preparation coursework count?

Yes, if they are required for your Cypress College program of study on file with Admissions and Records. However, if the course does not fulfill a requirement in your program, the units will not count toward your financial aid eligibility. All courses may still be covered by the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver, if you are eligible.

You may meet with a counselor and submit a CPOS petition, but there is no guarantee it will be approved if there is no documentation showing that the course is required for your program of study at Cypress College.

What if I am part of the Charger Experience Program, EOPS, DSS, Veterans programs, or another program that requires enrollment in a specific number of units? How does that work?

If you are participating in a specialized program, it is important to meet that program’s enrollment and participation requirements. CPOS is a financial aid requirement and may be different from the enrollment requirements of other campus programs or support services. For example, you may be enrolled in 12 units, but only 9 units may count toward your financial aid Program of Study. This does not necessarily mean you are no longer meeting the enrollment requirements of another program. Be sure to check with each program or support service directly to confirm that you are meeting all its specific requirements.

How can I appeal if a course should count toward my program of study?

Yes, you can appeal. To do so, you must initiate a CPOS petition with the Financial Aid Office. The petition requires a counselor’s signature and documentation verifying that the course(s) in question are part of your program of study at Cypress College.

The petition must be submitted before the freeze date and must include an updated education plan showing the course(s) as part of your program.

We expect a high volume of petitions, so while all submissions must be made before the freeze date, processing may occur afterward due to the anticipated number of requests.

What happens if I am waitlisted for a course?

If you are waitlisted for a course, it will not be reviewed for CPOS eligibility until you are officially enrolled. You must register for the course before the financial aid freeze date for it to be evaluated and potentially count toward your financial aid eligibility.

Please note: Students are encouraged to submit all applications and required documentation as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing before the deadlines.

2025–2026 Financial Aid Important Deadlines

• June 30, 2026 – Last day for students to submit the 2025–2026 FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
• June 30, 2026 – Last day to be awarded the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) for the 2025–2026 academic year.
• July 23, 2026 – Last day for students to complete all financial aid requirements for the 2025–2026 academic year, including:
  • Verification document submission
  • Professional Judgment requests
  • Identity verification
  • Submission of any additional requested documentation
• July 27, 2026 – Last day for awarding determinations for Cal Grant and other eligible state financial aid programs for the 2025–2026 academic year.
• August 3, 2026 – Last day for Pell Grant awarding for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Please note: Students are encouraged to submit all applications and required documentation as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing before the deadlines.

The California College Promise Grant (CCPG) has separate standards from the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. If you are disqualified, please see below for the process to appeal.

To complete your CCPG Appeal, please go to cypresscollege.verifymyfafsa.com (you will log in with your myGateway credentials). If you do not see a CCPG Appeal, please contact our office at financialaid@cypresscollege.edu to request an appeal.

If disqualified for fall 2025, the last day to submit a CCPG Appeal is December 5, 2025.

NOTE: Foster youth (under the age of 24) and CCPG F recipients are EXEMPT from appealing for both the CCPG Fee Waiver and Enrollment Priority. These standards are separate from the eligibility criteria for Federal Financial Aid and should not be confused with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.

CCPG Appeal Fact Sheet

California College Promise Grant (CCPG) – Requirements

Students can lose their CCPG eligibility after 2 consecutive primary terms (with no more than a one term break: i.e. fall 2019, fall 2020) of not meeting academic or progress standards. You must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA and satisfactorily complete more than 50% of attempted units each semester and cumulatively to avoid CCPG fee waiver disqualification.

The California Virtual College (CVC) Exchange program allows students at California Community Colleges to enroll in online courses at eligible colleges without a separate application. Students can search and register for courses on the CVC website.

Home College vs Teaching College 

• Home College: Where students are enrolled (ex. Cypress College for our students). 

• Teaching College: Offers courses to students from other colleges (ex. Cypress College for a Long Beach City College student). 

Eligibility for aid with CVC units includes: 

• Enrollment at a California Community Colleges home college 
• In-state address 
• Minimum 2.0 GPA 
• At least 6 units at the home college 
• Up to 2 exchange courses per term 
• Registration during open periods at the teaching college 
• Approved courses toward program of study 

Eligibility checks and awards will be processed after Cypress College’s Financial Aid freeze date and are subject to the Return to Title IV (R2T4) and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies.

Federal Title IV regulations require that students receive financial aid only for courses that apply toward their declared degree or certificate program, referred to as the Program of Study. 

Beginning Fall 2026, Cypress College will apply Course Program of Study (CPOS) requirements to both federal and state financial aid. The Financial Aid Office will: 

• Determine financial aid eligibility based on program applicable units only, using the major on file with Admissions and Records. 
• Apply CPOS to federal and state aid, including Pell Grant, SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Cal Grant, SSCG, and loans. 
• Reduce federal and state aid amounts when units are not applicable to a student’s Program of Study; enrollment fees may still be covered by the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), if eligible. 
• Notify students via myGateway when a course is not applicable and encourage them to consult with an academic counselor. 

A FAQ will be developed soon.

Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, every institution of higher education is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information for the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state. 

Students are encouraged to utilize the Cypress College internal complaint procedures prior to filing a complaint with a state agency. If you are a student wishing to file a complaint in your home state, please select the state contact from the State Authorization Guide to file a complaint directly in your state​.​

Finally, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges serve as resources for colleges seeking to comply with state laws in California.

For other complaints related to encountering academic, personal, or emotional challenges, please summit via ChAT.

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
This policy is the North Orange County Community College District’s policy regarding the privacy of student records. This policy also applies to student financial aid records at Cypress College.

Financial Aid Disbursement Policy and Dates
Important information and requirements for student financial aid disbursement for the current academic year.

Get disbursement schedules and frequently asked disbursement questions.

Student Loan Eligibility Policy
An overview of important information and requirements for student loan eligibility at Cypress College.

Retroactive payments may be made for completed payment periods within the current award year or loan period. Disbursements can be made in one lump sum. 

To receive retroactive payments, the U.S. Department of Education must process the student’s FAFSA, or the California Student Aid Commission must process the Dream Act application and generate an ISIR reflecting eligibility while the student is still enrolled in the award year. Completed hours at Cypress College include grades A, B, C, D, INA, INB, INC, and IND. If a student receives an F, INF, or INP, the Last Day of Activity (LDA) will be reviewed to confirm the grade was earned. The LDA must fall within the last week of the class/semester. 

Classes with EW, W, or MW grades are not eligible for retroactive payments. Students can appeal their LDA by submitting documentation to the Financial Aid Director (gdelacruz@cypresscollege.edu). Acceptable documentation includes an instructor’s email or signed letter confirming attendance. Documentation must be emailed directly to the Financial Aid Director. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)
This policy describes your responsibilities as a financial aid recipient at Cypress College. To maintain eligibility, you must:

• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
• Complete at least a 67% cumulative of courses attempted
• Complete your program of study within 150% of the maximum time frame (up to 90 units for associate degrees, fewer if the program is shorter)
• Enroll in an eligible major

SAP is reviewed after final grades are reported for each term.

If you are disqualified, you may submit a SAP Appeal if extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting SAP. Appeals can be submitted through the Student Verification Website.

For more detailed information, please review the SAP policy and appeal process here: Cypress College SAP Policy. 

Important: The last day to submit a winter/spring 2026 SAP Appeal is May 22, 2026. Appeal determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and are not automatically approved. 

State authorization, part of the Higher Education Act, requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which they are located as a condition for eligibility to receive Title IV federal student aid. The U.S. Department of Education continues to review and update the regulations for state authorization of online education. The current regulations are in effect as of July 1, 2021. If an institution offers postsecondary distance education to students in a state in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to state jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any state requirements for it to legally offer distance education in that state.

Students without a California address cannot receive a financial aid disbursement. Please reach out to the financial aid office if you have any questions or concerns.

Special Circumstance – Income Adjustment

If you (or a parent) have recently experienced a change in income or household, such as job loss, divorce, or a special circumstance – you might be eligible for a Professional Judgement Appeal on your financial aid application. This is done via an appeal process on our Student Forms platform.

How to request the appeal:

• Once we have received your financial aid application, you may request the appeal by logging in on the platform and clicking the blue “Manage Request” button at the upper right corner and select “Professional Judgement: Special Circumstance – EFC/SAI Appeal.”
• You will need to provide a brief explanation of your situation and upload supporting documentation.
• Please note that any student requesting an Income Adjustment Appeal will need to complete verification before their appeal can be processed.
• Once all information is complete and submitted, your Financial Aid Technician will review and may request additional clarification or items if needed in order to complete the appeal.

Unusual Circumstance – Dependency Override

If you answer “no” to all of the dependency questions on your financial aid application, you are considered a dependent student.

You may be able to request a Professional Judgement: Unusual Circumstance Appeal if you have an unusual circumstance such as: you have no contact with either parents and don’t know where they live or unable to have contact with them, or you’ve left home due to an abusive situation. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for further clarification and assistance on the information needed for you to complete a Dependency Override Appeal on our Student Forms platform.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

If you answer “yes” to the homeless questions on your financial aid application, you are considered either an unaccompanied homeless youth or are self supporting and at risk of being homeless. You will need to complete verification tasks to confirm this in the Student Forms platform. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for further assistance if you have questions on the information needed to complete the task.

Official withdrawals from a class or from the college are primarily the student’s responsibility. Withdrawals can be made online through myGateway or in person at the Admissions & Records Office.

The Cypress College Financial Aid Office awards aid with the expectation that students will attend and complete the courses they enroll in for the semester (also referred to as the “payment period”). If a student completely withdraws (i.e., does not complete any of their enrolled courses for that semester), they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds originally scheduled to be received. In such cases, the Financial Aid Office must perform a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation to determine any earned or unearned aid based on the Last Date of Academic Activity (LDA).

Title IV Aid refers to the following:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Direct Loan (both subsidized and unsubsidized)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

If you’re a Cal Grant A or B recipient with a tuition award and you receive a fee refund due to withdrawal, your Cal Grant award will be canceled accordingly.

An R2T4 calculation occurs only if a student has attended at least one day of the semester, is eligible for Title IV funds, and withdraws from all courses. R2T4 regulations do not apply to students who do not begin the semester or who remain enrolled in the term, even if it’s just one class.

Unofficial Withdrawal

If a student receives all substandard grades (such as all F’s, NPs, or a combination of substandard grades and withdrawals), they will be considered to have unofficially withdrawn. The financial aid office will then need to assess whether the student attended classes and earned those grades. In such cases, the financial aid office must assess whether the student attended classes and earned those grades.

Starting in fall 2024, the financial aid office will use the LDA provided by instructors to determine if a student earned their F, NP, INF, or INP grade. If the LDA falls within the last week of the class, it indicates that the student attended through that day. An unearned F, NP, INF, or INP grade occurs when a student stops attending before the final week of the course. If a student has only unearned F’s, NP’s, INF’s, and INP’s, the financial aid office will perform a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation. 

Last Date of Academic Activity

Federal student aid regulations require schools to verify your active participation in courses. Simply certifying attendance is not sufficient to confirm academically related activity. 

Your financial aid will be adjusted based solely on enrollment in classes where you are actively participating. Starting in fall 2024, your instructor will report your LDA, which will determine your earned or unearned aid for both official and unofficial withdrawals. This information will also help confirm whether a student attended their course. 

A student is considered to have not begun attendance if the school cannot document their presence in any class. During the Return to Title IV (R2T4) process, any class without a reported LDA will be treated as a No Show, leading to an adjustment in your financial aid. If a student believes their LDA is later than reported, they may appeal the decision.

Academic activities may include:

• Physically attending a class with direct interaction between instructor and students,
• Submitting an academic assignment or taking an exam,
• Participating in study groups assigned by the school,
• Engaging in online discussions or contacting a faculty member regarding academic matters.

For Distance Education:

• Submission of academic assignments or exams,
• Participation in interactive tutorials or online study groups assigned by the institution,
• Engaging in online discussions about academic matters and initiating contact with a faculty member.

Academic activities do NOT include:

• Merely logging into an online class without active participation,
• Academic counseling or advisement,
• Course registration.

For more information about withdrawal and R2T4, please review the Financial Aid Handbook.

Appeal Process

Students can dispute their LDA by submitting an appeal to the Financial Aid Director, along with documentation demonstrating that their F or NP grade was earned or that they began attendance and are not classified as a no-show. Appeals will be accepted until August 1. 

Acceptable Supporting Documents Include: 

• A signed letter from the instructor confirming the LDA for the course(s). 
• A copy of a graded test or quiz with a date for the course(s). 
• A copy of a graded assignment with a date for the course(s). 

A student is considered not to have begun attendance if the school cannot document their presence in a class. If you have not engaged in any academic activity, your instructor will report you as a No Show, with the LDA recorded as the first day of class. 

Additionally, if the financial aid office cannot determine whether a student began attendance for a class that is withdrawn during the R2T4 process, that course will be classified as a No Show. A student can submit an appeal to have this decision reconsidered, following the appeal process outlined under the R2T4 section. 

Some financial aid is awarded based on units at the freeze date. However, if LDAs do not demonstrate attendance at freeze, units cannot be counted toward aid eligibility.

Students may request a Cost of Attendance (COA) increase if they have additional educational expenses that are not reflected in their standard financial aid budget. A COA appeal is most beneficial for students who have reached their maximum financial aid need or COA and have pending aid, such as an outside scholarship, grant, or special program award.

Eligibility for COA adjustments and confirmation of expenses are determined by the Financial Aid Office. While a COA adjustment may increase a student’s financial need, it does not guarantee additional financial aid. Final award amounts depend on a student’s COA, financial need, available funding, and overall aid eligibility.

Examples of eligible expenses include: 

• Dependent care/childcare
• Transportation
• Out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses
• Required academic equipment
• One-time computer purchase
• Food and housing expenses.

Supporting documentation may include receipts, invoices, billing statements, or other verifiable records.

How to Request a COA Appeal: 

1. Log in to Student Forms after your financial aid application has been processed. 
2. Select Manage Requests. 
3. Choose Professional Judgement: Special Circumstance – COA Appeal. 
4. Complete the form and upload supporting documentation.