A recent change to federal financial aid laws requires all courses to be part of a student’s declared program of study in order to be funded by federal financial aid programs. The Course Program of Study (CPOS) is a mandatory requirement set by the U.S. Department of Education, and went into effect this semester, according to the UToledo Office of Student Financial Aid.
Federal financial aid includes an array of programs, ranging from Pell Grants to Work Study options. Federal financial aid will still cover declared majors, minors, concentrations, or aid-eligible certificates.
Electives also contribute to a degree and are therefore still considered for federal financial aid. Students can still enroll in courses that aren’t a part of their program, assuming they still meet requirements for any non-federal financial aid they receive.
According to Scott Molitor, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the program is intended to help students graduate with their degrees faster and avoid increasing student loan debt and other costs.
The degree audit system, accessible via myUT, is a key resource for students to check if their courses contribute towards their program of study. In the case of any issues, students will be notified by email by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Students should keep in touch with their advisors to ensure their courses contribute to their program of study and reach out to Rocket Solution Central with any questions.
