A program of study consists of courses required to complete a specific degree, inclusive
of required coursework within the major, concentration, minor and catalog. The specific
courses for a student are identified through a degree evaluation tool (DegreeWorks).
Disbursement of Federal Aid (i.e., Pell Grant, SEOG, Teach Grant, Work-Study, and
Direct Loans) is based on coursework that counts toward the program of study. State,
institutional, and private aid requirements may vary when it comes to CPOS requirements.
Please check with the agency to ensure you are meeting all requirements for funding
Students must work closely with the academic advisor to understand the requirements
of their declared major/minor and ensure the classes they register for meet these
requirements. Students identified as enrolled in courses impacted by CPOS will be
notified via their Albany State University email. Note that students will only be
notified if CPOS impacts their Federal Financial Aid eligibility.
The appropriate course substitution paperwork must be completed and approved by all
necessary parties prior to the census date of the term for it to be included as eligible
coursework for federal financial aid purposes. The census date is typically the following
week after attendance verification and reinstatement period each term, but can vary.
If you qualify for a substitution and believe you may be impacted by this deadline,
please visit Ram Central, 1st level of the C building on the West Campus, to get more
specific information.
Minors or concentrations must be officially declared and reflected in the degree evaluation
prior to the census date of the term for it to be included as eligible coursework
for federal financial aid purposes. . The census date is typically the following week
after attendance verification and reinstatement period each term, but can vary. If
you qualify for a substitution and believe you may be impacted by this deadline, please
visit Ram Central, 1st level of the C building on the West Campus, to get more specific
information.
Dual majors should be declared early in your educational pathway at ASU and must be
officially declared and reflected in the degree evaluation prior to the census date
of the term for it to be included as eligible coursework for federal financial aid
purposes. The census date is typically the following week after attendance verification
and reinstatement period each term, but can vary. If your degree program is not listed
correctly in Banner, work with your advisor to make them aware of your request and
ensure you complete the Request for Change your Major/Minor/Concentration. This form
can be found online at: https://secure.jotformpro.com/form/50638853725968. Do not
register for classes toward the new major/minor/concentration until the update to
your official degree on records is reflected in Banner.
These courses count for federal financial aid only if they are required in the student’s
program of study. However, if a student is enrolled as a regular student, in an eligible
program of study, and is required to take a prerequisite course prior to enrolling
in a required course for the program, the prerequisite may be included in the federal
aid determination. For example, and English learning support class may be required
before a student can register in ENGL 1101. No more than a maximum of 30 attempted
hours inclusive of remedial / learning support and prerequisite coursework combined
can count for federal financial aid purposes. You or academic advisor should notify
the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) regarding a required prerequisite. The OFA will
determine whether the prerequisite course counts as eligible coursework for federal
financial aid purposes.
It is essential that your major, minor, or any concentration are officially declared
and noted in your student record. If you have been planning to declare or change a
major, minor, or concentration, but have not yet done so, you should consult your
academic advisor immediately and complete the Change of Major form located online
at: https://secure.jotformpro.com/form/50638853725968. Do not register for classes
toward the new major/minor/concentration until the update to your official degree
on records is reflected in Banner.
- Courses can only be determined to be eligible based on the officially declared major,
minor, or concentration as noted in your student record. Changes cannot be made retroactively,
and most changes will not be approved once a determination is made that a course is
not financial aid eligible.
There are certain time periods when a student can change their program/major, typically
at the end of one term and before the beginning of the next term. If you do not put
in a request in accordance with these deadlines, your change to program of study/major
request may not be processed until the following term. A student can contact the Registrar
Office to check on the status of a change of program of study/major. Do not register
for classes toward the new major/minor/concentration until the update to your official
degree on records is reflected in Banner.
Payment for coursework will be disbursed as described below:
- If a Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG is disbursed on or before the census date
of the term, only eligible coursework toward the official program of study on record
can be considered to determine the enrollment period. The census date is typically
the following week after attendance verification and reinstatement period each term,
but can vary.
- If a Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG is disbursed after the census date of the
term, only eligible coursework toward the official program of study on record can
be considered to determine the enrollment period. The census date is typically the
following week after attendance verification and reinstatement period each term, but
can vary.
- For Federal Direct Loan purposes, your eligibility is based on your official program
of study on record as of the date of disbursement.
Please note: If you change your program of study after the census date, and the current semester
coursework no longer applies toward your new program of study, your previously disbursed
federal aid may be adjusted/reduced. If you decide to make application for a Federal
Direct Loan after the census date and you are not enrolled at least half-time in eligible
coursework that applies toward your new program of study, you will not be eligible
for the Federal Direct Loan.
If you need to take courses that are not in your program of study/major, you may not
be in the program that best fits your educational goal. Please meet with an Academic
Advisor to ensure you are in the correct program of study. Changing your program of
study/major should only be done after a discussion with your advisor and should be
done with great caution because it may impact your eligibility for future semesters.
Prior to submitting your Request to Change your Major/Minor/Concentration, be sure
to consult with the RAM Central Staff to check the impact of your decision on your
financial aid, as changing from one program to another as it can cause you to lose
financial aid eligibility by reaching the maximum time-frame for completion of degree
(150% rule). All major changes should be done in advance, and typically between terms
for a future term. If a major change is requested after determination that a course
is not eligible for financial aid, the change of major will likely not be considered.
Only courses that are part of the program of study, as documented in the degree evaluation
tool (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. State, institutional, and private aid requirements
may vary when it comes to CPOS requirements. Please check with the agency to determine
how the funding can be used.
Study abroad courses may count for federal financial aid if they apply towards outstanding
coursework in your officially declared program of study.
State, institutional, and private aid requirements may vary when it comes to CPOS
requirements. Please check with the agency to ensure you are meeting all requirements
for funding.
Federal Financial aid will be disbursed based on the 8 credit hours that apply towards
your officially declared program of study. The Federal Pell Grant award will be 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 (see Enrollment Status Chart above). State, institutional, and private
aid requirements may vary when it comes to CPOS requirements. Please check with the
agency to ensure you are meeting all requirements for funding
No. To receive a federal student loan, you must be enrolled at least half-time (see
Enrollment Status Types chart above) in credit hours that apply toward your official
program of study. Because only 4 credits apply to your program of study, you are not
enrolled at least half-time to be eligible.
Financial aid will disburse based on full-time enrollment status (see Enrollment Status
Types chart). If at least 12 of your credits apply towards outstanding requirements
in your officially declared program of study, then you are still considered a full-time
student for federal financial aid purposes. If eligible, you may receive a full-time
Federal Pell Grant and Federal Student Loans, if you have accepted them and done the
required application items. Financial aid will pay for any academic related charges,
including the charge for the additional class. However, if the financial aid you receive
is not enough to cover all tuition costs, you are responsible for paying the remaining
balance.
Your federal aid is based on coursework that applies toward outstanding requirements
in your program of study. Therefore, your federal aid may be reduced. You have two
options:
- Meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your academic options. If the semester
has not started, it may be in your best interest to drop the ineligible course(s)
and enroll only in courses in your officially declared program that will be eligible
for federal financial aid
- If the semester has already begun and your financial aid does not cover all of your
tuition costs, you will be responsible for the outstanding balance owed. In some instances,
your financial aid, although it has been reduced, is still enough to pay for your
course(s) that are not in your program. If not, the ineligible coursework can be paid
for out of pocket or you can set up a payment plan in accordance with the Nelnet payment
plan terms, conditions, and deadlines
You are not eligible for federal financial aid. If eligible, you may utilize any scholarships
toward your balance owed. State, institutional, and private aid requirements may vary
when it comes to CPOS requirements. Please check with the agency to ensure you are
meeting all requirements for funding. ASU also offers a payment plan option for students
to help ease the burden of paying for college, in accordance with the Nelnet payment
plan terms, conditions, and deadlines. However, if you plan on receiving financial
aid in the future, then it is imperative that you maintain a good GPA and Pace of
Progression. A failure to do so, even in terms where financial aid is not used to
pay for coursework, could result in financial aid suspension.
