WHAT IS COURSE PROGRAM OF STUDY (CPOS)?
Course Program of Study is a process that helps our campus stay in compliance with Title IV (federal) guidelines regarding financial aid. Guidelines state that financial aid can only be awarded for courses that are required for the degree or certificate you are enrolled in. These guidelines make it very important to take the right classes for your degree requirements. Doing so will help ensure your courses are eligible for financial aid and will also help you finish your degree faster!
- How do I know what degree or certificate I am enrolled in?
You can see your degree plan in your STAR account. Your major will be listed at the top of your GPS Registration page.
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How do I know what courses count for this degree / certificate?
Your STAR account will be a helpful tool in displaying the required courses for your degree or certificate. They are listed in your STAR Graduation Pathway. You can also click on a requirement for more details regarding what courses count for that requirement.
- What if I need to change my degree or certificate?
If you find that your degree or certificate is incorrect, it is very important that you make this change as soon as possible. To change your degree or certificate, you will need to submit a Change of Major/Catalog Year Form to the Admissions & Records Office.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CLASSES COUNT FOR FINANCIAL AID?
When you register, be sure to check your STAR GPS Registration. Any course listed as NOT IN PLAN or Non-Applicable will not count for financial aid. Here is how the courses will appear in your STAR:
If you see a course labeled as NOT IN PLAN or Non-Applicable, don’t worry! We encourage you to email or make an appointment with your counselor as soon as possible to determine the best course of action. You can schedule with a counselor on STAR Balance or by calling the Counseling, Advising & Support Services Center at (808) 934-2720.
WHY WOULD A CLASS NOT COUNT FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Generally, a course will display as NOT IN PLAN because it does not count for a requirement for the degree. This could be because the course is not part of the degree plan, or because you took a course (or courses) that already fulfills that requirement.
A course will display as Non-Applicable when it is a repeat; however, some repeats can count and will be adjusted accordingly. See the next section for details on repeats that can count for financial aid.
CAN I REPEAT CLASSES AND STILL HAVE THEM COUNT FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Per Title IV guidelines, you may repeat an applicable course once for financial aid if you previously earned a passing grade. Please see below for some examples of when a repeat of a passed course may or may not be counted towards financial aid:
| 1ST ATTEMPT | 2ND ATTEMPT | 3RD ATTEMPT | COURSE COUNTS FOR FINANCIAL AID? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example 1 | F | D | Enrolled | Yes |
| Example 2 | C | Enrolled | - | Yes |
| Example 3 | D | C | Enrolled | No |
| Example 4 | D | F | Enrolled | No |
| Example 5 | W | F | Enrolled | Yes |
| Example 6 | D | W | Enrolled | No |
| Example 7 | W | Enrolled | - | Yes |
| Example 8 | W | D | Enrolled | Yes |
In order for a repeat course to be considered for financial aid, the course must be taken at Hawai‘i CC. Repeat courses taken at another UH campus will not be considered.
IMPORTANT: In regards to repeats, students can repeat courses once without restrictions except when permission to repeat selected courses is determined by program-specific requirements; students are advised to check with their programs regarding specific requirements. For any subsequent repeats, students must register during late registration on a space-available basis with instructor approval. All entries remain a part of the student’s permanent academic record. For more information, please review the "Repeating Courses" section on page 33 of the Hawai'i Community College 2020-2021 Catalog.
WHAT ABOUT COURSES THAT CAN BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT?
Courses which can be repeated for credit - meaning they can count more than once - can be counted for financial aid. Click here to see a list of Hawai‘i CC courses which are repeatable for credit. Be sure to check with your counselor to see if a repeatable course will be counted towards a requirement in your degree.
WHAT IF I AM TAKING COURSES AT ANOTHER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI’I CAMPUS?
A course taken at another UH campus may be considered for financial aid at Hawai‘i CC if the following requirements are met:
- Your home campus is Hawai‘i CC, and you are enrolled for at least one course at Hawai‘i CC.
- The course taken at another UH campus must apply to your Hawai‘i CC degree (qualify under Course Program of Study).