Eligibility, Eligible Coursework, and CPOS | Butler Community College

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Eligibility, Eligible Coursework, and CPOS

Retaking Coursework

Butler may award federal student aid to a student who is repeating a previously passed course, and may count the repeated course toward the student’s enrollment status, only for one repetition of the course. For this purpose, passed means any grade higher than an F. A student may be repeatedly paid for repeatedly failing the same course as long as they maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. A student who withdraws from a previously passed course is not considered to have used their one allowed retake for that course. However, if a student passed a class once and then is paid for retaking it and fails the second time, that failure counts as their paid retake and the student may not be paid for retaking the class a third time. Even in situations where a student is required to retake all of the coursework for a term in which the student fails a course, only the first retake of previously passed course is eligible for federal aid. A course retake can only be eligible for federal student aid if that course is still in the student’s program of study.

Incompletes

If a student who received an incomplete in a course in the prior term is completing the coursework in the subsequent term to erase the incomplete in the prior term, the student is not considered to be enrolled in the course for the subsequent term, and the student may not receive federal aid for completing the course. If a student who received an incomplete in a course in the prior term is retaking the entire course for credit in the subsequent term, the hours in the course count toward the student’s enrollment status, and they may receive federal aid for retaking the course. Students who choose the later option must re-enroll in the course and will incur the tuition and fee cost again. The course must still be in the student’s program of study to receive federal aid for that course.

Course Program of Study (CPOS)

In accordance with federal regulations, only courses required for a student’s program of study at Butler may be used to determine a student’s Cost of Attendance, enrollment status, and federal financial aid disbursement eligibility. Butler also uses CPOS to determine satisfactory academic progress status. The Financial Aid Office utilizes Banner’s CPOS integration with DegreeWorks to comply with this requirement.
 

How will CPOS Affect Students?

Students will only receive Federal Financial Aid for courses required for their completion of Course Program of Study (CPOS) or Pathway. Below lists some 'Frequently Asked Questions' that student's may find helpful. Please feel free to reach out to the Financial Aid Office by emailing our office or by calling 316-322-3121 if you have any questions regarding CPOS.

What Is Course Program Of Study (CPOS)?

Course Program of Study (CPOS) is sometimes also referred to as 'Payment by Program'. CPOS is a process to ensure students only receive federal aid for classes that are required for their Butler degree. CPOS will follow the student's Butler pathway, as reported in 'MyDegree@Butler'.

What Types of Financial Aid Are Affected by CPOS?

CPOS only applies to Federal Financial Aid such as Pell or SEOG grants, Federal Work Study, and Federal Direct loans. These types of aid will only pay for eligible courses that count toward the student's program of study. It does not affect eligibility for institutional aid, such as scholarships.

What Does This Mean for Students?

If a student is enrolled in classes not on the student's Butler pathway, those classes will not be included in the student's financial aid enrollment status calculation. For example, if a student is enrolled in 12 credit hours, but only 9 credit hours are required for the student's Butler degree, the student will only receive Federal Financial Aid based on 9 credit hours of enrollment. Since the student would be considered less than full-time for financial aid purposes, the student's Federal Financial Aid disbursement would be prorated.

Can Students Still Take Classes Outside Their Butler Pathway?

Absolutely! Students are welcome to take classes outside of their Butler Pathway. However, they will need to pay for those classes out-of-pocket or with non-federal financial aid. Students whose Federal Financial Aid exceeds the cost of the required courses they are enrolled in may allow payment for courses outside their Butler pathway. Contact the Financial Aid Office for details.

What About Classes Needed for a Transfer Institution?

If a student is enrolled in classes not on the student's Butler pathway, those classes will not be included in the student's financial aid enrollment status. If a student wants to receive maximum financial aid, the student will need to enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours on the student's Butler pathway in addition to any classes the student is taking that are not on the Butler pathway.

How Will Students Be Notified That Their Aid May Be Impacted Due to Non-Required Courses?

Butler's Students will be notified by Butler email, letter, and a message posted within their My.ButlerCC account before a semester begins and during a semester.

What Should Students Do If a Course Is Not Listed as Part of Their Butler Pathway, But They Believe It Should Be?

The student should contact Academic Advising as soon as the discrepancy is noticed. The student should not modify their schedule until consulting an academic advisor. An advisor will review the Butler pathway, current enrollment, and academic history to determine whether the system is accurately accessing the student's coursework.