New Scholar Agreements & Expectations 2022-23
By fulfilling specific requirements and striving toward supplemental expectations, Scholars will maintain annual eligibility for financial and programmatic support. Scholar requirements are designed to assist Scholars in fostering an inclusive community of Scholars, building a personal support network for college success, and developing knowledge and skills for lifelong success.
*Scholar requirements are subject to change each academic year.
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Housing
Year 1 Scholars
Required
- Reside in the designated Cal Poly Scholars residential learning community for Year 1 Scholars while enrolled during the academic year
- Complete the housing application for the residential learning community for Year 2+ Scholars during the specified timeframe (typically early winter quarter)
Encouraged
- Engage and participate in the residential learning community by attending events and meeting your Scholar neighbors
*Exceptions to residing in the Scholars residential learning community include:
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Reasonable accommodations as determined by the Disability Resource Center
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If you are also participating in the Education Opportunity Program (EOP) or TRiO Achievers, you will likely only be able to select a room within those respective communities. Residing in either of those communities fulfills your Year 1 housing requirement for the Scholars program. Note: All Year 2 Scholars, including those who are also participating in EOP and TRiO Achievers, are expected to reside on-campus, and are encouraged to live in the Year 2+ Scholars Community.
To learn more about first-year, on-campus housing requirements, including possible exemptions, visit housing.calpoly.edu/freshman_live_on_requirement.
New Transfer Scholars
- Reside in an environment conducive to success on or off-campus. One option includes residing on campus with other transfer students in the Transfer and Graduate Community.
Program Participation
Year 1 Scholars
Required (starting fall 2022)
Choose one of the following two options to fulfill this requirement:
- Join and participate in Scholar Mentorship Program and engage in a minimum of one (1) individual or group event with your Scholar Mentor per quarter, for a total of three (3) interactions. (Details regarding sign-ups will be shared this summer).
- Engage in a minimum of three (3) workshops / events hosted by the Cal Poly Scholars program. Approved workshops, events and other engagement opportunities are indicated accordingly via publicity and the Scholars Events webpage.
Encouraged
- Participate in university, department, academic college, and club workshops and events that support your personal and professional interests and goals
New Transfer Scholars
Choose one of the following two options to fulfill this requirement:
- Transfer Academic Coaching: Join and participate Transfer Scholar Academic Coaching offered through the Transfer Center. You will be required to meet once (1) per quarter with your Transfer Scholar Academic Coach for a total of three (3) meetings during the academic year. (Details regarding sign-ups will be shared later this summer).
- Engage in a minimum of three (3) workshops / events hosted by the Cal Poly Scholars program. Approved workshops, events and other engagement opportunities are indicated accordingly via publicity and the Scholars Events webpage.
- Participate in university, department, academic college, and club workshops and events that support your personal and professional interests and goals
Advising & Academic Achievement
Year 1 Scholars
- Participate in and pass the UNIV 100 course for first-year Scholars
- All Year 1 Scholars are block enrolled into UNIV 100 (fall 2020)
- Note: if you are not in attendance at the ‘Academic Planning’ class session, you will be required to meet with your Mustang Success Center advisor or attend a make-up workshop covering the same information
- Engage in at least one (1) 1:1 academic advising interaction with assigned Mustang Success Center advisor
- Scholars may be referred to college academic advisors when appropriate
- Participate in SLO Days during one of the session dates listed for Cal Poly Scholars
- Attend the ‘Academic Toolkit’ session with the Mustang Success Center
- Scholars with a cumulative CPSLO GPA of < 2.5 and/or on AP/DQ (Academic Probation/Disqualification) will have additional advising and/or participation requirements aligned and/or hosted by the Mustang Success Center, University and/or academic colleges
- Being on AP (Academic Probation) does not impact your eligibility to be a Cal Poly Scholar, though depending on your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), it may impact your scholarship and other financial aid.
- A general definition of SAP is to maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and successfully complete at least 67% of attempted units for financial aid eligibility
- For more details, please talk with your financial aid counselor and review SAP guidelines on the Office of Financial Aid website
- Determine and strive for a personal CPSLO cumulative GPA goal (we recommend at least 2.75)
- Reach out to advisors for academic resources and support
New Transfer Scholars
- During fall term you will be contacted by an academic advisor or retention specialist to schedule one (1) required advising appointment or workshop to ensure you are receiving the support you need as you begin your journey at Cal Poly
- In the event you have a rough quarter and are on Academic Probation (AP), you will be contacted by an academic advisor or retention specialist to schedule a required advising appointment or workshop
- Being on AP (Academic Probation) does not impact your eligibility to be a Cal Poly Scholar, though depending on your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), it may impact your scholarship and other financial aid
- A general definition of SAP is to maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and successfully complete at least 67% of attempted units for financial aid eligibility
- For more details, please talk with your financial aid counselor and review SAP guidelines on the Office of Financial Aid website
- A general definition of SAP is to maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and successfully complete at least 67% of attempted units for financial aid eligibility
- If your academic college requires an advising appointment to meet AP (Academic Probation) requirements, that appointment will satisfy this requirement
- Scholars are expected to follow up with advisor or retention specialist contact in a timely fashion
- Being on AP (Academic Probation) does not impact your eligibility to be a Cal Poly Scholar, though depending on your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), it may impact your scholarship and other financial aid
- You are highly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor from your academic college at least once per year. Key reasons to meet with academic advisors include:
- Planning for registration, including reviewing flowcharts and course sequences
- Exploring academic support and planning resources including tutoring, study tips, etc.
- Discussing impacts of withdrawals, Leave of Absences, CR/NC, etc.
- Checking academic requirements for graduation
- Interpreting academic policies and procedures
- Determine and strive for a personal CPSLO cumulative GPA goal (we recommend at least 2.75)
- Reach out to advisors for academic resources and support
FAFSA/CA Dream Act
All Scholars
- Complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application annually by the specified date as set by the Office of Financial Aid (typically around March 1)
- Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid with questions regarding FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application prior to the deadline for completion
Personal Responsibility and Conduct
All Scholars
- Abide by all University policies and expectations, including, but not limited to:
- University Housing resident Handbook and Community Standards Guidelines
- Office of Financial Aid policies and eligibility requirements regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Additional policies and procedures as outlined by the respective academic colleges
- Demonstrate personal responsibility and conduct consistent with the ideals of a Scholar, including, but not limited to:
- Cal Poly’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Initiatives
- Cal Poly’s Commitment to Community
Expectations Agreement 2022-23
| Scholar Definitions | |
|---|---|
| Year 1 Scholars | New Cal Poly Scholars who are enrolled in their first academic year at Cal Poly as non-transfer students |
| New Transfer Scholars | New Cal Poly Scholars who are enrolled in their first academic year at Cal Poly as transfer students |
| Cohort or Scholar Cohort | A group of Cal Poly Scholars who enrolled, for the first-time, at Cal Poly in the same academic year as either Year 1 Scholars or New Transfer Scholars (ex. Scholars who entered during the 2017-18 academic year are in the 2017 Cohort) |
