Frequently Asked Questions

As part of accepting the Scholars financial award, you and the program agreed to the commitments indicated in the Scholar Agreements. The agreements are designed to foster an inclusive community of Scholars, build a personal support network for college success, and develop knowledge and skills for lifelong success for all Scholars. By fulfilling specific commitments, Scholars will maintain annual eligibility for financial and programmatic support.

To view cohort-specific requirements, please visit the 'New Scholars' or 'Current Scholars' tabs toward the top of the page. Please note that Scholar Agreements may change slightly each academic year.

For Year 1 Scholars (non-transfer students), residing in the Scholar residential learning communities during the first two years of enrollment is a requirement of maintaining eligibility for the scholarship.

Scholars who enroll at Cal Poly as Transfer Scholars are not required to reside on campus.

To view cohort-specific requirements, please visit the 'New Scholars' or 'Current Scholars' tabs toward the top of the page. Please note that Scholar Agreements may change slightly each academic year.

Though the exact day may vary year to year, typically, all devices must be selected and ordered through the process indicated no later than May of a Scholars first year at Cal Poly.

Bummer – sorry to hear you had a rough quarter or year. Since each Scholar’s circumstances are unique, the first thing you need to do is meet with an academic advisor to discuss your specific situation. Together, you will determine an academic plan moving forward and may be asked to connect with other resources such as the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to see if/how your financial award may be affected.

Please note that even if you are not eligible to receive the financial award for a brief time, you are still welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Scholars program to receive community and academic support.

In short, yes, you will remain a Cal Poly Scholar and enjoy the community, academic, and educational aspects of the program. However, the amount or source of your financial award may change. If considering changing your major, you are encouraged to meet with a:

• Career counselor in Career Services to explore career goals and possible majors to help you pursue your career aspirations
• Academic advisor in the college advising center of the major you’d like to pursue to learn more about the change of major process
• Financial aid counselor in the Office of Financial Aid to discuss the possible changes to your financial aid package and Cal Poly Scholars award

Most study abroad experiences associated with Cal Poly are eligible for financial assistance in the form of financial aid and scholarships, including your Cal Poly Scholars financial award. To learn more about study abroad funding eligibility and opportunities, visit Study Abroad Financial Planning and meet with a financial aid counselor.

Additionally, the decision to study abroad should be discussed with your academic college. Topics to discuss include how the courses abroad align with your academic progress, how course sequencing at Cal Poly may be affected, and if your experience abroad may lengthen your time at Cal Poly.

Occasionally, Scholars need to leave campus for various reasons (ex. co-ops/internships, medical, financial, academic, etc.). We encourage you to take the time and opportunities away from campus that will lead to your success at Cal Poly and beyond. When possible, we encourage you to connect with your academic advisor and financial aid counselor before departing to discuss potential policies and procedures that could affect your enrollment and funding.

Please complete the Notice of University Departure form (permanent leave) or Informal Time-off form (temporary leave) to help our team better support you through the process.

In general, Scholars are welcomed back into the community and program, and will continue to receive funding as long they maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Upon returning to campus, it is your responsibility to inform the Cal Poly Scholars office that you have returned to campus so your financial award can be reinstated (if eligible).

Please note: Even if you are not eligible to receive the financial award for a brief time, you are still welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Scholars program to receive community and academic support.

Unfortunately, the Cal Poly Scholars award is only available during fall, winter, and spring quarters. The total amount you are awarded is divided equally among the three primary quarters (whether you are enrolled in all three or not).

Eligible quarters for awards are fall, winter, and spring. For each of these quarters, 1/3 of your total annual financial award will be distributed. Approximate award distribution timelines for Scholars are as follows*:

• Fall quarter awards: mid-summer / late-July
• Winter quarter awards: one week before winter classes begin
• Spring quarter awards: one week before spring classes begin

*If you have fewer than 12 units when the first round of award distribution occurs, your award will come shortly after you have enrolled in 12 units. If you are in your final 1-2 quarters before graduating and will fall short of 12 units, please contact the Cal Poly Scholars office to discuss your situation and see if you are eligible for the financial award.

 

 

• Planning for future quarters to meet your desired graduation term
• Exploring academic support and planning resources including tutoring, study tips, etc.
• Discussing Impacts of withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, CR/NC, etc.

• Checking academic requirements for graduation
• Navigating course registration
• Interpreting academic policies and procedures

 

Wonderful news – we can't wait to meet you! Please review our step-by-step guide for incoming scholars at scholars.calpoly.edu/nextsteps.

Scholars are high-achieving students from California schools, who come from low-income backgrounds. Undergraduate students admitted to Cal Poly are automatically considered for the Cal Poly Scholars program when they apply for financial aid via the FAFSA or California Dream Application. Scholars are selected at the discretion of the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. There is no additional application to be completed.

Email invitations to join the program have been sent to incoming students for the 2023-24 academic year with the subject line: You've been invited to be a Cal Poly Scholar! Questions? Email cpscholars@calpoly.edu.

Cal Poly Scholars offers are part of the financial aid process. When you receive your financial aid package, typically between mid-March and late May, it may include a Cal Poly Scholars award. Be sure to check your email and the Cal Poly Portal regularly for notifications.

Congratulations! Being offered a Cal Poly Scholars award means that you have an opportunity to receive additional financial, community, and academic support as an undergraduate student at Cal Poly. To learn more, visit Why Be a Scholar?.

As part of accepting the Scholars financial award, you and the program agreed to the commitments indicated in the Scholar Agreements. The agreements are designed to foster an inclusive community of Scholars, build a personal support network for college success, and develop knowledge and skills for lifelong success for all Scholars. By fulfilling specific commitments, Scholars will maintain annual eligibility for financial and programmatic support.

To view cohort-specific requirements, please visit the 'New Scholars' or 'Current Scholars' tabs toward the top of the page. Please note that Scholar Agreements may change slightly each academic year.

For Year 1 Scholars (non-transfer students), residing in the Scholar communities during the first two years of enrollment is a requirement of maintaining eligibility for the scholarship.

To view cohort-specific requirements, please visit the 'New Scholars' or 'Current Scholars' tabs toward the top of the page. Please note that Scholar Agreements may change slightly each academic year.

The Cal Poly Scholars residential learning community is invite-only and, as such, Scholars and their mutually chosen roommate (if you choose a roommate who is not a Scholar) will be able to choose a room withing the Cal Poly Scholars community.

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.

Yes! Just know, you and your requested roommate must mutually choose one another on your Housing Portal, and the roommate you select will be joining you in the Cal Poly Scholars residential learning community. The more, the merrier!

UNIV 100 is a 1-unit, course for first-year Scholars to build community, explore campus resources, and develop skills for success at Cal Poly. Scholars are blocked scheduled into UNIV 100 during fall quarter. UNIV 100 is a Cal Poly Scholars program requirement – do not drop this course. If you are not block scheduled into a section of UNIV 100, please email cpscholars@calpoly.edu.

Step 4 on our Next Steps page covers how to select and request your free laptop. More information regarding specific model options, ordering timelines, and other details will be available around July 1.

Thanks for taking care of orientation; sorry to hear the process was confusing. To be refunded, please complete this Google form called the Orientation Request Form.

When requesting a refund from the Orientation department, inform them that your reason for the request is that you are a Cal Poly Scholar. According to the Orientation department website, it can take up to 5-7 business days for a refund directed to the credit card. Please refer to the Orientation department website for further questions regarding refunds.

Wonderful news – we can't wait to meet you! Please review our step-by-step guide for incoming scholars at scholars.calpoly.edu/nextsteps.

Scholars are high-achieving students from California schools, who come from low-income backgrounds. Undergraduate students admitted to Cal Poly are automatically considered for the Cal Poly Scholars program when they apply for financial aid via the FAFSA or California Dream Application. Scholars are selected at the discretion of the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. There is no additional application to be completed.

Email invitations to join the program have been sent to incoming students for the 2023-24 academic year with the subject line: You've been selected to be a Cal Poly Scholar! Questions? Email cpscholars@calpoly.edu.

Cal Poly Scholars offers are part of the financial aid process. When you receive your financial aid package, typically between mid-March and late May, it may include a Cal Poly Scholars award. Be sure to check your email and the Cal Poly Portal regularly for notifications.

Congratulations! Being offered a Cal Poly Scholars award means that you have an opportunity to receive additional financial, community, and academic support as an undergraduate student at Cal Poly. To learn more, visit Why Be a Scholar? and Scholar Expectations.

Scholar requirements are designed to foster an inclusive community of Scholars, build a personal support network for college success, and develop knowledge and skills for lifelong success. By fulfilling specific requirements and striving toward supplemental expectations, Scholars will maintain annual eligibility for financial and programmatic support.

To view cohort-specific requirements, please visit Scholar Expectations. Please note that requirements may change each academic year.

Scholars who enroll at Cal Poly as Transfer Scholars are not required to reside on campus. However, if you choose to reside on campus during your first year at Cal Poly, you will be placed in a residential learning community with other transfer students, which will likely include other Scholars. During your second year at Cal Poly, you are welcome to reside in the Year 2+ Scholars residential learning community.

To view cohort-specific requirements and see limited exceptions to this requirement, please visit Scholar Expectations. Please note that requirements may change each academic year.

The Cal Poly Scholars program will host a few gatherings specifically for Transfer Scholars, so we encourage you to come mix and mingle! Additionally, Cal Poly offers Transfer SLO Days and hosts Transfer Week; both are excellent opportunities to engage with the transfer community and learn about resources relevant to you.

Step 4 on our Next Steps page covers how to select and request your free laptop. More information regarding specific model options, ordering timelines, and other details will be available around July 1.

Thanks for taking care of orientation; sorry to hear the process was confusing. To be refunded, please complete this Google form called the Orientation Request Form.

When requesting a refund from the Orientation department, inform them that your reason for the request is that you are a Cal Poly Scholar. According to the Orientation department website, it can take up to 5-7 business days for a refund directed to the credit card. Please refer to the Orientation department website for further questions regarding refunds.

New Transfer Scholars are highly encouraged to meet with their college academic advising center or retention specialist from your college during your first quater and at least once per year. Key reasons to meet with these members of your support include:

• Planning for future quaters to meet your desired graduation term.
• Exploring academic support and planning resources including tutoring, study tips, etc.
• Discussing impacts of withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, CR/NC, etc.
• Checking academic requirements for graduation
• Navigating course registration.