Policies and Forms

Important note about CR/NC Option (read fully):

As of Fall 2021, all COVID-19 Credit/No Credit allowances have been suspended. To reiterate, you will now be held to the Credit/No Credit limits outlined for your major or graduate program in the Cal Poly Catalog you are following.

• OCOB students may not take any major, support, or concentration courses CR/NC. If done so, these courses will go toward the student’s free electives and their major/support/concentration requirement will not be fulfilled.
• If a class double-counts as an OCOB major, support, or concentration course, that class may NOT be taken CR/NC.
• Some courses, as indicated in their catalog descriptions, are offered on a Credit/No Credit grading basis only. The following conditions apply when a student elects to take for Credit/No Credit grading those courses that are not designated by the University as being graded on an exclusive Credit/No Credit basis.
  • Students desiring to elect a course on a Credit/No Credit grading basis must be currently enrolled in the course and must elect the Credit/No Credit grading option through the registration system. This request can be made through the 8th day of the quarter. Students may not change from one grading system to the other after the end of the 8th day of the term.
  • Undergraduate students are given a grade of CR for accomplishment equivalent to a grade of C– or better. No credit (NC) is given for D+ or lower grades. Graduate students receive a grade of CR that is based on an evaluated grade of B– or higher and NC for assigned grades of C+ or lower. Instructors submit conventional letter grades to the Registrar’s Office where they are converted to Credit/No Credit grades. NOTE: Some post-baccalaureate programs penalize students for a grade of CR; students should carefully consider the implications of selecting CR/NC grading.
  • The applicant for a Credit/No Credit grade must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in cumulative Cal Poly work. This requirement is waived for first-time students.
  • No more than two courses may be selected for Credit/ No Credit grading in any term.
  • Units earned in courses for which the grade was CR count toward satisfaction of all degree requirements if the student is within the guidelines listed next.
  • Undergraduate students may elect a maximum of 16 units of Credit/No Credit grading. Up to 4 units (or one course, if the course is a five-unit course, e.g., CHEM 111) of Credit/No Credit grading is allowed in General Education courses (those GE courses which are required for the bachelor’s degree). The remainder can be taken as free electives. These unit maximums apply to the selection of credit/no credit grading basis, regardless of whether a student earns a grade of CR or NC.
  • Credit/No Credit grading is removed for courses not meeting the above guidelines; the grade is changed to the letter grade assigned by the instructor. Students are strongly encouraged to verify, before enrolling, whether they are allowed to select Credit/No Credit grading for a particular course or requirement.
  • Non-matriculated students, including those in the Extension Program, Summer Session, and Workshops must meet the same requirements as matriculated students to elect courses on a Credit/No Credit grading basis. (The 2.0 GPA requirement is waived in the case of non-matriculated students having no previous coursework recorded at Cal Poly.)

Description: Allows a student to declare or change their concentration within the Orfalea College of Business.

Declaring (or changing to) Accounting: You must meet with James Kaney to declare or change your concentration to Accounting. Email Professor Kaney (jkaney@calpoly.edu) to initiate the process.

Declaring (or changing to) Entrepreneurship: Please refer to the Entrepreneurship Page for details on how to declare Entrepreneurship as a concentration.

Declaring (or changing to) any other concentration: Complete an online form.

Dropping a concentration: All students who wish to change their current primary concentration, ECON students wishing to drop their concentration to General Economics, and double-concentration students wishing to drop one of their concentrations must fill out this form. Please complete a Drop Concentration Request Form.

Time-frame: These forms typically take 4-6 weeks to process before showing up in your Cal Poly portal.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, influx in submissions in Spring Quarter.

Accounting Concentration Declaration Form

Each of the 7 minors within the Orfalea College of Business have different requirements for declaring. For a list of these minors and their requirements, visit OCOB Minors for more information. Additionally, visit Cal Poly Minors for a comprehensive list of all minors offered at Cal Poly.

Description: Allows a student to withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline.

Obtain form: Student Form Request

Next steps: TBD (more information to come).

Requirements: There must be a serious and compelling reason for withdrawing from the course that occurred after the add/drop deadline of the quarter. View the complete requirements from the Office of the Registrar on their Drops, Withdraws, and Leaves page.

Deadline: End of week 7 of the quarter (Friday, 5pm).

More Information

Description: Allows a student to withdraw from a course after the end of the 7th week of the quarter.

Obtain at: Student Form Request

Requirements: There must be an emergency reason for withdrawing from the course that occurred after the end of the 7th week of instruction. View the complete requirements from the Office of the Registrar on their Drops, Withdraws, and Leaves page.

Deadline: End of week 10 of the quarter (Friday, 5pm).

More Information

Description: Allows a student to withdraw from all of their courses for a term within the first seven weeks of the quarter.

Obtain at: Student Form Request

Requirements: There must be a serious and compelling reason for withdrawing from the term that occurred after the add/drop deadline of the quarter. View the complete requirements from the Office of the Registrar on their Withdrawal Procedures page.

Deadline: End of week 7 of the quarter (Friday, 5pm).

More Information

Description: Allows a student to withdraw from all of their courses for a term after the end of the 7th week of the quarter, until the last date of the quarter.

Obtain at: Student Form Request

Requirements: There must be an emergency reason for withdrawing from the term that occurred after the end of the 7th week of the quarter. View the complete requirements from the Office of the Registrar on their Drops, Withdraws, and Leaves page.

Deadline: End of week 10 of the quarter (Friday, 5pm).

More Information

Description: Allows a student to retroactively withdraw from a previous quarter for extenuating circumstances out of the student’s control.

Obtain at: Records Unit of the Office of the Registrar.

Next steps: Update Degree Planner to reflect when you plan to take these classes in the future.

Requirements: Must include a student statement and supporting documentation of the extenuating circumstance. View the complete requirements from the Office of the Registrar on their Drops, Withdraws, and Leaves page.

Deadline: End of term one academic year after initial quarter was graded.

More Information

Description: Allows a student to request a deviation from the published curriculum for a Major/Support course within the Orfalea College of Business.

Obtain at: Please visit  Student Forms Request to initiate the process. After you submit the form, you will receive a link to complete the Adobe Sign form. Please allow 1-2 business days for you to receive the email for the Adobe Sign form.

Note: Please discuss the likelihood of the substitution being approved with the chair of the corresponding department.

Time-frame: These forms typically take 6-8 weeks to process before showing up in your Cal Poly portal. Please talk to your Area Chair about the substitution. After you are enrolled or currently enrolled in the course, then submit the request for a substitution.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Allows a student to move to an earlier graduation date after already having been assigned an expected graduation date (shown in Poly Profile).

Obtain at: PowerForm online from the Office of the Registrar’s website.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, or generally around registration time (week 6, 7, 8, 9).

Description: Allows a student to request a deviation from the published curriculum for a minor course within the Orfalea College of Business.

Email: Cobadvis@calpoly.edu with the following information: the course you wish to substitute, the course you are enrolled in/already taken, and the reason for this substitution.

Note: Please discuss the likelihood of the substitution being approved with the minor chair of the corresponding department.

Time-frame: These forms typically take 6-8 weeks to process before showing up in your Cal Poly portal. You must be enrolled or currently enrolled in the course you are hoping to substitute.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Allows a student to move to a later graduation date after already having been assigned an expected graduation date (shown in Poly Profile).

Obtain at: E-Form online from the Office of the Registrar’s website. The form will be sent directly to Student Services for approval.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, or generally around registration time (week 6, 7, 8, 9).

Description: Allows a student to request to move to a different catalog.

Obtain at: Change of Catalog.

Requirements: Note that students typically change to a newer catalog, but are allowed to change to an earlier catalog from the time they start higher education as a full-time student. Please speak to an advisor before submitting this form.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Allows a student to register for more than 22 units in a single quarter.

Obtain at: PowerForm found on the Office of the Registrars website.

Next steps: Complete prior to the Add/Drop deadline for the quarter in which you want to enroll in excess units.

High-volume dates: Generally around registration time (week 6, 7, 8, 9).

Description: Allows a student to enroll in a course after the add/drop deadline.

Obtain at: Complete the E-Form found on the Office of the Registrars website.

Next steps: You may be subject to a $20 Late Add Appeal Fee per class. A Late Registration Fee is added if you enroll in classes after registration rotation appointments, and are not already enrolled in at least one class.

High-volume dates: Generally around start of quarters (week 1, 2).

Description: Allows a student to not be enrolled in courses at Cal Poly for 3+ consecutive quarters (not including summer) due to a medical necessity. This form may be submitted retroactively.

Obtain at: PowerForm

• Leave of Absence Application – Domestic Student (PowerForm)
• Leave of Absence Application – International Student (PowerForm)

Read more about the Office of the Registrar’s policies on Leaves of Absences.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Allows a student to not be enrolled in courses at Cal Poly for 3+ consecutive quarters (not including summer) due to reason that contributes to the student’s educational objective.

Obtain at: PowerForm

• Leave of Absence Application – Domestic Student (PowerForm)
• Leave of Absence Application – International Student (PowerForm)

Read more about the Office of the Registrar’s policies on Leaves of Absences.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Allows a student to participate in a commencement ceremony that is different than the one that they are scheduled to participate in (shown in Poly Profile).

Obtain at: the Cal Poly Commencement Website

High-volume dates: Leading up to commencement (weeks 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Spring and Fall quarter).

*Note: This form is currently unavailable

Description: Allows a student to not be enrolled in courses at Cal Poly for 3+ consecutive quarters (not including summer) due to a military necessity. This leave may be extended for up to 5 years.

Obtain at: PowerForm

• Leave of Absence Application – Domestic Student (PowerForm)
• Leave of Absence Application – International Student (PowerForm)

Read more about the Office of the Registrar’s policies on Leaves of Absences.

High-volume dates: Ongoing, typically not time-sensitive.

Description: Request to receive a permission number to enroll in a course with prerequisite requirements that you do not have completed. Please be prepared to provide professor consent, or record of prerequisites completed or enrolled at another institution.

Obtain at: Form below

• Permission Number Request Form