Registration Information
THE CAL POLY REGISTRATION SYSTEM
Cal Poly students use CPReg to register for classes. Students may view a class schedule at classschedule.calpoly.edu. Students can pay registration fees up to four (4) days after registering. Be sure to check your registration access and holds status online at my.calpoly.edu. This should be completed several days before registering. You can access CPReg at my.calpoly.edu on the Registration and Enrollment tab directly from this site.
Higher priority is given to students with special needs and first-time students who need an advantage to begin their academic careers on a positive note. The remaining students are placed in the upper half of the 'Continuing Students and Former Students' registration category every other quarter (except Summer Quarter). Example: Fall - upper half; Winter - lower half; Spring - upper half; Fall - lower half, etc. Summer is on a separate appointment schedule.
Student Definitions
CONTINUING STUDENT : You have enrolled for classes at Cal Poly or officially withdrawn within the past three terms, or you are returning from an approved leave of absence.
| Term for which you are eligible to register | If you were enrolled for any of the preceding terms: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring |
| Spring | Winter | Fall | Summer |
| Summer | Spring | Winter | Fall |
| Fall | Summer | Spring | Winter |
If you are not eligible to register at the university, the registration system will direct you to contact the Admissions Office at (805) 756-2311 for information and instructions.
QUALIFIED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (with prior approval): You have a permanent disability. Disability Resource Center determines who is eligible for priority registration. If you are not sure if you qualify, contact DRC at (805) 756-1395 at least two weeks before registration begins.
CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENT : You have not been admitted nor are you eligible to enroll for classes as a matriculated student at Cal Poly. You may enroll in regular classes offered by the university through Open University if you meet eligibility requirements. You may also enroll for extension or vocational courses, workshops, or other programs which offer academic or professional credit. For more information, contact the Office of Continuing Education at (805) 756-2053.
FORMER STUDENT : You matriculated previously but have not enrolled for classes within the past three terms. You must reapply for re-admission. Students returning from an approved leave of absence are considered CONTINUING STUDENTS (see above).
POST BACCALAUREATE STUDENT: (Graduate Student) You hold a bachelor's degree & have been admitted to pursue a master's degree, a credential, or certificate. A new post baccalaureate student qualifies for registration as a New Student for his/her first term. A Cal Poly student who has been admitted to a post baccalaureate program will not be allowed to register for more than one term without proof of bachelor's degree completion. Courses taken during that term will not automatically apply toward post baccalaureate work without special approval.
POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENT : (2nd Bachelor's Student)You hold a bachelor's degree and have been admitted to pursue a second bachelor's degree or to enroll for professional development courses. Because you are not in a formal graduate program, you are regarded as an undergraduate student for honors and probation considerations. You will register as a New Student your first term and then as a Continuing Student.
PRIORITY REGISTRATION: Undergraduate students are eligible to choose a total of three terms of Priority Registration during their career at Cal Poly. First-time freshmen are eligible to use a term of Priority Registration for their fourth term of enrollment. Transfer students are eligible to use a priority for their second term of enrollment. As only three terms of Priority Registration are allowed, students are cautioned to plan accordingly. Any qualified student may select Priority Registration simply by using web registration ~ CPReg ~ during the appropriate alpha rotation within the designated PRIORITY REGISTRATION time period (See the current appointment schedule to view this information). You will be asked to confirm the use of a priority.
NEW STUDENT : You are a first-time freshman, first-time transfer student from another college, or a student who is beginning his/her first term in a post baccalaureate program. You are also a New Student if your only previous enrollment was through Continuing Education or Concurrent Enrollment. (You do not qualify if you are a California resident aged 60 or older, a CSU intrasystem visitor, or a transitory student who has been admitted for one term only.) *~ Note ~ When a student begins their career at CalPoly in the Summer term, they will also have “new student priority” for Fall.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS : If you are in a program which qualifies you for Special Exceptions registration, confirm with your sponsor that your name and correct ID number have been submitted to the Office of Academic Records at least two weeks before registration begins.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT : You have been admitted to the university and have not attained your initial bachelor's degree.
Registration Categories
Each continuing student has been placed in one of 12 alphabetical name groups. The name groups are rotated each term within each category. Within that category, you will be assigned an appointment time to register. See table below for projected groups and priority schedules for continuing undergraduate students.
When to Register
Determine your registration category, the alpha category according to the first three letters of your last name, and register any time, via CPReg. You may register on any scheduled day after your registration appointment time begins, but NOT before your assigned appointment time.
