Major & Credit Verification (formerly Award Increase Request)
Baccalaureate Scholars are required to submit a Major & Credit Verification by their assigned deadline. A Major & Credit Verification confirms that a Scholar has:
- Been admitted into a WSOS-eligible bachelor’s degree program
- Earned at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Each Scholar has a unique deadline, which can be found in the Scholar Portal. You do not need to wait until your deadline. Submit your Major & Credit Verification as soon as you meet both requirements.
Once your Major & Credit Verification is approved, you’ll receive increased funding beginning fall term of the next academic year.
How do I submit a Major & Credit Verification?
Submit a Major & Credit Verification through the Scholar Portal. You must upload the following with your request:
- A Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) letter from your college or university
- An unofficial transcript that demonstrates you’ve met the minimum credit requirements.
Do not mail CIP letters or unofficial transcripts.
What is a CIP code?
The Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code is a national classification system for all majors, minors, options, and courses.
WSOS uses the CIP code, not the name of the program, to identify majors. All majors have a CIP code. Universities and colleges may have the same CIP code for a major, but the name of the major/program may be different.
Example: CIP Code: 11.0103
Program Name:
- University of Washington – Tacoma: Information Technology
- Central Washington University – Information Technology & Administrative Management
You will need to ask your college or university for a CIP letter. You can start by asking your advisor, registrar, or department head. You can give them this letter/email template for guidance. We do not accept major acceptance letters. The CIP letter must comply with the following guidelines.
- The format can be printed on college letterhead or an email with a signature line.
- The letter must be signed or include the signature block from the college registrar or faculty member in the department where you will receive the degree.
The letter must state the following:
- Name of the major you’ve been accepted into (not a “declared” major);
- CIP code for the eligible major; AND
- Date you were accepted into the major (not a major/program acceptance letter).
The unofficial college transcript must confirm the following:
- You have earned at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits.
- We will count any “in-progress” credits as long as they are reflected on your transcript.
Resources:
- See eligible CIP codes and their corresponding majors on the eligible majors list.
- UW Scholars should check out UW Enrollment Verification webpage.
FAQs
I am a newly selected Opportunity Scholar and have earned college credits (including Running Start credits) and have been accepted into my major, but I do not have a transcript yet from my new institution. Can I apply for an increase?
Yes! Please submit a transcript from the community college where you earned Running Start credits.
My Major & Credit Verification was denied due to an ineligible CIP code. Can I still be eligible for WSOS funding?
If your Major & Credit Verification is denied, we will reach out to you before withdrawing you from the scholarship to confirm your plans and help you determine if there is another WSOS-eligible major you would like to pursue. If you are accepted into a different major that is WSOS-eligible with an eligible CIP code, you can re-submit a Major & Credit Verification. The CIP code must be on our approved majors list. We cannot make exceptions for majors that are not on our approved majors list.
Can I submit Major & Credit Verification before I renew my scholarship? Or can I only submit the request during the renewal process?
You can submit a Major & Credit Verification at any time of the year, so long as it’s before your assigned deadline. Your deadline can be found on the Scholar Portal. Submit as soon as you meet the credit requirement and have been admitted into an eligible major.
I changed my major to an ineligible major, but my minor is on the eligible major’s list. Can I submit a Major & Credit Verification now?
No, unfortunately, your major must be eligible. We do not consider minors.
When will I start receiving increased funding?
Once your Major & Credit Verification is approved, you will begin receiving increased funding fall term of the next academic year.
Can I upload my acceptance letter in place of a CIP Letter?
We do not accept acceptance/offer letters or any other documents in place of a CIP Letter. We recommend reaching out to your school’s Registrar’s office or an academic advisor to ask for a CIP Letter.
I’ve been admitted into an associate’s degree program. Can I submit a Major & Credit Verification?
No – you must be admitted into an eligible bachelor’s degree program to submit a Major & Credit Verification. Once you have been admitted into a bachelor’s degree program and earned the minimum credits required, please submit a Major & Credit Verification.