Priority Registration: Student Information
What is Priority Registration?
Priority registration at Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) allows eligible student groups to register early for classes ahead of general registration. This helps students who have specific academic, legal, or university-related responsibilities enroll in the courses they need to stay on track. Priority registration at Cal Poly Pomona is governed by Academic Senate Policy 1455 and is approved on a term-by-term basis. You may visit the Registration page for Registration Schedule timeline.
Priority Registration Eligibility
Eligibility is determined by Academic Senate Policy 1455. The following categories may qualify for priority registration:
| Category | Description | Examples |
| A | University-essential academic pathways | Honors College, pledge programs |
| B | Mandated by law or regulation | Disability Resource Center, EOP, Veterans, Foster Youth |
| C | Intercollegiate student athletes | Active NCAA athletes |
| D | Student governance leadership | ASI Cabinet & Senate |
| E | Significant university service roles | Resident Advisors, Orientation Leaders |
| F | University team representation | Rose Float leads, music ensembles, engineering teams |
| G | Externally mandated scholarship programs | McNair Scholars |
Priority Registration Process
Priority Is Not Automatic or Permanent
- Priority registration is approved each term (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer).
- Eligibility must be verified every term.
- Priority expires at the end of the term or when your active status ends.
If your program is approved:
- Your eligibility is verified by your program coordinator or administrator in charge (AIC).
- A Registration Priority (RPR) indicator is placed on your record.
- You will receive an earlier registration window.
Registration windows are assigned through a scheduled system process. Late additions may not receive a priority window for that term.
You can view your assigned registration window in BroncoDirect (Student Center).
Some students qualify for priority registration under state or federal law, including:
- Military students
- Students registered with the Disability Resource Center
- Foster Youth
- Student parents with dependents under 18 (AB 2881)
Verification is handled by the appropriate office (e.g., DRC, Veterans Resource Center, Student Affairs).
Important Note:
Graduating seniors do not automatically receive priority registration unless they are part of an approved student group. However, they are assigned a registration window after Postbaccalaureate students and before other Seniors.
Student Parent Priority Registration (AB 2881)
What Is a Student Parent?
Under California Assembly Bill 2881 (AB 2881), a student parent is defined as:
A student who has a child or children under 18 years of age who receive more than half of their financial support from that student.
Student Parent Priority Information (AB 2881):
https://www.cpp.edu/studentparents/registration.shtml
What Is Student Parent Priority Registration?
Student Parent Priority Registration is a separate application process overseen by Student Affairs.
Unlike standard priority registration (which is processed through Academic Senate categories and service indicators), approved student parents are:
- Added to a designated student group
- Automatically included in the enrollment window assignment process managed by the Registrar’s Office
The Registrar’s automated process that assigns registration windows recognizes students in this approved student parent group and grants them priority enrollment accordingly.
Important Timing Information
- Student Parent Priority Registration is not guaranteed if a student is added to the approved student group after priority enrollment has already begun.
- If the assigned priority enrollment window has passed and closed, it cannot be reopened.
- In those cases, students must wait for their next available general registration date.
- Students are strongly encouraged to complete the application and verification process early.
FAQs
The Academic Senate authorizes priority groups through Policy 1455. The Academic Senate authorizes priority groups following its policies, and the Academic Affairs Committee reviews and approves requests each term as required.
No. Priority registration requests must be submitted by a program director, chair, or responsible campus official on behalf of an eligible group.
Because priority registration and student parent priority registration windows are limited to 1-2 days prior to the start of general registration, they cannot be “reopened”. Any adjustments would conflict with the general registration windows that open immediately after. Students who miss their priority or student parent priority registration windows will need to adhere to their general registration window that is assigned based on class standing.
If a student is no longer affiliated with the organization or group that sponsored them for priority registration, their status is withdrawn for future application cycles. Regarding student parent priority registration status, students should reach out to Student Affairs directly to clarify which criteria could put them at risk for ineligibility for future terms.
Organizations and groups that were previously approved by the Academic Senate need to submit applications for approval every semester. Once it is confirmed that the organization or group received approval for the new term, students should follow the process outlined above to confirm that a service indicator has been added before an enrollment window can be added.
If a student specifically received student parent priority registration last semester and did not receive the enrollment window this semester, they will need to reach out to Registrar’s Office to confirm that they are still active in the student parent student group. If they are no longer included in the group, the student will be referred to Student Affairs.
Not all students receiving benefits with the DRC are guaranteed priority registration. Students who are receiving benefits with the DRC must go through a separate approval process before they can be included in the DRC’s request to the Academic Senate. For more information on the separate approval process, please visit the DRC website
Students who are veterans or members of the military will receive priority registration each semester of enrollment. Dependents of veterans do not qualify for priority registration through this program. To be added to the priority registration list, the veteran or member of the military must see the VA Certifying Official in the Veterans Resource Center, who will give them the information they will need. Their priority registration will automatically be renewed each semester. For more information, please reach out to the VRC