Award Increase Request

Award Increase Requests must be submitted through the Scholar Portal. For an Award Increase Request to be complete, Scholars must upload the required documentation within their request:

1. A Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) letter from the college or university

2. An unofficial transcript

 

What is a CIP code? 

The Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code is a national classification system for all majors, minors, options, and courses.

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 displayed differently depending on the institution and department. WSOS references CIP codes as they are same across all institutions.

• Example: CIP Code: 11.0103 Program Name:
  • University of Washington - Seattle: Human Centered Design and Engineering
  • University of Washington - Tacoma: Information Technology
  • Central Washington University - Information Technology & Administrative Management

The CIP letter will be produced by colleges and universities (typically a department head, advisor or registrar) upon request. College officials may use the letter/email template for guidance. We do not accept major acceptance letters. The CIP letter must comply with the following guidelines:

• The format can either be printed on college letterhead or an email with signature line.
• The letter must be signed or include the signature block from the college or university registrar or faculty member in the department from which a Scholar will receive the degree.
• The letter must state the:
  1. Name of the major into which the student has been accepted (not a “declared” major);
  2. CIP code for the eligible major; AND
  3. Date the student was accepted into the major (not an major/program acceptance letter).

The unofficial college or university transcript must confirm:

• Student has earned at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits.
• The student is enrolled at either a four-year, eligible college or university or at a community college that offers a bachelor’s degree.

 

Why submit a transcript?

• This will be will used by WSOS to determine the next corresponding award level based on total credits earned (including all running-start or transfer credits).

 

Resources:

• See eligible CIP codes and their corresponding majors here.
• UW scholars may learn more about UW CIP letter requests here.

 

FAQ:

Q: I am an incoming scholar with running start credits, have been accepted into my major, but I do not have a transcript yet from my new institution, can I apply for an increase?

A: Yes! However, your next institution must accept 90 or more credits upon entering the program. If this is the case, please provide our Awards team with a contact from your program to confirm your credit rollover to your new institution.

Q: My increase was denied due to an ineligible CIP code, can I still be eligible for WSOS funding?

A: If the CIP code does not match one of those listed on our approved majors list, you will become ineligible for funding through WSOS. Unfortunately, we are not able to fund all majors, and because we are partially state funded, we must act in accordance to state statute. We are unable to make exceptions for programs that are not on our approved programs list. In order to maintain eligibility within our program, you would need to consider pursuing similar, approved degrees, or perhaps double majoring in a separate approved degree.