Continuous Enrollment
Students not maintaining continuous enrollment lose classified graduate standing and will therefore be required to apply for readmission. Such students may be held for additional program or degree requirements which are current at the time of readmission.
Continuous enrollment is defined as being enrolled during Fall and Spring terms each year.
Requirements
- Continuous enrollment is required for graduate students from the time of first enrollment in a graduate program until completion of the degree.
- All graduate students must be enrolled in the term in which they graduate.
Exceptions
- A student may will be required to enroll in the Summer term, if Summer is the term of completion.
- The continuous enrollment requirement for graduate students applies to all graduate programs.
Payment Requirements
Students who fail to fulfill this continuous enrollment requirement will be not be permitted to graduate, even if all degree requirements have been completed.
Enroll
Students can maintain continuous enrollment by one of the following:
- Enrolling as a regular student
- Obtaining approval for a leave of absence the term prior to the term when such a leave would begin.
- Students who have completed all coursework for their degree and are making progress toward the completion of their culminating experience can enroll in GS S5597.
Special Courses
GS S5597 is listed in the University catalog and is taken through Cal Poly Cal Poly Extended, Professional & Continuing Education (EPaCE). GS S5597 is a one-unit course offered credit/no credit; credits in GS S5597 do not count toward meeting degree requirements. As of Fall 2026, the GS S5597 fee shall be $465 per unit. This fee applies to terms enrolled Fall 2026 and beyond. If students need to back enroll in terms Summer 2026 and prior, please contact the Graduate Education office. The enrollment allows students to maintain an active status (utilizing campus resources) while completing their culminating experience.
Registration Deadlines
Continuous Enrollment Registration Forms Due
Summer 2026
June 26, 2026
Fall 2026
September 14, 2026
Spring 2027
February 12, 2027
Leave of Absence
Students on approved university leaves of absence, as defined in the University catalog are not required to enroll during the leave period. Find information and leave of absence request form here.
Registering in GS S5597
Enrollment Guidelines
Complete Continuous Enrollment Registration form for Cal Poly Extended Education
Preparations
A Degree Completion Plan is a required attachment to the GS S5597 enrollment. In collaboration with your advisor or graduate coordinator, create a degree completion plan with a detailed timeline and key milestones (e.g. literature review, research completion, report/thesis drafts, committee meetings, defense date, etc.). If you have previously submitted this form, prepare an updated plan.
Instructions
Register Using Adobe Sign Electronic Process. This process will allow your registration to progress electronically.
- Click on Continuous Enrollment form
- Enter the emails and other required information
- An email will be sent to you with a link to complete the form
- Open email and click on "Review and Sign"
- Fill the form, attach Degree Completion Plan, and click "Finish".
NOTE: If you cannot complete the form in one sitting, click Other Actions in the top right corner and then click Finish Later. You can access the form again by clicking on the same “Review Document” link in the email.
Precautions
All holds must be removed before enrollment is processed. Also, enrollment cannot be processed for terms beyond expected graduation term.
Next Steps
- Your request form will then go to the Faculty Advisor. They will review your attached degree completion plan and note if you are making satisfactory progress, and will sign the form.
- Form will then go to your Graduate Coordinator for review and approval.
- Form will route to Graduate Education's Academic Advisor for detailed enrollment verification review, including total number of units.
- Once signed, EPaCE will enroll you in GS S5597, and post charges.
Confirmation
Once enrollment is processed for the agreed amount of units, an email confirmation will be sent.
Payment
Charges will appear in your student account at the time of enrollment and will be due in 7 days. It is your responsibility to log-in to your student portal and pay fees.
Paying Fees
Health Services
Only Cal Poly students who have paid the Health Services Fee are eligible to access services at Campus Health & Wellbeing. Cal Poly students cannot choose to pay this fee if the fee is not automatically applied to their student account, nor can they opt out of paying the fee.
Campus Health & WellbeingOpen to all SLO county residents
Recreation Center
Rec Center membership may be purchased directly from the Rec Center.
Cal Poly Recreation Center