Calculating Grade Point Averages

GPA is calculated based on units taken. (Cumulative or overall GPA is calculated by the PeopleSoft Student Records application, not the Academic Advisement application. In addition, the Student Records application calculates condition GPA values based on the information entered on the Cumulative Statistics page. The PeopleSoft Academic Advisement application independently calculates the GPA values for minimum and maximum GPA requirements based on those courses used to satisfy the requirements.) Minimum and maximum unit requirements are based on units earned. Whether or not units taken and units earned are equal, the Academic Advisement engine uses units taken to calculate minimum and maximum GPA (not GPA condition) requirements and uses units earned to calculate unit requirements. If the course used is split (meaning only a portion of the course credit is used due to the minimum or maximum unit requirement parameters), the number of units earned (which counts towards unit requirements) is proportionately affected.

Below are two examples dealing with units taken and units earned.

This first example illustrates a scenario where the units taken and units earned are equal. A student takes English 101 and English 201. In this example, if Minimum GPA is 3.000 and Minimum Units is 6, the requirement will be satisfied.

This second example illustrates a scenario where partial credit has been assigned to a course; in other words, units earned have been adjusted after enrollment. A student takes English 101 and English 201. However, the institution does not award an equal amount of units earned for the second course. In this example, if the Minimum GPA is 3.000 and Minimum Units are 6, the requirement would not be satisfied based on the units earned for English 201.