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USI Bulletin 2006-2007

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What is Grade Point Average? It's a weighted average of all of the course credits and grades you have completed. There are two types of grade point averages: semester and cumulative. The semester GPA is the weighted average of your grades for a given semester. The cumulative GPA reflects the academic progress you have made since your first semester in college.

How do you compute a grade point average? GPAs are computed on the basis of a weighted point system, where you get more points for higher grades and fewer (or no) points for lower grades. At USI the point system is as follows:

 

A B C D

4 Points 3 Points 2 Points 1 Point

B+ C+ D+ F

3.5 Points 2.5 Points 1.5 Points 0 Points

Note: although F's receive 0 points, the hours attempted are included in the computation of your GPA.

What are quality points and how do you calculate them? By multiplying the number associated with the grade received by the number of credit hours for the course. Consult the USI Bulletin or Schedule of Classes to determine the correct number of credit hours for each course.

Example: If a student received an A in a 3-credit hour course, she would receive 12 quality points (the A is worth 4 points, multiplied by 3 credit hours, for a total of 12 quality points).

What are quality hours? Quality hours are those for which you could be assigned a grade. These do not include courses from which you have withdrawn prior to the mid-semester point (without evaluation) and pass/no pass classes (including developmental hours). Again, be sure to include the credit hours for any grades of F (even though you receive no quality points). If you withdraw past the mid-semester point (including withdrawals from the entire semester), the instructor makes the decision as to whether to assign a "withdrawal while passing" grade or a "withdrawal while failing" grade. If the latter is assigned, the failing grade will count as if you earned an F in the class. In other words, it is figured into your GPA.

What is the formula for GPA? GPA = Quality Points / Quality Hours

This is an example of Sarah’s first semester in college. She received the following grades:

SEMESTER 1

How is Sarah's GPA calculated? The first thing we need to do is to transform her grades into points. Then, we'll figure out the number of quality points Sarah would receive for the semester.

SEMESTER 1:

17 Total Quality Hours

28.5 Total Quality Points

Now we need to total the number of quality hours and quality points and then divide them according to the formula: Total Quality Points (28.5) divided by Total Quality Hours (17) = 1.676

So, Sarah's GPA would be 1.676. This is also her cumulative GPA because it is her first semester in college. Let's see what happens a little further down the academic road for Sarah. After she has been at USI for another semester, this is what her grades look like:

SEMESTER 2:

17 Total Quality Hours

22.5 Total Quality Points

Semester GPA: Semester 2 Quality Points (22.5) divided by Semester 2 Quality Hours (17) = 1.324.

Cumulative GPA: Total Quality Points (28.5 + 22.5 = 51.0) divided by Total Quality Hours (17 + 14 = 31) = 1.645. Sarah’s Academic Standing is considered GOOD (barely).

What is the relationship between your cumulative GPA and your academic standing? Your cumulative GPA determines your ACADEMIC STANDING. Sarah has attempted 17 credit hours and she has a cumulative GPA of 1.645. According to the chart below, her academic standing is GOOD (barely). If your cumulative GPA is at least 2.0, you are always in GOOD academic standing at USI. In order to graduate from USI, you must have at least a 2.0 GPA. The GPA required to remain in good standing varies with the number of hours you have attempted. Note- some schools and programs require greater than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

What is academic probation and what can you do about it? If you drop below these levels for one semester, you will be placed on ACADEMIC PROBATION for the next semester. If, at the end of that semester, you have brought your GPA back up to the acceptable level, you will return to academic good standing. The fastest way to bring up your GPA is to repeat courses in which you have earned grades of D or F. The repeated course(s), regardless of the grade(s), will replace the original grade(s). Course repeats are a one-shot deal and can HURT with repeated Ds or Fs. The original quality points and hours for each repeated class is replaced with the repeated course quality points and quality hours when calculating the cumulative GPA.

What is academic dismissal and what can you do about it? If you do NOT bring your GPA back up to the acceptable level, you will be ACADEMICALLY DISMISSED from the University. If you are academically dismissed, you may be required to sit out of school for at least one semester (maybe more). You may apply for provisional readmission to the University; however, readmission is not automatic. If you are granted readmission, you must sign a contract with the admitting school.